Kento Yamazaki & Emi Takei Enjoy a “Lightly Tipsy Wrap Party” in Busan

In high spirits at the after-party

Next to a sign with large Hangul characters, a rugged man with a mustache was in high spirits as he spoke to a demure beauty. The man talking with Emi Takei (32) on the streets of Busan, South Korea, was—wait a minute!—Kento Yamazaki (32).

In fact, these two had traveled to South Korea for the world premiere of the film *The Gate of Murder* at the “31st Busan International Film Festival,” which opened on October 6.

The film is based on the novel of the same name, considered a masterpiece by Keigo Higashino. It depicts the twisted friendship spanning some 30 years between Osamu Kuramochi, who relentlessly wreaked havoc on his best friend’s life, and Kazuyuki Tajima, who could never escape Kuramochi’s malice.Yamazaki plays Kuramochi, a man who repeatedly saves his best friend only to betray him.

“Yamazaki is known for his refreshing, picture-perfect looks. While he often plays the lead in films adapted from popular manga series such as the ‘Kingdom’ series and ‘Golden Kamuy,’ he also gave a brilliant performance as a genius game creator in the 2022 TBS drama ‘Atom no Ko’ (TBS).His effortless charm and the charisma that lends credibility to the story showed he was no ordinary actor.

This time, he takes on a dark character, quite different from the roles he has played before. All eyes were on him to see what kind of performance he would deliver as he ventured into new territory as an actor,” said film journalist Harumi Nakayama.

The world premiere venue was packed to capacity. After the screening, Yamazaki, Kohei Matsushita (39), who played Tajima, and Takei, who played Yukiko Uehara—the woman who keeps the two men on their toes—took the stage. They were greeted by a deafening roar of cheers.

That night, Yamazaki and Takei were spotted at a famous samgyeopsal restaurant in Busan. They visited the restaurant—which is popular among Japanese tourists for its reasonable prices of about 5,000 yen per person—with a group of over a dozen staff members and associates shortly after 10:00 p.m. They enjoyed their celebration until past midnight.

When Yamazaki emerged from the restaurant, he appeared to be in high spirits and seemed genuinely delighted by the success of the world premiere.

The “FRIDAY November 13 & 20 Combined Issue,” on sale October 30, and the paid edition “FRIDAY GOLD” feature detailed coverage of the wrap party attended by Kento Yamazaki and Emi Takei.

Click here to see the full details and multiple photos↓

From the November 13 & 20, 2026, combined issue of “FRIDAY”