A rousing tale of the first deadly uprising against the corrupt Shogunate
Sneak Preview Screening: "Muromachi Outsiders" (Muromachi Burai)
followed by a Q&A with director Yu Irie and star Yo Oizumi
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 6:00 pm*
*Please note early start time.
Due to limited seating, members are restricted to one guest only.
In Japanese with English subtitles
Japan 2025 134 minutes
Directed by: Yu Irie
Written by: Yu Irie, based on Ryosuke Kakine's "Muromachi Burai" novels
Produced by: Yasushi Suto, Kuryu Kazuma, Mutsumi Kitaoka
Starring: Yo Oizumi, Kento Nagao, Wakana Matsumoto,
Akira Emoto, Kazuki Kitamura, Shinichi Tsutsumi
Film courtesy of Toei
In 1461, several years before the decade-long Onin War would devastate Japan and trigger the Warring States period, those in power squander their wealth while the lives of the less fortunate are lost to widespread famine, plagues and mounting social unrest. In Kyoto, just a few miles from the Shogun's beautifully tended gardens, over 80,000 bodies have piled up on the banks of the Kamo River in just two months. During the Dark Ages of Japanese history, human trafficking and the slave trade thrive, while political corruption is widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots.
Wandering ronin Hyoe Hasuda (Oizumi, commanding in his first-ever action role) does what little he can to alleviate the suffering he encounters; but as we soon learn, the skilled swordsman is less carefree than he pretends. As wily as he is charming, Hyoe is secretly gathering together a band of lowlifes and rebels to challenge the Shogun's army in a high-stakes battle for justice. Joining him after an intensive period of training is Saizo (Nagao), a young loner whom Hyoe dubs "frog" but knows may grow to become invincible. As they head toward the Shogun's palace, they amass more fighters - an iaijutsu master, an expert spearman, a strongman with an enormous iron club, a female archer - but Hyoe's former friend-turned-foe, Doken (Tsutsumi), clearly has the upper hand. Or does he?
Defying expectations, Yu Irie's first period action epic recalls the colorful glory days of Toei Kyoto Studio's jidaigeki filmmaking, delivering richly atmospheric settings, stunning martial arts choreography, an evocative soundtrack and layered character portrayals in a rousing tale of the first samurai to openly defy the ruling elite. Adapted from award-winning author Ryosuke Kakine's bestselling novels, "Muromachi Outsiders" is a bold and moving exploration of power, oppression and rebellion.
Please join us for this sneak preview of the "Muromachi Outsiders" before its Japan release on January 17, 2025.
For more (in Japanese): https://muromachi-outsiders.jp/
Director YU IRIE's sophomore feature, "8,000 Miles" (2009), won the Grand Prize at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, was screened to acclaim at numerous festivals overseas and brought him a Best Newcomer Award from the Directors Guild of Japan. Two sequels followed. Irie then began helming large studio productions as well as independent films. Among his career highlights are "Joker Game" (2015), "The Sun" (2016), "Vigilante" (2017), "Memoirs of a Murderer" (2017), "AI Amok" (2020), "Ninja Girl" (2021) and "A Girl Named Ann" (2024). Irie was named the Tokyo International Film Festival Director in Focus last year, and given a mini-retrospective.
Actor YO OIZUMI is one of Japan's most versatile and popular actors, appearing across television, stage and cinema. The five-time Japanese Academy Award nominee has starred in such notable and diverse films as "Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro" (2007), "Phone Call to the Bar," "The Detective in the Bar" and "The Last Shot in the Bar" (2011, 2013, 2017), "Bolt from the Blue" (2014), "Kakekomi" (2015), "I Am a Hero" (2016), "Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction" (2021), "Asakusa Kid" (2021), "Phases of the Moon" (2022) and "Mom, Is That You?!" (2023). "Muromachi Outsiders" marks his first action role.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to limited seating, members are restricted to one guest only.
Please make your reservations at the FCCJ Reception Desk 03 3211-3161 or register online.
All film screenings are private, noncommercial events primarily for FCCJ members and their guests.
- Karen Severns, Film Committee