SATOSHI: A MOVE FOR TOMORROW

Japan, 2016, 125 minutes, Colour.
Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Shota Sometani, Lily Franky.
Directed by Yoshitaka Mori.

This is a film principally for a Japanese audience. It is based on a true story, the action happening between 1994 and 1998 with the death of the central character. However, what makes it particularly Japanese is that the subject of the film is a Japanese game, something akin to chess, Shogi. Since most audiences beyond Japan will not be familiar with the game, let alone the name, the film will be always somewhat esoteric, especially with so many sequences showing the playing the game and the variety of moves.

It is on the human level that the film will be of interest. It opens in 1994 when the subject, Satoshi, is 25. He is first seen lying in the street and has to be helped to the venue for the Shogi games. He plays very intently, championship level, while in the other rooms there are many men and boys playing each other. Satoshi is overweight, petulant at times like a little boy, delaying going to the game and the awards by wanting to read comic books.

It is seen in flashbacks that his mother was not aware that he had a disease and during hospital treatment is introduced to the game is a little boy. It becomes an obsession with him – later declaring that there were two dreams he had, being the champion as well as marrying and having a family.

Another young man is the champion, and eventually the two play each other. The great difficulty is that of Satoshi’s health, the doctor diagnosing that he has cancerous growths and recommends surgery to remove bladder and prostate. Satoshi is unwilling, is upbraided by his mother, finally undergoes the surgery. He resumes play, finally playing the champion but not quite overcoming him.

Satoshi died on August the eighth 1998 the age of 29.

1. Japanese audiences? Impact the non-Japanese?

2. The game of Shogi, the board, the pieces, the rituals for the game, the overseer? The demands on the players, thinking, planning moves, anticipating moves, strict timing? And the possibility that games could continue for hours?

3. Japan in the 1990s, the world of Shogi, the ordinary world? Satoshi’s world? Room, playing the games? Hospitals? The musical score?

4. The introduction to Satoshi, collapsed in the street, the old man taking him to the games? His performance? His skills? His ambitions and dreams? His own behaviour, late for functions, reading the comics? His speech at the award? Gratitude to his mother and father?

5. The flashback, the boy, the doctor and the diagnosis, the mother not aware, in hospital, treatment? The gift of the game?

6. His enjoyment of the game, winning as a quest, not wanting to lose?

7. The rival, his skills, manner, quiet and intense? Travelling with Satoshi? The conversations, learning about each other?

8. Satoshi’s dream, being the champion, having a wife and family?

9. The diagnosis, the doctor’s recommendation, surgery, his not wanting it, not wanting anaesthetic which would dull the brain? His mother’s complaint? His undergoing the surgery? Removal of bladder and prostate? His going back to the game, the strain on him?

10. The final game with his rival, the intensity, the hours, his winning – not the championship?

11. In hospital, dying, his mother and father, the pathos of his death?