Explore the Making of the Unique Period Drama 'The Locked Castle'! Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa Appears as Special Guest for the 100th 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection'
Key facts
- Explore the Making of the Unique Period Drama 'The Locked Castle'! Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa Appears as Special Guest for the 100th 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection'
- Midland Square Cinema and Office Cinema Rest Co., Ltd. will host 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection,' a talk live event planned and coordinated by film personality Hitomi Matsuoka, to commemorate the screening of the period drama film 'The Locked Castle,' which garnered significant attention at the Cannes Film Festival. For this milestone 100th event, the acclaimed director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who tackles the fusion of period drama and本格 (honkaku - authentic/serious) mystery for the first time, will be the guest, offering a premium talk delving into the behind-the-scenes of filming and episodes from Cannes.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 12, 2026
Direct answer
Midland Square Cinema and Office Cinema Rest Co., Ltd. will host 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection,' a talk live event planned and coordinated by film personality Hitomi Matsuoka, to commemorate the screening of the period drama film 'The Locked Castle,' which garnered significant attention at the Cannes Film Festival. For this milestone 100th event, the acclaimed director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who tackles the fusion of period drama and本格 (honkaku - authentic/serious) mystery for the first time, will be the guest, offering a premium talk delving into the behind-the-scenes of filming and episodes from Cannes.
- Citation
- Explore the Making of the Unique Period Drama 'The Locked Castle'! Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa Appears as Special Guest for the 100th 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection' (June 12, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 12, 2026
Midland Square Cinema and Office Cinema Rest Co., Ltd. will host 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection,' a talk live event planned and coordinated by film personality Hitomi Matsuoka, to commemorate the screening of the period drama film 'The Locked Castle,' which garnered significant attention at the Cannes Film Festival. For this milestone 100th event, the acclaimed director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who tackles the fusion of period drama and本格 (honkaku - authentic/serious) mystery for the first time, will be the guest, offering a premium talk delving into the behind-the-scenes of filming and episodes from Cannes.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 10:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 12, 2026 at 10:29 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 16:52 (6h 22m after Collected)
Midland Square Cinema and Office Cinema Rest Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce the holding of 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection,' a talk live event planned and coordinated by film personality Hitomi Matsuoka, to commemorate the screening of the period drama film 'The Locked Castle,' which has garnered significant attention at the Cannes International Film Festival.
For this memorable 100th occasion, the master director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who challenges the fusion of period drama and本格 (honkaku - authentic/serious) mystery for the first time, will appear as a guest, delivering a premium talk that delves deeply into the behind-the-scenes of filming and episodes from Cannes.
Tickets will go on sale on the theater's website starting June 14th (Sunday) at 0:00 (June 13th (Saturday) 24:00).
Sales will also begin at the theater when it opens on June 14th (Sunday).
We would also appreciate it if you could check the event outline and past event achievements. Please look forward to our milestone 100th event.
Ticket Purchase Page
What is 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection'?
'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection' is an irregularly held talk event jointly planned by Midland Square Cinema and Hitomi Matsuoka, a film personality with over 30 years of interviewing experience. You will particularly appreciate the following charms of this event:
Charm 1: Behind-the-Scenes Insights from a Professional
Hitomi Matsuoka, with over 30 years of experience and having interviewed over 100 filmmakers annually, shares exclusive behind-the-scenes stories that will make your favorite films even more beloved.
Charm 2: A Chance to Hear Directly from Directors and Actors!
Leveraging her extensive network of filmmakers, special guests (directors and actors) may make surprise appearances. The event offers not only in-depth discussions about the films but also insights into the guests' life philosophies and a Q&A session with the audience.
Charm 3: An At-Home Venue for Film Fans and Filmmakers to Connect
In an at-home atmosphere, enjoy various attractions like raffles and rock-paper-scissors tournaments, fostering connections among film enthusiasts. Please note that for this 'The Locked Castle' event, there are no plans for raffles or autograph sessions.
Event Outline
Event Name
"Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection" VOL. 100
Date and Time
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:30 screening (talk event to be held after the screening)
Venue
Midland Square Cinema
5th Floor, Midland Square Commercial Building, 4-7-1 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Screening Film
'The Locked Castle' (Director and Screenplay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
Guest
Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Director and Screenplay of 'The Locked Castle')
Moderator
Hitomi Matsuoka (Film Personality)
Price
Standard admission fee (Muviticket, various exchange tickets, and discount services are applicable)
*Premium seats require an additional 800 yen.
*Due to this special screening, shareholder discount tickets, invitation tickets, and free tickets are not applicable.
