Yakusho Koji, a popular Japanese actor who has worked with directors such as Imamura Shohei, Suo Masayuki, and Kurosawa Kiyoshi, is the director and an actor in this film. Koji’s debut film brings a fantastic, comical, and somehow warm atmosphere to the screen. This film shows us the mysterious and strange world of Yahkusho (imagine Imamura Shohei’s film without the eroticism). Confused and shaken by an unconscious son who had a sudden car accident, Taguro answers his son’s phone call from the son’s girlfriend and pretends he is his son. Afterward, he has strange experience of meeting a toad’s oil salesman whom he met when he was young. By casting experienced actors and new faces in the right places and meticulously portraying in every detail, this film proves how diligentely and truthfully it was made. Impressive music played by ancient musical instruments flowing all through the film is also notable. When it comes to understaing of the meaning of Taguro’s line, “A person dies twice,” will bring deep emotional sensation and tears. (Shion YANG)