It has been revealed that the popular drama "Our Journey," which aired on Nippon Television in 1975 and starred Masatoshi Nakamura, will be made into a movie and released in January 2026. The film will be titled "Our Journey of 50 Years," and will depict the "present" of the characters, including Nakamura's character "Kasuke," to mark the 50th anniversary of the show's first broadcast. Nakamura, who plays the main character, will also serve as director.
"Our Journey" is a youth drama starring Nakamura's Kasuke (Tsumura Kosuke), Tanaka Ken's Omeda (Nakatani Takao), and Akino Taisaku's Kuzuroku (Kumazawa Shinroku). Their growth as they struggle through life but find the meaning of it resonates with many young people, and the drama's theme song, "Our Journey," was a huge hit, selling 870,000 copies. Kasuke's geta and jeans style also became a big hit among young people.
Due to its popularity, a special drama series has been produced three times over the past 10 years, but before the production of the 40th anniversary special drama, the chief director, Mitsumasa Saito, passed away. It was decided that the worldview of the story could not be created without Director Saito, so the production of the 40th anniversary drama was abandoned.
However, in response to the many voices of expectation saying "I want to see the three again," it has been decided to produce a new story, "Our Journey," this year, which marks the 50th anniversary. It has also been announced that Nakamura will serve as director, and Toshio Kamata, who has been involved in the work since the drama series, will participate as planner and scriptwriter. In addition, it has been decided that Omede's younger sister, Mayumi Nakatani, who is the Madonna, will be played by Nana Okada, who has colored the work with the three, and the original main characters will be gathered together.
In addition, ahead of the film's release, Nakamura, Akino, Tanaka, and Okada will be reuniting for the first time in 22 years for "The 50th Anniversary Our Journey Special Concert," which will be held at five locations in four cities across the country in September.
◇Comment from Masatoshi Nakamura
Something incredible has happened. "Our Journey," a TV series that was broadcast 50 years ago, is going to be made into a movie.
There's even more surprises!!! I, Nakamura, will be the director!! I want to deliver emotion, nostalgia and sadness to all the people who love "Our Journey".
◇Comment from Taisaku Akino
There have been talks of adapting "Ore Tabi" into a movie here and there for a while. The old series was so good that I kept saying, "You can't make a work that surpasses that. It's better not to make something that's half-baked." --Maybe that's why, but with this project, I was completely left behind at first. It was only when the shooting was about to start that I suddenly got an offer saying, "Are you interested in appearing? If not, we'll just assume Guzuroku is dead." I was shocked. What's more, I was shocked to hear that Masatoshi Nakamura would be the director. I wondered when such talk had come up. Then, the shooting was delayed due to revisions to the script...a lot of things happened. Maybe it was the pain of childbirth?
But, once I got to the set, every day felt like a dream. (Am I really that lucky? If it's a dream, please don't wake me up?) I thought this many times as I looked up at the blue sky. Masatoshi is as happy as ever, and just being around him is fun, and he's a fine director. So far, the rushes (the finished work with the parts joined together) have been well received. It all turned out to be unfounded fears. Once we started, everything went smoothly, without any problems. --Right now, I have a hunch that a good film will be made.
◇Comment from Ken Tanaka
It's been 50 years since "Our Journey" first aired. Over those 50 years, reruns have always been aired somewhere, and I'm still called "Omeda" and I'm getting closer to "Omeda." My family laughs and says I'm "turning into Omeda," and is dumbfounded. Then, Toshio Kamata called me in, saying he had a plan for a sequel. Kamata appeared dashing in jeans and a white T-shirt, and told me about the plan for our story, which took place at the end of our lives.
There are parts of human nature that do not change and parts that change with the times. It is a joy to be able to deliver a new story to those who have loved this work for many years, as well as to generations who have not known it, but to be honest, I am a little anxious because of the process of repeated exploration. Most of the staff, even director Mitsumasa Saito, are now deceased, but Masatoshi Nakamura is energetically serving as director. It is truly a real car drama. Taisaku Akino also breathes the spirit of "Guzuroku", and perhaps the one who has grown up mentally and feels the strongest conflict is "Mayumi" played by Nana Okada. Despite the twists and turns, we have received various support from all over the world to get to this point, and we are grateful for that. Please continue to support the movie "Our Journey".
◇Comment from Nana Okada
I was a 16-year-old high school student at the time. Mayumi was reunited with her three older brothers, and we were transported back in time 50 years ago! It's a miracle that we'll be back on the big screen 50 years later. Director Nakamura's "Yo-i, hai!" rings out pleasantly. Filming is still ongoing. I'm also looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Please come and see this culmination of the strong friendship between the three that has endured through the Showa and Heisei eras and continues to this day in the Reiwa era, and also take a look at Mayumi in the Reiwa era.
◇Comment from Toshio Kamata, the planner and scriptwriter
The sadness of living is what permeates our journey, this drama. When they come to a crossroads in life, they struggle violently, they rebel strongly, they say selfish things to each other and make a fool of themselves, but in their hearts they have kindness that cares for the other person.
How much easier life would be if you could decide that your thoughts are right and the other person is wrong.
But, they always think. Life is not that simple. It is difficult for people who come from different families and were raised differently to have the same feelings. Knowing this, they cannot easily blame the other person. It is not possible to do this without the kindness to care about the other person and try to understand their life. But sometimes, that kindness can lead them astray. It can make them lose their footing. Not knowing which direction to turn in life, they come into violent conflict, they separate, meet, and separate again. This drama has depicted these people trying to live despite repeated conflicts each time. It has conveyed that "sorrow".
And now it's the 50th year. The characters in the drama have grown older and are living different lives. The conflicts become stronger and the sadness deepens. This is true not only for the people in the drama, but also for those who make it. The "sadness" is woven together by the staff and cast. I think that is what "Our Journey in the 50th Year" is all about.
