The impact Eminem’s “8 Mile” had seem to still sent ripples in the movie industry, with this time, a similar story being transferred in Japan through the titular school teacher. In the end, however, and despite some similarities, “Yukiko A.K.A” is actually quite different.
Yukiko A.K.A is screening at Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival
Yukiko, a 29-year-old elementary school teacher in Tokyo, lives a rather normal life, dealing with her students and retaining a relationship with a fellow teacher. However, she is also disgruntled with her life, particularly when she realizes that she is not one among the favorite teachers in the school, while her relationship is not as fulfilling as she expects. As such, she channels her frustration in hip-hop, rapping at nights in a park along with some similar-minded friends. When she loses miserably in a rap fight, however, she realizes that she needs to make a change. She starts with herself, but soon makes a true effort to approach one of her students who has become a hikikomori, almost never coming out of his room. At the same time, she comes closer with two other female teachers, ‘young and trendy’ Riko and traditional and seemingly strict Mika.
There have been many movies lately about Japanese people who seem to be stuck in life, with the message usually being that being stuck is not exactly that bad. Naoya Kusaba however, has a completely different approach, since his character actually makes a significant effort to change, which, impressively, though, is not exactly met with surprising success. It is this realism that mostly helps the movie stand out in a rather unique way, along with some other, equally interesting aspects.
For starters, how music, and particularly hip hop with its rather individualistic approach can provide a solace for individuals that are ‘lost’, emerges as a rather interesting remark here, also allowing Kusaba to present a rather ‘different’ elementary teacher, in an element that is definitely entertaining. The way she becomes friends with the two teachers, despite the fact that they are quite different, results in a comment about friendship among women but also highlights the common issues many people in the particular profession face these days.
These two factors benefit the most by the acting, and not just from Rio Yamashita, who is excellent in the diverse, titular role, but also from Hina Higuchi as Riko and Fusako Urabe as Mika, whose chemistry results in one of the most memorable scenes in the whole movie. The arc with the closed-in student also touches on the concept of hikikomori and the problems parents with such kids face, but also provides a solution through persistence, which does seem somewhat romanticized but also works in terms of narrative. This, particularly since Kusaba also connects it with music. Lastly, regarding the acting, it is also worth mentioning the presence of Ryo Ishibashi in the role of Yukiko’s father.
Shintaro Teramoto’s cinematography captures the various settings mostly in desaturated fashion, in a way that works quite well for the film, as do the occasional close ups to the protagonist. Kusaba’s own editing results in a relatively fast pace that allows the movie to flow without lingering anywhere, while at 98 minutes, “Yukiko A.K.A” definitely does not overextend its welcome.
Although some knack for hip hop will definitely help its viewing, “Yukiko A.K.A” is definitely a gem of a film, one that manages to be both entertaining, meaningful, and quite different from the norms of Japanese cinema.
