Misato Morita and Ken Mitsuishi appear in the film " Hodonaku, Owakaredesu "

It has been revealed that Morita Nozomi and Misato Morita Ken will appear in the film " Hodonaku, Owakaredesu " (directed by Miki Takahiro, scheduled for release on February 6, 2026), which will see actress Hamabe Minami and popular group Ken Mitsuishi Man member Ren Meguro -star for the first time. The two will play a colleague and the president of the funeral company "Bando Kaikan," which is the setting of the film.

The original work is the series " Hodonaku, Owakaredesu" (Shogakukan Bunko), Nagatsuki Amane's debut novel, which won the Grand Prize at the Shogakukan Bunko Novel Award and has sold over 400,000 copies. The story follows the heroine Shimizu Misora ​​(Hamabe), who works at the funeral company Bando Kaikan, and her strict mentor, funeral planner Urushibara Reiji (Meguro), as they team up to create the "best funeral possible."

Morita plays Akasaka Yoko, a funeral planner at Bando Kaikan who, as a senior, has a kind side to her, offering advice and counseling to Misora. Morita, who actually received training from a funeral planner, says, "It was a difficult role, requiring me to objectively observe numerous funerals, but it made me realize that funerals are not just sad occasions; they are also ceremonies that are filled with positive thoughts, as we send our loved ones off to the next world."

Mitsuishi plays Bando Minoru, the president of Bando Kaikan. His role is one of a man who always has a smile on his face and who warmly watches over Misora ​​and Urushibara. He commented, "I feel that the subject matter of this film is a theme like 'view of life and death.' What does death mean? It's vague, but it's something that happens to everyone. I hope that people will watch the film, cry a lot, and then talk about it with their family and friends on their way home."

Stills have also been released, including a scene on the rooftop of Bando Kaikan where Yoko gently encourages Misora, who is feeling down after failing to become a full-fledged funeral planner despite attempting a mock funeral, and another where Minoru greets Urushibara with a smile as he heads home, glancing past Misora's desk, covered in notes and showing signs of hard work. These scenes capture the warm everyday life at Bando Kaikan.

◇Comment from Misato Morita

The character I played, Akasaka Yoko, is a warm presence who brightens up the surroundings just by being there. As a funeral planner, it was a difficult role to play, as I had to objectively observe many funerals, but after receiving guidance from actual funeral planners, I realized that funerals are not just sad occasions, but are also ceremonies filled with positive thoughts, as we send our loved ones off to the next world.

"Through this shoot, I was reminded of my own family. With the limited time we had, I wanted to create a way to say goodbye that would allow us to send off our loved ones with as much positive feelings as possible. I hope that everyone who watches the film will be able to feel that same way."

◇Comment from Ken Mitsuishi

The shooting period was only two days, but it was a fulfilling set and I was able to spend a very intense time. I played Bando Minoru with the hope that he would be a very tolerant and cheerful person. The two leading actors, Hamabe-san and Meguro-san, both have a straight gaze and exude a sense of inner strength. If anything, I felt embraced by them and was able to act with ease.

I feel that the subject matter of this film has a theme similar to "views on life and death." What does death mean? It's vague, but it comes to everyone. I hope that people will watch the film, cry a lot, and then talk about it with their family and friends on the way home.