Shūji Yamaoka was a suicide pilot during the war who somehow survived Japan's surrender. After decades of working as a fisherman in Kumamoto, a provincial seaside city in southern Kyushu, Yamaoka remains reluctant to discuss his wartime experiences with anyone, much less an intrusive reporter looking for a feature story. Then a series of events shake Yamaoka to the core, forcing him to re-evaluate his past.
Acting
Ken Takakura's face contains multitudes—monumental minimalism.
Cinematography
Kumamoto seascapes that mirror internal desolation.
Director
Yasuo Furuhata
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during Japan's 'lost decade,' the film interrogates national memory of WWII when direct discussion remained taboo.
Ken Takakura, Japan's definitive stoic male lead, reportedly insisted on filming actual sea conditions rather than tank work.
JP