Ticket Purchase Page
https://www.midland-sq-cinema.jp/index.html
Past Event Achievements:
Vol. 8 'Yellow Tears' [Guest] Director Isshin Inudo
Vol. 16 'THE SANMYAKU ~Isn't Remote Just Impossible?~' [Guests] Ryuta Sato, Yoshinori Okada, Takashi Tsukamoto, Director Yu Moriya
Vol. 21 'Ringu' (35mm film screening) [Guest] Screenwriter Yo Takahashi
Vol. 50 'Godzilla Minus One' [Guest] Director Takashi Yamazaki
Vol. 75 'Kisaragi' [Guest] Director Yuichi Sato
A Comment from Film Personality Hitomi Matsuoka
"Reaching this special milestone of our 100th event is thanks to all the fans who have supported us. I am truly grateful for the overwhelming response. I look forward to seeing you all at the venue."
Additionally, we have a major event, 'Delicious Film Festival Plus,' coming up in July. For more details about this film, please see below.
https://oiceiga.com/
'The Locked Castle' Film Introduction
©Homin Kawahara/KADOKAWA ©2026 'The Locked Castle' Film Production Committee
Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rebels against the tyrannical Oda Nobunaga and carries out a siege strategy. The castle is surrounded by Nobunaga's army, leaving them isolated and helpless. In a world of war where life and death are constant companions, Murashige was a warrior who upheld the belief of not killing. With his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) as his emotional support, Murashige struggles to protect the castle and its people. It is then that a murder occurs within the castle – a young boy is killed. Subsequently, more strange incidents occur one after another. The suspects are among the retainers and family members within the castle, which has become a sealed space. Outside the castle are enemy forces. Inside the castle are traitors. As suspicion and doubt spread among everyone, Murashige teams up with the dangerous genius strategist Kanbei Kuroda (Masaki Suda), who is imprisoned in the castle, to solve the mystery. What is the surprising truth behind the incidents, and what decision will Murashige reach...
Title: 'The Locked Castle'
Original Work: Homin Kawahara 'The Locked Castle' (Kadokawa Bunko / Published by KADOKAWA)
Director and Screenplay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Music: Yoshihiro Hanno
Starring: Masahiro Motoki
Masaki Suda, Yuriko Yoshitaka
Aoki Munetaka, Ryota Miyadate, Tasuku Emoto
Santamaria Yusuke, Mitsuo Yoshiwara, Ryuta Bando
Yoshimasa Kondo, Toshihiro Yashiba, Katsutoshi Kihara, Yamato Kawachi, Mutsuo Yoshioka, Shusaku Kamikawa, Oushiro Maeda, Shingo Bando
Ryo Ryo Arakawa, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Ikkei Watanabe / Joe Odagiri
Distribution: Shochiku
Opens Nationwide on Friday, June 19th
©Homin Kawahara/KADOKAWA ©2026 'The Locked Castle' Film Production Committee
Official Film Website:
https://movies.shochiku.co.jp/kokurojo-movie/
Keywords:
For this memorable 100th occasion, the master director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who challenges the fusion of period drama and本格 (honkaku - authentic/serious) mystery for the first time, will appear as a guest, delivering a premium talk that delves deeply into the behind-the-scenes of filming and episodes from Cannes.
Tickets will go on sale on the theater's website starting June 14th (Sunday) at 0:00 (June 13th (Saturday) 24:00).
Sales will also begin at the theater when it opens on June 14th (Sunday).
We would also appreciate it if you could check the event outline and past event achievements. Please look forward to our milestone 100th event.
Ticket Purchase Page
What is 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection'?
'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection' is an irregularly held talk event jointly planned by Midland Square Cinema and Hitomi Matsuoka, a film personality with over 30 years of interviewing experience. You will particularly appreciate the following charms of this event:
Charm 1: Behind-the-Scenes Insights from a Professional
Hitomi Matsuoka, with over 30 years of experience and having interviewed over 100 filmmakers annually, shares exclusive behind-the-scenes stories that will make your favorite films even more beloved.
Charm 2: A Chance to Hear Directly from Directors and Actors!
Leveraging her extensive network of filmmakers, special guests (directors and actors) may make surprise appearances. The event offers not only in-depth discussions about the films but also insights into the guests' life philosophies and a Q&A session with the audience.
Charm 3: An At-Home Venue for Film Fans and Filmmakers to Connect
In an at-home atmosphere, enjoy various attractions like raffles and rock-paper-scissors tournaments, fostering connections among film enthusiasts. Please note that for this 'The Locked Castle' event, there are no plans for raffles or autograph sessions.
