Three films including 'A Diary of a Drunkard' to be broadcast on TV for the first time in April! 'Missing Films: Miraculously Surviving Films Revived' on CS Satellite Theater

The CS broadcast channel "Satellite Theater" will air a special feature titled "Missing Films: Miraculously Surviving Films Revived," premiering three films on television for the first time in April, each of which has parts of its original film missing due to damage or other reasons.

These are phantom films that once graced the screen but were thought to be "never to be seen again" due to war damage, film deterioration, and other causes. Fragments of them have been miraculously discovered and brought back to life. We will present 'A Diary of a Drunkard,' the second oldest surviving Shochiku film; 'Asataro's Song of Akagi,' which captures the essence of wandering gambler tales with the theme song being the massive hit "Akagi's Lullaby" by singer Taro Shoji; and 'The Century Laughs Digital Restoration,' a supreme entertainment drama by the master Masahiro Makino, discovered in Russia. Please be sure to watch these three precious works!

'A Diary of a Drunkard' ©1921 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

A Diary of a Drunkard (Shuchu Nikki)

[Broadcast Date] April 1st (Wed) from 8:30 AM, among others. TV Premiere!

1921

[Director] Zamu Kako

[Original Story] Doppo Kunikida

[Screenplay] Daisuke Ito

[Cast] Yukichi Iwata, Utako Suzuki, Yachiyo Shizuka, Shoichi Nodera, Goro Okamoto, Chiyoko Mimura

The second oldest surviving Shochiku film. An adaptation of Doppo Kunikida's novel of the same name.

Taiga (Iwata), a simple elementary school principal, is at a loss when the school's donation money is stolen. He then finds a bag full of money and hides it at home, intending to use it for the school. His wife, who accidentally discovers it, takes the blame and commits suicide with their beloved child. In despair, Taiga quits his job and moves to the remote Oshima Island. However, his life there descends into daily drunkenness...

*Of the approximately 66-minute recorded runtime, about 30 minutes survive.

'The Century Laughs Digital Restoration' ©1941 Nikkatsu Corporation

The Century Laughs Digital Restoration

[Broadcast Date] April 3rd (Fri) from 5:45 PM, among others. TV Premiere!

1941

[Director] Masahiro Makino

[Screenplay] Hideo Oguni

[Cast] Kyoji Sugi, Yukiko Todoroki, Hisao Yoshitani, Kansho Yoshii, Tensho Shokyokusai, Torazo Hirosawa, Mantaro Ushio, and others

A human drama by director Masahiro Makino, co-starring Kyoji Sugi, Yukiko Todoroki, Torazo Hirosawa (rokyoku narration), and Tensho Shokyokusai (magic).

At the Tsurukame-za theater in a coastal town overlooking the Sea of Japan. While Kansai rokyoku narrator Uemon Matsunakaen (Konparu) performs a solo to an empty house, the town's public bath is filled with applause. The performers are the duo of Taizo Hirota (Hirosawa) and Bonsaku Sugino (Sugi), whose main job is running a Chinese soba noodle shop. When Hirota makes a delivery to the Tsurukame-za, the owner (Suzuki) tells him the poor attendance is due to his naniwa-bushi performance, leaving him deeply embarrassed. Unaware of this, Sugino is overjoyed when the owner's daughter Ofumi invites him to see a waterfall in the mountains the next day. The following day, Sugino eagerly heads to the mountain, only to be heartbroken when Ofumi unexpectedly confesses her feelings for Taizo...

*Of the original approximately 103-minute runtime, about 94 minutes survive.