A Closer Look at the “Matching TRUE LOVE” First-Day Stage Greeting with Tao Tsuchiya,  Daisuke Sakuma, the Cast, and Director Eiji Uchida  

The suspense thriller Matching, released in 2024, made a strong impact at the Japanese box office. The live-ac on film remained at the top of the rankings for two consecutive weeks, eventually drawing more than 673,000 moviegoers and earning ¥970 million at the box office.

Two years a er the shocking events of the first film, the story returns with its highly an cipated follow-up, Matching TRUE LOVE. Rather than simply continuing the previous installment, the sequel opens up an entirely new chapter. This me, the familiar world of dating apps gives way to a mysterious matching tour on a remote southern island, where romance takes a dangerous turn and survival becomes the ultimate challenge.

Matching TRUE LOVE opened in theaters across Japan on September 26, 2026. To celebrate its release, a special first-day stage greeting was held at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills, featuring stars Tao Tsuchiya, Daisuke Sakuma, Hana Toyoshima, Yuki Kura, Sei Matobu, and director Eiji Uchida.

The event was divided into two parts. The “TRUE” segment took place following the 3:25 p.m. screening, while the “LOVE” segment was held ahead of the 6:40 p.m. screening. Fans across Japan were also able to take part through live viewings at par cipa ng theaters.

This report focuses on the afternoon “TRUE” segment, held immediately after the screening.

The venue erupted in warm applause as Tao Tsuchiya, Daisuke Sakuma, Hana Toyoshima, Yuki Kura, Sei Matobu, and director Eiji Uchida took the stage. With the film officially opening that day, the cast and director shared their excitement at finally seeing the long-awaited sequel reach audiences and expressed their gratitude to the many people who had supported the production.

Tao Tsuchiya reflected on the journey to completing Matching TRUE LOVE, thanking the cast and crew, including Kwak Dong-yeon, as well as the people of Kumejima, who provided extensive support during filming. She also expressed her apprecia on to audiences whose love and support helped bring the project to completion.

“Please fall into the trap of matching together with us for a long, long me,” Tsuchiya said, inviting audiences to continue embracing the world of Matching TRUE LOVE.

Daisuke Sakuma also had another reason to celebrate. He revealed that the day marked his 21st anniversary since joining his agency, meaning he had now spent 21 years as an idol. With the film’s release falling on the same day, Sakuma said he felt as though another anniversary had been added to the occasion, making the day par cularly meaningful for him.

Sakuma then turned his attention to fans watching through live viewings at theaters across Japan. Listening closely to the reac ons coming from the na onwide audience, he enthusiastically responded to the excitement from regions including Kyushu and Hokkaido.

As Sakuma listened and nodded along to the distant cheers, Yuki Kura watched in amazement. Realizing that Sakuma could hear the reactions of fans watching the live broadcast from theaters around the country, Kura exclaimed, “Oh, you can actually hear them!”

The exchange captured the warm connection between the cast and their fans, who were able to share the excitement of the film’s opening together despite being spread across different parts of Japan.

The Cast Reveal Their Views on Love

The cast then put their views on romance to the test in a game segment tled “Which Would You Choose?! The Cast’s Ultimate Choices.” Through a series of difficult either-or questions centered on love and relationships, each participant was asked to choose the option that most closely reflected their own values.

One question asked, “If you were to meet someone through a dating app, which would you choose?” The choices were A: someone whose hobbies are almost exactly the same as their own, or B: someone whose hobbies and values are completely different from theirs.

Director Eiji Uchida, Tao Tsuchiya, and Sei Matobu chose A, while Daisuke Sakuma, Hana Toyoshima, and Yuki Kura chose B. Sei Matobu explained that she preferred someone with similar hobbies because “it’s easier to become close when you have things in common.” She also suggested that having similar interests could make it easier to agree on everyday decisions, such as choosing where to go together.

Director Eiji Uchida was equally decisive in choosing A, joking, “I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t share my interests anymore.”

Tao Tsuchiya offered a more personal perspective. She explained that during the early stages of romance, differences in values can actually be appealing because they broaden a person’s perspective. However, she noted that the situation changes when considering someone as a lifelong partner.

When you become life partners, the things you talk about become really ordinary, don’t they?! If your values are different at that point, it can be difficult, Tsuchiya said.

Her perspective prompted an enthusiastic reaction from the other cast members, who were impressed by the depth of her comments and jokingly praised her as someone speaking from marriage experience.

Those who chose option B, meanwhile, offered a different view of what makes a relationship interesting.

Yuki Kura joked that he considers himself a really boring person and felt that being with someone too similar to himself might mean that neither person would bring anything new to the relationship. Instead, he said he would prefer someone completely different from him who could pull him along a little.

Hana Toyoshima also favored differences, explaining that she has many hobbies and therefore finds the idea of being with someone who has completely different interests appealing. She said that such a person could provide new s mula on, introduce her to things she does not know, and make it easier for her to admire and respect them.

Daisuke Sakuma agreed, saying that he also enjoys spending time with people whose hobbies and ways of thinking differ greatly from his own.

“I have quite a few friends who are totally different from me in terms of their hobbies and the way they think, and they are really interesting,” Sakuma said. He explained that such relationships often lead him to think, “Oh, so that is another way of looking at it,” or wonder, “That is what you think at a moment like this?” For Sakuma, those differences can provide strong stimulation, making relationships with people who hold different values appealing in their own way.

Final Messages from the Cast and Director

As the event came to a close, the cast shared their final messages with audiences celebrating the film’s nationwide release.

Daisuke Sakuma expressed his gratitude to everyone who had made the effort to see Matching TRUE LOVE in theaters. He said that knowing audiences were coming to watch the film was a tremendous source of strength and happiness for the cast.

Now that the film had been released, Sakuma encouraged audiences to share their love for the movie and help spread the word, expressing his hope that their support would allow the film to reach an even wider audience.

Tao Tsuchiya then reflected on the deeper meaning she sees within Matching TRUE LOVE. While describing the movie as an entertainment focused work, she said that she had come to think about the relationship between entertainment and journalism.

“When I think about what the true nature of entertainment is, I believe it is journalism,” Tsuchiya explained. “And I believe that what protects that journalism is true love.”

She went on to say that everyone involved in the production had placed a “seed of true love” at the heart of Matching TRUE LOVE, expressing her hope that audiences would receive that message through the film.

Director Eiji Uchida also thanked audiences across Japan and emphasized the importance of the period immediately following the film’s release. He noted that the current film industry is highly competitive and that movies can sometimes end their theatrical runs shortly after opening.

Encouraging audiences to invite others to see the film and support it on social media, Uchida expressed his hope that Matching TRUE LOVE could remain in theaters for as long as possible.

The first day stage greeting was filled with smiles, energy, and a strong sense of camaraderie among the cast. Their lively interactions offered a glimpse into the friendly atmosphere surrounding the production and the close relationship they developed while working together.

With Matching TRUE LOVE now reaching audiences across Japan, the event served as both a celebration of the film’s release and an opportunity for the cast to share their thoughts on love, relationships, and the meaning behind the story. From playful debates about dating preferences to heartfelt messages about the film itself, the stage greeting gave fans a closer look at the people behind the highly anticipated sequel.

KoreanUpdates would like to sincerely thank the organizers and production team for the kind invitation to attend the first day stage greeting of Matching TRUE LOVE.

Article & Photo by: Jennifer