The latest VR film, RETSU (The Line), is an immersive VR experience written and directed by the talented young filmmaker Naho Kamimura, based on the novel of the same name (published by Kodansha) by Fuminori Nakamura, winner of the 77th Noma Literary Prize. Through the familiar act of “standing in line,” the film depicts the distortions of modern society—where people cannot escape competition and comparisons with others—and the inner conflicts they face, all with the overwhelming sense of immersion unique to VR.

The Japanese-language version features a cast of talented actors, including Hiromasa Hirosue, Yosuke Sugino, and Fumino Kimura, who brilliantly bring to life these rich and distinctive characters.

Steam: Coming soon

【30s Trailer】

【Making Video】

【Synopsis】
Before he knew it, the man found himself standing in a strange line.
There was no beginning in sight, and no end to be found.
The man was a biologist. Dreaming of one day making a historic discovery and earning worldwide acclaim, he was conducting research to determine whether apes possess intelligence.

Ahead of him stood an unfamiliar businessman, a woman in a purple dress, and a young man in the same work clothes as his own. He feels as though he might know them, but he can’t quite place them. It seems to be a mutual feeling; none of them have any idea why they’re standing in this line.
In a society of constant competition and comparison, how are we supposed to live?
And is it even possible to escape this strange line?

A story that forces us to confront our way of life in a human society where we cannot escape comparing ourselves to others.

【Producer Statement (Kenji Ishimaru)】
In today’s world, where diverse lifestyles and values are shared, why do we find ourselves wishing to be “happier than anyone else”? Through an experience that delves into the nature of human nature and society, this work offers an opportunity to take an objective look at ourselves and the world around us.

【Director Statement (Naho Kamimura)】
We are standing in a “line.”
As long as we are born human, none of us can escape it.
What is a “line”? What is a “human”?
Set against the backdrop of a desolate landscape, we delve into these unanswerable questions.
Isn’t virtual reality, in fact, “RETSU—The Line”?

【Overview】
・Title: RETSU (The Line)
・Runtime: Approx. 30 minutes
・Genre: VR Animation
・Planning & Production: Kodansha VR Lab, Inc.
・Production: Kodansha, Ltd.
・Scheduled Release: Sep 2026
・Audio: Japanese, English
・Subtitles: Japanese, English, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional)

【Awards】
Kaohsiung Film Festival 2026 – Official Selection
ART*VR International Competition – Official Selection
Red Movies – Official Selection
Ice Awards – Official Selection

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【Japanese Cast】
Watashi: Hiromasa Hirosue
Ishii: Yosuke Sugino
Ami: Fumino Kimura
Suzuki: Takeru Morikawa

【English Cast】
Watashi: Daisuke Takahashi
Ishii: Kazumasa Fukagawa
Ami: Yuki Ominami
Suzuki: Daiki Hamano

【Credit】
Director / Screenplay: Naho Kamimura
Original Work: Fuminori Nakamura
Producer: Kenji Ishimaru
Producer: Takuya Nagamori (Kodansha Ltd.)
Executive Producer: Yoshinobu Noma (Kodansha Ltd.)

【Director’s profile – Naho Kamimura】

While working in film lighting, she aspired to become a screenwriter. At the age of 25, her screenplay Aozora no Zarazara was nominated as a finalist for the Kido Award, a prestigious gateway to success in screenwriting, and he subsequently made his debut with an original screenplay. She currently writes and directs films and television dramas.

【Watashi: Hiromasa Hirosue】

Actor / Film Director. Born in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. His special skill is ball catching.In 2000, he co-founded the film unit “Gunjyo-iro” alongside screenwriter Izumi Takahashi. Major Works (Actor / Director) includes film One Morning A Soup (Aru Asa Soup wa), 14 Years Old (Ju-yon Sai), The Devil’s Path (Kyoaku), etc.

【Ishii: Yosuke Sugino】

Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1995. He entered the entertainment industry in 2015 after winning the Grand Prix at the FINEBOYS Exclusive Model Audition. He made his acting debut in the 2017 film Kiseki: Sobito of That Day. In 2023, he appeared in the NHK Taiga drama What Will You Do, Ieyasu? and starred in his first prime-time (golden/prime time) series, Barakamon.

In 2025, he appeared in the TV Asahi Thursday drama A Happy Marriage (Shiawase na Kekkon) and the film Strawberry Moon: Six Months Left to Live. He also delivered a strong performance in the stage play Siddhartha, sharing the stage with Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and others. His recent works include the movie Kyojo: Requiem and the drama Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem.

【Ami: Fumino Kimura 】

Born on October 19, 1987, in Tokyo. She made her acting debut in 2006 with the film Adan. She steadily built her career through appearances in works such as the NHK Asadora Ume-chan Sensei.

In 2014, she won the Elan d’or Award for Newcomer of the Year and landed her first lead role in a TV drama series with Mother Game: Kanojo-tachi no Kaikyuu. Since then, she has appeared in a succession of hit titles, including the Taiga drama Kirin ga Kuru, the Seven Executives (Shichinin no Hisho) series, and The Fable film franchise.

In 2022, her starring film LOVE LIFE was selected for the Competition section of the Venice International Film Festival.

Her subsequent works include Rohan at the Louvre (2023), the Netflix film City Hunter (2024), and the TV drama SKY Castle (2024).

In 2025, she starred in the films Fabricated: The Man Called a Murderous Teacher and Beyond the Summit, while taking on lead roles in the WOWOW drama I, KILL and Fuji TV’s School of Love.

【About the Original Work & Author】

Original Work: RETSU (The Line) by Fuminori Nakamura
Published in Kodansha’s Gunzo magazine
Published in book form by Kodansha in 2023
Awarded the 77th Noma Literary Prize in 2024

About the Author
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1977 and graduated from Fukushima University. He made his debut in 2002 after winning the Shincho Prize for New Writers with The Gun. In 2004, he received the Noma Literary New Face Prize for The Light of Day (Shako); in 2005, the Akutagawa Prize for The Child in the Ground (Tsuchi no Naka no Kodomo); and in 2010, the Oe Kenzaburo Prize for The Thief (Suri). The English translation of The Thief was selected as one of The Wall Street Journal’s Best 10 Fiction Books of 2012. In 2014, he received the David L. Goodis Award in the United States. In 2016, he won the Bunkamura Deux Magots Literary Award for My Annihilation (Watashi no Shōmetsu). His other notable works include A Night of Utter Melancholy, Last Winter, We Parted, Cult X, The Night You Disappeared, R Empire, The Card Dealer, and many more. His published works also include the essay collection Free Thinking (Jiyū Shikō) and the dialogue collection Free Conversations (Jiyū Taidan).

Author Comment
“It was truly a wonderful experience. While condensing the core message and compelling elements of the novel, the film introduces a fresh layer of immersive appeal unique to VR, resulting in a magnificent piece of art. The depiction of unidentifiable places, a line with no visible beginning or end, and the design of the characters were so perfectly aligned with my imagination that I was deeply moved. I am very much looking forward to seeing how audiences around the world will experience this work.”