Review | Netflix drama Straight to Hell review: Erika Toda dazzles as Japan’s famous fortune-teller

Anchored by a sensational central performance from Erika Toda, Netflix’s new drama series Straight to Hell spans 60 years of recent Japanese history as it charts the controversial life of celebrity fortune-teller Kazuko Hosoki.

Not only does the role demand a continually evolving physical transformation from Toda, but also a deeply nuanced performance that constantly challenges the audience’s sympathies, as she proves every bit as formidable and resilient as those determined to inflict suffering upon her.

The show opens in 2005, with the caption, “This story is based on true events and is a work of fiction”. By this time, Kazuko is Japan’s most popular fortune-teller whose books on Six-Star Divination have sold millions of copies, and her television show is a ratings juggernaut.