is a 2015 Japanese

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Takashi Miike is a Japanese film director, film producer and screenwriter. He has directed over one hundred theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. His films run through a variety of different genres, and range from violent an ...

. It was released on March 14, 2015. It is based on the true story of a Japanese doctor working in Africa using information from letters sent home to the girl he left behind in Japan. The letters originally formed the basis for the popular 1987 Japanese song "Kaze ni Tatsu Lion" by

Masashi Sada is a Japanese singer, lyricist, composer, novelist, actor, and a film producer. Sada formed the folk duo Grape with Masami Yoshida in 1972, and they made their debut as recording artists a year afterward. The pair rose to fame owing to the hi ...

, who was encouraged by actor

Takao Osawa is a Japanese actor. Career Osawa starred in the 2002 film ''Filament'' and the 2007 film ''Midnight Eagle''. He has also appeared in films such as Masayuki Suo's ''A Terminal Trust'' and Takashi Miike's ''Shield of Straw''. The Newport Beach F ...

to adapt the song into a novel. The novel was released in 2013 and was later adapted into the 2015 film directed by Takashi Miike.

Plot

The young volunteer surgeons Katsuhiko Aoki and Kōichirō Shimada travel to Kenya to assist Dr. Murakami in his studies at the Institute of Tropical Medicine as well as in his treatment of locals. They are then sent for a month to Lokichogio to perform surgery on child soldiers and Kōichirō is so moved by his experience that he later asks to return to Lokichogio, where he is joined by Wakako Kusano. Kōichirō had previously had a relationship with Takako Akishima in Nagasaki and had invited her to come with him to Africa but she chose to remain with her family to eventually take over her father's medical practice. Prior to that, Kōichirō had stuttered in high school but was able to overcome it when he sang as a soloist in the school choir. An injured child soldier named Ndung'u is brought to the hospital in Lokichogio and Kōichirō operates on his leg but the boy is left using crutches. Ndung'u is very distrustful of others and his only intention is to return to life as a soldier. Kōichirō leaves the city to get supplies and Ndung'u is certain that he will not return. When Kōichirō returns, Ndung'u is surprised and reconsiders his plans for the future. He begins using his artistic talents to draw portraits of the doctors. After Kōichirō dresses up as Santa Claus and hands out Christmas presents to the children, Ndung'u decides to become a doctor to atone for his past crimes. Kōichirō decides to stay in Lokichogio instead of returning to Japan. Wakako privately sets up an orphanage. Takako takes over her father's practice. While attempting to visit an old patient, shots are fired at Kōichirō's vehicle and he is killed by a grenade. After the

2011 Tōhoku earthquake Eleven or 11 may refer to: *11 (number), the natural number following 10 and preceding 12 * one of the years 11 BC, AD 11, 1911, 2011, or any year ending in 11 Literature * ''Eleven'' (novel), a 2006 novel by British author David Llewellyn *''El ...

, an old woman whose illness was treated by Kōichirō visits the orphanage and donates a small bag of

corn kernel Corn kernels are the fruits of corn (called maize in many countries). Maize is a grain, and the kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable or a source of starch. The kernel comprise endosperm, germ, pericarp, and tip cap. One ear of corn contai ...

s to the people suffering in Japan. Ndung'u travels to the Tōhoku with the kernels and befriends an orphaned Japanese boy.

Cast

as Kōichirō Shimada *

Satomi Ishihara , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress from Tokyo. Biography Satomi Ishihara was born on December 24, 1986, in Tokyo. She is of blood type A, and her height is 157 cm. Satomi began her acting profession in 2003 at the ag ...

as Wakako Kusano * Yōko Maki as Takako Akishima *

Masato Hagiwara is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and professional mahjong player. Biography When Hagiwara was three years old, his parents divorced and he was taken in by his father. However, his father died when he was in the fourth grade, and was th ...

as Katsuhiko Aoki *

Ryōhei Suzuki is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency Horipro. Early life He graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies with a Bachelor's degree in English Studies in March 2006. When he was a student, he worked part-time in NHK ...

Ayako Fujitani is a Japanese writer and actress. Early life Ayako Fujitani was born in Osaka, Japan. She is the daughter of Steven Seagal by his first wife, aikido master Miyako Fujitani. As a teenager, she also resided in Los Angeles. Career Acting Fujita ...

as Satoko Kojima **Honoka Matsumoto as young Satoko *Kumi Nakamura as Kiyomi Akijima *Hajime Yamazaki as Seiichi Akijima *

Renji Ishibashi , born is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 15th Hochi Film Award for '' Rōnin-gai''. Filmography Film Television Video game * '' Yakuza: Dead Souls'' - Oyassan References External links * Renji Ishib ...

as Masayuki Murakami *Nick Reding * Patrick Oketch as Afundi *Lydia Gitachu

Reception

The film earned on its opening weekend in Japan.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lion Standing In The Wind, The 2015 films Films about child soldiers Films about physicians Films about surgeons Films based on Japanese novels Films based on songs Films directed by Takashi Miike Nippon TV films Films set in 1977 Films set in 1985 Films set in 1986 Films set in 1987 Films set in 2011 Films set in 2014 Films set in Kenya Films set in Miyagi Prefecture Films set in Nagasaki Prefecture Films set in Nagasaki Japanese drama films 2010s Japanese-language films Toho films 2015 drama films 2010s English-language films 2010s Japanese films ja:風に立つライオン#映画