is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Kudo Kankuro. The film stars several well-known and highly respected Japanese actors. The story follows two

Edo-era The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional ''daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characterize ...

gay men, Yaji Robei (Yaji) and Kita Hachi (Kita), on a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine. It is loosely based on the '' Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige''.

Plot

Yaji and Kita are two men who live in

Edo Edo ( ja, , , "bay-entrance" or "estuary"), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a ''jōkamachi'' (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the ''de facto'' capital of ...

. They are deeply in love. Yaji is married to a woman, while Kita is an actor addicted to various drugs. One day, they receive an advertisement for the Grand Shrine at Ise, and decide to set out on a pilgrimage there, hoping to cure Kita of his drug addiction. They set out on a modern motorcycle but are forced to turn back and walk the Tōkaidō road to Ise, encountering various characters and obstacles along the way.

Cast

* Yaji:

Nagase Tomoya is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, and model. He was a member of Tokio, a Johnny & Associates musical group. He was the primary vocalist, in addition to playing the guitar alongside Tokio's leader, Shigeru Joshima. Career As an artis ...

from the band

TOKIO Tokio may refer to: * , the capital of Japan, used primarily in non-English-speaking countries may also refer to: Music * Tokio (band), a Japanese pop/rock band ** ''Tokio'' (album), their debut album * Tokio Hotel, a German rock band * Toki ...

* Kita:

Nakamura Shichinosuke (born May 18, 1983) is a Japanese Kabuki, theatre, TV, and film actor. He was born , the second son of famed Kabuki performer, Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII. Unlike many kabuki actors, who specialize in a single type of role, Shichinosuke plays both ...

, a well-known kabuki actor * Kin-kin:

Sadao Abe is a Japanese actor, stage actor and musician from Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. He started his acting career after joining a theater company/talent agency, Otona Keikaku, in around 1992 and gained his popularity after the drama series '' Team Med ...

* Ohatsu:

Koike Eiko is a Japanese actress. Biography Koike starred in Kunitoshi Manda's film '' The Kiss''. She appeared in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 2012 television drama ''Penance,'' and co-starred in Junji Sakamoto's ''A Chorus of Angels'' with Sayuri Yoshinaga. She ...

, a Japanese idol * Hige no oiran (the bearded courtesan): Suzuki Matsuo * King Arthur:

Nakamura Kanzaburō Nakamura Kanzaburō is a stage name taken on by a series of Kabuki actors of the Nakamura family. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. Kanzaburō, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at gran ...

, a kabuki actor * Bartender: Arata * Bartender's wife:

Aso Kumiko , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress. She is also a model and has participated in several commercials. Career In 1995, Asō made her film debut in ''Bad Guy Beach''. With her role in the 1998 film ''Dr. Akagi'', she received ...

* Spirit of the dead: Arakawa Yoshiyoshi * Non-non: Emoto Tasuku * Naniwa Hotto: Itsuji Itao * Foreman: Iwamatsu Ryō * Vendor: Minagawa Sarutoki * Landlady: Morishita Aiko * Newsdealer:

Namase Katsuhisa is a Japanese actor, known primary for his roles in Japanese television dramas. His roles are often positions of authority, such as managers, principals, or police officers, but many of these characters also share a certain kookiness and incomp ...

* Tourists: Ogi Hiroaki, Yahagi Ken * Samurai:

Nao Ōmori , sometimes credited as Nao Ohmori or Nao Omori, is a Japanese actor. He was given the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2004 Yokohama Film Festival. Career Omori starred in Takashi Miike's ''Ichi the Killer''. He co-starred with Shinobu Teraji ...

* Oyuki: Shimizu Yumi * Tower Phonographs owner: Shiriagari Kotobuki * Takeuchi Riki: Kimura Shonoshin * Policeman: Terajima Susumu * Fantom Yaji:

Tsumabuki Satoshi is a Japanese actor. His breakthrough film was ''Waterboys'' for which he was nominated for the 'Best Actor' award at the Japanese Academy Awards, and won the 'Newcomer of the Year' prize. He is also the bassist and lead singer of the Japanese ...

* Old man:

Kazuo Umezu is a Japanese manga artist, musician and actor. He is among the most famous authors of horror manga and has been vital for its development since the 1960s. Life Umezu was born in Kōya, Wakayama Prefecture, but raised in the mountainous Go ...

* Ochin: Yamaguchi Tomomitsu

References

External links

official site (written in Japanese)

IMDb entry
2005 films 2000s Japanese-language films 2005 comedy films Samurai films Japanese LGBT-related films Films with screenplays by Kankurō Kudō LGBT-related comedy films Gay-related films 2005 LGBT-related films 2000s Japanese films {{2000s-Japan-film-stub