The Vancouver Asahi

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Movie: The Vancouver Asahi
Romaji: Vancouver no Asahi
Japanese: バンクーバーの朝日
Director: Yuya Ishii
Writer: Satoko Okudera
Producer: Naoto Inaba, Miyoshi Kikuchi
Cinematographer: Ryuto Kondo
World Premiere: September 29, 2014 (Vancouver IFF)
Release Date: December 20, 2014
Runtime: 132 min.
Genre: Drama / Based on True Story / Sports / Baseball / Period-1930
Distributor: Toho
Language: Japanese
Country: Japan

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

The Vancouver Asahi baseball team consists of 2nd generation Japanese immigrants living in Canada. They play within a local amateur baseball league. The team got popular due to their fair play spirit, while struggling to fight against discrimination and poverty in their everyday lives.

Reggie (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is a 2nd generation Japanese immigrant who works at a sawmill in Vancouver. He is the leader of the team and plays shortstop. Roy (Kazuya Kamenashi) is the team's ace pitcher and works at a fishery field. Kaye (Ryo Katsuji) is the team's 2nd baseman and co-worker of Reggie. Tom (Yusuke Kamiji) is the catcher and works at a tofu shop. Frank (Sosuke Ikematsu) works at a hotel and plays baseball with the team.

Notes

Movie is based on the true story of the Vancouver Asahi team played in Canada prior to World War II. The team formed in 1914 and got popular, but after the start of World War II the team was disbanded and the players were sent to various internment camps.
Filming for the movie began February 18, 2014 and finishes in late April, 2014. Filming takes place at a set in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan and Vancouver, Canada.
All the principle actors have experience playing baseball except actor Satoshi Tsumabuki. Satoshi Tsumabuki went through training beginning in late 2013.

Cast



Satoshi Tsumabuki	Kazuya Kamenashi	Ryo Katsuji	Yusuke Kamiji	Sosuke Ikematsu
Reggie Kasahara	Roy Naganishi	Kaye Kitamoto	Tom Miyake	Frank Nojima



Mitsuki Takahata	Aoi Miyazaki	Shihori Kanjiya	Yusuke Santamaria	Manami Honjou
Emmy Kasahara	Toyoko Sasaya	Betty Miyake	Torao Horiguchi	Sei Sugiyama



Ken Mitsuishi	Ren Osugi	Tomorowo Taguchi	Yu Tokui	Akira Otaka
Yasugoro Inoue	Zenkichi Ebata	Tadaaki Matsuda	Katsuo Maehara	Yosikazu Kono



Ryo Iwamatsu	Shingo Tsurumi	Eri Ishida	Koichi Sato
Tadakura Miyake	Tony Shishido	Kazuko Kasahara	Seiji Kasahara

Additional Cast Members:

Trailers

Image Gallery

Film Festivals

2014 (33rd) Vancouver International Film Festival - Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2014 - Dragons and Tigers *World Premiere
2014 (34th) Hawaii International Film Festival - Oct. 30-Nov. 9, 2014 - Opening Night Film *U.S. Premiere
2015 (9th) JAPAN CUTS - July 9-19, 2015 *East Coast Premiere

Comments

Fullmoonli Nov 29 2015 1:45 pm Surpassed my expectations. What a moving story for immigrant families and great set of actors/actresses. Very subtle yet it portrays well the spirit and soul, pride of the Japanese. Beauty is in the love for sports. The times they lived, lives being changed and helpless humans. It brings me to reflect what's going on in the present.

Katie Feb 16 2015 8:16 pm Wow. I got shivers just from watching the trailer. It looks very interesting, and well done. I hope it is as good as my expectations.

Mike Warr Nov 23 2014 4:59 am This was the closing film at JFF Sydney and the place was packed. It is an amazing film and one of the stand out pieces. I did not realise that the film is not even released yet. The movie is AWESOME and all the lovers of Baseball and Japanese Cinema need to see this.

The film shows the hardships and struggles of immigrant Asian workers in Western countries in the early 20th Century that forms the basis of a community. The baseball team goes on to show that sport can change people's hearts and minds and build bridges between communities.

I can not recommend this film highly enough and I know this one is going to win a ton of awards. Awesome film.

Fanfan Haha Jul 22 2014 10:06 am it's like the movie "American Pastime"

Rain Jun 14 2014 12:54 pm Considering that the historical "Japantown" is no longer, and Oppenheimer is situated in the Downtown Eastside; it'd be very hard for them the shoot within those grounds. Unless they want to shoot with accuracy about how the place is now turned into Skid Row and suffering from gentrification, I would much prefer they shoot the usual water/ mountain/ rain scenery than having them come in as big shots to chase away people who have already been chased away due to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

RE-mongoose-pygmy May 08 2014 7:18 am What's wrong with the historical accuracy of the grounds?

Paula May 05 2014 8:21 pm I know some American Service men were hired to play the Canadian team as my son Jake Elliott plays the 2nd Canadian lead on the team and is the bad guy. He's actually the youngest of five and a sweetheart....super excited!!!

Steven Long Sr. May 05 2014 8:09 pm What are the names of the Canadian team and actors that play them? Can't wait to see this movie!!!!

rootabega Apr 15 2014 12:14 am It's great a dorama is being made about the legendary Vancouver Asahi; however, judging by the above photo of the Asahi grounds, historical accuracy is going to be a low priority. I'm sure shooting in Vancouver will be limited to the usual water/mountain/rain establishing shots, no actors involved.

Pam Wilkinson Apr 06 2014 12:47 pm I will be looking forward to watching it here in Canada. It will be a good historic reminder of the people that made this country interesting and their hardships. I also excited to watch the Canadian right outfielder:)

Liza★ Feb 19 2014 11:18 pm Woah a lot of good actors, can't wait to see it!!

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