SixTONES member Hokuto Matsumura has been cast as the lead in the upcoming movie “Mada Minu Kimi e” (まだ見ぬ君へ), which is scheduled to hit theaters in Japan on April 2, 2027. The film is a live-action adaptation of Rieko Obayashi’s novel “Fukuonsei: Mada Minu Kimi e,” published by Kawade Shobo Shinsha, with Mayu Hotta playing the heroine. A teaser visual and a 30-second trailer have also been released.
Hokuto plays Yosuke, a man who has repeatedly failed the bar exam and spends his days as a reclusive freeter. One day, he takes a part-time job as a monitor for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s “audio description” system. The job seems simple enough: for just 30 minutes a day, he remotely describes the scenery unfolding before a visually impaired client, conveying everything he sees through his voice.
Under the rule of “not intruding on the client’s privacy and simply serving as their eyes,” Yosuke begins sharing the world of Nozomi (Mayu Hotta), a woman living far away in Hakodate, while he remains in Tokyo. As he becomes her eyes and experiences the world through her perspective, his emotions gradually begin to surface, and the two slowly find themselves drawn to each other. Hokuto portrays this emotional journey with both sensitivity and depth.
Separated by Tokyo and Hakodate, the only things connecting them are “his voice” and “her vision.” They do not know each other’s faces or names, and under ordinary circumstances, they would never have met. Yet, through her eyes, Yosuke’s once monochrome world gradually begins to fill with vivid colors.
Yosuke, who cannot see a future for himself, and Nozomi, who has lost her sight, find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. Hokuto and Mayu bring this moving and bittersweet love story to life with heartfelt performances.
The picture is directed by Seita Yamagishi, whose work on the 2025 dramas “Sinanthrope” (TV Tokyo) and the ABEMA original “MISS KING” has earned recognition both in Japan and internationally. Rieko Obayashi herself is adapting her novel into the screenplay. Her previous works include the dramas “Watashi no Shiranai Watashi” (2025, Nippon TV) and “Mino kin wa Yuukai desu” (2026, Nippon TV).
Alongside the announcement of the film adaptation, a teaser visual capturing the bittersweet distance between the two lead characters and the film’s atmosphere has been unveiled, together with a special trailer offering a glimpse into the story that begins with their 30-minute-a-day connection.
The trailer opens with Yosuke sitting in front of a computer in a dimly lit room, quietly describing the scenery: “There are no obstacles ahead. Cherry blossoms are blooming all around us.”
As the accompanying lines read, “My ‘voice’ becomes her ‘eyes’” and “My ‘view’ becomes his ‘hope,’” Yosuke, from Tokyo, uses a microphone to paint a picture with words of the scenery unfolding before Nozomi in Hakodate. One of the movie’s highlights is its distinctive visual approach, in which first-person perspective shots are brought to life through audio descriptions, allowing viewers to experience the connection between “his voice” and “her vision.”
The streets lined with trams, the setting sun painting the sea in shades of crimson, and fireworks blooming across the night sky are among the breathtaking sights of Hakodate featured in the film, showcasing the city’s magnificent natural scenery and seasonal beauty on the big screen.
As Nozomi begins to find hope in the thought, “I want to see this world a little longer,” Yosuke can no longer hold back his feelings, confessing, “I want to meet you.” With its one-of-a-kind premise and the pure, innocent moments shared by two people connected solely through voice and vision, the film promises to be a deeply moving story that will touch audiences’ hearts.
COMMENT FROM HOKUTO MATSUMURA
“When I was first approached about the project, I was immediately struck by the original novel’s title. Although ‘audio description’ is a familiar term, the title Fukuonsei left me wondering what kind of story it would tell.
After reading the novel, I was deeply drawn to its warm world and the way its characters strive to live their lives. Despite being a fictional story, it felt so realistic that I could almost believe it had actually happened somewhere in the world. I think the subtle misunderstandings and frustrating distance between the two characters, who are connected only through voice and vision, will deeply move audiences.
Even after reaching the end of the story, you’ll find yourself wanting to continue cheering for the two characters and the people around them as they move toward the future. I hope many people will have the chance to watch this film.”
