Live action TV
Description
Kiyoshi Kashiwada is a character from the 2013 film Sadako 3D 2. He is portrayed as an online artist who is awaiting execution for the murder of several young women, crimes he committed five years before the events of the sequel. His background reveals a deeply disturbed individual whose actions are directly tied to the resurrection of the vengeful spirit Sadako. Prior to his incarceration, Kashiwada had been attempting to bring Sadako back as an act of revenge against humanity for the persecution he felt he had suffered. To this end, he initially kidnapped women with long hair and threw them alive into a well, mirroring Sadako’s own fate, before orchestrating a cursed video distributed online to find a suitable host for her spirit.

Kashiwada’s personality, though not deeply explored on screen, is defined by his obsession and his profound hatred for others. His actions, such as the calculated creation of the deadly video and his subsequent letters from prison, suggest a methodical and manipulative nature. Despite being a convicted murderer and facing execution, he continues to play a pivotal role in the story from his prison cell. His primary motivation remains tied to Sadako, as he seemingly works for her or in service of her goal to be reborn into the world.

In the narrative of Sadako 3D 2, Kashiwada’s role is crucial for providing exposition and driving the protagonist, Fuko Ando, toward a desperate choice. When Fuko discovers a series of letters he wrote to her brother, Takanori Ando, she visits Kashiwada in prison seeking answers about the mysterious deaths surrounding her young niece, Nagi. During this visit, Kashiwada reveals what he believes to be a terrible truth: that Nagi is not the biological daughter of Takanori and his late partner Akane, but rather the daughter of Sadako. He then presents Fuko with a horrifying ultimatum, stating that the only way to stop the curse is for Fuko to either kill herself or kill Nagi. His declaration is a key turning point, heightening the psychological torment faced by the protagonist.

Key relationships are defined by his past actions and his correspondence. His letters to Takanori Ando, in which he inquires about Nagi’s health and well-being, are a primary link to the main family and a catalyst for Fuko’s investigation. While Takanori’s side of the exchange is not shown, Kashiwada’s sustained interest in Nagi from his death row cell underscores his deep involvement in the supernatural events. His relationship with Sadako is one of devotion, as he is described as an artist working for her, using his skills to spread her curse.

Kashiwada’s own development is limited to his static, off-screen presence, as he remains in prison throughout the film. However, his influence on the plot is dynamic, shifting from a past orchestrator of terror to a present source of fatalistic information. The character’s story concludes with his execution, which is implied to take place after the film’s main events, as his landlord is shown reading his final letter. He does not possess supernatural abilities himself, but his notable skill lies in his technical knowledge and artistic ability to create and distribute a cursed video online, effectively modernizing the classic urban legend of the cursed tape and using it as a tool for mass murder and spiritual resurrection.