'Straight to Hell' Sets April 27 Premiere: Teaser Trailer, Art, and Additional Cast Revealed

Was Kazuko Hosoki a savior or a devil? Premiering worldwide on April 27, Straight to Hell examines the untold life of one of modern Japan's most influential and controversial figures. Today, we unveiled the teaser trailer, art, and introduced the additional cast members starring in the series.

Born in the aftermath of World War II, Hosoki grew up in poverty and entered the nightlife world at a young age. By her twenties, she was running a series of successful clubs in Ginza, earning the nickname "The Queen of Ginza." Drawing on the instincts she developed there, she later reinvented herself as a fortune-teller whose influence swept the nation. She rose to prominence through her self-created Six Star Astrology and became a household name through bestselling books and frequent television appearances. Revered by some and feared by others, she left behind a legacy that continues to provoke fascination and debate.

Spanning six decades, the series traces Hosoki's life from Japan's postwar recovery through the country's economic boom and into the bubble era, when media attention and money reached unprecedented heights. Against this backdrop, Straight to Hell unfolds as a high-stakes drama centered on ambition, belief, and power.

The series is directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto (The Brain Man, My Last Day of Winter) and Norichika Oba (Gannibal Season 2). Known for their grounded and incisive storytelling, the directors depict Hosoki's life with a focus on realism and emotional weight. Oba has been involved with the project since its earliest stages with Netflix, contributing extensive research that helped shape Hosoki's character.

Erika Toda stars as Kazuko Hosoki, portraying her from age 17 through 66. Her performance captures Hosoki's relentless drive alongside the isolation that accompanied her ascent. "Through her acting, we were able to discover how this one-of-a-kind trickster came to be," says Director Takimoto.

Sairi Ito co-stars as Minori Uozumi, a writer commissioned to write Hosoki's autobiography. Through Minori's perspective, the series explores the line between what's true and what's not. As she digs deeper into Hosoki's past, Minori begins to challenge the woman she is meant to document, setting up a tense dynamic between two women shaped by different eras and expectations.

Minori also learns about the many figures who shaped Hosoki's life - men who deceive and are deceived as they shake fate itself. The cast includes Toma Ikuta, Eita Okuno, Kentaro Tamura, Ayumu Nakajima, Gaku Hosokawa, Kazuya Takahashi, Tetta Sugimoto, and Renji Ishibashi. The women's lineup is just as dazzling: Toko Miura portrays Showa-era superstar singer Chiyoko Shimakura, alongside Yasuko Tomita, Kimiko Yo, Miwako Ichikawa, and more.

The teaser art presents Hosoki seated on an opulent throne, an unmistakable empress, hinting at the influence she commanded. The teaser trailer is accompanied by an original score by pianist and composer Hibiki Inamoto (What Will You Do, Ieyasu?), underscoring the intensity of the series.

Kazuko Hosoki commanded belief, controversy, and immense influence. With Straight to Hell, her long-obscured life is finally brought to the screen when the series premieres April 27, only on Netflix.

Production Information

Cast: Erika Toda

Sairi Ito, Toko Miura, Eita Okuno, Kentaro Tamura, Ayumu Nakajima, Gaku Hosokawa, Yoshihiko Hosoda, Erika Shumoto, Miho Kanazawa, Show Kasamatsu, Tasuku Nagaoka, Yuko Nakamura, Miwako Ichikawa, Kazuya Takahashi, Tetta Sugimoto, Kimiko Yo, Renji Ishibashi, Yasuko Tomita, Toma Ikuta

Directors: Tomoyuki Takimoto, Norichika Oba

Director of Photography: Taro Kawazu

Production Designer: Mitsuo Harada

Art Director: Genki Horime

Sound Recordist: Yasuo Takano, Noriyuki Shimada

Set Decorator: Junichi Ishigami

Edited by: Nobuyuki Takahashi, Masaya Okazaki, Hitomi Nozawa

Music by: Hibiki Inamoto

VFX Supervisor: Yoshinori Makino

Producers: Tatsuya Banno, Tomoo Fukatsu

Line Producer: Koji Harada

Production Companies: Django Film, Corp.

Produced by: Netflix

https://www.netflix.com/straighttohell