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New Trailer for Kazuo Umezu's Mother Film Previews Shokotan's Theme Song

Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web began streaming a new trailer on Thursday for Mother, the feature directorial debut of horror manga creator Kazuo Umezu (Drifting Classroom, Makoto-chan). The trailer previews Shokotan's theme song "chocolat chaud."

Umezu wrote the script for this autobiographical story that will "reveal the secrets of the 'Umezu World' that have captivated readers in various works." The story follows an editor of a book on Umezu's life, as her investigation leads to bizarre incidents and the possible return of his late mother.

41-year-old kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka dons Umezu's signature red-and-white striped shirt to play the creator himself. Kataoka acknowledged that when he heard about the role, he worried whether he would be for right for it since "I look nothing like him." He added that his generation have read Makoto-chan and other Umezu works all the time, but he never thought he would get to meet Umezu himself. Between his Kabuki performances, Kataoka worked on the film, which was shot entirely on location.

Kimie Shingyōji plays Ichie, Umezu's late mother who holds the key to the story. The cast members also include Mimi Maihane as editor-in-chief Sakura Wakakusa and Shōko Nakagawa ("Shokotan").

The film will open in Japan on September 27.