an autopsy on his body. His young son, Takanori, drowned while swimming with him and his wife filed for divorce afterward. Ando and Ryuji's student Mai Takano destroy the original tape after he watches it to end Sadako's curse for good. It is later revealed that both are manipulated by Ryuji, who is working with Sadako to ensure his survival; in return, he will help resurrect her. Ando is forced to agree to spread the curse as he already has sex with Sadako, causing the dormant Ring virus to infect his body; in exchange, Sadako will resurrect Ando's son. Disgusted at Ryuji, who ostensibly worked with Sadako, Ando keeps a distance from both and does not participate in the search for the cure to the virus, electing to live a quiet life with his family. He reconciles with his wife and conceives a daughter, Takanori's younger sister. Ando has a small supporting role in S, which stars Takanori as the protagonist. When Takanori asks him about the virus and his suspicions regarding his resurrection, Ando vehemently refuses to answer, forcing Takanori to seek others' help. In the film Rasen, Ando is played by Kōichi Satō. Takanori Ando is the protagonist of the fifth novel of the series, S. He is the eldest son of Mitsuo, a forensics doctor and protagonist of the novel Spiral. Takanori once died drowned that led to Mitsuo becoming almost suicidal. As part of the agreement to help Sadako spread the Ring virus, she promises Mitsuo that she will resurrect Takanori through her womb. Fast forward to twenty five years later, the 28-year-old Takanori is now an image processing specialist who works at a CG company. He is also in a relationship with Akane Maruyama, who is pregnant with his child. After being handed a USB drive by his boss, he notices a video of a man named Seiji Kashiwada who killed himself. His investigations suck him into the cases that his father once delved into, revolving around the ring virus and Sadako Yamamura, the person responsible for his means to live. Takanori also finds out that Akane is related to the case as much as he is, being the daughter of Ryuji Takayama and a Sadako clone. Eventually, regardless of the situations they went through, the couple make up their minds to continue living together. In the film series, Takanori is portrayed by Ryuichi Sugahara