The film 'BANA_ANA' where Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori approach a hole as 'themselves'

The film 'BANA_ANA', set for release on June 27, 2026, is a comedy starring Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori. It is the second installment following the 2018 omnibus film 'The Bastard and the Beautiful World', with Kenji Yamauchi, who also participated in the previous work, serving as director and screenwriter. The runtime is 88 minutes, it is rated G, and it is distributed by CULEN and Geek Pictures.

What makes this film seem interesting is not just that it stars the three members of Atarashii Chizu. Looking at the concepts introduced in official information and movie news sites, this work is positioned as a film that dares to enjoy 'not knowing' as 'not knowing' in an age where information and answers are readily available. Even on the official website, along with information such as trailer releases and visitor benefits, the promotion continues to emphasize the feeling of 'not knowing'.

In other words, 'BANA_ANA' does not seem to be the type of work where you track the plot in detail before release and understand all the meanings in advance. Rather, what you want to prepare before watching is not the answers to the story, but a physical readiness to accept the strange rhythm of this film.

In this article, to help you enjoy 'BANA_ANA' even more at the theater, we will organize related works to watch before the release, past works by Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori, and works by director Kenji Yamauchi.

We will also introduce points to keep in mind when searching on U-NEXT and a natural flow for using the free trial for preparation. However, since distribution status is subject to change, please be sure to check the official U-NEXT website before viewing.

Having your feet swept out from under you by meaning, just like slipping on a banana peel

At the entrance of 'BANA_ANA' lies a sense of discomfort with 'meaning'.

Nowadays, a lot of information is available before you even watch a movie. Cast, director, synopsis, trailers, analysis, and social media reactions. If there is something you don't understand, you can just search for it, and even after watching, you can read commentary articles and reviews to get a general grasp of it.

But this film seems to be a work that does not follow that flow obediently.

As can be seen from the term 'unknown movie' promoted by the official side, 'BANA_ANA' seems to be moving in a direction that makes you laugh at things that cannot be explained, rather than giving the audience a neat explanation. In the official information from Atarashii Chizu, this work is introduced as a film that 'dares to enjoy not knowing as not knowing in this era where people try to find meaning in everything'.

What is important here, I think, is not that 'not knowing' means 'difficult'.

Rather, because it is a comedy, laughter is born the moment meaning collapses. Things that would normally be explained are not explained. In scenes where emotions should connect, they are slightly off. Conversations seem to be established, but there is a hole somewhere.

Director Kenji Yamauchi is known in the worlds of theater and commercials, and in film, he is a creator who has depicted the strange gaps in everyday life through unique dialogue and composition in works like 'My Friend's Dad' and 'Asia's Unique Country'. 'Asia's Unique Country' is a work introduced as a 'pure social-issue serious comedy' while dealing with discomfort toward nursing care and society, showing Yamauchi's signature style of coexisting serious subject matter with humor.

The key to enjoying 'BANA_ANA' seems to lie in accepting the off-kilter conversations and unexplained pauses rather than understanding the story.

That is why what you want to watch before the release is not just works that supplement the story. Knowing a little about the expressions the three members of Atarashii Chizu have shown in films so far, Kenji Yamauchi's sense of comedy, and the type of Japanese films that 'remain strangely with you even though you don't understand the meaning' will greatly broaden how you receive this work.

Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori approach a hole while keeping their 'real names'

Some theater information introduces "BANA_ANA" as a work that invites the audience into a world where the boundaries between reality and fiction are blurred, with Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori playing roles under their own real names.

This is a very important point.

The names Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori are not just the names of actors. They are figures who have crossed over television, film, stage, music, variety shows, commercials, and social media for many years, and many in the audience likely hold their own past images and memories of each of them.

If those three appear in a fiction while remaining ambiguous about where they end as themselves and where they begin as characters, the audience will naturally start to wonder, "Is this acting, or is it an extension of their real selves?"

However, "BANA_ANA" will likely not answer that question easily either.

"They seem like themselves," "but they are also characters in a movie," "I'm not sure what I'm being shown." That ambiguity has the potential to function as the comedy of the work.

The supporting cast is also intense. Actors capable of creating gaps in conversation and a sense of unease in the atmosphere, such as First Summer Uika, Shuri, Kanji Furutachi, Yoshiyuki Ozawa, and Mitsuru Fukikoshi, are all present. Especially when actors like Kanji Furutachi or Mitsuru Fukikoshi are involved, it is easy to create a feeling where everyday conversation gradually tilts in an unsettling and strange direction.

