Kamikaze Girls
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| Kamikaze Girls | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 下妻物語 (Shimotsuma Monogatari) |
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| Genre | Comedy |
| Light novel | |
| Author | Novala Takemoto |
| Publisher |  Shogakukan VIZ Media\ |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Live action film | |
| Director | Tetsuya Nakashima |
| Released | 2004 |
| Runtime | 102 minutes |
| Manga | |
| Author | Yukio Kanesada Novala Takemoto |
| Publisher | Shogakukan VIZ Media |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Magazine | Betsucomi |
| Original run | 11 June 2004 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Kamikaze Girls, known in Japan as Shimotsuma Monogatari (下妻物語? lit. Shimotsuma Story) is a light novel written by Novala Takemoto that has been adapted into a manga and film.
Kamikaze Girls centers around two students, Momoko Ryugasaki (Kyoko Fukada) and Ichigo "Ichiko" Shirayuri (Anna Tsuchiya), who are from completely different backgrounds: one is a Lolita girl, the other a Yankī. 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, an interview with each of the movie's two stars, along with a music video by Anna Tsuchiya.
A manga based on the book was also created by Yukio Kanesada. It was published in English by Viz. A preview of the manga was in the November 2005 issue of Shojo Beat.
Contents |
[edit] Movie
[edit] Plot
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 so he and Momoko move to his mother's house in the rural town of 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, who answers an advertisement she has placed about selling the clothes. 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 legendary embroiderer in Tokyo named Emma (sometimes translated as M.R.) 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 embroidery Momoko has stitched on one of her garments and calls the designer himself to come to look at it. Later in the film, the designer asks Momoko to embroider a sample garment which accidentally came back plain.
Back in Shimotsuma, 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.
[edit] Credits
- Cast
- Momoko Ryugasaki (竜ヶ崎桃子 Ryūgasaki Momoko) - Kyoko Fukada (Young Momoko Ryugasaki: Mayuko Fukuda)
- Ichigo Shirayuri (白百合イチゴ Shirayuri Ichigo) - Anna Tsuchiya
- Dame Oyaji/Loser Dad (Momoko's father) - Hiroyuki Miyasako
- Momoko's mother (Saiyonji Midori) - 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
- Staff
- Director - Tetsuya Nakashima
- Director of Photography - Shoichi Ato
- Production Designer - Towako Kuwashima
- Animation - Yojiro Nishimura (Studio 4°C)
- Music - Yōko Kanno
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- The song Ichigo sings in the movie is the same song on her cellphone - Yutaka Ozaki's 15 no Yoru.
- BTSSB clothing (and Lolita clothing in general) usually is as expensive as it appears in the movie.
- There is a sequel to the original Shimotsuma Monogatari novel, titled Shimotsuma Story End - Yanki-chan and Lolita-chan and the Murder Case (下妻物語・完―ヤンキーちゃんとロリータちゃんと殺人事件 Shimotsuma Monogatari Kan - Yankii-chan to Lolita-chan to Satsujinjiken?)
- The movie's soundtracks was composed by Yōko Kanno, more famous for her scores of anime series and movies
- The opening and ending theme songs of the movie were the A- and B-sides of Tommy heavenly6's single "Hey My Friend"
- Ichigo's scooter is a customized 1985-86 Honda Lead 50 cc, most likely the SS or R version. This scooter line was briefly available in the USA as the Aero, of which the Aero 80 bears the closest resemblance. The Lead line of scooters has changed over time and is still widely ridden worldwide.
- In American advertisements, reviews, etc., Momoko is often incorrectly referred to as a Gothic Lolita, when she is in fact a Sweet Lolita. As Goth-loli is the most common subset of Lolita Fashion in the U.S., it is mistakenly used to refer to all of Lolita culture.
[edit] External links
- (Japanese) Official website
- (English) Official website
- (English) Kamikaze Girls at the Internet Movie Database
