The Champion (1957)
Eikichi Yamashiro, who is a former contender for the boxing title, works as a manager at a Club Champion owned by his fiancé Natsuko’s father. He lost a title match five years ago as he was besotted by Natsuko, but Eikichi actually cannot give up the dream of the championship. One day, he meets Shuntaro Fuma, who is a punk kid but a promising boxer, and realizes the dream that he himself could never fulfill. Then, they together start to train with the aim of the title. Mari Shiraki is an up-and-coming ballerina under the patronage of Eikichi as well. Eikichi forbids Shuntaro and Mari to be romantically involved with someone during their training, however, they start to go on a date.
Director:
Umetsugu Inoue
Writers:
Umetsugu Inoue, Toshio Masuda.
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Tatsuya Mihashi as Eikichi Yamashiro |
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Yōko Minamida as Natsuko Miyagawa |
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Yūjirō Ishihara as Shuntaro Fuma |
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Mie Kitahara as Mari Shiraki |
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Taiji Tonoyama as Pote-chan |
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Jushiro Kobayashi as |
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Tōru Abe as Shinzo Takaoka |
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Joe Shishido as Boxer Ishiyama |
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Masao Shimizu as Keisuke Miyagawa |
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Noriko Katsura as Yottan |
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Hisae Urashima as Rose Minami |
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Yoko Takeuchi as |
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Keiko Tama as Op-chan |
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Zenji Yamada as Coach Yamamoto |
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Hiroshi Ogino as Johnny Minami |
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Seijiro Takano as Club Manager |
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Kazuo Kinugasa as Coach Yoshida |
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Hyōe Enoki as Boxer Akagi |
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Mamoru Yokoyama as Champion Teshima |
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Akira Kobayashi as Cameo |
| Writing | Toru Kino | Original Story |
| Writing | Umetsugu Inoue | Screenplay |
| Production | Shizuo Sakagami | Producer |
| Writing | Umetsugu Inoue | Writer |
| Writing | Toshio Masuda | Screenplay |
| Writing | Isamu Onoda | Writer |
| Directing | Umetsugu Inoue | Director |
| Lighting | Ko Fujibayashi | Lighting Technician |
| Art | Takashi Matsuyama | Art Direction |
| Sound | Taichiro Kosugi | Original Music Composer |
| Camera | Kazumi Iwasa | Director of Photography |
| Directing | Toshio Masuda | Assistant Director |
