It was revealed on January 21st that actor Masahiro Motoki will star in the film adaptation of popular author Honobu Yonezawa 's masterpiece mystery novel, "Kurorojo." Distributed by Shochiku, the film will be released in 2026. The film will star Ryota Miyadate Masaki Suda Yoshitaka, Munetaka Aoki, Ryota Miyadate of the popular group Snow Man, Tasuku Emoto, and Joe Joe Odagiri, among other leading actors. Visuals and a Teaser trailer have been released.
The original work (Kadokawa Bunko/KADOKAWA) was published in 2021 and won both the 166th Naoki Prize and the 12th Yamada Futaro Prize, becoming the first novel in history to win all four major mystery awards (This Mystery is Amazing!, Weekly Bunshun Mystery Best 10, I Want to Read Mysteries!, and 2022 Honkaku Mystery Best 10).
The film will be directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who has received high praise both at home and abroad for his work on "Wife of a Spy" (2020), which won the Silver Lion at the 77th Venice International Film Festival, and "Creepy: False Neighbors" (2016). This will be his first collaboration with lead actor Motoki.
Araki Murashige (Motoki) rebels against the tyrannical methods of Oda Nobunaga and launches a siege. The castle is surrounded by Oda troops, leaving him isolated and helpless. Murashige struggles to protect the castle and its people, with his wife Chiyoyasu (Yoshitaka) as his emotional support, while keeping the hotheaded retainers in check. One day, a young boy is murdered within the castle. After that, a series of mysterious incidents occur. The suspects are the retainers and family members inside the castle, which has become a locked room... As everyone grows suspicious, Murashige attempts to solve the case with the help of Kuroda Kanbei (Suda), a dangerous and brilliant military strategist imprisoned in a prison cell. This is a gripping Sengoku-era psychological mystery, with the intentions of various characters flying about.
Motoki plays Araki Murashige, the lord of the "Black Prison Castle" under siege. Suda plays Kuroda Kanbei, a genius military strategist who came as an emissary of Nobunaga to persuade Murashige, who has rebelled, but is imprisoned in the dungeon, and who offers advice on resolving the incident. Yoshitaka plays Murashige's wife, Chiyoyasu, who is a good understanding friend and a source of salvation for him. Aoki plays Araki Kyuzaemon, Murashige's confidant who leads his retainers. Miyadate plays Inui Sukesaburo, a young retainer loyal to Murashige. Emoto plays Saika Shimohari, a master sniper who witnessed the incident. Odagiri plays Gunjuemon, who operates in the shadows as Murashige's hidden sword. Other cast members are scheduled to be announced in the future. The title call in the super Teaser trailer released this time was narrated by Araki Tarusuke.
Comments from the main cast and staff are as follows:
◇Comment from Masahiro Motoki Motoki
"I like to push the protagonist to the depths of despair and then set him free," says Kurosawa, a calm yet challenging director. He has captured the inner conflict and romance of Araki Murashige, who was labeled a coward in history. During filming in Kyoto, he was at the mercy of both reality and fiction, thanks to the charms of the devilish Kanbei (played by Suda) and the upstanding wife Yoshitaka. Like the original work, I have higher expectations than ever for the finished product, which offers advice to modern people living in a cornered world.
◇Comment from Masaki Suda
I am honored to be working with Kurosawa again.
In the previous film, he played a scalper who got caught up in a gunfight. I was looking forward to seeing what role he would play next, and the excitement of Kurosawa Kiyoshi x period drama was thrilling. Moreover, he will be playing the famous Kuroda Kanbei, so I was wondering what kind of battle scenes would be depicted, but the fusion of period drama and mystery was beyond my imagination.
For me, it was mostly a verbal battle. Covered in knowledge, blood, and earth, it was a shoot that required full brain activity.
I can't forget the look in Motoki's eyes as he played Araki Murashige when they faced off.
Please come to the theater.
◇Comment from Yuriko Yoshitaka
When I heard that Director Kurosawa had seen "To Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e)" and wanted me to play this role, I was very happy that the role I played would become a baton that would lead to the next role.
This was my first time working in the Sengoku period, and I learned about the era's views on life and death, and I also struggled with emotions that I couldn't understand. Many people appear in the film, but my role was mostly linked to Murashige, played by Motoki, so I too am looking forward to seeing the film.
◇Comment from Munetaka Aoki
I was very excited to be able to film in a castle that is a national treasure and an important cultural property. It's an experience that doesn't come around very often. It has a beautiful shape, yet also plays a vital role in defense, and I felt that it was the ultimate in functional beauty. The view from the castle tower was fantastic, and I think I was able to get a sense of what it must have been like for a military commander to serve the lord who ruled over the territory. I hope you enjoy the film "Kurorojo Castle."
◇Comment from Ryota Miyadate
I'm Ryota Miyadate, who played Inui Sukesaburo.
When I read the script, I was drawn in and felt that I had been given a very valuable role.
I felt the pressure of acting alongside such a great cast and under Director Kurosawa, but I approached filming with the determination to "learn as much as I can and give it my all." I'm really looking forward to seeing how this work will be brought to life on screen.
The work "Black Prison Castle" is a story in which each character worries, deceives, and struggles from various angles, and the question is who is right.
I would be happy if viewers could watch the film from the perspective of being a part of that era and feel the impact it has on them.
Thank you very much.
◇Comment from Tasuku Emoto
It is the dream of every actor to appear in a film directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
Of course, like many others, I also admire them.
Even now that I've been cast in the show, I still admire it.
That's how excited I was by the adult and glamorous setting of Kurosawa's team.
◇Comment from Joe Odagiri
I was very attracted to the many mysteries surrounding the military commander Araki Murashige. He is played by Motoki-san, and director Kurosawa is taking on his first period drama. Being able to see the set early on is one of the perks of the job. Maybe it's good to be an actor.
◇Comment from Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa
I was extremely fortunate to come across such an interesting original work. However, it was my first time watching a period drama and a mystery novel, so I was a bit worried about whether I could adapt it into a film. Motoki-san, the cast, and the entire staff all perfectly understood the importance of period dramas, so that aspect was fine. The only thing that remained was whether it was done properly as a mystery novel. To be honest, this was extremely difficult, but I managed to get through it thanks to the mystery and charm of the character Araki Murashige.
◇Comment from original author Honobu Yonezawa
I am very honored to have been asked to adapt the novel into a film. The original story is one that highlights darkness, so I'm sure the film will be filled with a darkness that will burn into your heart. I'm looking forward to it.
