Keigo Higashino Honored at Opening of Film “Swallow and Bat” Starring Matsumura Hokuto and Imada Mio

On February 2, an opening ceremony for the film “Swallow and Bat” was held at Marunouchi Piccadilly in Tokyo. The movie, directed by Yoshiaki Kishi and based on Keigo Higashino’s mystery novel, is scheduled for release on September 4.

SixTONES member Matsumura Hokuto and actress Imada Mio, who play the lead roles, attended the ceremony and paid tribute to Higashino, who died on July 23 at age 68 from colon cancer. Matsumura spoke of Higashino’s ability to “deeply touch readers’ hearts with complex emotions,” while Imada highlighted the film’s careful portrayal of human relationships and the pursuit of truth. Director Kishi and other cast members also expressed their condolences and admiration for the late author.

The event underscored Higashino’s lasting influence on Japanese mystery literature and its adaptations to screen.