Ken Ochiai

Uzumasa Limelight Ken Ochiai

Japanese drama. In the film-making hub of Uzumasa, a suburb of Kyoto, aged actor Seiichi Kamiyama (Seizo Fukumoto) is struggling to find work with the decline of the country's samurai film-making tradition. Throughout his career Seiichi has played the role of the kirareyaku, whose part is to die at the hands of the picture's leading star.

As the industry and his own body begin to fail him, the actor forges a relationship with a young actress eager to enter the business and learn the art of the kirareyaku. On his way out of the fading industry, Seiichi finds a new purpose and takes her under his wing and educates her in the elegant art of stage sword fighting.