Banjo no himawari
A master of shogi, haunted by secrets darker than the game itself.
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Deep in the mountains, a skeletal corpse is unearthed — the only clue to its identity, a single handcrafted shogi piece from one of only seven sets known to exist. Shogi, often described as Japanese chess, becomes the key to unravelling a complex case.
The investigation soon points to Kamijo Keisuke (Sakaguchi Kentaro), a mysterious young prodigy who seemingly appeared from nowhere to dominate the professional shogi world and skyrocket to fame.
The trail leads further into the underworld, to Tomyo Shigeyoshi (award-winning actor, Watanabe Ken), a powerful shogi player closely tied to illegal gambling who knows Keisuke’s past. As the investigation progresses, Keisuke’s carefully constructed image of a genius begins to crumble, exposing the emotional wounds and fractured relationships that shaped him.
Supported by talented actors (including Tsuchia Tao), the narrative moves fluidly between past and present, set against the unique backdrop of the shogi world. Director Kumazawa Naoto, who previously demonstrated his masterful skill in ‘Yurigokoro’ (JFTFP19), explores ambition, trauma, and the fine line between brilliance and self-destruction, culminating in a spectacular ending. Newly released in Japan at the end of October 2025.
Image Credit:
(c) 2025 "The Final Piece" Film Partners
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