is a

Japanese film The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world; as of 2021, it was the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. In 2011 Japan produced 411 feature films that ea ...

released in 2008. It is written, directed by and starring

Tak Sakaguchi is a Japanese actor, director, fight choreographer, stuntman and martial artist. He is best known for his role in Ryuhei Kitamura's cult film, '' Versus''. Since his debut, Sakaguchi has worked with Kitamura several times, often appearing al ...

. This is the first film he has directed. It is based on Akira Miyashita's manga series ''

Sakigake!! Otokojuku , also known as simply ''Otokojuku'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Miyashita. It was originally serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1985 to 1991. It is staged in an all-boys school that ...

''. The film's ending theme is by

The Back Horn is a Japanese rock band, formed in Tokyo in 1998. History The band got started around April in 1998, when the original members all came to Tokyo from the countryside where they all lived, all for different reasons. They met, and decided to st ...

. It premiered at the

Fantasia Festival Fantasia International Film Festival (also known as Fantasia-fest, FanTasia, and Fant-Asia) is a film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. Regularly held in July of each year, it is valued by both hardcore ...

in 2008, and was subsequently screened at the

New York Asian Film Festival The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) is a critically acclaimed film festival held in New York City, dedicated to the display of Asian Film Culture. The New York Asian Film Festival generally features contemporary premieres and classic titles ...

in 2009.

Plot

Genji Togashi ( Shōei) visits his brother's grave and informs him that he too will be enrolling in Otokojuku. Young

Yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the ter ...

successor Hidemaro Gokukouji (

Hiroyuki Onoue (born July 16, 1985), is a Japanese actor from Osaka Prefecture. Selected filmography TV drama *''Doremisora'' (2002) *'' Journey Under the Midnight Sun'' (2006) *''Ryōmaden'' (2010), Itō Shunsuke *''Carnation'' (2011) *''Hana Moyu'' (2015) ...

) runs into thugs from Kanto Gogakuren while partying, but is saved by Momotaro Tsurugi (

). As it turns out, Hidemaro's mother (

Tomoko Nakajima is a Japanese actress best known for playing Hotaru Kuroita in the long-running television drama '' Kita no Kuni kara'' ("From a Northern Country"). She won the award for best supporting actress at the 12th Yokohama Film Festival for '' Tugumi''. ...

) already decided to send him to Otokojuku for him to become a man. At the enrollment ceremony, Hidemaro is assaulted by the head instructor Oni-Hige (

Shun Sugata is a Japanese actor. Career Sugata was born in Yamanashi Prefecture. He starred in the 2006 film ''Confessions of a Dog''. He appeared in Amir Naderi's 2011 film ''Cut''. Filmography Film * ''Seiha'' (1982) as Nakahara * ''Kita no hotaru'' ...

) for not getting into line properly. After he finds Momo and meets Togashi, Oni-Hige introduces the principal, Heihachi Edajima (

Akaji Maro is a Japanese actor, Butoka, and theater director. Early life In 1943, Maro was born in Sakurai, Nara, Japan. Career Maro's film career began in 1980. As an actor, Maro has over 42 film. In 1972 Maro is the founder of Dairakudakan Tempute ...

). Edajima gives his introductory speech. At orientation, 1st years Tazawa ( Taketori no Yamaguchi) and Matsuo ( Yoshiaki Yoza) are forced by Tange and the 2nd years to perform ridiculous tasks and manly performances. Togashi and Toramaru stand up to Tange (

Masaki Miura Masaki may refer to: Name * Masaki (given name), a unisex Japanese given name * Masaki (surname), a Japanese surname Places * Masaki, Ehime, a town located in Iyo District, Japan * Masaki Art Museum, a museum in Tadaoka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan th ...

), a brawl breaks out and Momo gets involved. The fight is interrupted by 2nd year leader Gouji Akashi (

Tetsushi Tanaka is a Japanese actor. Personal life Tanaka married actress Yukie Nakama on September 18, 2014, after a six-year relationship. Selected filmography Film *'' Get Up!'' (2003) *'' One Missed Call'' (2004) *'' Umizaru'' (2004) *'' 69'' (2004) *'' V ...

