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mentor

Mentor is in theaters nationwide in Japan and has passed 400 million yen and 290,000 admissions in 19 days, with its theater count expanded from 204 to 224 screens as of November 4. Go Ayano's performance as Nohon is drawing award-season talk.

Synthesized from 15 Yomimono stories · updated 9h ago

Mentor opened on October 16 on 204 screens and drew 103,822 admissions with 161.64 million yen over four days, the strongest opening cited for a Keisuke Yoshida film in these stories. By November 5 it had reached 400 million yen and 290,000 admissions in 19 days, and the booking had grown from 204 to 224 theaters as of November 4, with more than 20 second-run venues added on word of mouth rather than a new marketing push.

The film's international life started before its domestic release. It premiered in the International Competition at the 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival, where screenings on October 10 and 11 drew over 200 people and the film took the NETPAC Best Asian Film award, with jurors citing its treatment of forgiveness. It also screened at the 26th Kaohsiung Film Festival, where Hayato Isomura, Seiya Suezawa and Yoshida appeared on stage. The cast is led by Isomura as Ryunosuke and Suezawa as Takumi, childhood friends whose lives changed when a fireworks fire broke out 15 years earlier, with Go Ayano as the burn-scarred Nohon, a role that requires about three hours of special makeup.

Promotion ran through the opening and past it: three character PVs split by Ryunosuke, Takumi and Nohon in early October, an opening-day greeting on October 16, a Tokyo stage greeting on the 29th where Yoshida called for an improvised hug between the leads, and set photos released in November. Social media reactions to Ayano's performance have prompted talk of a Best Supporting Actor nomination, though no award body has acted on it in these stories.

Key facts

Theatrical run
In theaters nationwide in Japan ↗
Box office to date
400 million yen and 290,000 admissions in 19 days from its October 16 opening ↗
Theater count
Grew from 204 screens at opening to 224 theaters as of November 4 ↗
Opening four days
103,822 admissions and 161.64 million yen on 204 screens ↗
Warsaw award
NETPAC Best Asian Film at the 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival, with jurors citing its treatment of forgiveness ↗
Director
Keisuke Yoshida ↗
Leads
Hayato Isomura as Ryunosuke and Seiya Suezawa as Takumi, with Go Ayano as Nohon ↗
Nohon makeup
About three hours of special makeup, using a silicone cast of Ayano's face in five pieces ↗
Kaohsiung screening
Screened at the 26th Kaohsiung Film Festival with Isomura, Suezawa and Yoshida present ↗
Release date
Nationwide opening on Friday, October 16 ↗

Timeline

Written with AI from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced. See our editorial policy. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Release
live_action · 2026-10-24 · Kaohsiung · 2026-10-26
Release
movie · 2026-10-16 · Japan · 2026-07-02
Release
live_action · 2026-10-16 · Japan · 2026-06-06
Release
movie · 2026-10-10 · Poland · 2026-10-13
Release
movie · October 2026 · 2026-06-08
Release
live_action · now in theaters nationwide · 2026-11-07
Release
movie · three character PVs · 2026-10-07
Noted
Mentor has earned 400 million yen and drawn 290,000 admissions in 19 days · 2026-11-05
Noted
Mentor opened on 204 screens nationwide · 2026-11-05
Noted
Mentor is booked at 224 theaters as of November 4 · 2026-11-05
Announced
stage greeting event in Tokyo thanking audiences for box-office success · 2026-10-29
Announced
selected for the competition section of the 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival (42nd Warsaw International Film Festival) · 2026-09-17
Announced
selected for Taiwan's 26th Kaohsiung Film Festival (26th Kaohsiung Film Festival) · 2026-09-17
Announced
main trailer, scene photos, and cast comments · 2026-08-07

Connections

Produces of
Seiya Suezawa

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/mentor. CC BY 4.0.

All coverage

10h ago

Go Ayano Draws Award Talk for His Chilling Turn as Nohon in mentor

Go Ayano plays Nohon in Keisuke Yoshida's film mentor, now in theaters nationwide, with Hayato Isomura and Seiya Suezawa as co-leads. Social media comments praising Ayano's performance have poured in, and some are pushing him as a strong candidate for Best Supporting Actor in this year's film award races. Behind-the-scenes photos from the set have been released.

2d ago

Mentor Passes 400 Million Yen And 290,000 Tickets In 19 Days

Cinema Today reports that Mentor, starring Hayato Isomura and Aぇ! group's Seiya Suezawa with Go Ayano as the title mentor, has earned 400 million yen and drawn 290,000 admissions in 19 days from its October 16 opening. The film opened on 204 screens nationwide and is now booked at 224 theaters as of November 4, adding more than 20 second-run venues. A new still of a scene between Ryunosuke and Takumi was released.

Oct 29

Isomura and Suezawa Hug On Stage at mentor Event

Hayato Isomura and Seiya Suezawa took the stage in Tokyo on the 29th for a stage greeting thanking audiences for the box-office success of the film mentor, with director Keisuke Yoshida also appearing. Talk turned to hugging, a motif in the film, and when neither actor had much to offer, Yoshida called for an improvised scene. The two embraced on stage and the venue erupted.

