Rei Kiriyama is the seventeen-year-old at the heart of the series, a professional shogi player who earned his rank at an unusually young age. He lives by himself and tends to withdraw from people, shaped by the loss of his family and a strained childhood in a foster home. Early on he treats shogi as both his refuge and his obligation, playing with skill but little joy.
His meeting with the Kawamoto sisters gradually softens his guarded outlook. The simple routines of sharing meals and being looked after help him recognize how isolated he had become and how much he longs for connection. The series handles his feelings of sadness and self-doubt with restraint, showing recovery as a slow and uneven process rather than a sudden fix.
Over two seasons Rei grows more honest about his emotions and more willing to lean on the people who care about him. He also matures as a competitor, finding personal meaning in the game instead of only duty. By the later episodes he has begun to build genuine bonds and a steadier sense of who he wants to be.
Rei Kiriyama is one of the central figures in March Comes in Like a Lion, a anime/drama/slice of life series that aired on NHK General TV from 2016-2018. Within the narrative of March Comes in Like a Lion, Rei Kiriyama serves as a pivotal character whose decisions and relationships drive key story arcs throughout 2016-2018. The character's journey has been central to many of the show's most memorable and discussed moments.
Portrayed by Kengo Kawanishi, Rei Kiriyama has become one of the most recognizable characters in modern television. Kengo Kawanishi's performance brings nuance and depth to the role, creating a character that resonates with audiences on both intellectual and emotional levels. The casting of Kengo Kawanishi has been widely praised by both critics and fans as essential to the character's impact and the show's success.
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? Frequently Asked Questions
Kengo Kawanishi voices Rei Kiriyama in the Japanese version of March Comes in Like a Lion.
Rei's journey is a careful, hopeful portrait of a young person working through grief and loneliness. With the support of the Kawamoto family he learns to reconnect with others and to find his own reasons for playing the game he loves.
