Overview
"Don't Stop the Memories of Love" (broadcast on November 9, 2019)
An episode of *Tales of the Unusual* (Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari) that is widely acclaimed as the most terrifying entry of the 2010s. A TV commercial that aired only once a long time ago… what is the horrifying truth hidden behind it? A masterpiece where the terror rooted in "vague memories" makes the audience shudder, turning grainy, vintage footage into something endlessly frightening.
Don't Stop the Memories of Love – Synopsis
Shiho Murase (Yuki Saito), a singer-songwriter, felt a growing sense of anxiety as she was unable to write songs like she used to. Even when she performed at a live restaurant, no one listened, and her social media feed was filled with harsh comments. Meanwhile, her husband Kenji Nakaji (Go Riju) supported her, but also seemed a little weary of the situation.
One day, while dozing off during a songwriting session, Shiho had a strange dream. Bothered by the melody that played in the dream, she traced back her memory and created a new song. When she performed the song at the live restaurant, the customers suddenly stopped eating, listened in rapt attention, and all eyes were on her. The song ranked 4th on the streaming charts, and favorable comments began to fill her social media. It was her first big hit in a long time.
Then, one night at home, Shiho became curious about a videotape of the "Tsugaru Kids' Amateur Singing Contest" and decided to play it. After a young Shiho in the third grade finished singing, the broadcast cut to a commercial. The music playing was an exact match for the song Shiho had written. She realized, with a shock, that she had unintentionally committed plagiarism.
When Shiho searched using the keywords "Local Sake Kotojo CM Aomori," she was led to a "Most Terrified Urban Legends" website. Under the entry "Cursed Commercial Song," there was a description of a "Local Sake Kotojo" commercial that had only aired once in Aomori Prefecture. It explained that the broadcast was cancelled after the singer who appeared in it died suddenly. The commercial credited Motoko Miyajima as the singer.
Shiho investigated Miyajima, but the cause of death was unknown. Inquiries to newspaper companies yielded no answers either. Rumor had it that she died while apologizing to everyone, but… Shiho began to hear the shadow of a woman and her laughter, though only she could hear them. Even so, an aesthetic salon commercial and a TV music program appearance were already locked in; there was no turning back now. "The memories of love are my song, my song," she chanted to herself, tearing the videotape apart.
During the commercial shoot, while checking the monitor, only Shiho could see Motoko Miyajima amidst the critical gazes of the staff. Deep inside the production studio stood three long-haired girls in white dresses. Shiho fled into the hallway, only to find another girl standing in the distance. Running around in panic, Shiho heard singing coming from a certain room… The girl who attacked the deranged Shiho turned out to be her manager.
Back at home, the cursed commercial played on the television screen. The voice whispered, "Don't-steal-this-song," while Miyajima kept saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She, too, must have stolen it from someone else. Then, a girl (Suzune Sasano) appeared behind her… "Don't steal this song, it's my song, hehehe."
Shiho began to laugh in the dark room…
The storyteller, Tamori, appears and says that the aesthetic salon commercial featuring Shiho was shelved after a single broadcast due to the death of the performing singer (= Shiho).