And the presence of First Summer Uika and Shuri brings the current atmosphere into the work. Shuri is widely known for starring in the NHK serial television novel "Boogie Woogie," and First Summer Uika is expanding her activities as an actor beyond just variety shows. Movie information sites also introduce the lineup of co-stars, including these two.

This is also the reason for watching their past works before the release.

Goro Inagaki's quiet sense of discomfort. The emotions that seep from within Tsuyoshi Kusanagi. The shadow behind Shingo Katori's brightness. If you know their expressions in past films, the gap should appear even more interesting when they appear under their real names in "BANA_ANA".

For those curious on social media, "warming up" is better than "speculating"

For works before their release, one inevitably wants to follow the buzz on social media.

The activity on official X and Instagram, reactions to trailers, fan expectations, and information about stage greetings and theater-goer gifts. For "BANA_ANA" as well, news is updated on the official website, and information such as trailers, release events, and theater-goer gifts is being released.

However, regarding this film, it might be more enjoyable to keep a little distance rather than chasing social media reactions and trying to find the answer to "What is the story actually about?"

This is because the work itself is oriented toward enjoying the "not knowing."

On social media, interest is likely to gather around the expectations of the three members of Atarashii Chizu reuniting, the connection to the previous work "The Bastard and the Beautiful World," director Kenji Yamauchi's style, and the combination of co-stars. Especially when hearing it is a "second installment," some people might be confused about whether they should watch the previous work, if it is okay for first-timers, or which work they should use to prepare.

But preparing for this movie is not about searching for spoilers.

What is needed before "BANA_ANA" is not knowing the answer in advance, but preparing to enjoy being in a time where no answer is given.

To prepare for that, watching the previous work, the director's other films, and past works starring the three of them is just right. Rather than memorizing the settings of the works, it's about getting a feel for the kind of discomfort the actors and director bring into their films. That way, when you find yourself thinking 'I don't get it' in the theater, you'll have the composure to laugh instead of panicking.

The 7 films you should watch before the release are a map to help you understand the 'shape of the hole' in advance.

From here on, I will introduce related works that you should watch as preparation for 'BANA_ANA'.

The selection criteria are not just a simple list of appearances. I have prioritized the connection to the previous work, director Kenji Yamauchi's style, the expressions Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori have shown in films, and their compatibility as a 'comedy where the meaning is slightly off'.

If you are searching on U-NEXT, please note that availability may vary by title. Treat the works introduced here as 'titles to look for on U-NEXT' or 'titles to check for availability,' and be sure to verify on the official website before watching.

1. 'The Bastard and the Beautiful World' | The 'First Hole' you should grasp first

Before watching 'BANA_ANA', the first candidate you should consider is definitely 'The Bastard and the Beautiful World'.

This is an omnibus film released in 2018, and 'BANA_ANA' is introduced as its second installment. Official information from Atarashii Chizu also mentions that the previous work drew 280,000 people during its two-week limited release.

The point of watching the previous work is not just about the direct continuation of the story. Rather, it is to understand how Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori existed within a degree of freedom slightly different from standard commercial films.

Because 'The Bastard and the Beautiful World' is an omnibus, the tone of the stories is not singular. What runs through the entire work is an appeal that isn't too neatly packaged. Instead of polished explanations as a film, the momentum, the project's nature, the actors' presence, and the sense of distance from the fans come to the forefront.

If 'BANA_ANA' is a 'story that runs in reverse from meaning,' the previous work is quite important as a warm-up. If you first experience the sensation of the three members of Atarashii Chizu stepping slightly outside the framework of ordinary films, it should be easier to enter the 'incomprehensibility' of the new work.

When searching on U-NEXT, please pay attention to the title spelling. Since availability is subject to change, please check the official U-NEXT website before watching.

2. 'My Friend's Dad' | Getting used to director Kenji Yamauchi's conversational shifts

If you want to know director Kenji Yamauchi's style, 'My Friend's Dad' is an essential candidate.

This work is frequently introduced as one of director Yamauchi's films, and in the commentary for 'BANA_ANA', Yamauchi is described as the person known for directing 'My Friend's Dad' and 'Asian Unique Country'.

The appeal of Yamauchi's work lies in the fact that while the conversations look natural, they are somehow strange. The characters seem to be talking normally, but they fail to fully grasp the other person's words or shift the meaning for their own convenience. As those shifts accumulate, everyday scenes gradually start to look bizarre.

