GARO: The One Who Shines in the Darkness Update

The third season of GARO, GARO: The One Who Shines in the Darkness, was set to premiere April 6 at 1:20 AM on TV Tokyo with an entirely new cast. The three new Makai Knights were Ryuga Dougai, played by Wataru Kuriyama, Takeru Jakuzure, played by Junya Ikeda, and Aguri Kusugami, played by Tsunenori Aoki.

Ryuga Dougai takes over as the new Golden Knight Garo, though the golden armor has lost its shine, appearing as a dulled, dark-colored suit instead. Sent to protect the seemingly peaceful Vol City, Ryuga still senses demon beasts beneath its calm surface. Kouga’s old partner, the talking ring Zaruba, has passed to Ryuga, but for reasons unexplained rarely speaks in the new series. In Vol City, Ryuga meets Takeru Jakuzure, an unabashed womanizer who hides a gentler side beneath his tough exterior and becomes the Flame Sword Knight Zen, and Aguri Kusugami of the noble Kusugami clan, a calm, proud knight who looks down on Ryuga’s inexperience and becomes the Heavenly Bow Knight Gai.

Wataru Kuriyama said he studied the earlier GARO series for inspiration but was told by director Keita Amemiya to forget about Kouga’s example and instead smile and laugh more than his predecessor did. It was Kuriyama’s first time in a television drama, and he described the seven months of filming as a rewarding experience with a supportive cast and crew. Junya Ikeda, a longtime GARO fan who had attended a screening of the first film, said he was thrilled to join the franchise. Tsunenori Aoki noted he was the first Makai Knight actor to wear glasses in the role.

The series’ theme song, “THEMA of The One Who Shines in the Darkness,” was composed by Shiho Terada and Yoshichika Kuriyama.