movel Produces Kitakyushu City Tourism PR Short Drama 'Kitakyushu de Koi no Yoshu'

movel Inc. (located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuki Kawai), a member of the gaaboo Inc. (located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Masataka Tsuji) Group, announces that it has planned, produced, and managed 'Kitakyushu de Koi no Yoshu' (Love Practice in Kitakyushu), a vertical short drama set in Kitakyushu City, as part of the Kitakyushu City Tourism Division's SNS outreach support. This is a new tourism PR initiative that promotes the charms of Kitakyushu City through a natural story unfolding within the short drama. In this work, three high school students living in Kitakyushu embark on a journey through the city, driven by love, unfolding a comedic coming-of-age story. Set against the backdrop of Kitakyushu City's tourist spots such as Mojiko Retro, Sandwitch Factory OCM, Takatoyama, and Wakato Bridge, the drama beautifully intertwines the attractive cityscapes with the bittersweet stirrings of first love that gradually change. The first part of the drama began streaming on March 30, 2026, on the newly established official Kitakyushu City Tourism TikTok account and official Instagram. The second part will be released on May 11, and the short drama will also begin broadcasting on digital signage at JR Kokura Station. **Background of Tourism PR Short Drama Production** As movel strengthens its support for short drama production, this project was launched with the aim of creating content that would be a 'catalyst' for Kitakyushu City's official tourism SNS outreach. While Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts tend to attract a younger audience due to the nature of SNS, adopting a drama format aims to reach not only young people but also a wider range of age groups. **Three Features and Commitments of This Work** 1. **New Value Co-created with 'All Kitakyushu' Locations and Cast** All filming was conducted within Kitakyushu City, and the locations chosen for the drama include famous tourist spots synonymous with Kitakyushu, as well as beloved local spots. For example, for night scenes, instead of the classic tourist spot 'Sarakurayama,' 'Takatoyama' was intentionally chosen for filming, incorporating the city's charm that even locals would appreciate. All four main cast members are also high school students from Kitakyushu City. Kitakyushu, which established Japan's first film commission, has a strong passion for film and video production among its citizens. High school students from Higashi Chikushi Gakuen High School, which has a drama course, participated in this work. By co-creating on set with Gen Z producers and active high school students, the production pursued authentic emotional expressions, aiming to depict a more realistic coming-of-age story. Furthermore, by featuring local youth, it created value as a new form of citizen-participatory tourism PR. 2. **The Magic of Transforming 'Famous Tourist Spots' into 'Special Locations'** The story features numerous famous Kitakyushu City tourist spots, including Mojiko Retro, which has recently gained attention as a filming location, Cafe OCM known for its specialty sandwiches, Wakato Bridge, and Wakato Ferry. Rather than simply introducing them as tourist destinations, the drama overlays them with story and situations (e.g., a confession scene and Wakato Bridge) to portray them as 'special locations.' 3. **A First Attempt by Local Government × Youth Sensibility × Cannes Award-Winning Director** This project is a pioneering tourism PR initiative that utilizes 'vertical short dramas' in collaboration with a local government to convey the charm of tourist destinations to a wide range of generations. By combining Kitakyushu City, rich in nature, culture, and history with numerous attractive tourist spots, movel's production capabilities that capture youth trends, and the reliable visual beauty and storytelling of Cannes Film Festival award-winning director Masamuta Motoki, a high-quality drama work was completed, rather than just a PR video introducing tourist spots. The production focused on a structure that naturally conveys the charm of Kitakyushu City to a wide range of generations, including younger ones, by incorporating direction where 'the city supports youth's romance' alongside the protagonists' love story, depicting famous places as 'locations for special experiences.' **Work Outline** * **Title**: Kitakyushu City Short Drama 'Kitakyushu de Koi no Yoshu' * **Release Date**: March 30 (Mon) May 11 (Mon) * **Content**: A comedic coming-of-age story where Yuta, who has no romantic experience, involves his best friend Ryunosuke and childhood friend Aimi in a 'date practice' tour of Kitakyushu City, in preparation for his first date with a girl he met online. The drama depicts the emotional changes of high school students gradually growing through love, linked with the charms of Kitakyushu City. * **Cast**: Yuta: Kanta Nishiyama