Checkmate
1h 48m
Directed by Junji Sakamoto
Color with English Subtitles
Screening will be followed with opportunity for Q&A with Director Sakamoto Junji.
Join us for a lunch discussion with Director Sakamoto before the screening in HQ 276 at 12pm.
Registration is required here. Lunch will be provided.
Set in Osaka, the film depicts a young man's life in the world of shogi (Japanese chess).
Tobita, a Shinkenshi (Shogi gambler) living in Shinsekai, Osaka, and Kayama, an aspiring professional Meijin (master of Shogi), are childhood friends. Although the two have opposing personalities, they are inseparably bound by their love for Shogi. Kayama has feelings for Kanako, an apothecary, but Kanako finds Kayama's Shogi otaku (geek) ways annoying. Tobita, on the other hand, goes to a hot spring town, where he meets a stripper named Terumi and falls in love with her. Then, the legendary old master Shikenshi, Mitamura, appears in front of the two. Despite his old age, Mitamura is a strong opponent, and Tobita is unable to compete. Fired up, Tobita enters Shogi competition after competition while on the run from loan sharks and eventually rises up to the challenge again.
Print courtesy of The Japan Foundation.
About Director Sakamoto
Born in Osaka in 1958. While studying in university, he participated in productions of directors such as Sogo Ishii (Gakuryu) and Kazuyuki Izutsu. He made his directorial debut in 1989 with Knockout. In 2000, his film Face won numerous awards including Best Director at the Japanese Academy Prize. His other notable work includes KT (2002), Aegis (2005), Children of the Dark (2008), Zatoichi: The Last (2010), Someday (2011), A Chorus of Angels (2012), Human Trust (2013), The Projects (2016), Ernesto (2017), Another World (2019), I Never Shot Anyone (2020), My Brother, The Android And Me (2022) and Fuyu Soubi (2022).