The executive producers and the representatives of the Okayama Prefectural Government were considering a list of famous Japanese actors and celebrities from Okayama Prefecture, including Shin Koyamada, Joe Odagiri, Koshi Inaba and many others for the starring character Seinen Makibi.
After the long period of examinations, Koyamada was chosen to star by the executive producers and Okayama Prefecture Governor Masahiro Ishii who was also a chairman of the executive committee of the production, although Koyamada is from Okayama, but resides in Hollywood.
[2] During the production in 2010, Koyamada was officially appointed as an International Goodwill Ambassador of the Okayama Prefectural Government by the then-Governor Masahiro Ishii.
Since Koyamada has been based in Los Angeles, he had to fly back and forth to Okayama Prefecture to rehearse his scenes with other local casts and promote the show through commercials and events in Japan.
The famous national dance champion team of the Sōja Minami Senior High School based in Sōja, Okayama was brought in to rehearse with Koyamada, who had to incorporate his martial arts movements with their dancing calligraphy for their scenes together.