Storiesbound to Shoot Japan-Set Psychological Thriller ‘The Degrees Of Pain’ With Luna Fujimoto, Show Kasamatsu and Takehiro Hira

A U.S. production outfit, Storiesbound, is preparing to film a Japan-set psychological thriller titled The Degrees Of Pain, with Luna Fujimoto, Show Kasamatsu, and Takehiro Hira attached to star, according to an announcement reported by Deadline. The project is described as a psychological thriller and is expected to be filmed in Japan, with filming planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Deadline reported that Donie Ordiales is set to direct The Degrees Of Pain. The report also said cinematographer Takuro Ishizaka will handle photography, and that the production will use Wowow Bridge to assist with the shoot in Japan. The plan, as described, is for the movie to film entirely in the country rather than splitting principal photography across multiple locations.

The cast attachments in the announcement place Fujimoto, Kasamatsu, and Hira in lead roles. Deadline did not describe specific characters or plot details in the summary, focusing instead on the production lineup, creative team, and production timeline. The report also identifies Takuro Ishizaka’s prior work as part of the team’s background, noting his role as cinematographer on the film Hikari’s Rental Family.

Deadline’s report further situates the production within broader current filmmaking activity in Japan by referencing Ishizaka’s involvement in a recent project that also filmed in Japan. The update does not provide licensing details, budget figures, or casting beyond the three named actors, and it does not specify whether additional cast members will be announced later.

The production timeline described by Deadline calls for principal photography to start in the fourth quarter of 2026. The announcement does not include a release date or distribution plan, including whether the film will target a specific streamer or theatrical release, and those details remain unreported in the material provided.

For local planning and industry logistics, the report’s emphasis on shooting entirely in Japan means the project’s permitting, production scheduling, and crew and vendor sourcing will be coordinated through the host country for the duration of filming. Wowow Bridge’s role as shoot assistant, as described, points to a need for operational coordination on a production schedule expected to run across Japan-based locations.

No official statement beyond the Deadline report was included in the information provided, and the announcement does not address whether the project’s title will change, whether it will enter production exactly as scheduled, or what the final content rating and post-production timeline will be. Additional confirmations, such as character breakdowns, production start dates, and distributor announcements, are expected to follow as filming approaches.

As The Degrees Of Pain moves from casting and pre-production planning into production later in 2026, attention will likely focus on finalized casting expansion, completed scripts, and the practical details of the Japan-based shoot. For audiences, the most immediate takeaway from the reporting so far is that a new psychological thriller is being assembled around a trio of credited stars and a Japan-based production structure led by Ordiales, with a film schedule set for late 2026.