), who challenges Momo to a sword fight, which itself gets interrupted by Oni-Hige before a true victor can be decided. After finding a pair of underwear, drill instructor Iron Helmet (Kentarō Shimazu) summons all the students for a uniform inspection. He informs the students that all real men wear a

fundoshi is a traditional Japanese undergarment for adult males and females, made from a length of cotton. Before World War II, the was the main form of underwear for Japanese men and women. However, it fell out of use quickly after the war with the ...

and that the owner of the briefs will be punished. Togashi can see from his face that they belong to Hidemaro, so he confesses to preferring briefs. He is placed in a tub of oil with a candle on a leaf while wearing just a fundoshi. Togashi perseveres as the oil gets hotter, until finally it out, as a message of manliness to Hidemaro. Hidemaro can't take it anymore so he runs away in the middle of the night. After words of encouragement from Shioya (

Tatsuo Yamada was a Japanese actor best known for the protagonist of Sōgo Ishii's 1980 film ''Crazy Thunder Road''. Filmography * ''Crazy Thunder Road'' (1980) * ''Yokohama BJ Blues'' (1981) * ''Welter'' (1987) * '' Evil Dead Trap 3: Broken Love Killer'' ( ...

), the last remaining member of the Gokukouji clan, he returns to Otokojuku just as Momo is being scolded by Oni-Hige for letting him escape. The two of them are placed in twin cells, one of which has a 500 kilogram collapsible ceiling that Momo must hold up by a chain in the other cell in order to keep Hidemaro from being crushed. One day, Otokojuku is invaded by Kanto Gogakuren, a group of delinquents led by Omito Date (

Hideo Sakaki (born June 4, 1970) is a Japanese actor and director. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Japanese cult films '' Versus'', '' Battlefield Baseball'', and ''Alive''. He is a close friend of director Ryuhei Kitamura and appears in several ...

), a former Otokojuku student who was expelled for killing an instructor for forcing him to undergo the twin solitary cells punishment. He and his two right hand men, Hien (

Gō Ayano is a Japanese actor. Career Ayano was featured in several roles beginning in 2003. In 2009, he appeared in Takashi Miike's '' Crows Zero 2''. His role in the film was described by Mark Schilling of ''The Japan Times'' as "a tall, pale-faced, del ...

) and Gekko ( Shuya Yoshimoto) defeat most of the students. Akashi challenge Date and is nearly killed before being saved by Momo. However, before things can go further, Edajima interrupts and demands they settle things in the 3 Great Astonishing Assaults tournament. Momo, Togashi, and Toramaru are chosen to represent Otokojuku. Togashi again visits his brother's grave, when Oni-Hige suddenly appears. He tells Togashi of how his brother was a real man and gives him his brother's dosu knife. As Momo trains his sword, Toramaru wrestles a bear, and Matsuo practices his

ōendan An , literally "cheering squad" or "cheering section", is a Japanese sports rallying team similar in purpose to a cheerleading squad in the United States, but relies more on making a lot of noise with taiko drums, blowing horns and other items ...

, Hidemaro and Tazawa both wonder what they can do to help.

Cast

as Momotaro Tsurugi * Shōei as Genji Togashi *

as Hidemaro Gokukouji *

Shintaro Yamada born July 10, 1986, in Onna, Okinawa, is a Japanese fashion model, actor, and singer. He is the younger brother of Yu Yamada. His modeling credits include appearing in ''Men's Non-No'' and ''Popeye''. He is the leader of the ''Quiz! Hexagon I ...

as Ryuuji Toramaru *

as Gouji Akashi *

as Heihachi Edajima *

Junkichi Orimoto was a Japanese actor. Orimoto often worked with Kinji Fukasaku and Sadao Nakajima. He started his acting career at the Shinkyō theatre company in 1949. His first film appearance was in the 1952 film ''Yamabiko Gakkō'' directed by Tadashi Imai. ...

as Shura (monk) *

as Omito Date *

as Hien *

as Oni-Hige

References

External links

* * {{Tak Sakaguchi 2008 films Films directed by Tak Sakaguchi Japanese action films Otokojuku series 2008 action films 2000s Japanese films