is a Japanese film directed by Ryosuke Hashiguchi, starring

Yoshihiko Hakamada is a Japanese actor. He graduated from Hamana High School. Hakamada was born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. He is represented by Platinum Production. Hakamada's wife is ''tarento'' Ai Kawanaka. Discography Singles Albums Filmography ...

and

Masashi Endō is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than ten films since 1993, most notably in'' Wild Zero'' and '' Sawako Decides.'' Selected filmography ;Film ;Television External links * 1974 births Living people Japanese male film act ...

. It was released in 1993. It was shot on 16 millimeter film with a small budget and no payment for the actors or the director. It was awarded a PFF Scholarship (which supports the production of one film for theatrical release each year). It was then screened in

Berlin Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

.David A. Gerstner (Editor)

Plot

Tatsuru and Shinichirō are two young male hustlers in Japan. The older one, Tatsuru, disconnects himself from his emotions in order to perform his job. The younger Shinichirō, meanwhile, grows uncomfortable with the work once he has fallen in love with Tatsuru. After Shinichirō gets thrown out of his parents' house, he stays at Tatsuru's apartment, and their once casual relationship awkwardly develops into something else.

Cast

as Tatsuru Shimamori *

as Shinichirō Miyajima *

Reiko Kataoka is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 45th Blue Ribbon Awards for '' Hush!''. Filmography Film *''A Touch of Fever'' (1993) *''New Love in Tokyo'' (1994) *''Kamikaze Taxi'' (1995) *''Two Punks'' (1996) *'' Gonin 2'' ( ...

as Yoriko Suzuki * Sumiyo Yamada as Atsumi * Kōji Satō as Master * Bunmei Harada as Kawakubo * Kōta Kusano as Takashi * Yōichi Kawaguchi as Ōta * Hiroshi Okōchi as Customer *

Tarō Ishida , born , was a Japanese actor, voice actor and Shin Buddhist priest from the city of Kyoto. He was affiliated with Granpapa Production. Biography Ishida was born in Kyoto, Japan on March 16, 1944, the son of actor Shigeki Ishida. He attended the ...

as Yoriko's Father * Wakaba Irie as Yoriko's Mother

Reception

Reaction in Japan

The film was a commercial success, surprising given its subject matter. It was nothing less than a breakthrough for real life gay-oriented films in Japan, as well as '' Okoge'' (1992) and ''Kira kira Hikaru'' (also known as ''Twinkle'') in 1992.Mark J. McLelland The film also introduced the word 'gay' into Japanese society.

References

External links

* 1993 films Films directed by Ryōsuke Hashiguchi 1990s Japanese-language films Japanese LGBT-related films Gay-related films 1993 LGBT-related films 1990s Japanese films {{LGBT-film-stub