Nine stills from the film " Sunflower on the Board " (directed by Kumazawa Naoto, to be released on October 31st), starring actors Sakaguchi Kentaro and Ken Watanabe , showing the "turbulent life" of the main character, Kamijo Keisuke, played by Sakaguchi, were released on August 14th.
This human mystery is a live-action adaptation of the novel of the same name (Chuokoron-Shinsha) by Yuzuki Yuko, known for works such as "The Blood of Wolves." Sakaguchi stars as Kamijo Keisuke, a genius shogi player who made the extraordinary transition from amateur to professional. Watanabe plays Toumyo Shigeyoshi, a legendary shogi gambling master who is a top-class player but a terrible person, while Tao Tsuchiya plays Miyata Natsuko, Keisuke's ex-fiancee who watches over him.
Additionally, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Takasugi Mahiro, Otoo Takuma, Watanabe Ikkei, Emoto Akira, Onoe Ukon, Kimura Tae, and Fumiyo Kohinata will also appear.
An unidentified skeleton is discovered in the mountains. A clue is found in the valuable shogi pieces found with the body. After an investigation, it is revealed that the owner of the pieces is Kamijo Keisuke, a genius shogi player who appeared like a comet in the shogi world. Furthermore, during the course of the investigation, the existence of Dongming Chongqing, a man with overwhelming skills in gambling shogi but who lived in the underworld, emerges as an important person who knows Keisuke's past... This is the story.
The newly released scene reveals the tragic past of Keisuke (Sakaguchi), a genius shogi player who is now a suspect in a murder case. He lives a life of extreme poverty with his father, Kamijo Yoichi (Otoo), who is addicted to alcohol and gambling. However, Keisuke's only passion is shogi. Light shines in Keisuke's lonely life with the presence of his father, Karasawa Koichiro (Kohinata), who recognizes his talent, teaches him shogi, and warmly welcomes him like a parent, and Miyata Natsuko (Tsuchiya), who showers him with quiet love. However, an encounter with Higashimei Shigeki (Watanabe), a gambling shogi master, brings unprecedented passion and deep despair to Keisuke's life. Sakaguchi's performance, which overturns his previous image, embodies the protagonist's passion and conflict. His convincing performance marks a new frontier for him as an actor.
It has also been announced that advance tickets (online) will go on sale from 10:00 AM on August 15th. As a special gift for purchasers, after watching the film, everyone will receive a commemorative image that combines the film's teaser visual with their viewing record.
