Here's What Happened At The"RUROUNI KENSHIN" Red Carpet Premiere In Manila

Screams, cheers and selfies - Filipino fans went wild for the stars of "Rurouni Kenshin" as they graced the film's Asian premiere in Manila, where the first "Rurouni Kenshin" shown last year reportedly broke the record for a Japanese movie in the Philippines.

The red carpet premiere of the hit Japanese movie didn't start until 6 p.m. but the Event Center was already packed with avid fans as early as three in the afternoon at the Event Center of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, August 6. All waiting to greet the director Keishi Otomo and the film's lead actors Takeru Sato (Himura Kenshin), Emi Takei (Kamiya Kaoru) and Munetaka Aoki (Sagara Sanosuke).

Indeed, their long wait paid off as all the Japanese stars were really friendly and even signed autographs did selfies with members of the press and was very kind to all their Filipino fans. The crowd of 2000 chanted "Takeru, Takeru" and "Sano, Sano." Sano is Munetaka's character Sanosuke, Kenshin's street fighter friend.



The audience wildly applauded when the actors greeted them in Tagalog. "Ako po si Takeru Sato. Masaya po ako na andito ako." greets the main star of the movie."I heard that Rurouni Kenshin broke the record of any Japanese film shown in the Philippines," Takeru said through a translator.  "We all put our lives on the line here, our spirit is in this movie, so we really hope that you can support us, support the movie," he added. Takei said it was the first time she had attended a premiere of one of her movies outside Japan and thanked the fans for their warm welcome.



Munetaka Aoki, who seems to be as energetic and as funny as his movie character, charmed the audience with his Filipino phrases like "Magandang gabi" and "Salamat po". He even asked his fans, "Do you watch the movie, first Samurai X? Do you know my character's name?"



"Thank you so much. It's actually my very first time to attend a premiere in another country," said Emi Takei
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Some fans even got to ask questions from the three actors. Satoh made the crowd laugh when he said that his favorite Kenshin move was "his running."

Aoki was asked if they would like to return to the Philippines, Takeru said "I want to!." Aoki, meanwhile, told the crowd "That will depend on you, guys!"

"Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno" starts its regular cinema run in the country on Aug. 20. It is the first of a two-part finale of the franchise based on the hit Japanese comic, or manga, also called Rurouni Kenshin.

To see more photos from their Manila red carpet premiere, click HERE!