Come and enjoy the spectacular World of Japanese Cinema. 

 

Color / Wide / 2002 / 95min / ©2002  Usui Yoshito. / Futabasha・SHIN-EI Animation・TV Asahi Corporation. / All Rights Reserved.

 

Director: Keiichi HARA

Script: Keiichi HARA

Based on the manga by: Yoshihito USUI

Cinematography: Toshiyuki UMEDA

Art Direction: Toru KOGA, Toshiyuki SHIMIZU

Music: Toshiyuki ARAKAWA, Shiro HAMAGUCHI

 

Cast:

Akiko YAJIMA: NOHARA Shinnosuke

Miki NARAHASHI: NOHARA Misae

Keiji FUJIWARA: NOHARA Hiroshi

 

Synopsis:

One morning Shinnosuke and his parents have the exact same dream. Shinnosuke becomes entranced with the “pretty lady” from that dream, his dog Shiro also seems to have had the same dream and begins digging a hole in the yard.

Shinnosuke discovers a wooden box in the hole. There’s a letter inside written in his own handwriting that says he’s in the second year of the Tensho era (1574). Even though he has no recollection of the letter, while standing at the bottom of the hole, he unwittingly travels through time to an unfamiliar place.

Now he’s in the second year of the Tensho era, in the middle of the Warring States period. Stumbling into the middle of a battle, he happens to save the life of a young samurai called Matabe. That leads to an invitation to the castle of Kasuga where the lord takes a liking to “the boy from the future. There Shinnosuke meets the lord’s daughter, Princess Ren. He’s convinced she’s the “pretty lady” from his dream.

Meanwhile, Shinnosuke’s parents, who had been looking for him, travel through time themselves. The Nohara family is happy to be reunited, but staying at Matabe’s house, they struggle to return to the present day.

While staying with Matabe in the castle, Shinnosuke finds and gets frustrated by the fact that, held back by the difference in their class status, Matabe and Princess Ren don’t declare their mutual feelings of love. Matabe, who’s a warrior, tells Shinnosuke not to tell Princess Ren about his feelings for her.

Declining a political marriage proposal with Takatora Okurai of a neighboring state, Princess Ren instead yearns to live in the world Shinnosuke describes: a peaceful world where people can love freely. Princess Ren has refused his marriage proposal, which makes Takatora mad and his army invades the castle. Prepared for death, Matabe’s army fights back desperately and, after a difficult battle, defeats Takatora’s army, thanks partly to the support of Shinnosuke and others.

All seems happy ending, but sad destiny hits Matabe and Princess Ren…