Kamikaze Girls

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Kamikaze Girls
下妻物語
(Shimotsuma Monogatari)
Genre Comedy
Movie
Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima
Studio —
Released 2004
Runtime 102 minutes
Manga
Authored by Yukio Kanesada
Publisher Japan Shogakukan
Canada United States VIZ Media
Serialized in Japan Betsucomi
Original run 11 June 2004 –
No. of volumes 1

Kamikaze Girls, also known as Shimotsuma Monogatari (下妻物語), is a light novel, manga, and movie. The novel was written by Novala Takemoto.

Kamikaze Girls centers around two girls, Momoko Ryugasaki (Kyoko Fukada) and Ichigo "Ichiko" Shirayuri (Anna Tsuchiya), who are from completely different backgrounds: one is a Lolita girl, the other a yanki. The story showcases their special bond. The movie was filmed in the town of Shimotsuma, in the Ibaraki Prefecture in Eastern Japan. The movie was produced in 2004.

The movie is based on a popular light novel of the same name, written by Novala Takemoto and published in October 2002. It was released on DVD in the United States in January 2006 under the title Kamikaze Girls. The U.S. DVD has English subtitles (which can not be disabled) and the original Japanese vocals and musical score. The DVD extras include the original Japanese movie trailers and an interview with each of the movie's two stars.

A manga based on the book was also created by Yukio Kanesada. It was published in English by Viz. It is one of Viz's newer releases to be part of their Shojo Beat line. A preview of the manga was in the November 2005 issue of Shojo Beat.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The movie begins with a flashforward of Momoko getting hit by a car while driving a moped, then shifts to the past to introduce her background and early life.

Momoko, who was born near Kobe, wishes that she had been born in Rococo-era France. Her father, a former small-time gangster, was involved in selling fake brand name clothing. After making a fake "double-brand" he finds himself in trouble with Universal Studios, Versace, and the mob, and he and Momoko move to his mother's house in rural town in Shimotsuma.

Momoko must go to Tokyo to shop for her clothes, but constantly finds herself short of money for the expensive trip and the pricey clothes she wants to buy. She decides to sell some of her father's fake Versace products, and meets Ichigo (prefers to be called Ichiko), who answers an advertisement she has placed.

Ichigo is a racy, boyish yanki-type who belongs to an all-girl bōsōzoku (motorcycle gang). Gradually, the unlikely pair become friends.

Soon Ichigo needs Momoko's help. Akimi, the leader of Ichigo's gang, is leaving, and as a tribute Ichigo plans to have her coat embroidered. She has heard that there is a particularly skilled embroiderer in Tokyo named Emma and she persuades Momoko to go there with her.

Although they never find the embroiderer, they do stop at Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, the shop where Momoko buys her frilly lolita dresses. An assistant notices the beautiful floral embroidery Momoko has stiched on one of her garments and calls the designer himself to come to look at it. The designer asks Momoko to make the embroidery for his new creation.

Later, after an argument, Momoko offers to stich the embroidery on Ichigo's coat, which she does with great skill.

The final scenes of the film concern a fight between Ichigo and the members of several all-girl motorbike gangs. It is revealed that the crash at the start of the movie occurred when Momoko was rushing to help Ichigo. Momoko does not die, but instead challenges the entire motorbike gang and wins, rescuing Ichigo.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Credits

[edit] Cast

  • Momoko Ryugasaki (竜ヶ崎桃子 Ryūgasaki Momoko) - Kyoko Fukada
  • Ichigo Shirayuri (白百合イチゴ Shirayuri Ichigo) - Anna Tsuchiya
  • Dame Oyayi (Momoko's father) - Hiroyuki Miyasako
  • Momoko's mother - Ryoko Shinohara
  • "Unicorn" Ryuji - Sadao Abe
  • Momoko's grandmother - Kirin Kiki
  • Akimi (亜樹美) - Eiko Koike
  • Miko - Shin Yazawa
  • Akinori Isobe (磯部明徳 Isobe Akinori) - Yoshinori Okada
  • Yakuza boss - Hirotaro Honda
  • Grocery store manager - Yoshiyoshi Arakawa
  • Pachinko Parlor manager - Katsuhisa Namase

[edit] Staff

  • Director - Tetsuya Nakashima
  • Director of Photography - Shoichi Ato
  • Production Designer - Towako Kuwashima
  • Animation - Yojiro Nishimura (Studio 4°C)
  • Music - Yoko Kanno

[edit] Trivia

[edit] External links

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