Release Date

January, 15th, 2005

Running Time

168 min

Genre

Feature

Color

Color

Screening Format

35mm

Screen Size

-

Sound Processing

-

[ Directed by ]

• YUKISADA Isao

[ Produced by ]

• OKADA Yusuke

[ Cast ]

• YOSHINAGA Sayuri ── KOMATSUBARA Shino
• WATANABE Ken ── KOMATSUBARA Hideaki
• TOYOKAWA Etsushi ── Ashirika

[ Staff ]

• NASU Machiko ── Screenplay
• OSHIMA Michiru ── Music
• KITA Nobuyasu ── Cinematography

[ Production Company ]

YEAR ONE IN THE NORTH Film Partners

[ Story ]

Komatsubara Shino (Yoshinaga Sayuri) and her husband Hideaki (Watanabe Ken) are exiled to Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan, during the tumultuous years at the end of the nineteenth century. The family begins their struggle to carve out a new life for themselves in the rugged wilderness, but nothing will grow in the cold and hostile land. Hideaki leaves Hokkaido to learn about new farming technology and his family waits in vain for his return. Several years later, American advisors arrive in Hokkaido and Shino finds herself running a farm, with the help of an Ainu (Japanese indigenous tribe) man named Ashirika (Toyokawa Etsushi). Gradually, Shino and Ashirika's relationship blossoms into love. However, the government orders them to get rid of the horses that they depend on for farming. The man selected to help in this endeavor is none other than her former husband, Hideaki, who is now married to another woman. With Ashirika's help, Shino manages to get the horses back and she decides to remain alone in the wilderness she has grown to love.
Directed by Yukisada Isao, who directed Sekai no Chushin de Ai wo Sakebu (Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World), Year One in the North is a historical epic set in dramatic times against the sweeping natural beauty of Hokkaido.

[ Contact (International) ]

TOEI COMPANY, LTD.
International Sales & Acquisitions
3-2-17 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8108
tel: +81 3 3535 7621
fax: +81 3 3535 7622
E-mail: international@toei.co.jp
http://www.toei.co.jp/en