It has been revealed that Shunsuke Michieda of the popular group " Naniwa Danshi " will be starring in his first solo film, "The Last Song You Left Behind" (due for release on March 20, 2026), the latest film by the "SekaKoi" team, who also starred alongside Riko Fukumoto in "Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight." The film tells the love story between Michieda, who plays the protagonist, whose secret hobby is writing poetry, and the heroine, who has "developmental dyslexia" and has difficulty reading and writing. The heroine will be played by Meru Ikumi, who will be playing the lead Meru Nukumi for the first time.
"Sekakoi," released in 2022, is based on the popular novel that marked the debut of Ichijo Misaki, and earned 1.53 billion yen at the domestic box office and attracted 1.2 million viewers. It was also a hit in South Korea, sparking a social phenomenon known as the "Michigetta Shunsuke whirlwind," a coined term combining the word "michigetta," meaning "going crazy," with Michieda's name.
"The Last Song You Left Behind" is a 10-year love story between the protagonist Mizushima Haruto (Michieda), whose secret hobby is writing poetry, and the heroine Tohsaka Ayane (Ikumi), who has developmental dyslexia, making it difficult for her to read and write, but who is talented at singing and composing music. The two spend time together "composing songs," and while they fall in love, they are at the mercy of each other's talent, but still cherish each other... The "Sekakoi" team, including director Miki Takahiro, music by Kameda Seiji, and original author Ichijo Misaki, have reunited to work on Michieda's first solo starring film.
Michieda, who plays the main character Mizushima Haruto, a man with a talent for poetry who lives an ordinary life with his grandparents who raised him as parents, said, "I'm honestly happy and honored to be able to work on a project with the 'SekaKoi' team again." He expressed his joy at once starring in a film directed by Miki, and commented, "Like music, like poetry, I hope to be able to weave this beautiful story with passion."
Ikumi, who plays the heroine Tohsaka Ayane, is born with a real condition called "developmental dyslexia," which makes it difficult for her to recognize letters, but has an enchanting singing voice. To play the musically talented Ayane, Ikumi, with Kameda's support, spent about a year training in voice and guitar lessons, and will be singing and playing the guitar for the first time in this film. "I'm the type of person who gets excited when trying new things, so I'm giving it my all," she said, revealing that she is enjoying the role. "I've been practicing singing and guitar with special teachers for about a year, and this is a work that I'm already very attached to. I'm very motivated, and I hope that my passion and feelings for this work will be conveyed to everyone through the screen."
◇Comment from Shunsuke Michieda
Frankly, I'm happy and honored to be able to work on a project with everyone on the "Sekakoi" team again. It's been a while since I last worked with Miki, so I was nervous and worried about whether I'd be able to show how much I've grown since "Sekakoi," but before filming began, I received a warm letter from Director Miki saying, "Please enjoy your acting," which helped me to calm down a little and be able to approach the set. "Sekakoi" was the first and last film I starred in as a teenager, and Kimika is the first film I've starred in since my twenties. I'm excited to be able to reach this milestone with the same team.
This work is filled with many new challenges for me personally. I have also had many opportunities to come into contact with the "music" that colors this work, and I believe it is an essential part of life. I hope to be able to weave this beautiful story with passion, like music and poetry.
◇Comment from Meru Nukumi
I was really happy when I heard that I would be able to take part in a film directed by Director Miki, who has worked on many of my favorite films, including "Tomorrow I'll Date with Yesterday's You."
It was my first time trying out the musical aspects of the song, such as singing and playing guitar, so I was a bit nervous, but I'm the type of person who gets excited when trying new things, so I spent about a year practicing singing and guitar with special teachers, and I'm already very attached to this piece.
The preparation period for me was very long, and I was constantly thinking about this production, and I wanted to become Ayane as soon as possible. I also think that the character I play, Ayane, is a girl who has some similarities to me. The director told me, "Don't over-prepare, I want you to act like music," and I'm feeling that sensation firsthand now.
I am very enthusiastic about this project, and I hope that my passion and feelings for it will be conveyed to everyone through the screen.
◇Comment from Director Takahiro Miki
I am truly happy to be able to adapt Ichijo Misaki's wonderful original novel into a film, following "Even if this love disappears from the world tonight."
Moreover, the lead role will be played by Shunsuke Michieda, and the music will be composed by Kameda Seiji again! That alone is exciting, but I'm also excited about the chemistry with Meru Nukumi, who will be playing the heroine this time.
The way the two actors, Haruto and Ayane, care for and complement each other is so endearing, and I'm approaching the filming with the feeling that rather than creating a story, I'm making a documentary about the changes in the feelings of the two characters.
The dazzling, sad, and single-minded devotion I felt when I read the original work. Michieda and Ikumi have portrayed all of that with a straightforward and honest heart. I hope to be able to weave together the emotions that resonated with me on set as much as possible, without changing the format, and deliver it to everyone as a film. Please look forward to it!
◇Music producer: Comment from Seiji Kameda
"The Last Song You Left Behind" is a work that centers around the life of a musical artist. The music in the play sometimes takes the place of dialogue, driving the story forward. Not only is Shunsuke Michieda, who plays the lead role of Haruto, a stable presence, but also Meru Nukumi, a natural performer who tackles singing and guitar for the first time head-on, gradually making them her own, and is the very image of Ayane in the play.
Just like "Even if this love disappears from the world tonight," this film is based on the golden triangle of starring Shunsuke Michieda, based on the original work by Ichijo Misaki, and directed by Miki Takahiro, but with the addition of the new sparkle of Meru Nukumi, I hope that this film will bring a gentle, warm light to the hearts of all who watch it.
◇ Comment from scriptwriter Tomoko Yoshida
Two people who are missing something draw each other together with the help of song, and the love that is born grows bravely over the course of 10 years - this is a work that will leave a bittersweet yet warm afterimage of that quiet, deep love engraved on your retinas and eardrums.
The script was lovingly woven together with the producers, who I also worked with on "I Want to Eat Your Pancreas," while treasuring the pure sparkle of the original work. I've worked closely with director Miki on several occasions since "Where We Were," and music producer Kameda Seiji is on his third project since "My Little Monster." I'm confident that the gentle direction and heartwarming music will make the protagonists, who desperately try to grasp at the faint light that emerges from the darkness amidst an irresistible fate, shine even brighter.
The harmony of love played by Michieda and Ikumi also changes in many layers throughout the story, so I personally can't wait to see what depth the two will show us in the finished product. Please listen carefully to the beautiful love between these two, played like a melody.
◇Comment from Misaki Ichijo, the original author
When I was writing this original story, I was thinking about what we can leave behind in our lives. Songs, poetry, life, and feelings. But I realized only now that this also includes movies.
"Even if this love disappears from the world tonight," released in 2022, is a film that changed my life and reaffirmed the power of film. The team has reunited, starring Michieda, who was 19 when I first met him and has now grown even more as an actor, and co-starring Ikumi, who is from the same hometown of Aichi Prefecture and won the Newcomer of the Year award in 2023, making it a dream team. In fact, I have deliberately not read the final script of the film. The script up to the final draft was so amazing that I thought it would be a shame to read it, and I wanted to experience the moving story of the film as an audience member.
We live our daily lives carrying many things. We endure, suffer, and sometimes let things pile up. That's why there are surely many tears to be shed with the help of movies. I'm looking forward to the release of this film, not just because I'm the original author, but as a movie fan myself.
