Daigo Nishihata of the popular seven-member group Naniwa Danshi and actress Riko Fukumoto have been cast as dual leads in the live-action film adaptation of “Jikyuu 300 Yen no Shinigami” (“The 300-Yen-Per-Hour Shinigami”), a tear-jerking novel by Fujimaru that resonated strongly with young readers. The film version will be directed by Mai Sakai, who is known for works such as the drama series “My Beautiful Man” and the feature films “We Don’t Know Love Yet“ and “Strawberry Moon,” with the same production team behind “366 Days.” This project, which is set for release in theaters this fall, marks Nishihata and Fukumoto‘s first time appearing together in a film.
Nishihata plays Shinji Sakura, a university student who has lost all hope in life after his father’s arrest, his parents’ divorce, and being saddled with enormous debt. Fukumoto portrays Yuki Hanamori, Sakura‘s college classmate, who recruits him for a mysterious part-time job known as the “Jikyuu 300 Yen no Shinigami.”
The newly released teaser trailer opens with a monologue imbued with a sense of emptiness—”It’s a particularly lousy life”—overlapping with an image of Sakura standing motionless in a torrential downpour without an umbrella.
At a rain-soaked intersection, the traffic light changes. “Sakura-kun!” Hanamori comes running toward him from the other side of the crosswalk. Holding an umbrella over the soaked Sakura, she cheerfully makes a strange offer: “Want a part-time job? A Shinigami job.” The teaser, which cuts out this ominous “beginning,” leaves a vivid impression with its beautiful, fantastical visuals created by director Sakai.
Along with the trailer, teaser stills of Sakura and Hanamori were also unveiled. Sakura wears an expression of resignation toward the world, while Hanamori smiles with a devilish charm. Anticipation is growing for the new sides Nishihata and Fukumoto will reveal in their performances.
Comments
Daigo Nishihata
—Thoughts upon receiving the offer
“When I first heard about it, the title immediately caught my attention. “300 yen per hour!?” “A Shinigami!?” After that, I read the original novel, and I was deeply moved by how it delicately—yet at times boldly—depicts the transience and beauty of ‘death,’ a theme that inevitably comes to us all. I wanted to become part of the world portrayed in this wonderful original work, so I truly hoped to take on the role.”
—Working with director Mai Sakai
“I had previously worked with Director Sakai on music videos for Naniwa Danshi, but this was our first time together on a film set.
She has an incredibly strong passion for this project, with clear, love-filled attention to detail, and she is able to articulate her creative vision very precisely, which made her incredibly reassuring to work with. I truly love the beautiful images that Director Sakai captures.
—Message to audiences awaiting the theatrical release
“This film is one that I believe will make you feel that ‘death’ is not only cruel and fleeting, but also possesses a beauty that exists alongside ‘life.’ Please watch, in theaters, the work of these “300-yen-per-hour Shinigami part-timers” as they struggle to connect death to the future.”
Riko Fukumoto
—Thoughts upon receiving the offer
“When I first heard about it, I was told I’d be playing a Shinigami working a part-time job, and to be honest, I couldn’t imagine it at all. I was strongly drawn into the worldview of the original novel, which portrays the unavoidable theme of ‘death’ with beauty even amid its cruelty, and I felt honored to be involved in such a wonderful work.”
—Working with director Mai Sakai
“This was my first time working with Director Sakai, and not only could I feel her deep love for the project, but she was also someone who paid close attention to the actors, the staff, and the entire set. Even when facing scenes that emotionally wear you down, she proactively created an atmosphere where I could feel safe and fully focus on acting. That attitude left a very strong impression on me. Being able to communicate closely with her while building my role was incredibly reassuring and a great source of support.”
—Message to audiences awaiting the theatrical release
“Because there is an inescapable ‘death,’ this is a film that makes you want to cherish the time you are living right now. I believe the characters—each struggling and facing the present in their own way—will surely give everyone a push forward. Please come see it on the big screen in theaters.”
Director Mai Sakai
—Thoughts on adapting a popular novel into a film
“This is a story about two people living in the modern world who work a “Shinigami part-time job.” The more you live, the more you start to feel, “I’ve really become an adult,” and it’s around that time that the harsh walls of reality rise up before you. When you are confronted with the truth that the dreams and future you once envisioned are as intangible as smoke, how would you choose to live? The future you imagined is gone, you have no money, no emotional leeway—you can only exist in a cruel world. Then you encounter a part-time job as a Shinigami that pays 300 yen an hour. “Shinigami part-time job”—it’s a phrase that really piques your curiosity, isn’t it? Please look forward to discovering what kind of world awaits, what the two characters portrayed by Nishihata and Fukumoto will see. With a constant awareness of a clear, fleeting atmosphere like a snowy morning, the entire cast and staff have carefully crafted this film while cherishing Fujimaru-sensei’s novel.”
—On Daigo Nishihata
“In the past, I was in charge of intermission footage for one of Naniwa Danshi’s concerts before their debut. I still vividly remember being overwhelmed by Nishihata’s concentration and the way he poured his soul into his acting on set. My wish to someday work with him as an actor was fulfilled with this project. On set, he displayed overwhelming expressive power, and I witnessed many moments where he pushed beyond his own limits. As the lead, he consistently guided and energized the entire production.”
—On Riko Fukumoto
“This time, I asked Fukumoto to take on many challenges. Her role is pure and innocent, yet slightly reckless and incredibly dependable.
I had always been aware of her wonderful smile—delicate, graceful, beautiful. But seeing her smile with a devilish charm in this project was something entirely new for me.
You’re drawn into her eyes; she feels real, yet somehow like an illusion—and before you know it, she leads you into the world of the story. The days we spent repeatedly discussing and building the performances together are truly irreplaceable memories.”