Program Note
Death metal band vocalist, Nobata Nanase(played by Suzu Hirose), hates her father (played by Shinich Tsutsumi). As a pharmaceutical CEO, he was too busy developing new drugs to attend her mother’s deathbed, so Nanase is inspired to sing lyrics such as “Die! Die!” One day, her father suddenly dies while working on an elixir of life, and an employee, Matsuoka (played by Ryo Yoshizawa), who is virtually invisible within the company, is the only person who knows the truth of his death. Can miracles happen?
From Suzu Hirose, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Ryo Yoshizawa to a special appearance by Satoshi Tsumabuki, this star cast adds great flavor to this playful comedy. Veteran TV commercial director Hamasaki's debut feature film Not Quite Dead Yet ranked no. 1 in the Japanese box office despite the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Ellen Y. D. KIM)