It was revealed on March 31st that actress Masami Nagasawa will star in the film "Kono Go ni Oyode Ai Nado" (releasing November 27th). Nagasawa will play the protagonist, Uta, Tasuku Emoto will play Uta's husband, Morio, and Shizuka Ishibashi will play Uta's lover, Junna. As Morio and Junna are thrown into turmoil by Uta, a complex and multifaceted story of "love" unfolds between the three. A teaser visual and Teaser trailer have been released.
◇Director Nanako Hirose said, "I feel like the film itself is happy that it was made with these three people."
The film is directed by Nanako Hirose, a rising talent who belongs to "Bunbuku," a production group founded by directors Hirokazu Kore-eda and Miwa Nishikawa, and has served as their assistant director. This is her second feature film and an original work. The director says, "It was born from the idea that there should be more different kinds of families."
Regarding Nagasawa, who plays the lead role of Shio, a picture book author, producer Taiki Koide said, "When I first had her read the lines, Shio appeared in an instant," and she brilliantly portrays the free-spirited yet somehow lovable, selfish and charming character. Nagasawa herself also spoke about Shio, saying, "Ideals, reality, and a sense of justice are all mixed together, but even so, her honest attitude and true self attract those around her."
Emoto, who plays Shio's husband Morio, a man torn between his considerate nature and cooking skills and his old-fashioned family values, describes the film as "a love story presented by clumsy, greedy people." Ishibashi, who plays Shio's lover and editor Junna, describes her character as "clumsy, with thorns like a hedgehog, but with a childlike softness hidden inside," portraying a woman who, despite her dissatisfaction with Shio, possesses unwavering love and a strong core.
Although it was the first time the three had appeared in the same project, they had all worked together before and showed great teamwork during filming. Director Hirose also seemed pleased with the result, saying, "Even during editing, there were moments when I felt the film itself was happy that these three were involved, and I'm once again savoring this happiness."
Driven by the director's desire to create a work that transcends existing values, the film became a Japanese-Taiwanese co-production, with Taiwanese staff participating in cinematography and lighting, including Yao Hongyi, who has worked as cinematographer on Hou Hsiao-hsien's later films and "Taipei Twilight" (directed by Huang Shih). Filming took place in September and October of last year, and the film is already complete.
◇A special trailer offering a glimpse into the characters and story behind the poem, "We'll all live in this house," has also been released.
A 30-second Teaser trailer and a teaser visual have also been released. The Teaser trailer begins with Shi's line, "I had a strange thought. The three of us living in this house," and depicts Shi uninhibitedly expressing her feelings of love to both Morio and Junna. The two call Shi "selfish," "irresponsible," "sloppy," and "greedy," but they seem somewhat pleased, and set to the film's music composed by singer-songwriter HIMI (Himi Sato), we get a glimpse of Shi's selfish, cunning, and lovable character and a part of the story. Incidentally, while HIMI has composed theme songs for films before, this is her first time composing the music for an entire film.
The teaser visual features a shot that beautifully captures the relationship between the three characters, taken by photographer Makoto Suenaga, who has captured memorable moments in films such as "Monster" (2023) and "1ST KISS" (2025). The visual was designed by Shintaro Kira, who worked on the film "Bomb" (2025) and the animated film "Lookback" (2024).
The full text of Nagasawa's comments is as follows:
◇Comment from Masami Nagasawa
Shi-chan's contradictory actions were a mix of ideals, reality, and a sense of justice, yet her honest attitude and genuine self drew people in, making us think, "Maybe this is okay too." We spent time with Shizuka-san and Yu-san, wandering, searching, and swaying through a world only the director knows, and yet we were able to be there naturally. It felt like we were saved by love. What form does love take for all of you, which we keep searching for throughout the film? I hope you look forward to the movie.
◇Comment from Tasuku Emoto
What words would follow "At this point, love is meaningless"? I pondered this question while filming this movie. Is it "useless," "nonsense," or perhaps "...but I want it!"? I'm very curious to know what words will be woven into the hearts of those who finish watching this film. A film about love brought to you by clumsy, greedy people. Please enjoy it.
◇Comment from Shizuka Ishibashi
When I first read the script, I remember feeling anxious and excited, wondering where these three people, each with completely different senses of justice, would end up—sometimes clashing fiercely, sometimes leaning too much on each other. Junna was clumsy, prickly like a hedgehog, but with a childlike softness hidden inside. Acting with Masami and Yu was a very reassuring and comfortable experience. The gaze of the Taiwanese film crew was very gentle. I hope that this story, which Director Hirose wrote from scratch and which the entire cast and crew created together, will reach the hearts of many people.
◇Comment from screenwriter, director, editor, and original story writer: Nanako Hirose
I first wrote the original story during Christmas in the midst of the pandemic. Since then, I've struggled to write the script to create a selfish, cunning, yet lovable protagonist, but with Masami Nagasawa in the lead role, such a charming character was born that I completely forgot all my struggles. Furthermore, with the addition of Tasuku Emoto and Shizuka Ishibashi, we were able to weave a slightly unconventional relationship and witness moments that shone brighter than I could have imagined. Even during editing, there were moments where I felt the work itself was happy that these three were involved, and I'm once again savoring this happiness.
This story was born from the idea that there should be many different forms of family. I've given it a grand title like "Love," but I hope to carefully pick up on the obstacles that arise when you fall in love with someone or want to have a family, the problems women face, and the rifts between spouses, and deliver them in a lighthearted way.
We asked Yao Hongyi from Taiwan to do the photography. I think it captures Tokyo as seen through the eyes of someone from overseas. Please look forward to its release.
◇Comment from producer Daiki Koide
When Director Hirose suggested it and I first read the script, I remember being very impressed by the humor and struggles of each character, which had been carefully written. I wanted to bring to life the director's intention to make a film without over-exaggerating the characters, even though it is fiction, and share this work with many people.
While writing the script, I wondered who would play the main character, the picture book author Shi, but when I met Masami Nagasawa and heard her read the lines for the first time, I felt as if Shi instantly came into being. I will never forget the director sitting next to her, his eyes narrowing with delight and a smile on his face. I felt many times, even during rehearsals, that I wanted to watch the dialogue they weave together forever, thanks to the participation of wonderful actors like Ms. Nagasawa. We created this film by working together as a team, communicating closely with the cast and staff. I hope you will come to the theater and enjoy it.
