JF Theatre (Film screenings) in June 2016: Sports

Yamamoto Suhei Joints his University’s Sumo club in order to complete his graduation thesis. The more he gets involved with the club, however, the more he comes to love.

A story of two kendo players. Kaori Isoyama, a junior high kendo champion, who is obsessed with only winning and Sanae Nishioki, who simply plays kendo just for fun. Both girls meet each other at school’s kendo club. Friendship between the two of them is starting to bloom. During the interscholastic meet, they fight which leads to Kaori’s injury. Sanae replaces her and wins the match. Yet, their feelings towards kendo are gradually changing. Sanae begins to scare to lose while Kaori starts to lose her reasons to keep on playing. How their future is going to be?

The story is set in Shikoku Chuo City in Ehime Prefecture, the “City of Paper” that boasts the top output of paper in Japan. However, due to the long recession, the city has lost its former prosperity. In order to revitalize their beloved hometown and cheer up the people living there, Satoko, the captain of the calligraphy club, together with all the members who prefer practice individually and have their own different problems to solve, finally gather together to practice as a team and organize a “Calligraphy Performance Contest”. Their sincere passion for calligraphy and their earnest love for their hometown envelop the stage, and a small miracle occurs.

Ashihara Taichi is a boxer but a motorcycle accident leaves his lower body paralyzed. A coincidence leads him to meet Samako at the night market. One day, Taichi goes to see Samako at a Shinto shrine, and becomes fascinated with Aiki Jujutsu, a school of Aikido. The master Hiraishi receives the newcomer warmly. Taichi begins to think of his wheelchair as a part of his body, and makes gradual progress.