Aitsu to lullaby (1983)

movie

(8)

Country: Japan
Genres: N/A
Release: 1983-12-24
Director: Umetsugu Inoue
Writers: Umetsugu Inoue
Language: Japanese
Stars: Kazukiyo Nishikiori , Noriyuki Higashiyama , Katsuhide Uekusa , Kumiko Akiyoshi , Junko Mihara , Koji Moritsugu , Yumi Asô , Masaya Nihei
Runtime: 84 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: Aitsu to lullaby (Japan)
Plot: Based on a comic by Michiharu Kusunoki by the same title, Aitsu to lullaby is a debut film for Japan's multi talented trio Shonentai. It also features young Yumi Aso as her alternate screen name Yumiko Itsuki. The cast of this movie reads like who's who of young new generation actors of the era, and many of them still is active as actors and entertainers.Hishiki Kenji (Kazukiyo Nishikiori) is a biker in Yokohama. He's returning to high school after a year of dropping out. Kenji has a long term friend Rie (Junko Mihara) who's dad owns a boxing gym. There's a biker gang called the Cats, and the leader of the gang Hiroshi (Noriyuki Higashiyama) used to study under Rie's father, and is in love with Rie. He doesn't like the competition he's getting from Kenji. Kenji is a free spirit and there's nothing serious between him and Rie other than friendship. Kenji has his eye set on another girl Tomomi (Yumi Asou) but a new English teacher Miss Shirakawa (Kumiko Akiyoshi) is also interested in Kenji. Miss Shrakawa used to have a fiancé Hidehiko Shima (Saburo Shinoda) who's a professional race driver. He returns and proposes to her but she refuses.In the mean time there's a biker girl named Honmoku Lady who protects people from biker gang like the Cats. No one knows, but Honmoku Lady is Rie's alter ego. The story works its way to the final confrontation between Hiroshi and Kenji to decide who's the best bike rider in Yokohama.The story is loosely based on the comic and is more intended to introduce Shonentai to the world. Never the less, it depicts and captures a day in the life of a high school student in Japan in a fun and entertaining way. If you're a fan of Japanese culture or Shonentai, this movie is worth a watch (if you can find it).
IMDB:tt0331166