It has been announced that SixTONES’ Juri Tanaka will star in the first completely original major project “I, KILL” along with Fumino Kimura, a collaboration between WOWOW, Shochiku and Shochiku Kyoto Studio. It will have 6 episodes and will start in May 2025.
Fumino Kimura will play the role of Orin, a former ninja who stands up as a mother to protect her bloodless daughter Toki in an extreme world where monsters known as “Gunkyou” attack, and Shiro, played by Juri Tanaka, a mysterious man who has become a “Gunkyou” while maintaining his human consciousness.
It is 35 years after the Battle of Sekigahara, the most decisive battle in the history of Japan. In the changing times, Japan is finally regaining peace, when suddenly monsters that attack and eat people appear. When these creatures, known as “Gunkyou”, appeared, the Shogunate secretly dispatched a group to defeat them, burnt down the area and covered them up…
The far-flung inn Tagojuku is unaware of such disturbances. Orin (Fumino Kimura), who hides her past as a ninja, lives peacefully as a doctor’s assistant with her bloodless sister Toki. One day, she decides to travel to a distant village to receive medicine to cure Toki‘s illness.
When they arrive in the village, they find blood and human flesh scattered everywhere. Then, a group of evil men with horribly changed appearance attack Orin. At that moment, Orin vividly recalls a painful memory from her past. From here, Orin‘s epic journey to protect her sister Toki, who is as precious to her as her own child, begins.
Meanwhile, Shiro (Juri Tanaka), a “half-Gunkyou” man, has become a “Gunkyou” while still having a human consciousness, and is suffering from not having a past. He has been imprisoned in a place of abhorrence, and is searching for someone in order to discover the roots of who he really is. Through the various human dramas that unfold in this tense survival drama, the drama questions the true meaning of ‘life’ for people today. What fate awaits Orin and Shiro in their struggle? And what is the shocking truth that is revealed in a world infested with “Gunkyou”?
Filming took place from October to November 2024 at Shochiku’s Kyoto Studios and other locations in and around Kyoto. In addition to the fierce survival battle action against the mob, there are many unimaginable action sequences, such as fierce sword fights between humans, and the two practised full-scale action and sword fighting repeatedly until just before shooting the scenes.
This ambitious drama, which also has overseas markets in mind, is a collaboration between up-and-coming creators and the first-class craftsmen and women of the Shochiku Kyoto Studio, which has produced numerous masterpieces over the years. The film challenges the fusion of traditional stylistic beauty and new visual expression.
COMMENT BY JURI
This was my first attempt at a production in this genre, so it was hard for me to get used to the unfamiliar parts, such as standing and posture. I usually don’t get muscle pains from dancing, but my whole body was aching. I felt that the body muscles and brain I normally use are completely different, and I went through a lot of trial and error, which is different from group activities.
I think this project itself is very remarkable. I also worked very hard, thinking that I would be happy if people who got to know me for the first time through this drama would find their way to my group activities. If I am ever given the opportunity to work on a play in the future, this experience may be one of the things that will give me the confidence to do so.
The first trailer was released on WOWOW Official Youtube Channel.
・Official website
https://www.wowow.co.jp/drama/original/i-kill/
Description
The Women | Japanese Drama Movie | 720p HD