Hokage (Shadow of fire)

The setting is a black market that is beginning to recover from the ruins after World War II. In a Japanese pub diner nearly burnt to the ground, a woman makes a living by selling her body. Her family all lost their lives in the war. A war orphan sneaks into the woman’s house to steal things, and a young demobilised soldier comes as a guest. The three begin a strange life together. However, it is short-lived, as the demobilised soldier’s memories of the war destroy the lives of the three. The orphan, who says a black-market street vendor has offered him a job, sets off on a journey with the vendor, ignoring the woman who tries to stop him. The street vendor is a bold man, but the purpose of his journey is the horrifying one of putting an end to the wounds he has received in the war.

Hokage shares themes explored in my last two films: Nobi and Zan. How war affects people. The abject horror of taking lives. I pursued these themes in Zan which is about samurai at the end of their rule. Nobi told a story about Japanese soldiers on the frontline in the Philippines during World War II. In my latest film, I revisit these themes through the chaos of the black market immediately after the war. It’s about a fire and the everchanging shadows it casts on its surroundings. I turned my full attention to the people dwelling in the shadows. The working title of the film was The Post-War Project. As the world takes a step backward from peace, I felt compelled to make this movie, as a prayer.

PRODUCTION: Shinya Tsukamoto - Kaijyu Theater Co.,Ltd.
#402, 1-32-4, Nishisugamo, Toshima-Ku,
170-0001 – Tokyo, Japan
Tel. +81 339497507
kaijyu@gc4.so-net.ne.jp
http://tsukamotoshinya.net/

WORLD SALES: Taku Kato - Nikkatsu Corporation
3-28-12, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku,
113-0033 – Tokyo, Japan
Tel. +81 356891014
international@nikkatsu.co.jp
http://intl.nikkatsu.com/

PRESS OFFICE: Mami Furukawa - Nikkatsu Corporation
3-28-12, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku
113-0033 – Tokyo, Japan
Tel. +81 35689-014
m.furukawa@nikkatsu.co.jp