It was revealed on April 1st that actor Ouji Suzuka will star in the film "Beasts Clinging to Straws" (directed by Hideo Jojo, opening September 25th). A Teaser trailer and concept visuals have been released.
◇Director Hideo Jojo and screenwriter Yasuko Kobayashi team up for the first time.
This film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name (Kodansha Bunko) by Keisuke Sone, winner of the Edogawa Rampo Prize. Directed by Jōjō, who also directed the film "The Laughing Insect" and the drama "Shinuhodo Aishite" (both 2025), this marks his first collaboration with Yasuko Kobayashi, who wrote the screenplay for the "Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe" series. The story is an unpredictable money survival tale in which the extraordinary fate of people who would never have met otherwise becomes intricately intertwined and transformed into "beasts" of money, triggered when the protagonist, Kanji Sato, played by Suzuka, accidentally finds 100 million yen.
Sato Kanji (played by Suzuka), a struggling college student YouTuber with only a double-digit number of subscribers, discovers a suspicious Boston bag left behind by a customer at the internet cafe where he works part-time. When he opens the zipper, he finds a stack of banknotes worth 100 million yen inside! Kanji instinctively reaches for the bag... This unexpected discovery of a large sum of money leads him into an unpredictable money survival situation...
Director Jōjō spoke of the film adaptation, saying, "My theme for this project was the revival of Toei program pictures, so I paid homage to the many entertainment films that entertained and encouraged me in the past, and did a lot of fun things without regard for appearances. Thanks to the talented cast and staff, I am proud to say that it has turned out to be a wonderful film." Screenwriter Kobayashi introduced the film by saying, "It's a film that doesn't put any burden on your heart. I think it goes very well with popcorn in the movie theater."
Lead actor Suzuka reflected on the filming, saying, "Before filming, I watched some of Jōjō's works and was excited to see what kind of style he would use. The teamwork was great, and everyone was working together to create something good, so we were able to film at a good pace, which made it very comfortable. There were many scenes I wasn't in, and the atmosphere of those scenes was completely different (from the scenes I was in), so I wondered how it would all turn out. The Jōjō team was like a reliable ship. I was just focused on doing my best in my acting."
The newly released Teaser trailer shows a Boston bag overflowing with stacks of cash, placed eerily in the background, with someone searching the suspicious bag, whose owner is unknown. The tagline, "Whose is this?", etched into the visual, adds to the unsettling and mysterious atmosphere, making for an exciting and unforgettable video and visual experience.
Additionally, the official X and Instagram accounts for this project are running a social media campaign called the "100 Million XX Scramble Campaign," where you can win something related to 100 million. What will go in the XX? It could be various units of foreign currency, goods, or even time. The prizes for the XX will be announced on April 1st at 6 PM on each official social media account. You can participate in the campaign by following and reposting on X, or following and commenting on Instagram.
The full text of Ms. Suzuka's comments is as follows:
◇Full comment from Oji Ouji Suzuka, who plays the role of Kanji Sato
When I received the offer, I never imagined I would be able to play this role, so I was surprised and very happy.
It's a thrilling and suspenseful story, but when you see the actions people take when they crave something, or how they cling to something, it might seem comical at times. I think this film allows you to enjoy these aspects of human nature from various angles. Many different characters appear, but what kind of ending awaits them? What will each person end up with?
We would be delighted if you could see it in theaters. Please look forward to it!
◇Full comments from director and screenwriter Hideo Jojo
I believe the most important thing for a movie is that it's entertaining. My theme for this project was the revival of Toei program pictures, so as a tribute to the many entertainment films that once entertained and encouraged me, I went all out and did as many entertaining things as possible. Thanks to the talented cast and staff, I'm proud to say that we've created a wonderful film. Please go see it in theaters. It's really entertaining!
◇Full comment from scriptwriter Yasuko Kobayashi
For this film adaptation, the original author requested significant changes, which put pressure on me as I worked on the script. It's a Japanese film, but it won't make you cry. There's no romance. There's no emotional impact. It's a film that won't burden your heart at all. I think it goes very well with popcorn at the movie theater. I hope you'll enjoy it in the theater and forget about the troubles of everyday life, even if only for 90 minutes.
