This past weekend saw the nation-wide theatrical premiere of Dragon Ball Z: Revival of “F” on 660 screens across Japan. In honor of its release, the Shinjuku Wald 9 cinema in Tokyo hosted a stage celebration prior to the movie’s premiere showing. The celebration included greetings and thanks to fans from members of the movie’s staff and cast, including Tadayoshi Yamamuro (Director), Masako Nozawa (Son Goku, et al.), Ryō Horikawa (Vegeta), Masaharu Satō (Kame-Sen’nin), and Natsuki Hanae (Jaco).

Following the event, Toei posted an official press release with information about the movie’s premiere, including comments from the actors and production staff members:

Masako Nozawa (Son Goku, et al.)

こんなにたくさんの方がいらして下さって本当に嬉しいです。面白かったでしょ？（会場拍手！）頼むから、今日帰ったら皆それぞれ友達10人誘ってくれよな！（笑）

本当にすごかった！アフレコのとき、悟空とフリーザの戦いは動きが速すぎて画面に「線」しかないんです！それに向かって声を入れるんですけど、たまにスタッフさんに止められるから「何で？」と思ったら「野沢さんすみません、その線は、フリーザです」と言われてしまうこともありました（笑）。それくらい激しい戦いです。

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It makes me truly happy that so many people came here. It was fun, wasn’t it? (audience applauds) Do me a favor and invite 10 of your friends once you get back home! (laughs)

It was really amazing! During the recording, Goku and Freeza’s battle moved so fast that the image was nothing but speed-lines! We had to match our voices up with that, but sometimes the staff would stop us: “What is it?” “Excuse me Nozawa-san, but those speed-lines are Freeza.” (laughs) The battles were just that intense.

Ryō Horikawa (Vegeta)

会場にはキャラクターのコスチュームを着られている方もたくさんいらっしゃって、この作品がいかに愛されているかを感じます。試写会で本作を初めて観たときに、すごい迫力だと思いました。テレビアニメでは、涙ながらにベジータが「カカロット、俺の仇を取ってくれ」と言って死んでいきますが、今回はリベンジすることができて溜飲が下がりました。

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I can tell just how beloved this series is by how many people are here dressed up as the characters. When I first saw this film in the preview screening, I thought it was incredibly intense. In the TV series Vegeta dies saying “Kakarrot, avenge me!”, but this time around he got his revenge, so he can feel satisfied.

Masaharu Satō (Kame-sen’nin)

今までのテレビアニメでは、亀仙人はどちらかというと軽い感じで、スケベなじじぃなんですけど（笑）、今回は久しぶりに戦っています。“かめかめ波”初代をやったわけですからね。皆さん楽しんでいただけたかと思いますが、ぜひもう１回楽しんでね。

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Up until now, in the TV series Kame-Sen’nin has always been an easy-going, pervy old man (laughs), but this time he fights for the first time in quite a while. He’s the one who created the Kamehameha, after all. I think everyone all enjoyed it, but be sure and enjoy it a second time.

Natsuki Hanae (Jaco)

本作から初参加なので、今日はドキドキしています。鳥山 明先生の漫画「銀河パトロール ジャコ」の主人公・ジャコを演じさせていただいています。「ドラゴンボール」は小さい頃からずっと観ていたので、そんな作品に参加できるのは夢のようです。

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I’m really excited today since I’m making my Dragon Ball debut with this film. I got to play the protagonist of Akira Toriyama-sensei‘s manga “Jaco the Galactic Patrolman”. I’ve watched Dragon Ball since I was little, so being able to take part in this film is a dream come true.

Tadayoshi Yamamuro (Director)

ついこの間までこの作品を作っていたので、こうして今日無事に初日を迎えられて嬉しいです。全てのスタッフ、キャストの皆さんのパワーを借りて、作品を完成させることができました。この場を借りてお礼を言いたいと思います。

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At long last I’ve completed this film and it’s successfully reached opening day.  It was only thanks to the help of everyone on the staff and cast that I was able to finish, so I’ll take this opportunity to thank think all.

Momoiro Clover Z was also in attendance and performed the movie’s theme song, “Vow of ‘Z'”, for the audience. Members of the group were dressed in full Dragon Ball attire, as featured in their music video for “Vow of ‘Z'”, with each cosplaying as a character associated with their specific group colors (each member in the group helps distinguish themselves to fans by the colors of their clothes).

Kanako Momota (red) was dressed as Son Goku, Shiori Tamai (yellow) was Vegeta, Reni Takagi (purple) was Piccolo, Ayaka Sasaki (pink) was a combination of Bulma and Trunks, and Momoka Ariyasu (green) was Chiaotzu. Momota, the group’s current leader, went on to discuss the making of their “Vow of ‘Z'” music videos, which includes both “Z Warrior” and “Freeza” versions, and the choreography that went into their production.

Momoiro Clover Z (Main Theme Song)

今日の衣装は、“もし私たちがドラゴンボールの世界に入ったら”というのをテーマにして作っていただきました！主題歌「『Z』の誓い」は、ドラゴンボールの弟子目線で描かれているので、弟子からみた悟空へのメッセージがあったり、先輩をお説教するような部分があったりします。すごく素敵な歌になっています。

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The theme for our outfits today is “what if we entered the Dragon Ball world?”  The theme song “Vow of ‘Z'” was made from the point of view of a Dragon Ball disciple, so it has a message to Goku as seen by his disciple, and also some parts that are like lecturing one’s senior pupil.  It turned out really nice.

Before wrapping up the event, it was announced to the crowd that the film would also be released in 74 other countries and regions across the globe. Toei later elaborated in their press release that the film’s international releases will begin on 01 May 2015 in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

As has become customary for these events, it closed with a giant group Kamehameha led by Masako Nozawa and co., along with a nice spray of confetti.

The story for Revival of “F”, which opened nationwide in Japan 18 April 2015 in 2D and IMAX 3D, was crafted by original manga author Akira Toriyama, who stated he wrote it, “…as though it were a continuation of the manga when it was in serialization,” and that while it would, “…of course be a continuation of the previous Battle of Gods,” he has also, “…deliberately increased the amount of action scenes by a good deal.” Tadayoshi Yamamuro, who worked for many years as character designer and animation supervisor on the Dragon Ball franchise, served as the film’s director and animation supervisor. Norihito Sumitomo has returned from Battle of Gods and the Majin Boo arc of Dragon Ball Kai for musical composition duties. Momoiro Clover Z contributed “Vow of ‘Z'” as the film’s main theme alongside Maximum the Hormone, whose “F” is used during the film. Revival of “F” brings back Freeza and includes two new characters (Sorbet and Tagoma), features Beerus and Whis again from Battle of Gods, and much more.