Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims
Encyclopedia
is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Kudo Kankuro. The film stars several well-known and highly respected Japanese actors.
The story follows two Edo-era gay
men, Yaji Robei (Yaji) and Kita Hachi (Kita), on a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine
. It is loosely based on the Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige.
. They are deeply in love. Yaji is married to a woman, while Kita is an actor addicted to various drugs.
One day, they receive an advertisement for the Grand Shrine at Ise, and decide to set out on a pilgrimage there, hoping to cure Kita of his drug addiction. They set out on a modern motorcycle
but are forced to turn back and walk the Tōkaidō
road to Ise, encountering various characters and obstacles along the way.
The story follows two Edo-era gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
men, Yaji Robei (Yaji) and Kita Hachi (Kita), on a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine
Ise Shrine
is a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is in fact a shrine complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and ....
. It is loosely based on the Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige.
Plot
Yaji and Kita are two men who live in EdoEdo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
. They are deeply in love. Yaji is married to a woman, while Kita is an actor addicted to various drugs.
One day, they receive an advertisement for the Grand Shrine at Ise, and decide to set out on a pilgrimage there, hoping to cure Kita of his drug addiction. They set out on a modern motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
but are forced to turn back and walk the Tōkaidō
Tokaido (road)
The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
road to Ise, encountering various characters and obstacles along the way.
Cast
- Yaji: Nagase Tomoya from the band TOKIOTokioTokio is an alternative spelling for Tokyo, the capital of Japan, used primarily in non-english speaking countries.Tokio may also refer to:-Music:*Tokio , a Japanese pop/rock band**Tokio , the debut by Tokio...
- Kita: Nakamura Shichinosuke, a well-known kabukiKabukiis classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
actor - Kin-kin: Sadao AbeSadao Abeis a Japanese actor and musician from Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, and his real name is . His popularity started as the lead singer of the Japanese rock band Group Tamashii...
- Ohatsu: Koike Eiko, a Japanese idolJapanese idolIn Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
- Hige no oiran (the bearded courtesan): Suzuki Matsuo
- King Arthur: Nakamura Kanzaburō, a kabuki actor
- Bartender: ArataArata (actor)Arata is a Japanese actor from Tokyo, Japan. He writes his name in Japanese as ARATA using capital letters.-Filmography:* Wonderful Life * Shady Grove * Distance * Ping Pong...
- Bartender's wife: Aso Kumiko
- Spirit of the dead: Arakawa Yoshiyoshi
- Non-non: Emoto Tasuku
- Naniwa Hotto: Itsuji Itao
- Foreman: Iwamatsu Ryō
- Vendor: Minagawa Sarutoki
- Landlady: Morishita Aiko
- Newsdealer: Namase Katsuhisa
- Tourists: Ogi Hiroaki, Yahagi Ken
- Samurai: Omori Nao
- Oyuki: Shimizu Yumi
- Tower Phonographs owner: Shiriagari Kotobuki
- Takeuchi Riki: Kimura Shonoshin
- Policeman: Terajima Susumu
- Fantom Yaji: Tsumabuki Satoshi
- Old man: Umezu Kazuo
- Ochin: Yamaguchi Tomomitsu