Maboroshi no Yamataikoku

Where the Legend Lives

まぼろしの邪馬台国

Release Date: November, 1st, 2008

Running Time: 118 min

Genre: Drama , Feature

Color: Color

Screening Format: 35mm

Screen Size: -

Sound Processing: -

[ Directed by ]

TSUTSUMI Yukihiko

[ Produced by ]

OKADA Yusuke

[ Cast ]

YOSHINAGA Sayuri ── MIYAZAKI Kazuko
TAKENAKA Naoto ── MIYAZAKI Kohei

[ Staff ]

OISHI Shizuka ── Screenplay
OSHIMA Michiru ── Music
KARASAWA Satoru ── Cinematography
FUKANO Toshihide ── Editor
SOMA Naoki ── Production Design

[ Production Company ]

WHERE THE LEGEND LIVES Production Committee

[ Distributor (Japan) ]

TOEI

[ Production Studio ]

TOEI

[ Story ]

The film portrays the love and bond between a real-life historian, Miyazaki Kohei, and his wife, Kazuko, in their life-long quest for the location of the ancient country of Yamataikoku, which is said to be the origin of Japan. Directed by Tsutsumi Yukihiko of 20th Century Boys trilogy. Starring Yoshinaga Sayuri, the four-time winner of the Japan Academy Prize Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Award.
In 1956, Kazuko (Yoshinaga Sayuri) who works at a broadcasting station in Fukuoka meets Miyazaki Kohei (Takenaka Naoto), the president of the Shimabara Railway and a local historian. Feeling overwhelmed by Miyazaki who does not seem to be inhibited by his visual impairment, Kazuko agrees to train his bus conductresses. The bus business goes well, however, Kohei's disproportionate enthusiasm in archaeological excavation ends in his dismissal from the presidency. Kazuko attempts to leave Shimabara, but is persuaded by Kohei, who has two young children, to stay and live with him. While running the household, Kazuko reads aloud historical records for Kohei, such as Gishiwajinden (the oldest record mentioning Japan) and Nihonshoki (the second oldest book of classical Japanese history). She also helps Kohei, acting as his eyes and walking with him all over Kyushu, as his partner in the quest for Yamataikoku. Eight years later in 1967, their book is released as the summarization of their research. They continued to look for the grave of Himiko (shaman queen of Yamataikoku), and Kazuko remained as Kohei's support until he passed away in 1973.