Event Outline
Event Name
"Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection" VOL. 100
Date and Time
Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:30 screening (talk event to be held after the screening)
Venue
Midland Square Cinema
5th Floor, Midland Square Commercial Building, 4-7-1 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Screening Film
'The Locked Castle' (Director and Screenplay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
Guest
Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Director and Screenplay of 'The Locked Castle')
Moderator
Hitomi Matsuoka (Film Personality)
Price
Standard admission fee (Muviticket, various exchange tickets, and discount services are applicable)
*Premium seats require an additional 800 yen.
*Due to this special screening, shareholder discount tickets, invitation tickets, and free tickets are not applicable.
Ticket Purchase Page
https://www.midland-sq-cinema.jp/index.html
Past Event Achievements:
Vol. 8 'Yellow Tears' [Guest] Director Isshin Inudo
Vol. 16 'THE SANMYAKU ~Isn't Remote Just Impossible?~' [Guests] Ryuta Sato, Yoshinori Okada, Takashi Tsukamoto, Director Yu Moriya
Vol. 21 'Ringu' (35mm film screening) [Guest] Screenwriter Yo Takahashi
Vol. 50 'Godzilla Minus One' [Guest] Director Takashi Yamazaki
Vol. 75 'Kisaragi' [Guest] Director Yuichi Sato
A Comment from Film Personality Hitomi Matsuoka
"Reaching this special milestone of our 100th event is thanks to all the fans who have supported us. I am truly grateful for the overwhelming response. I look forward to seeing you all at the venue."
Additionally, we have a major event, 'Delicious Film Festival Plus,' coming up in July. For more details about this film, please see below.
https://oiceiga.com/
'The Locked Castle' Film Introduction
©Homin Kawahara/KADOKAWA ©2026 'The Locked Castle' Film Production Committee
Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rebels against the tyrannical Oda Nobunaga and carries out a siege strategy. The castle is surrounded by Nobunaga's army, leaving them isolated and helpless. In a world of war where life and death are constant companions, Murashige was a warrior who upheld the belief of not killing. With his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) as his emotional support, Murashige struggles to protect the castle and its people. It is then that a murder occurs within the castle – a young boy is killed. Subsequently, more strange incidents occur one after another. The suspects are among the retainers and family members within the castle, which has become a sealed space. Outside the castle are enemy forces. Inside the castle are traitors. As suspicion and doubt spread among everyone, Murashige teams up with the dangerous genius strategist Kanbei Kuroda (Masaki Suda), who is imprisoned in the castle, to solve the mystery. What is the surprising truth behind the incidents, and what decision will Murashige reach...
Title: 'The Locked Castle'
Original Work: Homin Kawahara 'The Locked Castle' (Kadokawa Bunko / Published by KADOKAWA)
Director and Screenplay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Music: Yoshihiro Hanno
Starring: Masahiro Motoki
Masaki Suda, Yuriko Yoshitaka
Aoki Munetaka, Ryota Miyadate, Tasuku Emoto
Santamaria Yusuke, Mitsuo Yoshiwara, Ryuta Bando
Yoshimasa Kondo, Toshihiro Yashiba, Katsutoshi Kihara, Yamato Kawachi, Mutsuo Yoshioka, Shusaku Kamikawa, Oushiro Maeda, Shingo Bando
Ryo Ryo Arakawa, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Ikkei Watanabe / Joe Odagiri
Distribution: Shochiku
Opens Nationwide on Friday, June 19th
©Homin Kawahara/KADOKAWA ©2026 'The Locked Castle' Film Production Committee
Official Film Website:
https://movies.shochiku.co.jp/kokurojo-movie/
Keywords:
FAQ
When and where will the event with director Kiyoshi Kurosawa be held?
It will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Midland Square Cinema (Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture), with the talk event following the screening.
Where can I purchase tickets for the movie 'The Locked Castle'?
Tickets will be available on the theater's website from June 14th (Sunday) at 0:00, and at the theater from opening time on June 14th (Sunday).
How much does it cost to attend the event?
Participation is based on the standard admission fee. Muviticket and various discounts are applicable, but shareholder coupons and invitation tickets are not accepted.
What kind of movie is 'The Locked Castle'?
Based on the original novel by Homin Kawahara, it's an authentic mystery period drama set in the Sengoku period, following the investigation of serial mysterious incidents within a besieged castle. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, it stars Masahiro Motoki, Masaki Suda, and Yuriko Yoshitaka.
What is 'Hitomi Matsuoka's Cinema Connection'?
It is a talk event jointly planned by film personality Hitomi Matsuoka and Midland Square Cinema, offering insights into the behind-the-scenes and stories from directors and actors.