Oct 26

Hayato Isomura and Seiya Suezawa Greet Kaohsiung Crowd at mentor Screening

Hayato Isomura and Seiya Suezawa attended the 26th Kaohsiung Film Festival with director Keisuke Yoshida for a screening of mentor. At a press conference on local time the 24th, Suezawa talked through the film's dogeza scene, which Yoshida said he shot as comedy. The three then sat with local moviegoers for the screening, and Isomura delivered his greeting in the local language and named co-star Go Ayano as his mentor.

Oct 20

Yoshida Keisuke's Mentor Passes 1.5 Billion Yen Start and Wins Warsaw Asian Film Award

Keisuke Yoshida's film Mentor opened October 16 on 204 screens and drew 103,822 admissions with 161.64 million yen in ticket revenue over four days. Hayato Isomura and Seiya Suezawa star, with Go Ayano co-starring. The film also took the NETPAC Best Asian Film award at the 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival, where jurors cited its treatment of forgiveness.

Oct 13

Yoshida's Mentor Lands World Premiere at Warsaw Film Festival

Keisuke Yoshida's film Mentor, starring Hayato Isomura and Seiya Suezawa with Go Ayano, held its world premiere in the International Competition at the 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival. Screenings on October 10 and 11 drew over 200 people to the Palace of Culture and Science, with laughter during the film and applause at the credits. Yoshida attended both Q&As.

Oct 10

Isomura Hayato and Suezawa Seiya Talk First Co-Starring Role in Yoshida Keisuke's mentor

The film mentor, directed by Keisuke Yoshida, pairs Hayato Isomura and Seiya Suezawa of Ae! group for the first time. Isomura plays Ryunosuke and Suezawa plays Takumi, childhood friends whose lives changed when a fireworks fire broke out 15 years earlier, opposite Go Ayano as Nonomoto. Isomura described their working relationship as like a little brother, and Suezawa as like an older brother.

Oct 7

mentor Releases Three Character Pvs Ahead Of October 16 Opening

Three character PVs for the film mentor, directed by Keisuke Yoshida and starring Hayato Isomura and Seiya Suezawa as co-leads, have been released through the film's official social media. The PVs cover Ryunosuke (Isomura), Takumi (Suezawa), and Nonomoto (Go Ayano). The film opens nationwide on Friday, October 16, following two men who reunite after 15 years with a victim of a fire they caused as boys.

Sep 17

mentor Selected For Warsaw Competition And Kaohsiung Festival

The film mentor, directed by Keisuke Yoshida, has been selected for the competition section of the 42nd Warsaw International Film Festival, which runs October 9 to 18, with a screening set for October 10. It has also been selected for Taiwan's 26th Kaohsiung Film Festival, running October 9 to 26, where Hayato Isomura, Seiya Ozawa, and Yoshida will appear on stage. The film opens nationwide on October 16.

Aug 20

Ayano Go's Three-Hour Burn Makeup for Film 'mentor' Stuns Fans

The film 'mentor', opening October 16, 2026, unveiled a new visual of Ayano Go as Nomoto, a man scarred by a fire that took his family. The burn makeup took three hours to apply, using a silicone cast of his face in five pieces. Social media reactions include 'Too eerie' and 'For a second, I thought it was someone else.'

Aug 7

mentor Trailer Shows Isomura, Masaki, and Ayano in a Tense Reunion

The film 'mentor', starring Isomura Yuto and Masaki Akira in dual lead roles, released its main trailer, scene photos, and cast comments. Directed and written by Yoshida Keisuke, the story follows two young men changed by a fire 15 years ago and a victim, Nomoto, played by Ayano Go. The trailer shows escalating tension and madness.

Jul 2

Kinami Haruka Joins 'Mentor' Cast as Ayano Go's Wife

Six additional cast members have been announced for the film 'Mentor,' directed by Yoshida Keisuke and starring Isomura Yuto and Masuzawa Seiya in dual lead roles with Ayano Go. Kinami Haruka plays Nomoto Ryoko, the wife of Ayano's character who died in a fire. The film releases October 16.

Jun 8

Go Ayano's Full-Body Burns Visual For Film 'Mentor' Stuns Social Media

Scene photos from the film 'mentor' reveal Go Ayano in a role requiring approximately three hours of special makeup to depict full-body burns. Ayano plays Nomoto, a man who lost his family in a fire and now appears before the two protagonists. Social media reactions highlight the shocking realism of the visual.

Jun 6

New Scene Photos Released for Yoshida Keisuke's Film 'Mentor'

Director Yoshida Keisuke's film 'Mentor' releases new scene photos showing Isomura Hayato, Suezawa Seiya, and Ayano Go in character. The film opens October 16. Isomura and Suezawa play two men scarred by a childhood fire, while Ayano plays the mysterious mentor who drives their fate. Advance tickets with bonuses go on sale June 12.