It has been announced that actress Shuri will star in one of the segments of the new season of the popular anthology drama "Tales of the Unusual'26 Summer Special" (Fuji TV), which will air on June 27th at 9pm. This will be Shuri's first appearance in the series, and she will play the protagonist who is drawn into a strange world while trying to clean out her childhood home after her mother, played by Hinako Saeki, has passed away.
Shuri stars in "Closing Down the Family Home," one of four "strange" episodes. Natsume Saya (Shuri), a company employee in her 30s, has come to close down her family home in an old apartment complex after attending the funeral of her mother, Emiko (Hinako Saeki ), who was her only family member. When her mother's friend, Matsuno Satomi (Ise Shima), hears this, her expression changes completely, but Saya recalls the resentment she felt towards her overbearing mother and disposes of the things her mother had made by hand.
However, when Saya returns home after taking out the trash, everything has been returned with signs that read, "Don't throw it away!" and "You'll be punished!" The following weekend, Matsuno visits Saya, who is continuing to clean up, with homemade cookies. Matsuno is overjoyed when Saya realizes they taste like her mother's. Saya finds his behavior unsettling, but... The script is written by Minako Yoshii, and directed by So Matsuki.
Shuri , who will be starring in " Tales of the Unusual " for the first time, commented, "I've been watching it since I was little, so I'm really happy. I was excited to see what kind of strangeness it would be. It's a story that could happen to anyone, so I felt a connection to (my role)." Director Matsuki said, " Shuri's powerful and tense performance amplified the appeal of the script many times over," and added, "We were also fortunate to have the legendary horror queen Hinako Saeki join us, and I was thrilled by her horrifying and bizarre performance."
◇ Shuri's comment
--Please tell us how you felt when you were cast in "Tales of the Unusual."
"I thought, 'That's *Tales of the Unusual*!?' I've loved it as entertainment and watched it since I was a child, so I was really happy to think that I could be a part of * Tales of the Unusual* and create a story. I was excited to see what kind of strangeness would be in the story I would be appearing in."
--Please tell us your impressions after reading the script for "Closing Down at Home."
"I thought, 'This is horror...' It's scary, but it's also a story about a parent and child, so even if the circumstances are different, it's a story that could happen to anyone, and it felt very relatable. The horror of humanity sent shivers down my spine."
--How was it filming, playing the main character, Saya?
"Saya appears to be a calm and composed person at first glance, but she harbors feelings of wanting to escape but being unable to, and somewhere deep down, she can't let go of her love for her mother. It was a very intense shoot, and I felt like I was being pushed to my limits mentally."
--Could you please share some highlights and a message for our viewers?
"It depicts the relationship between parents and children and the act of 'closing down the family home,' so I think it's a story that anyone can relate to. I hope viewers will watch it while feeling the creeping fear and sense of unease that comes from within, things they can't tell anyone about. There are various plot points scattered throughout, so I would be happy if you could enjoy it while following them."
◇Comment from director So Matsuki
"It's been a while since I worked with screenwriter Yoshii-san on 'Hakayuu'. This film is also full of the kind of horror that slowly eats away at everyday life, and I couldn't stop grinning from the plot stage, but once filming started, I couldn't stop grinning. Shuri san's powerful and tense performance amplified the charm of the script many times over, so I was excited the whole time. Furthermore, we were able to have the legendary horror queen Hinako Saeki join us, and I was thrilled by her horror-filled, chilling performance. Thanks to this amazing lineup, I personally think we were able to shoot some truly chilling footage that I'm satisfied with for the first time in a long time. If you want to be chilled, we're waiting for you."
