Rome Kanda (“Maniac,” “The Informant!”) and Kuroki Hitomi (“Tokyo Tower,” “Dark Water”) star in “Ohenro,” a Japanese-language drama written and directed by Joshua Woodcock (“One Night in Tokyo”).
Produced by Sean Patrick Burke of 222 Pictures and Andrew Cantella of Kitsune Pictures – with Tokyo Colours serving as the production service partner in Japan – the film also stars Banno Mari (“Red Whale, White Snake,” “The Great Haruko”) and Ahn Mika (“Otonanajimi,” “Pray Speak What Has Happened”). Now in post-production, the project is targeting a festival launch and introduction to international buyers in late 2026.
Set against the landscape of Japan’s historic Shikoku pilgrimage, the film centers on Shinji (Kanda), a grief-stricken alcoholic whose only companionship comes through conversations with the ghost of his late wife Haruka (Kuroki). As his daughter Kyoko (Banno) struggles to keep their fractured home together, Shinji drifts further into delusion, finding his sole tether to reality at a bar run by Mari (Ahn). After his self-destructive behavior drives Haruka’s ghost away, father and daughter set out in search of her, confronting grief, memory, and the possibility of spiritual reconciliation.
“This story carries profound emotional weight,” Burke said. “We were honored to collaborate with such an extraordinary cast and creative team in Japan.”
“The Ohenro pilgrimage became the perfect backdrop for the story I wanted to tell,” Woodcock added. “Even after living in Japan for many years, I found myself continually amazed while visiting the locations we featured in the film during preparation. I’m excited to share this story and introduce global audiences to parts of Japan that are rarely seen on screen.”
“I am honored to bring Shinji’s story to life,” Kanda said.
“There is a growing trend of international co-productions in Japan, but what sets this project apart is its rare balance of cultural specificity and grounded authenticity,” said executive producer Yuske Fukada.
Additional executive producers are Richard D’Amore, Daniel Neff, Braden Neff, Stevin John, Motoko Tabuse, Masao and Mayumi Oka, and Topher Horn. Kanda is repped by Jackson Entertainment Management and Pandium Fusion Talent Agency. Principal photography wrapped in Japan in April.