In 'BANA_ANA' as well, this 'abnormality with a normal face' will likely be important.

When you hear the word comedy, some might imagine loud laughter or flashy gags. But director Yamauchi's humor is drier and more gradual. It's not about easy-to-understand straight men and funny men, but rather a delayed sense of amusement where you think, 'That conversation just now was a bit weird, wasn't it?'

Watching one of director Kenji Yamauchi's films will make it easier to accept the humor in 'BANA_ANA' not as 'lack of explanation' but as an 'intended shift'.

Since availability on U-NEXT changes depending on the time of year, it is recommended to also search by the director's name when looking for it.

3. 'Unique Countries in Asia' | Showing serious matters with a side profile of laughter

As another recent work by director Kenji Yamauchi, I would like to mention 'Unique Countries in Asia'.

This film was released in 2025 and is described as a 'pure social-issue serious comedy' by director Kenji Yamauchi, known for 'Dad's Friend' and 'Dawn of the Couple'. It is a 77-minute film that deals with subjects including nursing care and a sense of discomfort with society.

What makes this work interesting as preparation for 'BANA_ANA' is that you can experience the feeling of 'not being sure if it's okay to laugh' in advance.

Even when dealing with social themes, director Yamauchi's works give the impression of placing that discomfort within strange situations or conversations rather than making loud assertions. The audience is left wanting to think, 'What does this mean?' But at the same time, if you think too much, you miss the timing for a laugh.

If 'BANA_ANA' is a film that enjoys 'not knowing' in an age of information overload, 'Unique Countries in Asia' is a useful reference for understanding director Yamauchi's stance of intentionally presenting subjects that make you want to find meaning as strange comedies.

When searching on U-NEXT, please be aware of the time since release and the timing of distribution. Since distribution status can change, please check the official website before watching.

4. 'By the Window' | Watching Goro Inagaki's 'unknown emotions'

As a film featuring Goro Inagaki, one you should watch before 'BANA_ANA' is 'By the Window'.

Released in 2022, 'By the Window' is a love story directed by Rikiya Imaizumi starring Goro Inagaki. It depicts a freelance writer who is puzzled by his own emotions, as he feels no anger or jealousy despite knowing his wife is having an affair, and it won the Audience Award in the Competition section of the 35th Tokyo International Film Festival.

In this work, Inagaki is very quiet. Instead of exploding with emotion, he is bewildered by the fact that he cannot find the emotions that should be inside him. He should be angry, but he cannot be. He should be sad, but he cannot be. That 'void of emotion' creates the atmosphere of the entire film.

The 'not knowing' theme in 'BANA_ANA' and the 'not knowing one's own emotions' in 'By the Window' are different in nature, but they resonate with each other in some way.

Goro Inagaki can sometimes appear as a person with a certain distance just by being on screen. Even when he is close, he cannot be fully grasped. That mysterious presence seems to be a good match for a film with blurred boundaries like 'BANA_ANA'.

When searching on U-NEXT, it might be easier to find by searching for the names Goro Inagaki or director Rikiya Imaizumi in addition to the title. Please check the distribution status in advance.

5. 'Midnight Swan' | Knowing the 'strength of not explaining' of Tsuyoshi Kusanagi

As a film featuring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, a representative work you should watch before the release is 'Midnight Swan'.

Kusanagi won the Best Actor award at the 44th Japan Academy Film Prize for this work. You can also confirm on the official Japan Academy Film Prize website that Tsuyoshi Kusanagi won the Best Actor award for 'Midnight Swan'.

The genre and tone of 'Midnight Swan' are significantly different from 'BANA_ANA'. That is precisely why it is meaningful as preparation.

The appeal of Tsuyoshi Kusanagi's acting is the strength in the parts he does not put into words. The character's past and pain seep through his expressions, posture, slight pauses, and eye movements. Even without excessive explanation, the audience is drawn to read the emotions on their own.

If 'BANA_ANA' is a comedy that runs in reverse from 'meaning,' then Kusanagi's 'inexplicable presence' should be effective even within the humor.

In comedy, not every actor needs to go all out to make people laugh. In fact, the presence of someone who is just there seriously, someone whose thoughts are unreadable, or someone who seems to be harboring different emotions deep behind their expression, adds to the absurdity of the situation.

