Shimotsuma Monogatari (下妻物語), or Kamikaze Girls as it is known in the United States, is a Japanese movie produced in 2004. It centers around two girls, Momoko Ryūgasaki (Kyōko Fukada) and Ichigo Shirayuri (Anna Tsuchiya), who are from completely different backgrounds: one is a lolita girl, the other a yanki. The story showcases their special bond. The movie was filmed in the town of Shimotsuma, in the Ibaraki Prefecture in Eastern Japan.
The movie is based on a popular Japanese novel of the same name, written by Novala Takemoto and published in October 2002. It will be released in the United States in January 2006 under the title Kamikaze Girls.
A manga based on the book was also created and picked up by Viz, with the artwork by Yukio Kanesada. It is one of their newer releases to be part of their Shoujo Beat line, and a preview of the manga was in the November 2005 issue of Shojo Beat.
Plot
The movie begins with a flashforward of Momoko getting hit by a car while driving a moped, then shifts to the past to introduce her background and early life.
Momoko, who was born near Kobe, wishes that she had been born in Rococo-era France. Her father, a former small-time gangster, was involved in selling fake brand name clothing. After making a fake "double-brand" he finds himself in trouble with Universal Studios, Versace, and the mob, and he and Momoko move to his mother's house in rural town in Shimotsuma.
Momoko must go to Tokyo to shop for her clothes, but constantly finds herself short of money for the expensive trip and the pricey clothes she wants to buy. She decides to sell some of her father's fake Versace products, and meets Ichigo, who answers an advertisement she has placed.
Ichigo is a racy, boyish yanki-type who belongs to an all-girl motorcycle gang. Gradually, the unlikely pair become friends.
Soon Ichigo needs Momoko's help. Akimi, the leader of Ichigo's gang, is leaving, and as a tribute Ichigo plans to have her coat embroidered. She has heard that there is a particularly skilled embroiderer in Tokyo named Emma, and she persuades Momoko to go there with her.
Although they never find the embroiderer, they do stop at Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, the shope where Momoko buys her frilly lolita dresses. An assistant notices the beautiful floral embroidery Momoko has stiched on one of her garments and calls the designer himself to come to look at it. The designer asks Momoko to make the embroidery for his new creation.
Later, after an argument, Momoko offers to stich the embroidery on Ichigo's coat, which she does with great skill.
The final scenes of the film concern a fight between Ichigo and the members of several all-girl motorbike gangs. It is revealed that the crash at the start of the movie occured when Momoko was rushing to help Ichigo. Momoko does not die, but instead challenges the entire motorbike gang and wins, rescuing Ichigo.
The song Ichigo sings in the movie is the same song on her cellphone - Yutaka Ozaki's 15 no Yoru.
BTSSB clothing (and lolita clothing in general) usually is as expensive as it appears in the movie.
A sequel to Novala Takemoto's first novel, Shimotsuma Monogatari was released this year entitled, (Shimotsuma Monogatari - Kan - Yankiichan to Lolitachan to Satsujin Jiken, literally, Shimotsuma Story - The End - The Yanki-chan and the Lolita-chan and the Murder Case}
Yoko Kanno composed the soundtrack.
Theme songs for this movie were both on Tommy heavenly6's single Hey My Friend.
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