Stage greeting to commemorate the release of "Home Sweet Home"

Starring Rintaro Hachimura (WATWING), Atsuki Masuko (GENIC), Kiita Komakine, and Koki Maeda, the stage-original home comedy "Home Sweet Home," a one-situation time-slip home comedy set in a closet, is now showing nationwide from September 4th (Friday)!
This film, directed by Tomoki Kanazawa, who has worked on popular productions such as "Hanzawa Naoki," "SABAKAN," and "Sanctuary," is a long-awaited movie adaptation of a legendary stage play that premiered in 2006 and captivated audiences, now in its 20th year. What if your future family traveled through time and came out of a closet?! Set in a downtown rice cracker shop, this unique world of "time travel x family love x downtown nostalgia" depicts the reunion of parents and children across generations and the warmth of facing family with laughter and tears. A closet time-slip home comedy has been born that will make you laugh, cry, and long for your own family.
At the Kino Cinema Shinjuku, a stage greeting event was held to commemorate the film's release, with Rintaro Hachimura (WATWING), Atsuki Masuko (GENIC), Kiita Komakine, and Koki Maeda appearing in suits. The four, who are close friends in real life, engaged in a variety of conversations, including stories about their families and childhood memories, all related to the film.

■This film is a closet time-slip comedy, and the story really starts to unfold when the son and grandson arrive from the future.
This story is about families staying connected across time, but what comes to mind for you when you hear the word "home"?

Rintaro Hachimura: When I hear the word "home," the first thing that comes to mind is Home Alone. ...Just kidding (laughs). I belong to a group called WATWING, and the song "Home," which we all wrote together, immediately came to mind. It's a song about how "the group is my home." Now, let's start a little English lesson (laughs). "House" often refers to a specific place, but I feel that "Home" has a stronger conceptual element. So, I think there isn't just one home, but many different places for different people.

Atsuki Masuko: My home is the hearts of my fans! Like Rintaro Hachimura's WATWING, I belong to a group called GENIC. I think GENIC is the place where I can be myself when I come back from my solo work. I think my home is the hearts of GENIC and all of our fans.

Komakine Aota: I consider the fan club "KiiTomo" to be my home. It's a warm place where kind-hearted people have gathered for a long time and have accepted even someone as inexperienced as me.

Koki Maeda: My home is my agency, Horipro!! ...To be a little more serious (laughs), if I had to describe home in one word, I think it would be "a place where I am loved." My fan club is also a very home-like place for me, and I consider a "space where I am loved" to be my concept of home.

Ayuta Yoshikawa: I've worked on various projects, and I always look forward to going to the set. Every time I create something, I feel a sense of warmth when I get together with the friends, staff, and actors I meet on set.

■We've obtained photos of everyone from their childhood! What kind of child were you?

Hachimura: I've loved heroes ever since I was little. I love Ultraman, and I always wanted to be Kamen Rider, so I would transform all the time. I always thought I would become a hero someday! So I'm jealous of these two (Masuko and Komakine).

Masuko: I loved being the center of attention. Also, I was very close to my grandmother, so I was always with her. There was a steep slope right in front of my grandmother's house, and it was hard enough just to climb it, but my grandmother would carry me on her back. I remember saying, as the setting sun shone on me, "Someday I'll carry you in my arms, Grandma."

Komakine: I wasn't a very energetic child (laughs), so I guess I was in a good mood when this photo was taken? (laughs)

Maeda: This photo is from when I was about six years old. Every winter I would go to my grandparents' house in Sapporo. I was building a snow igloo, and this picture shows me with a happy expression after it was finally finished. I have an older brother and a younger sister, and I was the mischievous second son.

Yoshikawa: This is a photo taken before going to a festival, and it's probably the first time I started to develop a sense of self (laughs). I've loved movies since then, especially Star Wars.

■If you could talk to yourself at this time, what would you say?

Hachimura: There will be tough times, but lots of people will support you, so keep going!

Masuko: I'd like to say to you, "In about 20 years, you'll meet lots of friends!"

Komakine: I hope you live freely and in your own way. Also, make sure you study money and English properly (laughs).

Maeda: At this age, she was also doing karate. I don't think she ever imagined back then that it would lead to a job, but now she might be able to become someone who can deliver something, even just a little, to many people, so I hope she continues to enjoy using her athletic abilities. I tell her to just keep being herself.

■Message to all visitors

Hachimura: This movie starts with someone time-traveling by entering a closet in their house. They end up in the wrong era, but ultimately they are able to meet up with four generations of family, which is something that would never happen in today's world, but it's a wonderful movie that allows you to reaffirm the love of family.
Families come in many forms, and I think they encompass a wide range of feelings and emotions.
I don't think everyone necessarily agrees with the statement, "I love my family."
Even so, I think that everyone, to a greater or lesser extent, is the same in that they were "born into a family."
I can never go back to the time before I was born, but I hope that through this movie, you'll be able to imagine, even just a little, what it was like when you were born.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on June 5, 2026 by Yurie Watanabe, second-year student at Josai International University

The movie "Home Sweet Home"
Opening nationwide on Friday, September 4th.
Cast: Rintaro Hachimura (WATWING), Atsuki Masuko (GENIC), Yuno Ohara, Kasumi Yamaya　
Atsuki Kashio, Haru Fujita, Doronzu Ishimoto / Aota Komakine, Koki Maeda
Director: Ayuta Yoshikawa　
Original work by: Tomoki Kanazawa (stage play "HOME SWEET HOME")　
Screenplay: Jun Hagimori　
Executive Producers: Horipro, Avex Pictures　　
Distribution and publicity: NAKACHIKA　
©2026 "Home Sweet Home" Film Production Committee
https://hsh-movie.jp/

Rurika Abe (3rd year, Showa Women's University) / Yurie Watanabe (3rd year, Josai International University) / Haruna Shoji (4th year, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences)