蔵のある街 「Kura no aru machi」
Release Date: August 22nd, 2025
Duration: 103 mins.
Director: Emiko Hiramatsu
Writer: Emiko Hiramatsu (Screenplay)
Starring: Soma Santoki, Runa Nakashima, Kento Sakurai, Kazuki Horike, Daisuke Takahashi, MEGUMI, Isao Hashizume, Takuma Nagao, Tomoya Maeno,
Website Twitter: @kuranoarumachi
Three films in OAFF 2025’s Indie Forum section are examples of projects promoting civic pride in their regional backgrounds, the extent of which they transcend typical examples of the genres they come from and gain a life of their own. Oita-set Good Luck (2025) made use of onsen and outdoors spots for a travelogue, Rainy Blue (2025) was a Kumamoto-set coming-of-age drama full of cinematic dreams, and the The Tales of Kurashiki (2025) which had touches of fantasy.
The brainchild of writer, director, and producer Emiko Hiramatsu, The Tales of Kurashiki was a project born to depict the vitality of its titular setting in a post-pandemic world, while also championing a younger generation. She does this with a cast of talent, many also from the city, who bring to life a wholesome youth movie that intertwines their hometown’s culture with character growth.
The story follows three childhood friends who face headwinds as they move forward into the future. Aspiring artist Beniko (Runa Nakashima) is about to abandon art school ambitions as, in the absence of her painter mother and with a failure for a father, she has become protective of her autistic brother, affectionately known around town as Kyon-kun. Meanwhile, lackadaisical lads Aoi (Soma Santoki) and Kiichi (Kento Sakurai) show no signs of following in the footsteps of their respective fathers and taking over family business, a store in Aoi’s case and the shrine atop historic Mount Tsurugata in the Bikan Historical Quarter for Kiichi. Instead, they lark about.
Fate, in the fantastical form of an old man with a bunch of balloons that nobody can see, brings them together when Kyon-kun spies the balloons loose in the air and gets stuck after climbing a tree in the shrine grounds while in pursuit. Aoi tries to help get him down by making the promise to shoot fireworks from Mount Tsurugata, which upsets Beniko because she knows it is against the rules due to fire hazards. Seeing their friend hurt, Aoi and Kiichi become determined to fulfil the promise and create a fireworks display. As surrounding adults see these young people put their spirits into this task, they are moved and the fireworks take on a greater meaning for Beniko’s family and for the whole community.
Showing skill and confidence, Hiramatsu ties together multiple plot threads involving Beni’s broken family and the younger characters’ growth together, all while interweaving the idea of Kurashiki as a town of creativity into the human drama quite naturally.
This sense of ease is partly down to having characterisation and plot developments determined by repeating motifs involving art and ideas of keeping the past alive while also building a future, particularly in the case of Beniko who follows in the footsteps of her own mother. It is also partly because Hiramatsu keeps the story trucking along at a smooth pace while the conceit of the old man with the balloons (whom only Kyon-kun can see) adds a magical-realist touch. The broad and pleasant portrayals of the characters, light-hearted direction, easy plotting and gentle tone makes things even more accessible and it helps a lot that Kurashiki is a genuinely beautiful backdrop which provides the sort of perfect environment for the aforementioned elements to work.
From a tourist’s perspective, Kurashiki looks amazing. Hiramatsu shoots mainly in the historical quarters during the summer and a warm balmy light bathes old-fashioned buildings, the shrine, and narrow cobbled streets and canals and stairways that thrum with people. It creates an attractive backdrop delivered which she delivers with vigorous direction that beautifully incorporates the city into shots without being too showy.
All of this also links perfectly into thematics of joining culture and the past to the future. As characters point out in the film, these buildings exist because US bombers passed them during the war, and we see the kids amidst these storied environs, sharing in their meaning and experiencing growth because of this history. Meanwhile, Hiramatsu continues to champion Okayama as a while with a montage of industry (like the production of jeans) and culture and shooting in some scenic locations to give a wider sense of the place and how the characters fit in.
Most enjoyable is the way the whole community comes together for a fireworks display as the city and its residents work together to support each other. Hiramatsu truly creates a film that champions her city, as does the cast, many of whom like Daisuke Takahashi (making his debut and proving to be a good actor), Tomoya Maeno (Emi-Abi) and MEGUMI (December), are natives and Hiramatsu shows up in one scene herself. The final feel of the film is a wholesome one, as sustained in a world where the hopeful and yearning viewpoints of youngsters is taken seriously and brings along adults who help make a happy ending. It makes for enjoyable viewing for a wide audience.
The Tales of Kurashiki was screened on March 14, at Theatre Umeda Cinema 4. It will be screened again on Wednesday, March 19, at Theatre Umeda Cinema 4 at 10:30.