Sukeban Deka: Kôdo nêmu = Asamiya Saki (2006)

Director:

Kenta Fukasaku

Writers:

Shoichi Maruyama (writer)
Shinji Wada (manga "Sukeban Deka")

Release Date:

30 September 2006 (Japan)

Genre:

Action

Plot:

Recruited by a clandestine police organization, "K" must stop a plot by student radicals to create anarchy in Japan...

Plot Keywords:

Yo Yo | School | Katana Sword | Bully | Bank Robbery

Cast

Aya Matsuura	...	Saki Asamiya
Rika Ishikawa	...	Reika Akiyama
Erika Miyoshi	...	Kotomi Kanda
Yui Okada	...	Tae Konno
Yuki Saitô	...	Saki's Mother
Hiroyuki Nagato	...	Kurayami Shirei
Shunsuke Kubozuka	...	Jiro Kimura / 'Romeo'
Riki Takeuchi	...	Kazutoshi Kira
Makoto Sakamoto	...	Higashiyama
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark Musashi	...	Wu
Takashi Nishina
Tak Sakaguchi	...	Romeo's thug

Directed by
Kenta Fukasaku

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Shoichi Maruyama		writer
Shinji Wada		manga "Sukeban Deka"

Produced by
Masatake Kondo	....	producer
Tatsuya Kunimatsu	....	producer
Mitsuru Kurosawa	....	executive producer
Masao Mochizuki	....	line producer
Naoki Yamazaki	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Goro Yasukawa

Cinematography by
Takashi Komatsu

Film Editing by
Chieko Suzaki

Art Direction by
Hidemitsu Yamazaki

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Megumi Sawada	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Shibayama Nobuhiro	....	sound

Special Effects by
Michiki Nobutaka	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Makoto Yokoyama	....	action director

Camera and Electrical Department
Mitsuo Watanabe	....	lighting

Other crew
Shigeyuki Endô	....	planning
Yasuhiro Hasegawa	....	planning
Shigeki Kageyama	....	planning
Chieko Makino	....	script supervisor
Jin Matsuda	....	planning

Production Companies

• Fukasaku-gumi
• Toei Company
• Artists House Investment
• Chase Film Co.
• Japan Amusement Agency
• Point Break Pictures
• Seikodo
• TV Tokyo Music
• TV Tokyo
• Toei Video Company
• Upfront Agency
• Yomiuri Shimbun, The

Distributors

• Toei Company (2006) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 4Digital Media (2008) (UK) (DVD) (as 4Digital Asia)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• WE Productions (2008) (Japan) (all media)

Other Companies

• Continental Far East  Dolby consultant
• Hoei Sangyo Co. Ltd.  film stock supplied by
• Malin Post  title design
• OEI Gatherin  camera equipment supplied by
• Toei Labo Tech  digital intermediate
• Toei Labo Tech  prints
• Tokky's Union Paradise  grip equipment supplied by: as Tokky's

Also Known As:

Yo-Yo Girl Cop (International: English title)
Yo-Yo Girl Cop: Codename - Saki Asamiya (International: English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

Japan:98 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Japan:PG-12

Company:

Fukasaku-gumi

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Saki chases a bomb-carrying classmate into a shopping mall. It's bright sunshine outside when they enter the mall, but on several occasions inside, skylights are visible showing that it is night outside. As the DVD featurette reveals, the mall interior sequences were filmed late at night.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Sukepan deka: Bâjin nêmu = Moromie Saki (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Thanks

Anti-bullying Deka

The first Subekan Deka in over ten years updates the special effects and boosts the star power to make for a pleasantly watchable entertainment that excels in its social conscience.

Former Deka entries, whether drawn or dramatized, have taken the usual hero vs. super- villain route, making them seem tired even before they've left the gate. In addition, they suffered from the basic limitations of the special effects at that time; the manga-inspired concept of razor yo-yos and killer cranes seemed less than convincing in a martial arts film. As the series progressed, the plots became almost as silly as the James Bond films of the period.

In Kodo Nemo - Asamiya Saki, director Kenta Fukasaku (Battle Royale 2) modernizes he action sequences and frames the story to reflect contemporary social realities - in particular, the prevalence of bullying in the Japanese school system. It comes to focus when an underground internet site counts down, and a teenage undercover agent - code-named Saki Asamiya - tries to uncover the mystery before it's too late.

As Idol Aya Matsuura is a good pick for the lead role, beautiful but tough in the tradition of the series (and a much better singer than any of the girls who preceded her). Matsuura is dynamic though (like former deka girls) lacking in a certain humor. The standout villain, played by Morning Musume alumnus Rika Ishikawa, is sexy in her faux-leather action outfit - a complete surprise. The normally demure Ishikawa is clearly having fun in her over-the-top role, and you wish she could appear more often.

The film could have used more hard-edged humor - something that Fukasaku might learn from the work of his latefather, the late Kinji Fukusaku. Also, the film's plot makes a high ratio of characters irritatingly geeky and impossibly suicidal. But these flaws are tolerable in the anticipation of a possible sequel, either on film or serial. Certainly there's enough talent in Upfront Management to cast several film projects. Aibon would be amusing in some suitably smoky role, Miki perfect as a villain, and Eri could be on hand for comic relief.