IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > Shall we dansu? (1996)
Shall we dansu?
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Shall we dansu? (1996) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 10 | slideshow) Videos
Shall we dansu? (1996) -- A successful but unhappy Japanese accountant finds the missing passion in his life when he begins to secretly take ballroom dance lessons.

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   5,840 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Masayuki Suo (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Shall We Dance? on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 July 1997 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
He's an overworked accountant. She's an accomplished dancer. Passion is about to find two unlikely partners.
Plot:
A successful but unhappy Japanese accountant finds the missing passion in his life when he begins to secretly take ballroom dance lessons. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
51 wins & 3 nominations more
User Reviews:
Definitely a must see... more (85 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Kôji Yakusho ... Shohei Sugiyama
Tamiyo Kusakari ... Mai Kishikawa
Naoto Takenaka ... Tomio Aoki
Eri Watanabe ... Toyoko Takahashi (as Eriko Watanabe)
Yu Tokui ... Tokichi Hattori
Hiromasa Taguchi ... Masahiro Tanaka
Reiko Kusamura ... Tamako Tamura
Hideko Hara ... Masako Sugiyama
Hiroshi Miyasaka ... Macho
Kunihiko Ida ... Teiji Kaneko
Amie Toujou ... Hisako Honda
Ayano Nakamura ... Chikage Sugiyama
Katsunari Mineno ... Keiri-kachô
Tomiko Ishii ... Haruko Haraguchi
Maki Kawamura ... Eiko Miyoshi
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Shall We Dance? (UK) (USA)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG for mild language.
Runtime:
136 min | 119 min (cut version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the first scene, a man's shoe in close-up plunges into a black pool in the street. This symbolizes the world renowned Ballroom Dancing Competition in Blackpool, England, referenced later in the film. more
Quotes:
Tamako Tamura: Dance is more than the steps. Feel the music and dance for sheer joy. more
Movie Connections:
Features Follow Me! (1972) more
Soundtrack:
Shall We Dance more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
16 out of 16 people found the following review useful.
Definitely a must see..., 18 October 2004
10/10
Author: jon_shimamoto from United States

Okay. As you can see this is one of my favorite if not favorite films. This is a character drama which is absolutely hilarious. The main character is a business man who is stuck in a "same thing, different day" mentality. He sees a woman looking melancholy out a window of a dance studio from his train everyday and wonders about her and decides to find out more about her. He decides to join the dance class only to find out she is not the instructor. From there he bonds with four other dancers and learns to enjoy dancing as well as finding out about the mysterious woman.

There is no gratuitous (or any) sex involved, just how a small group of people learn how friendships are formed and developed.

This film was remade with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez and the new one while appealing is nowhere as enjoyable as the original. The movie never made it big in America because it was not eligible for the Oscars since it was broadcast on television in Japan (movies cannot be released on TV or they are disqualified for Oscar nominations). It did win numerous awards in Japan for best film, cast, director etc for their "Oscar" awards.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (85 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Shall we dansu? (1996)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Who does this version of the song? teka-3
Soundtrack aneta_agape7
Question About Ending - Aoki + Mai merlinny
Original vs American Version nihonnoeiga
Remake? lovejam
Anyone know what this song is? yiggs-1
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Shall We Dance Yi yi Gone with the Wind The White Countess The Man Who Cried
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb Japan section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.