I have been twice (2004 and 2007) to the train station in Hokkaido where this drama is supposedly centred, the fictional hamlet of Ashimoi. Located on the railway line to Rumoi. I have also seen the place name written: "Asumoe". The actual place name is Ebishima and the railway station is located at 43 degrees, 51 minutes, 04 seconds North latitude and 141 degrees, 52 minutes, 52.88 seconds East longitude. The station is clearly visible on Google Earth. There are many reminders there of the film, the station is preserved including a station sign "Ashimoi", much as it appeared in the film, as are the stationmaster's house across the road and some nearby buildings. There are even costumed figures of the young girl (Moe) and the stationmaster (Jiro) in the preserved station. I have been able to obtain postcards of stills from the film but nowhere have I found an actual copy of the film in VHS or DVD format, though I am told that a copy in Japanese was seen in someone's house in nearby Numata. Can anyone tell me how to obtain a copy?
2 Reviews
Pretty but uninvolving Japanese weepy.
Mozjoukine29 November 2002
The Eastmancolor scenics - steam train chugging through snow scapes, herring fishing, red paper festival sculptures lit from within - are attractive but this period weepy remains uninvolving.
In 1924 a girl is twice abandoned by her natural mother and raised by the stationmaster in a picturesque village community surrounded by comic locals. Add in a few romantic lead types with sinister pasts and some local customs and that's it.
In 1924 a girl is twice abandoned by her natural mother and raised by the stationmaster in a picturesque village community surrounded by comic locals. Add in a few romantic lead types with sinister pasts and some local customs and that's it.
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