Tier Co., Ltd.'s Short Drama "Saigono, Arigato." Named Finalist at "SSFF & ASIA 2026"

Tier Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi; President and Representative Director: Norihisa Tomiyasu) announced that its self-produced short drama, "Saigono, Arigato." (The Last, Thank You), has been selected as a finalist for the "CyberAgent Vertical Award" at the "Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2026 (SSFF & ASIA 2026)," one of the largest international short film festivals in Asia. The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 10, 2026.

[About the Award]
"Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA)" is one of Asia's largest international short film festivals, established in 1999 and the only festival in Japan accredited by the Academy Awards. The "CyberAgent Vertical Award," established within the festival in 2025, aims to evaluate new expressions and possibilities in vertical video and to discover the next generation of creators.

[About the Work]
The serial short drama "Saigono, Arigato." is based on the novel of the same name, which depicts the life story of Tier Co., Ltd. CEO Norihisa Tomiyasu. It is a moving ending story based on true events: he entered the funeral industry at age 18, had his life transformed by meeting his mentor Fujita, faced the end-of-life journeys of many people, founded Tier Co., Ltd. in July 1997, and achieved a listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's First Section in June 2014. The finalist version includes scenes added to episodes 1-3, which depict Tomiyasu's initial encounter with the industry and Fujita.

[Distribution and Reception]
The work is distributed for free as a 60-episode vertical short drama on TikTok and as a 50-episode complete horizontal-format drama on YouTube. It has received significant positive feedback, particularly for its careful depiction of the significance and value of the funeral industry, gaining attention even from industry insiders.

[Significance of Selection]
Passing through a tight selection process of 12 finalists out of 663 submissions, this is a milestone as the first-ever feat for a company in the funeral industry. For Tier, having its long-cultivated "sense of mission in life's final ceremony" and "heart of gratitude" expressed and internationally recognized is of great importance.

[Future Outlook]
Following this nomination, the company will strengthen awareness-raising activities to help more people understand the value and significance of the funeral industry. It intends to proactively utilize video content to improve the industry's image and contribute to its further development.