Tokyo Vice Star Show Kasamatsu Joins Psychological Thriller The Degrees of Pain

Luna Fujimoto, Show Kasamatsu, and Takehiro Hira lead the international thriller The Degrees of Pain.

Luna Fujimoto, Show Kasamatsu and Takehiro Hira Join Japan-Set Psychological Thriller The Degrees of Pain

A new international psychological thriller is preparing to begin production in Japan, with Luna Fujimoto, Show Kasamatsu, and Takehiro Hira leading the cast of The Degrees of Pain.

According to Deadline, U.S.-based production company Storiesbound is developing the project with director Donie Ordiales at the helm. Production is scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2026, with filming taking place entirely in Japan.

The film will be supported by Wowow Bridge, which is assisting with the Japanese production. Cinematography will be handled by Takuro Ishizaka, whose recent credits include Hikari's Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser.

Written by Steven LeFever, Mark Tonderai, and Cordero Sinclair, The Degrees of Pain follows an American writer who travels to Tokyo to reunite with an actress he has fallen in love with. Upon arriving in Japan, he finds himself drawn into a complex web involving the actress's influential family and the powerful figures surrounding them.

As the relationships deepen, the story develops into a psychological thriller centered on power, control, and personal obsession.

The cast brings together performers familiar to both Japanese and international audiences.

Luna Fujimoto's credits include Blade of the 47 Ronin, Sniper: G.R.I.T. Global Response & Intelligence Team, and Jackie Chan's upcoming action drama The Shadow's Edge.

Show Kasamatsu has gained international recognition through his performances in HBO and Wowow's Tokyo Vice as well as Disney's Japanese-language thriller series Gannibal.

Takehiro Hira continues to build momentum following acclaimed roles in Shogun and Rental Family. He also previously collaborated with director Donie Ordiales on the 2024 Philippine-Japanese action thriller Crosspoint.

Additional cast members include Rila Fukushima, veteran actor and filmmaker Naoto Takenaka, Pervis Taylor, Ivan Collazo, Kosei James Ono, Masahiro Usui, and Sho Ikushima. Producers have also confirmed that additional U.S.-based cast members will be announced at a later date.

Executive producers on the project include Aaron Gilbert, Brandon Gilbert, Anky Cyriaque, Bobby Yan, and Rodney Hazard.

The production also plans to apply for Japan's recently relaunched international production rebate program. The incentive, which returned in March 2026, offers up to $10 million per project and has already attracted major productions including Rental Family, The Smashing Machine, and Season 2 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

With an international cast, a Tokyo setting, and a creative team spanning multiple countries, The Degrees of Pain continues the growing trend of cross-cultural productions utilizing Japan as both a setting and production hub.

No release date has been announced.