is a 2014 Japanese musical comedy film written and directed by

Masayuki Suo is a Japanese people, Japanese film director. He is best known for his two Japan Academy Prize (film), Japan Academy Prize-winning films, ''Sumo Do, Sumo Don't'' (1992) and ''Shall We Dance? (1996 film), Shall We Dance?'' (1996). Life and caree ...

, starring

Mone Kamishiraishi , is a Japanese actress and singer. She is the older sister of actress Moka Kamishiraishi. Early life and career Born in Kagoshima, Her family lived in Mexico for three years due to her father's work. She can speak English and a little bit of ...

Hiroki Hasegawa , nicknamed , (born March 7, 1977, in Tokyo) is a Japanese stage, film, and television actor. Trained as a stage actor at the Bungaku-za after graduating from Chuo University, he first began to appear on Japanese TV in small roles in 2008, and t ...

, and

Sumiko Fuji , known professionally as , is a Japanese actress. She began acting in the 1960s under the name , becoming famous as the female lead in yakuza films opposite such stars as Kōji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura. She even starred in her own series as the ...

. It screened in competition at the 2014 Shanghai International Film Festival on June 16, 2014. It was released in Japan on September 13, 2014.

Cast

as Haruko Saigo *

as Noritsugu Kyono *

as Chiharu Kojima * Tomoko Tabata as Momoharu *

Tamiyo Kusakari is a Japanese actress and former ballet dancer. In 1997 her portrayal of Mai Kishikawa in '' Shall We Dance?'' won a Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Biography From Toshima, Tokyo, Kusakari starte ...

as Satoharu *

Eri Watanabe , who was previously known as , is a Japanese actress. She won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 21st Hochi Film Awards for '' Shall We Dance?''. Filmography Films *''Comic Magazine'' (1986) *''Crest of Betrayal'' (1994) *'' Shall We ...

as Mameharu *

Naoto Takenaka is a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, and director from Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, affiliated with From First Production. He is married to idol singer and actress Midori Kinouchi. He is also known as the voice of Samuel L. ...

as Tomio Aoki * Masahiro Takashima as Yoshio Takai *

Gaku Hamada is a Japanese film and television actor. He was a regular cast member of Fuji TV's '' Operation Love'', appearing in all 11 episodes broadcast in 2007 and the 2008 special, and receiving an award for his role. He has made numerous other TV appea ...

as Shuhei Nishino *

Ittoku Kishibe , born , is a Japanese actor and musician. Career He originally entered show business as the bassist for the Japanese rock bands, The Tigers and Pyg, but later switched to acting. The veteran of over 115 films, he won the Best Actor Japanese ...

as Orikichi Kitano *

Fumiyo Kohinata is a Japanese actor. Filmography Film * '' Begging for Love'' (1998) * '' Give It All'' (1998) * '' Ring 2'' (1999) - Dr. Kawajiri * '' Audition'' (1999) - Television producer * '' Minna no Ie'' (2001) * '' Turn'' (2001) * '' Dark Water'' (200 ...

as Kanpachiro Ichikawa *

Satoshi Tsumabuki is a Japanese actor. His breakthrough film was '' Waterboys'' for which he was nominated for the "Best Actor" award at the Japanese Academy Awards, and won the "Newcomer of the Year" prize. He is also the bassist and lead singer of the Japanes ...

as Yuichiro Akagi *

Jurina Matsui is a Japanese TV personality, singer, actress, and YouTuber. She is a former member of Japanese idol girl group SKE48 and former concurrent member of AKB48 (in 2012–2015). She is recognized as SKE48's absolute "ace", having placed in the to ...

as Fukuna *

Tomu Muto is a Japanese tarento, actress, and former idol. She was a member of the idol group AKB48 under Team K. She is an alumna of Seijo University, where she studied economics and also earned her postgraduate degree, as well as a certified weather pre ...

as Fukuha

Reception

Elizabeth Kerr of ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' commented that " asayuki Suobrings the same light, optimistic touch to bear as he did with his best known films, '' Sumo Do, Sumo Don't'' and '' Shall We Dance?'', which similarly revolved around gently non-conformist characters doing (and enjoying) what they shouldn’t in rigid Japan." Derek Elley of ''

Film Business Asia ''Film Business Asia'' was a film trade magazine based in Hong Kong. The magazine was created in 2010 by Patrick Frater, former journalist for '' Variety'', ''The Hollywood Reporter'', and ''Screen International'' and Stephen Cremin, co-founder o ...

'' wrote: "With no romance between pupil and master, the film lacks a strong emotional arc to involve an audience; in its place is just Haruko's own story of wanting to become a geisha, and here Kamishiraishi's performance as the underdog who eventually triumphs manages to carry the day." Mark Shilling of ''

The Japan Times ''The Japan Times'' is Japan's largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper. It is published by , a subsidiary of News2u Holdings, Inc. It is headquartered in the in Kioicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo. History ''The Japan Times'' was launched by ...

'' gave the film 3 and a half stars out of 5, saying, "Kamishiraishi, the 16-year-old newcomer who beat out 800 other aspirants for the lead role, is a diminutive vocal dynamo and a good fit as the country-girl heroine, right down to her native Kagoshima dialect." Kwenton Bellette of ''

Twitch Film ScreenAnarchy, previously known as Twitch Film or Twitch, is a Canadian English-language website featuring news and reviews of mainly international, independent and cult films. The website was founded in 2004 by Todd Brown. In addition to films, ...

'' felt that " hebeautiful tourist-baiting scenes of Kyoto and the geisha district are brought to vivid life thanks to the detail-laden environment and costume design although the film contains itself to one tea-house through the majority of its length." Maggie Lee of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote: "Craft contributions are aces, the richly costumed and decorated production presenting Kyoto's landscaped gardens, seasonal scenery and architecture to most pleasing effect." It debuted at number 5 at the Japanese box office on its opening weekend, earning $1 million from 91,800 admissions.

Awards

* 69th

Mainichi Film Award The are a series of annual film awards, sponsored by ''Mainichi Shimbun'' (毎日新聞), one of the largest newspaper companies in Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of t ...

for Best Music ( Yoshikazu Suo) *38th Japan Academy Prize for Best Music (Yoshikazu Suo)

References

External links

* * {{Masayuki Suo 2014 films Films shot in Japan Films directed by Masayuki Suo Toho films Japanese musical films 2010s Japanese films 2010s Japanese-language films Films scored by Yoshikazu Suo 2014 musical films