A Choir Drama Born From Ikimonogakari's "YELL"
Kiriko no Takuto YELL draws its concept from J-pop group Ikimonogakari's 2009 hit single "YELL," a graduation anthem that became a fixture of Japan's national choir competition circuit. The film follows Kiriko, a celebrated music teacher who guided students to so many choir titles that she earned the nickname "the guaranteed champion." After Kiriko abruptly resigned and disappeared, her former student Kitamura Shō (Taiyu Fujiwara), now a music magazine reporter, reconnects with old classmates to piece together what happened to their missing mentor.
The production was filmed entirely on location in Atsugi, Kanagawa, the same city where the original "YELL" music video was shot. It was produced as part of Atsugi's 70th city anniversary celebration. Kyōka Suzuki (鈴木京香) leads the cast as Kiriko, joined by an ensemble that includes Kyōko Koizumi (小泉今日子), Ikue Sakakibara, Hiroyuki Konishi, Shin Takuma, and Yūko Natori. Director Toshirō Saiga (雑賀俊朗) helms the project.
Three Former Choir Members Join the Cast
The newly announced cast members play Shō's former choir classmates, now adults navigating their own struggles.
Manami Igashira (井頭愛海) takes on the role of Nishikawa Karen, a woman who works at a flower shop while caring for her mother with early-onset dementia. In her official comment, Igashira described Karen as a gentle woman with rich sensitivity, noting that the film's standout element is the choir itself, which the cast rehearsed extensively before shooting.
Momoko Tanabe (田辺桃子) plays Minamino Aoi, a character she describes as having "the boundless brightness and energy of a summer sky," someone who pushes the group forward. Tanabe pointed to the visible transformation in the choir members' expressions and unity from their early rehearsals to the final performance.
Takumi Nishigaki (西垣匠) rounds out the trio as Higashiyama Shingo, a role he plays in both the student and adult timelines. Nishigaki noted the challenge of portraying different internal conflicts at each stage of life, and mentioned that this was his first time attempting choir singing.
TUBE Meets FRUITS ZIPPER on the Theme Song
The film's theme song, "Kodoku na Harmony" (Lonely Harmony), pairs two artists from different generations, both Atsugi natives. Nobuteru Maeda, vocalist of summer rock veterans TUBE, and Runa Nakagawa of idol group FRUITS ZIPPER agreed to collaborate after learning the film was shot entirely in their hometown. The track blends warmth with a sense of longing. A release date for the song has not been announced.
A newly released teaser trailer features students rehearsing on a lush green hillside and Kiriko declaring, "Our goal is to compete in the choir competition!" The first half of the footage showcases the choir's performance of "YELL," while the second half features "Hakuchō" (Swan), an original in-film song performed by Taiyu Fujiwara.
Saiga has also written a novelization of the film, set for release on July 23 from publisher Takeshobo (竹書房). The novel will expand on character backstories not covered in the theatrical version.
Looking Ahead
Kiriko no Takuto YELL opens on October 2, 2026 at the Shinjuku Piccadilly cinema and theaters across Japan.