Watching 'Midnight Swan' beforehand makes it easier to notice the quiet discrepancies and the unexplained presence that Kusanagi might show in 'BANA_ANA'.

Even when searching on U-NEXT, please check the official website before watching, as availability changes depending on the time.

6. 'The Stand-In' | The darkness behind Shingo Katori's brightness

As for films featuring Shingo Katori, I would like to include 'The Stand-In' as a candidate.

Directed by Kazuya Shiraishi and starring Shingo Katori, 'The Stand-In' is introduced as a work depicting the loss and rebirth of a man who has stumbled in life. Official information from Atarashii Chizu also explains the fresh start of the character Ikuo, played by Katori, and the events that follow.

Shingo Katori has a bright and large presence. He leaves a strong impression on variety shows and television, and he is someone who changes the atmosphere just by appearing on screen.

However, in films, Katori sometimes shows the weight and fragility behind that brightness. 'The Stand-In' is exactly that kind of work. It carries not lightness, but the precariousness, weakness, and helplessness of a man whose life is not going well.

In 'BANA_ANA,' it is impossible to determine at this point what kind of tension Katori will bring to his appearance. However, if it is a work where the boundary between reality and fiction is blurred, the very image of 'Shingo Katori' that the audience holds could be shaken within the film.

The point of watching Shingo Katori's past works is to know not just his bright star image, but also the shadows that sink deep into the screen.

'The Stand-In' is a heavy film, so if you watch it right before 'BANA_ANA,' it might be best to choose based on your mood. Please check the availability on U-NEXT before watching.

7. 'Life, Love' | Experiencing Shuri's acting that shakes with her whole body

As a past work of a co-star, I would also like to touch upon Shuri's filmography. I would like to suggest 'Life, Love' as a candidate.

In 'BANA_ANA,' Shuri will appear as Mrs. Kawashima. Shuri is widely known for starring in the NHK serial TV novel 'Boogie Woogie,' but in films, she is an actor whose performances leave an impression as if her emotions are spilling out of her body.

'Life, Love' serves as an entry point to understanding her charm as an actor, as it is a work where you can feel both Shuri's delicacy and intensity.

In a strange comedy like 'BANA_ANA,' it is important how seriously the co-stars can stand in that world. Even with strange settings or inexplicable situations, if the actors perform sloppily, it just looks like a prank. Conversely, if the actors are truly there, no matter how meaningless it may seem, the screen gains a strange sense of persuasiveness.

Watching Shuri's past works will make it easier to pay attention to her expressions and use of voice in 'BANA_ANA.' What kind of discomfort will she add to the comedy? That is a point I look forward to even before the release.

Please check the availability on U-NEXT beforehand if you are looking for it there as well.

In what order should you watch them? Start with the stepping stone of the "second installment"

I have introduced seven titles so far, but you don't need to watch them all at once.

"BANA_ANA" is a movie meant to be enjoyed for its "unknowability." If you over-prepare and end up seeking answers, you might drift a little away from its true appeal.

Therefore, I recommend thinking about the viewing order based on your goals.

First, if you are short on time, make "The Bastard and the Beautiful World" your top priority. Considering its position as the second installment, knowing the atmosphere of the previous work is the easiest way to prepare. If you have time, watch one of director Kenji Yamauchi's films, either "Like My Friend's Dad" or "Unique Countries in Asia." This will allow you to grasp the direction of both the three members of Atarashii Chizu and director Yamauchi.

For those who want to delve deeper into the expressions of Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori as actors, it seems best to proceed to "By the Window," "Midnight Swan," and "One Night.". Watching all three will reveal the stillness, weight, and the hidden side of the brightness that each actor possesses.

If you want to enjoy the co-stars as well, consider works featuring Shuri. While "BANA_ANA" is a movie starring the three of them, the depth of the supporting cast is also likely to be quite important.

As a recommended flow, I think starting with "The Bastard and the Beautiful World," then a work by director Kenji Yamauchi, and finally one past work from each of the three leads is just the right amount of preparation before "BANA_ANA".

If you are looking for related works, always check "whether it is currently streaming" on U-NEXT

When you want to watch related works before the release, video streaming services are convenient.

U-NEXT, in particular, makes it easy to search for movies, dramas, Japanese films, mini-theater works, and works featuring specific actors all at once, making it an easy choice for pre-release preparation. However, the important thing here is not to assume that "the works introduced will definitely be available on U-NEXT."

Streaming availability changes depending on the time. The status may vary for each work, such as unlimited viewing, rental, streaming ended, or not yet available.

