Locomotive Teacher (Kinkansha Sensai-2004)

Starring:
Kenji Sakaguchi - Seigo Yoshioka
Masaaki Sakai - Shuichiro Sako
Mitsuko Baisho - Yone Abe
Nene Otsuka - Yoshie Muroi
Masato Ibu - Jutaro Mimasaka
Masami Sato - Mieko Sako
Naoyuki Morita - Shuhei Nishimoto
Mantaro Koichi
Matsunosuke Shofukutei

Kikansha Sensei, based on the popular novel by Ijuin Shizuka, is an inspiring movie about a teacher and his young students. The setting of the story is a small island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea.

The story takes place sometime in the late 50’s to early 60’s. One day, a young man named Yoshioka Seigo (Sakaguchi) arrives at the only elementary school on a small island in the Seto Inland Sea to become a temporary teacher. When the kids encounter their new burly teacher and discover that he is a mute, they quickly tag him with the nickname “Kikansha Sensei (Teacher Locomotive).” Initially, many of the grownup islanders are wary about hiring the mute teacher; but the kind-hearted Yoshioka slowly gains the acceptance of the adults and the love of the children. However, one day, tragedy strikes...

Another wonderful, wonderful movie! Gosh! Today has been a tearjerker day. Emotionally drained from picking and choosing movies with deep undertones of familial drama. Whew!

This one is a definite heart string tugger if there ever was one.

Amazing how a character played by a gorgeous man can act so well while not speaking a damn lick of Japanese. Nada! Zilch! Zero! Not a freaking word. Almost two hours of silence out of him. And it did wonders for this movie. He was the main character but yet really the main characters were the children he taught and the parents of those kids.

I don't think the younger generation will approve of this movie. But us adult folks will be moved beyond our ages and tormented by lost love.

I hope they finish this movie and make another......parte deux!!

Sakaguchi Kenji