Taisei Kido

Taisei Kido’s filmography has this weird little knack for sneaking up on you. Let’s start with "First Love" from 2022—yeah, the title sounds all sweet and fluffy, but the movie’s anything but basic. You’re tossed into a swirl of raw emotions, awkward confessions, and that heart-thumping mess that comes with young love. Seriously, they don’t sugarcoat the chaos. Kido’s performance? He’s not just playing some lovesick kid; there’s this vulnerability in his eyes, a little bit of hope mixed with a whole lot of nerves. You know that feeling when you’re about to blurt something out and your stomach’s in knots? That’s him, scene after scene. Jump to "Umi no hajimari" (2024), and it’s a totally different vibe. The story hooks into the idea of new beginnings, with the ocean as this metaphor for, well, life rolling in and out. Kido’s character deals with loss and starting over, and it hits harder than you’d think. The film doesn’t hold your hand—it just lets you sink or swim with him. The way he delivers his lines, it’s as if he’s lived through that heartbreak himself. And then there’s "Sensei! Kuchisake-onna Desu!" (2023), which is wild in its own way—part horror, part dark comedy. Kido manages to go from terrified student to someone who totally owns his fear. The guy’s range is nuts. Whether he’s falling in love, grieving, or running from a monster, he pulls you in. Honestly, you never really know what you’re gonna get, but that’s what makes his movies so damn interesting.