Story

8 years ago, Koji Hamajima was doing okay as a professional baseball player. But then he suddenly got dismissed from his team, which has made his life miserable ever. This alienated him from his wife and son, and at 39 years old, he decides to return to his home in Kitakyushu and helps his best friend's pub. While he, same as usual, gambles and drinks heavily and even sleeps with his friend's wife, someone at a local ramen place encourages him to become a professional cyclist. As he learns that he can enroll despite his age at over forty, Hamajima enters the training school. But what awaits him is hazing by his coach and severe bullying by kids twenty years his junior. Hamajima perseveres, somehow keeping up with the fierce training and never giving in to bullying, but his old habits won't leave him and his racing is not showing results. One day, walking at the end of the cliff himself, he learns about Takaaki Hisamatsu, who unlike other students, has impressive results. Hisamatsu is betting on his racing career even if it means to lose a home for the sake of his weak mother in a care center. Without a single doubt, Hisamatsu continues training saying "this is all I've got." Hamajima is moved and sees a chance to regain his lost self.

Notes

The story is set in Ogura, Fukuoka Prefecture, the birthplace of professional bicycle racing. The actors went through actual training in a bicycle racing school resulting in a realistic racing scene. We see men faced with life seriously competing with each other and willing to do anything to make a change—but not knowing how. In the end, you will also want to cheer on this 'loser' as we see him struggle. Director Kan Eguchi's other Fukuoka based drama "Mentai Piriri" led him to the role of Creative Director of the Tokyo 2020 International Promotional Film for the Olympics. He is a rising creator. This is his long-awaited commercial film debut.

Cast

Kenichi Abe
Shodai Fukuyama
Mari Hayashida
Moro Morooka
Hanamaru Hakata

Director・Work Data