Jirokichi The Rat

A Benshi Performance By Ichiro KATAOKA

The world-famous Benshi (film narrator) Ichiro KATAOKA, whom we have already been able to welcome several times at Nippon Connection, is this year’s live guest again, via video transmission from Tokyo! He accompanies the silent movie JIROKICHI THE RAT (1931) by Daisuke ITO, whose eponymous protagonist is one of the most famous crooks in Japanese film history. A fireman by day, he turns into a burglar at night, stealing from the rich lords and samurai of the Edo period. JIROKICHI THE RAT is the second collaboration between director Daisuke ITO and actor Denjiro OKOCHI, the superstar of the samurai films of the 1920s and 30s. With pre-recorded piano music, played by Ayumi KAMIYA.