The film "Bomb" (directed by Nagai Satoshi), starring Yuki Yamada, was released on October 31st. While the intense acting of Sato Jiro, Sairi Ito and others has been generating buzz, the skilled acting of the supporting cast of talented "ikeoji" (older men) has deeply touched the hearts of audiences. This time, we will focus on three "ikeoji" (older men) who left a strong impression.
The film depicts a battle of wits between a mysterious bomber and the police in an interrogation room, and is based on the best-selling novel "Bomb" (Kodansha) by Wu Sheng-hao, which won first place in "This Mystery is Amazing! 2023 Edition" (Takarajimasha) and other publications. A mysterious middle-aged man is taken into police custody after assaulting a store clerk in a drunken rage. A man calling himself "Suzuki Tagosaku" (Sato Jiro), claiming to have psychic powers, warns of the presence of bombs planted within Tokyo. He announces that, starting with an explosion in Akihabara, three more will detonate every hour. While dodging the questions of the negotiator, Ruike (Yamada), and the detectives, he gradually begins to ask mysterious "quizzes" about the bombs...
◇ Masaya Kato as Hasebe Yuko, a mysterious key person who seems to be hiding a deep darkness
In this film, actor Masaya Kato plays the mysterious key character, Hasebe Yuko. Fans of the original work have commented, "Hasebe's presence is incredibly important in 'Bomb.' I'm curious to see if he'll actually appear in the film," and "I was wondering who would play Hasebe, and it's none other than Masaya Kato! Seriously?" Lead actor Yamada also commented, "I really wanted to see Hasebe's portrayal," while Sato, who plays Suzuki Tagosaku, praised his performance, saying, "His helpless sadness was amazing." Hasebe draws viewers in, wondering, "Who on earth is this man?" and seems to be hiding a deep darkness. Could he be involved in the series of bombings that began with a "warning" from Suzuki Tagosaku? We'll have to wait until the film to find out.
Kato, who plays the role, is 62 years old and was born on April 27, 1963, in Nara Prefecture. He started out as a fashion model before moving on to acting. He first came into the spotlight with his lead role in the 1988 film "I Want to Meet Marilyn." In addition to his work as an actor, he is also active in a variety of other fields, including photography and radio DJing. This year, he has been cast in a number of popular films, including "REQUIEM: The Story of a Composer," "Nagasaki: In the Shadow of a Flash," "Fireworks Blooming Inside Me," and "Otokogami," as well as the upcoming releases of "Glory Back Home" (November 28), "Kaede" (December 19), and "Special Euthanasia Zone" (January 23, 2026).
◇ Passion in a "quiet performance" - Atsuro Watabe as detective Kiyomiya
Actor Atsuro Watabe plays Kiyomiya, a detective in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Division's Violent Crimes Unit, who faces off against Suzuki Tagosaku, played by Sato. Kiyomiya remains calm and collected as he conducts the interrogation, but he gradually finds himself drawn into the mysterious "traps" Suzuki sets for him, such as "What do you think the human heart is like?" and "Are you familiar with the game 'Nine Tails'?", and loses his mental balance.
At the Japan premiere of this film held last month, when it was decided that he would be appearing, he revealed that he had called his long-time friend Sato to express his joy, saying, "I'll support you (by appearing)," and he broke down in tears, saying, "Only Jiro can play Tagosaku, it's very moving," and his strong bond with Sato became a hot topic. His performance has also received rave reviews, with many saying, "Atsuro Watabe was amazing," and we hope you will come to the theater to enjoy this outstanding performance, which can be seen as a new milestone in Watabe's career, with passion packed into his "quiet acting."
Watanabe is 57 years old and was born on May 5, 1968 in Tokyo. He made his major debut in 1987. In recent years, he has made his presence felt in the "Masquerade" series and the "Lupin's Daughter" series. He will be appearing as Katsu Kaishu in the film "Shin kaishaku Bakumatsu-den," which will be released on December 19th.
◇ Masana Bokuzo as detective Tsuruga, who desperately supports the chaotic scene
Masana Bokuzo, a talented supporting actor who can play a wide range of roles from comical to calm and collected, plays Tsurugi, the head of the criminal investigation division at Nogata Police Station, where Suzuki (played by Sato) is taken. Tsurugi is in charge of the investigation headquarters, which is conducting a Tokyo-wide bomb search for the serial bombings believed to be committed by Suzuki, as well as investigating Suzuki's identity.
When Masana appeared as a guest on Sato's radio show "Jiro Sato and Dad's Time," he said of his character, Tsurugi, "I played him as if he was the person closest to the audience." With only the unprecedented interrogation reports from Kiyomiya (Watanabe) and Ruike (Yamada) to rely on, Tsurugi is at the mercy of Suzuki, who, like the audience, continues to ask him mysterious and enigmatic questions, revealing his anger and impatience. It's hard not to empathize with his desperate efforts to support the chaotic scene.
Masana was born on August 11, 1970, in Kanagawa Prefecture. He is a member of the popular theater company Otona Keikaku, and this year he appeared in the films "The Man Who Almost Died" and "The Haunted Property: Scary UNBOUND (Berabou)."
Among the unique cast, the three handsome older men are the ones who carry the weight of the film with their memorable performances. Enjoy the thrilling plot and the mature acting of these three actors.
