TOKYO STRANGE TALE
Neuroscientist Senichi Itabashi decides to test the concept of superhuman ideologies on his own brain, using research materials left by his grandfather from the wartime era. This experiment leads him to see and hear ghosts, yet he struggles to discern whether these visions and voices are genuine or merely figments of his imagination.
Admit this confusion, Ren, a female staff member from his favorite bar, appears before him, though something about her seems off. Upon visiting the bar, he discovers that police have begun investigating her disappearance.
Is Ren truly dead? And if so, who killed her? To verify the outcomes of his experiment and his own senses, Senichi seeks the cooperation of the deceased that appear around him and a medium, delving into the truth behind her death and the identity of the perpetrator.
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コウイチ 上野Directorヤンゴン・ランウェイ、ドリーム・オン・ドリーマー
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コウイチ 上野Writer
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文高 オトグロProducer
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さやか クニイProducer
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文高 オトグロKey Cast"板橋千一"
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リサ 重松Key Cast"吉原蓮"
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コウイチ 上野Cinematographer
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コウイチ 上野Editor
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マリア 川根Music
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文高 オトグロCasting
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文高 オトグロLeading actor板橋千一
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リサ 重松Leading actress吉原蓮
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のぼる 金子Supporting Actor小電間隼人
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ヤスヒト 大地Supporting Actor船堀智久
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タカシ 岡部Supporting Actor小賀武志保
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ハルミ シュウハマSupporting Actress飛鳥時子
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みゆき 佐藤Supporting Actress赤坂イクミ
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Project Title (Original Language):僕を呼ぶ声
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Project Type:Feature
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Genres:Horror, Suspense
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Runtime:1 hour 51 minutes 33 seconds
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Production Budget:20,000,000 JPY
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Country of Origin:Japan
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Country of Filming:Japan
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Language:Japanese
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Shooting Format:デジタル
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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ÉCU - The European Independent Film FestivalParis
France
May 11, 2025
Audience Award -
Portland Horror Film FestivalPortland
United States
June 15, 2025
US Premiere
Official Selection -
BRIDGES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALCorinth
Greece
October 23, 2025
Greece Premiere
Official Selection
Distribution Information
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OTOGURO WORKSDistributorCountry: JapanRights: All Rights
Koichi Ueno, born in Yokohama, transitioned from graphic design to directing. He directs music videos, commercials, and TV programs, and played a key role in Fuji-Q Highland’s "Haunted Hospital" attraction. Recently, he’s focused on feature films and is currently working on "Yangon Runway," a Myanmar-Japan co-production that became the final film of Shinichi Chiba.
I had been thinking about happiness. I believe it was because we were under martial law during the widespread outbreak of COVID-19. I spent time contemplating things I wouldn't normally think about, and memories of my mother came to mind. She was a carefree person, always smiling and humming a tune. She used to tell me various old stories to put me to sleep when I was a child. Among them, her account of the Tokyo air raids remains unforgettable.
My mother, who worked at Nippon Oil in Marunouchi, Tokyo, was fortunate enough to escape harm by taking refuge in an underground air-raid shelter. However, when she emerged from the shelter, the sight that greeted her was a ravaged Tokyo. Black smoke rising, rubble everywhere, and the charred remains of bodies as far as the eye could see. The roads were impossible to walk on safely, and of course, the trains had stopped running.
"I had no choice but to walk along the railroad tracks to get home. But the tracks were littered with charred bodies, and I had to step on them to get by. I kept saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry,' as I walked. They were reduced to soot, crumbling under my feet. It was terrifying."
She recounted her journey back to her home in Yokohama with sparkling, innocent eyes, as if it were a tale of adventure. It’s impossible to share the same view of life and death as someone like her, who faced death among those close to her almost daily. While reflecting on these thoughts, perhaps as a form of escapism, this story was born. And so, this parable is indeed a tale about "happiness."
