The Japanese films screening at The Okinawa International Movie Festival present stories of people in various regions of the country. One of those is Riding Uphill, which is set in Kokura, Fukuoka Prefecture, where Japanese professional bicycle racing began.

Koji (Kenichi Abe) is a former baseball player whose life has been going downhill ever since he was kicked off his team 8 years ago. When someone suggests he give bicycle racing a try, Koji sees it as his last chance to redeem himself. He pours himself into training, despite being twice the age of the other riders.

The big race at the end is a test of his physical strength and his will. The finale also features breathtaking cinematography to give a sense of the elegance, speed and physical effort of bicycle races.

After the screening, actor Kenichi Abe and director Kan Eguchi spoke to the audience. Abe, who brings both tough and heartfelt qualities to the character recalled how important the role was for him when he auditioned. “I decided if I didn’t get the part, I would retire from acting,” he said. Thankfully for film fans, he did get the part. Eguchi said “There are a lot of guys like Koji in Kyushu,” naming the main island where the film takes place. He went on to explain that both he and Abe are from the area. “Men are just tougher there,” he said.

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