"Black Prison," a film adaptation of Honobu Yonezawa's masterpiece mystery starring Masahiro Motoki and directed by Kiyoshi Masahiro Motoki, was released on June 19th and is currently a hit. It had a great start, ranking first among Japanese films in the opening weekend box office rankings, and as of June 21st, it had accumulated 196,400 viewers and 274 million yen in box office revenue, achieving the remarkable feat of ranking first among Japanese films in the weekend box office rankings and second in attendance (according to Kogyo Tsushinsha). Inside the huge, closed-off room of Arioka Castle, the lord, Murashige Araki, is holed up with a cast of eccentric characters, each harboring ambition and suspicion. When asked about the reason for assembling such a talented and unique cast, producer Satoko Ishida said, "I think it all comes down to the high expectations for 'Kiyoshi Kurosawa's first period drama'." Ishida revealed some behind-the-scenes stories about the casting and filming.
◇Everyone involved was "excited" by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's vision. "Everyone's individuality shone through."
The novel "Kuro Rōjō" (English title: THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER), published in 2021 by Kadokawa Bunko/KADOKAWA, is a popular work that has won numerous awards, including the 166th Naoki Prize and the 12th Yamada Futarō Prize. The story is set in Arioka Castle during the Sengoku period. Lord Araki Murashige (played by Motoki) rebels against the tyrannical methods of Oda Nobunaga and decides to siege the castle, but a series of strange incidents occur. The suspects are among his retainers and relatives who are trapped inside the castle, which has become a locked room... As everyone becomes suspicious of each other, Murashige tries to solve the case together with Kuroda Kanbei (played by Masaki Suda), a dangerous genius strategist imprisoned in jail... This is a psychological mystery set in the Sengoku period. This is director Kurosawa's first period drama and it was officially selected for the Cannes Premiere section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival, held in Cannes, France in May.
The cast includes a star-studded lineup of leading figures in Japanese cinema, such as Motoki, Sugada, Yoshitaka Yuriko, Aoki Ryota Miyadate, Miyadate Ryota from the popular group "Snow Man", Tasuku Emoto, and Joe Odagiri, as well as Yusuke Santamaria, Yoshihara Mitsuo, Ryota Bando, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi, Shibukawa Kiyohiko, Watanabe Ikkei, and Bando Shingo, the eldest son of Kabuki actor Bando Yajuro and a female impersonator, and Kawachi Yamato, who has mainly worked in stage productions such as Shakespearean plays and made his drama debut in the TBS Sunday drama "VIVANT" (2023), and broke through with his powerful presence as the walking man in the 2025 film "Exit 8". The cast brings together unique individuals from various genres.
When asked about the reason, Ishida said, "I myself was thrilled when Director Kurosawa agreed to this project, but I feel that all the cast and staff involved in this work participated in the project with excitement about what kind of work would be created." He revealed that everyone involved was driven by Director Kurosawa's vision.
Regarding the filming process, he said, "It was a set where everyone worked together to create the atmosphere inside the castle as the seasons changed. The film is divided into four blocks representing the four seasons, and some characters only appear in one season or only in one scene, but I feel that everyone created a unique role in terms of their demeanor, how they sit or stand, and even the way they speak. In scenes with a large number of people, such as the war council or the night attack, it could easily become a situation where you're just one of many, but because we had such wonderful actors with great individuality and talent, we were able to create scenes with even more depth and persuasiveness. I was impressed by how everyone's individuality stood out."
◇Yamato Kawachi says the role "matches his own straightforwardness" - the alluring and enigmatic Nobunaga
The actors' passionate performances were a major factor in making the psychological battle in the confined space so gripping.
Regarding Mr. Kawachi, who played Ichirozaemon Itami, one of Murashige's retainers and a man with an exceptionally strong sense of responsibility, the director said, "Among the eccentric retainers, Ichirozaemon stood out with his earnest and straightforward nature, and he portrayed the role with sincerity. I feel that the role was a perfect match for Mr. Kawachi's own straightforwardness. We cast him before he gained attention with his sensational debut in 'Exit 8,' but he had always admired Mr. Motoki, so I was impressed by how happy he was to be working with him." The director reflected that Mr. Kawachi's talent and the role created a wonderful chemical reaction.
Regarding the casting of Shingo Bando as Oda Nobunaga, who instilled intense fear in just one scene, Kurosawa said, "We considered various options with Director Kurosawa for the role of Nobunaga, who leaves a strong impression despite only appearing in one scene, and we decided to ask Shingo Bando, who usually plays female roles in Kabuki, to take on the role. He perfectly embodied the eerie nature of a bewitching character whose thoughts are inscrutable, who instills fear in an instant, and whose terror becomes a thorn that Murashige cannot remove. He also performed in a way that is completely different from when he performs in Kabuki, such as his voice and gait, so I think it will be very refreshing for Kabuki fans as well!" He spoke of Bando's unique and overwhelming presence.
Regarding Ryota Bando, who played Yosaku Kitagawara, a young retainer of Murashige, Ishida said, "He is usually a very cheerful and gentle person, but this time he sealed away his smile and played a hot-blooded young man who is unusual among the retainers for standing up to his lord (Murashige). This is his second time working with Kurosawa, and he has the full trust of Director Kurosawa, so he was a reliable and stable Yosaku. Pay attention to the scuffle between him and Sukesaburo, played by Ryota Miyadate, who was a hot topic on set as 'Double Ryota'." He spoke of the clash of young talents.
Regarding the awe-inspiring presence of Yoshihara, who plays Kawarabayashi Notonyudo, a bald, powerful warrior monk serving Murashige, the director praised his performance, saying, "Yoshihara has been active in musicals and stage productions for many years, including playing Jean Valjean in 'Les Misérables,' but he played Notonyudo with overwhelming power and presence just by his presence alone. There is a scene where he runs up a stone wall and speaks to the people below as if he were on a large stage, and his deep, resonant voice, which doesn't need a microphone, was simply breathtaking and incredibly convincing."
◇There are many fun and engaging features hidden within, with meticulous attention to detail.
Not only does it feature a star-studded cast, but under the direction of Kurosawa, a team of staff members who are considered treasures of the Japanese film industry have gathered, resulting in a film that is a culmination of meticulous attention to detail. Ishida spoke to the audience, saying, "This film is simply packed with Director Kurosawa's attention to detail. From the vertical movements of standing and sitting that are unique to period dramas, to the depth of Japanese houses that changes depending on whether the sliding doors are open or closed, to the contrast of light that is like a black and white film, to the art direction, costumes, location selection, the freely moving camera, and even the shadows of the trees, there are so many interesting and playful details hidden within. I hope that everyone watching the film will discover each of these hidden details and immerse themselves in this world as if they were one of the residents of Arioka Castle!" He passionately shared points to look out for to further enjoy the film.
"Black Prison" is a fusion of the craftsmanship and cutting-edge techniques that Kyoto's film studios are proud of. Transcending the framework of period dramas, this is a superb psychological battle produced by the Kurosawa team with meticulous calculation and overwhelming passion, and you'll want to experience it in the theater. (Naoko Hosoda/MANTAN)
