Appearance in the movie “Under the Big Onion” (released on February 7, 2025), which is inspired by the timeless classic song released in 1985 by the popular rock band Bakufu Slump, who debuted in 1984 and celebrated their 40th anniversary this year. An additional person was announced. At the same time, an online-only passing visual and special video featuring the “sad profile” of the lead actors Kaede Kamio and Hiyori Sakurada have been released.

[Video]Reiwa and Heisei – special footage of “two loves” that span the ages

The “big onion” in the title of the song and movie refers to the fake jewel that shines on the roof of Nippon Budokan. The ballad, which depicts the faint and sad love story of meeting up with a pen pal at the Budokan for the first time, has touched the hearts of many people.

The movie, based on this famous song from the 1980s, depicts a love story about falling in love with someone you don’t even know, through letters and notebooks. The love between Reiwa and Heisei 2 intertwines, and a miracle awaits the two couples.

Kamio plays Takeru Tsutsumi, a fourth-year university student with no hope for the future. Sakurada will play the role of Miyu Murakoshi, a nursing student who, in contrast to Takeru, is pursuing her dreams straight. The two work at a cafe during the day and a bar at night, so they never see each other. Meanwhile, they communicate through a part-time job notebook, and begin to develop feelings for a person they don’t even know.

Four additional cast members have been announced, who will play the role of “another love” depicted through letters, set in 1989 in the early Heisei era. Ao Ito plays the role of Kyoko Ikejiri, a high school student living in Chichibu who has a vague feeling for her pen pal at the time, even though she is suffering from an illness and living a difficult life.

Daisuke Fujiwara plays the role of Kotaro, a high school student living in Miura who falls in love with his pen pal while writing a letter at his best friend’s request. Airu Kubozuka will play the role of Taiki Fukawa, who asks Kotaro to write for him. Kotaro and Taiki are best friends who belong to the same broadcasting club. Fujiwara and Kubozuka have always been good friends, saying, “I’m really glad that Airu plays Taiki! It’s our third time working together, and I think we were able to build a strong relationship between Torataro and Taiki.” (Fujiwara) ) is talking.

Nanami Taki plays Kyoko’s best friend Asuka Tanizaki. “I watched and studied old Yankee movies in order to play the role of a Yankee girl from the 1980s.I had a great time playing Asuka, who is full of humanity, and I think that Ito-san, who plays my best friend, is a perfect fit for the director. I think the atmosphere is as good as you say.”

The video that has been released is a picture of a faint and sad love story drawn in two eras: Reiwa and Heisei. At the beginning of the video, set in 1989, Kyoko (Ito) and Torataro (Fujiwara) are depicted writing words to a pen friend they don’t even know, putting their precious feelings into each letter. In an era without smartphones or SNS, the two of them grow closer through letters. However, various difficulties stand in their way, including the difference in where they live and Kyoko’s illness.

The story then shifts to 2024, showing Takeru (Kamio) and Miyu (Sakurada), who work part-time at the same place but have never met due to different shifts. The only thing that connects the two of them is a “part-time job notebook” for business communication. While thinking, “I’d like to meet you someday,” as they exchanged words, they were attracted to each other, but couldn’t take the next step…

The famous song “Under the Big Onion” tells the story of two people falling in love with someone they don’t even know yet. Will the two pairs of men and women who pass each other be able to meet under the Budokan? The result is an extremely emotional video, where the gentle and warm singing voices accompany the “feelings they want to convey” that cannot be expressed in words.

■Comments from Ao Ito, Daisuke Fujiwara, Airu Kubozuka, and Nanami Taki

▼Ao Ito

I also write letters when I want to express my feelings to someone I care about, so I’m happy to be able to appear in this production. Before filming, I watched shows from the Showa era and listened to Fujiwara’s songs so that I could get closer to Kyoko’s feelings of being in love.

On set, Mr. Taki talked to me a lot, even though I tend to be shy, and it was fun. I believe that the letter paper and envelope chosen by the person you love, the written words, the words, and the spacing between the lines are all treasures that can only be obtained through letters. We would be happy if this film could serve as a “letter” from us to you.

▼Daisuke Fujiwara

When I read the script, I felt like I was reading a novel and was able to deeply appreciate the story contained in the 5-minute song. I myself really like letters, so it was easy for me to get used to Torataro because there were a lot of parts that overlapped with me. Also, Airu was really good at playing Taiki! I think we were able to build a strong relationship between Torataro and Taiki, which is possible because it was our third time working together. This is a work that makes us realize something important that we had almost forgotten, precisely because we live in a modern world where so many things have become so convenient that we tend to look for the easy way out. Be sure to watch this movie, which is full of human warmth and gives you a sense of nostalgia, in theaters.

▼Airyu Kubozuka

When I read the script, I realized once again the appeal of “pen pals,” and I felt envious and admired the 80s, when things were a little less convenient than now. Since it’s a flashback scene from that era, I mixed in some ingenuity in the acting, such as movement and line phrasing. When I heard that Daisuke was playing my best friend, I was so happy that I pumped my fists. I love Daisuke’s sudden plays. When I was filming, I listened to “Under the Big Onion” every day. I hope everyone listens to the song, gets immersed in the world of the movie, and then enjoys the movie.

▼Taki Nanami

Bakufu Slump’s famous song “Under the Big Onion” is a familiar song that my family always sings, so I was thrilled when it was decided that I would be performing on it! Actually, in order to play the role of a Yankee girl from the 1980s, I watched and studied old Yankee movies. I had a great time playing Asuka, who is full of humanity, and I think the atmosphere matches well with Mr. Ito, who plays the role of her best friend, so much so that the director said they would be perfect for each other. I hope that this song, which is loved by many people, will reach even more people across generations through this work.

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