Therefore, please consider the works introduced in this article as candidates you would like to search for on U-NEXT. Before watching, I recommend that you always search for the title on the official U-NEXT website to check the current streaming status.

When searching, it is easier to find works if you search not only by title but also by actor or director name.

For example, if you search for names like "Goro Inagaki," "Tsuyoshi Kusanagi," "Shingo Katori," "Kenji Yamauchi," or "Shuri," you might encounter other appearances or related works that you hadn't expected. For movies like "BANA_ANA" where the actor's own image and artistic style seem to be involved, this kind of cross-sectional search is suitable for preparation.

If you are going to watch a few before the release, use the free trial to "reduce the effort of searching"

If you have read this far and thought, "I want to watch one or two before the release," searching for related works or works featuring the actors on U-NEXT is one way to do it.

The important thing is not to make 'it's a good deal' the only reason to use U-NEXT.

For a movie like 'BANA_ANA', it's easier to enjoy it if you soak up a little of the rhythm of the related actors and director beforehand, rather than knowing all the meanings of the work in advance. It lowers the hurdle for preparation if you can search within a single service, rather than searching for previous works, directorial works, and past works of the three leads separately.

Using the U-NEXT free trial as an entry point to 'choose from related works you can watch without strain' before going to the movie theater is natural.

Distribution status is subject to change, so please check the official U-NEXT website before watching.

If you want to find related works all at once before the release, click here.
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'BANA_ANA' is a movie you probably won't fully understand even if you prepare

I have introduced preparatory works so far, but to say one important thing at the end, 'BANA_ANA' is a movie that you probably won't fully understand even if you prepare.

And I think that's fine.

In the first place, this work is a movie with the concept of enjoying 'not understanding'. Even if you check out the previous work before watching, watch director Kenji Yamauchi's works, and touch upon the past works of Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori, there will surely be moments in the movie theater where you think, 'Wait, what was that?'

But at that time, instead of thinking 'it's no good because I don't understand,' can you think 'maybe it's okay to laugh while not understanding'?

That difference might be the biggest change brought about by preparation.

In 'The Bastard and the Beautiful World', you learn how freely the three members of Atarashii Chizu can move in the space of a movie. In director Kenji Yamauchi's works, you get used to the feeling of ordinary conversations becoming slightly strange. In 'By the Window', 'Midnight Swan', and 'One Night', you learn the depth that Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori have as actors.

If you watch 'BANA_ANA' after doing that, even in scenes where you don't understand the meaning, you should be able to enjoy the actors' expressions, the timing of the conversations, the shifts on screen, and the way their real selves and fiction are mixed.

Preparation for this movie is not to increase the number of answers, but to become a little stronger in 'times without answers'.

Will the 88 minutes you watch in the movie theater end as just a strange experience, or will it become a time that 'lingers strangely even though I don't really understand it'? I think that difference changes slightly depending on what works you watch before the release and what kind of feeling you have when you enter the theater.

Summary | Before the 'I don't understand movie', prepare to enjoy the lack of understanding

'BANA_ANA' is a comedy movie starring Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori, with Kenji Yamauchi as director and screenwriter. While it is the second installment of 'The Bastard and the Beautiful World', it is a work that seems enjoyable as a strange reversal against the modern age that seeks 'meaning' and 'answers' too much, rather than just a sequel.

Works you want to watch before the release are, first, 'The Bastard and the Beautiful World'. Next, director Kenji Yamauchi's 'Friends' Papa is Good' and 'Unique Countries in Asia'. As for the actors' past works, Goro Inagaki's 'By the Window', Tsuyoshi Kusanagi's 'Midnight Swan', and Shingo Katori's 'One Night'. Furthermore, if you want to enjoy the co-stars as well, Shuri's 'Life: Untitled' is also a work you want to include as a candidate.

Of course, there is no need to watch everything.

If you are short on time, watch one previous work and one directed by the director. If you are a fan of the actors, watch one past work of your favorite. If you want to enjoy it deeply, watch one movie starring each of the three before heading to the theater.

Even just doing that, the "incomprehensibility" of "BANA_ANA" should change from mere confusion into a space you can laugh at and accept.

If you want to look for related works before the release, please try searching for the work titles, actor names, or director names on U-NEXT. Since distribution status is subject to change, please check the official U-NEXT website before watching.

For those who want to do a little preparation with the works they can watch before going to the movie theater, click here.

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