It was revealed on January 19th that actor Fumino Kimura and Tanaka Juri of the popular group "SixTONES" will star in the drama series "W I, KILL", the first completely original large-scale project by WOWOW, Shochiku and Shochiku Kyoto Studio. The drama is set 35 years after the Battle of Sekigahara. As monsters known as "Gunkyo" attack people, Kimura plays the role of Orin, a former ninja who confronts the monsters. Tanaka plays the role of Shiro, a mysterious man who has become a Gunkyo while still maintaining his human consciousness. This is the first time Kimura and Tanaka have acted together.
This work is a collaboration between up-and-coming creators and the top-class craftsmen of the traditional Shochiku Kyoto Studio, and is a "historical spectacle x full-scale survival thriller from Kyoto" with an eye on overseas markets. It is scheduled to be broadcast and distributed in May with a total of 6 episodes.
Filming took place in the Kyoto area from October to November 2024, mainly at Shochiku Kyoto Studio. The filming was extremely tough as it challenged unprecedented visual expression, but Kimura commented, "No one on set said, 'We can't do it.' We said, 'Let's give it a try,' and built it from scratch. Every time I came to the set, I started the day with the feeling of, 'Now, how should I do it?' I think that's because I was riding the wave of 'I want to make something good,' which went beyond the experience and technical ability of everyone on set."
This was Tanaka's first attempt at sword fighting. He said, "It was very difficult to find the balance between being a human and a villain. I wanted the audience to feel a sense of discomfort, strangeness, and fear, but I also wanted them to like the character of Shiro. Those two extreme feelings were all present within me."
The story is set 35 years after the Battle of Sekigahara, during the time of the third Shogun, Iemitsu. In Japan, still in turmoil on the eve of national isolation, monsters known as "Gunkyou" that attack and eat people suddenly appear. The Shogunate secretly dispatches extermination forces to burn down the monsters and the area they are in, concealing the truth. In Tako-juku, a remote post town, unaware of the turmoil, Orin (Kimura), who hides her past as a ninja, lives peacefully as a doctor's assistant with her non-blood related sister, Toki.
One day, she travels to a faraway village to get medicine to cure Toki's illness. When she arrives at the village, she finds blood and human flesh scattered everywhere. Then, she is attacked by a group of horrifying monsters with horrifyingly different appearances. Thus begins Orin's epic journey to protect Toki.
Meanwhile, Shiro (Tanaka) is a "half-villain" who has become a villain while still retaining his human consciousness, and is tormented by his lack of a past. Hated and imprisoned, he is searching for a certain person to find out who he is and his roots. And what fate awaits Orin and Shiro as they fight, and what is the shocking truth that is revealed in a world overrun with villains? The story unfolds.
A new teaser video was also released. It shows the monsters attacking one after another, as well as Orin using the techniques she used as a ninja to fight them. It also shows Shirou, who has become a "half-monster," trying to live with a certain resolve.
◇Comments from Fumino Kimura(role of Orin) after filming
I thought, "I survived." I got there with the support of everyone until the end. This time, there were so many things that we didn't know until we actually tried, but no one on set said, "We can't do it." We just said, "Let's try," and created it from scratch. I didn't want to let anyone's feelings go to waste, and I wanted to create a scene where everyone's feelings could come to fruition. I think the reason why I started the day every time I came to the set with the feeling of "Now, how should I do this?" was because I was riding the wave of "I want to make something good" for an unknown work that exceeded the technical skills and experience that everyone on the set had cultivated.
This work is not scary or threatening, nor does it purposely show grotesque scenes. The gangsters are not monsters or creatures. They are the "end of humanity" - people who live as humans, become gangsters, and wander around unable to die. They are people. The special makeup, direction, and actors who were selected through auditions make it clear that they cried, laughed, rejoiced, and grieved as humans before they became gangsters, and in the end, they ended up like this, so you can't help but like them.
When Orin decides on her path in life in the story, I thought that I too was searching for a goal in life, and that this in itself is what it means to live. Now that I've reached the limits of my overflowing curiosity, mind, and physical strength, I think this work has made me think, "This is the meaning of my life."
The protagonist of this work is neither a cool superhero nor a cute heroine. He doesn't say what he wants to say, and even if he does think it, he doesn't say it aloud. He cares for her more than anyone else, but it ends up going awry. I think I was able to portray the Japanese spirit of patience that is fading away. Although it starts out as a scary survival thriller, it is a magnificent story of a parent and child. I would be happy if you could watch over the conflict and growth of the ancient ties that can never be broken as long as humans are born from humans, while sometimes admiring the "villains."
◇Comment from Tanaka Juri (role of Shiro) after filming
This was my first time working on a production of this genre, so there were some difficulties with the unfamiliar parts, such as the movement and mannerisms. I don't usually get muscle pain even when dancing, but my whole body ended up sore. I felt that the muscles and brain I normally use were completely different, and I went through a lot of trial and error, which was different from group activities. I think this project itself will attract a lot of attention. I worked hard, hoping that people who first learned about me through this production would find my group activities. If I get the opportunity to work on acting in the future, this experience may become a source of confidence.
Shirou is a character who is half-villainous, so it was very difficult to get the balance right. I wanted the viewer to feel a sense of incongruity, strangeness, and fear, but I also wanted them to like Shirou as a person. These two extreme feelings existed within me. It was also difficult to create Shirou's story and how to convey it while adding variety in all six episodes. Also, although I can't go into details yet, I am taking on a "certain challenge," so I hope you will look forward to that part as well.
I feel that "I, KILL" is both a keyword and a message. There was a possibility that this work would end up just stirring up fear and showing cool moves, but we were able to keep the message of "I, KILL" and "Live" as the main axis. That's why it's so persuasive, and I think that's the core of this work.