BREAKING NEWS: American film company Storiesbound is set to begin production of the psychological thriller The Degrees Of Pain in Japan, featuring actors Luna Fujimoto, Show Kasamatsu, and Takehiro Hira.
The film, directed by Donie Ordiales, will commence shooting across various locations in Japan starting the last quarter of 2026, with production support from Wowow Bridge. Takuro Ishizaka, known for his work on Hikari’s Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser, is on board as the cinematographer.
Luna Fujimoto is a well-recognized actress in both Asia and the U.S., with notable roles in Blade Of The 47 Ronin, Sniper: G.R.I.T. Global Response & Intelligence Team, and the Jackie Chan action film The Shadow’s Edge.
Show Kasamatsu has gained acclaim through his performances in the HBO/Wowow series Tokyo Vice and Disney’s Japanese series Gannibal. Takehiro Hira is known for his roles in Shogun and Rental Family, and he previously starred in Ordiales’ 2024 action thriller Crosspoint, a joint Philippine-Japanese film featuring Carlo Aquino.
Additional cast members for The Degrees Of Pain include Japanese actress Rila Fukushima and esteemed actor-director Naoto Takenaka. The ensemble also features Pervis Taylor, Ivan Collazo, Kosei James Ono, Masahiro Usui, and Sho Ikushima. More actors from the U.S. are expected to join the cast, with announcements pending.
The screenplay is penned by Steven LeFever, Mark Tonderai, and Cordero Sinclair. It narrates the journey of an American writer who travels to Tokyo to reunite with an actress he loves, only to find himself caught up in the complex dynamics of her influential family and their protectors.
The executive production team includes Aaron and Brandon Gilbert, Anky Cyriaque, Bobby Yan, and Rodney Hazard.
The production team is looking to take advantage of Japan’s recently revived cash rebate program, which offers up to $10M (JPY1.5BN) per project. This incentive, relaunched at the end of March 2026 for a two-year period, has been attracting a growing number of international film projects to Japan, such as Rental Family, The Smashing Machine, and Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters Season 2.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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