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CYCLE CINEMA #5
“Izakaya Choji”
The coolness of Ken-san riding a bicycle on the slopes of Hakodate.

When I was traveling through Hokkaido by train, there was a peculiar announcement. It warned us to be careful because the name of the next station had changed for a drama shoot. The atmosphere in the train buzzed with excitement. It was a popular drama set in Furano, Hokkaido. The train arrived at the station, but we passed what seemed to be the film crew. Then, in the corner of the platform, I saw a tall man. Even though he had a hat pulled down low, I immediately recognized him as Ken Takakura. Perhaps he had come to visit the filming location of an old friend (Kunie Tanaka). Acknowledging our gaze, Ken-san shyly raised his hand in greeting. It was an overwhelming coolness. Since then, although not from the same generation, I started watching films starring Ken Takakura.

Ken Takakura, who gained popularity in yakuza films, began to change his style around the 1970s. Moving away from the tough yakuza roles, he started portraying sincere, albeit clumsy, individuals. “Izakaya Choji” (1982, directed by Yasuo Furuhata) is a story set in an izakaya (Japanese pub) in Hakodate. Ken Takakura plays the role of the owner, a Motuyaki (grilled Offal) shop with a sorrowful past.

The bicycle makes its appearance at the beginning. In the morning, Ken Takakura leaves the small house by the tracks. His wife, played by Tokiko Kato, sees him off. Ken Takakura rides his bicycle toward the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse where the shop is located. Hakodate has many slopes. Even the formidable Takakura Ken stands up to pedal. It’s charming, to say the least.

Upon reaching the shop, Ken Takakura stops his bicycle without locking it. He gazes at the shop, takes the mail, and enters through the back door without locking it. He lights the stove, cleans the charcoal, and tidies up the shop. There, it’s neat. As he exits the shop, Tokiko Kato appears on her bicycle. “Perfect timing. I’ll go ahead,” she says, then rides away alone. He quickly catches up, and the two go to the market together.

In these few minutes, the scene featuring the bicycle becomes a means to convey the personality, troubles, and relationships of the protagonist, Eiji Fujino, with his wife and the people around him to the audience. It couldn’t have been done on foot, on a motorcycle, or in a car. It had to be a bicycle. There’s something mysterious about Ken Takakura riding it, making even the bicycle play a handsome role. In “Izakaya Choji,” the bicycle is vividly portrayed as more than just a prop. Watching this movie might make you crave a drink at a familiar izakaya. Of course, after a drink, you’d want to push your bicycle back home. I hope you return singing the theme song, “Jidai Okure no Sakaba (The Izakaya Behind the Times).”

Text＿Hideki Inoue

I am from Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. I work as a writer and editor. My hobbies include hot baths, skiing, and fishing. Although I have no personal connection, I am independently conducting research on Shiga Prefecture. I prefer an active fishing style called “RUN & GUN,” which involves moving around actively instead of staying in one place. I am planning to purchase a car to transport my bicycle to adopt this style, which might seem a bit counterproductive.

Illusutration＿Michiharu Saotome

Post Date：2023.11.17

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#CIRCLES

#Colunm

#Date Masamune

#Koji Yakusyo

#Kokuhou

#Matsuchima Wan

#Matsushima Godaidou

#Matsushima Onsen

#Onsen

#Perfect Days

#Saigyo modosi no Matsu

#Sakura

#Sanriku Shiogama Higashimono

#Senganjima

#ShichigaHama

#Shinji Iwanami

#Shiogama Jinjya

#Taiko Tensen

#Toranomon Hills

#Wim Wenders

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CULTURE
CYCLE CINEMA #03
“Shoot for tomorrow!”(origin title “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”)
Tragic Prelude: Carefree Moments on a Bicycle

Occasionally, we come across wonderful Japanese titles for great movies. For example, “An Officer and A Gentleman” becomes ” A Journey of Love and Youth ” in Japan. It’s filled with youth and love. Don’t you want to watch it? The Japanese title for “THE BODY” is ” Stand by Me “. I’m glad I don’t have to say, “You know, River Phoenix had the potential to become a big star even in the time of ‘THE BODY’.” It’s a great title taken from the iconic song by Ben E. King that’s used in the film.

#Column #Cinema
CULTURE
CYCLE CINEMA #04
“The Kid With a Bike (Le gamin au vélo)”
The boy abandoned by his father searches for hope on a bicycle.

“The Kid With a Bike (Le gamin au vélo)” (2012, directed by the Dardenne brothers) is, as the title suggests, a story centered around a boy and his bicycle. The protagonist is Cyril, a boy living in a Belgian foster care facility. One day, his cell phone with his father suddenly goes offline. When he contacts the apartment manager, they claim that his father has moved away. He can’t believe it. His father wouldn’t just move without telling him. Moreover, his precious means of transportation, his bicycle, is still in his father’s apartment. Cyril runs away from the facility and visits the apartment, but as the manager said, his father has already moved, and there’s no sign of the bicycle. Cyril has been abandoned by his father.

#Column #Cinema
CULTURE
CYCLE CINEMA #02
“Project A”
Immerse in an exhilarating bike chase.

In the early 1990s, China had a completely different landscape compared to today. During the morning and evening rush hours, one could witness the famous “bicycle rush hour” that was synonymous with China at the time. Many people used bicycles for commuting, creating a breathtaking sight of thousands of people riding the same roads. Moreover, since most bicycles were of the same model and color, there was a sense of harmony. Brands like “Fenghuang” and “Yongjiu” from Shanghai were quite popular. These bicycles were tough and sturdy, serving as the essential means of transportation to support people’s daily lives.

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