The Dancing Okami

Japan Film Festival Special Program
Journey through Japan on Screen in Manila 2025

Cinema 1, Red Carpet Cinemas

Edsa Shangri la Mall 

I missed the run of the Japanese Film Festival because I was in Hongkong from 03 January to the 9th of February 2025. Luckily, this weekend they had a special screening of a few Japanese movies but I was able to secure only one ticket (35 pesos booked online with QR code) because the others quickly sold out. 

First of all, an okami refers to the traditional manager (specifically females) of a Japanese inn known as ryokan or onsen (spa). They are the driving force behind the success of many resorts in rural as well as urban Japan. There are whole towns in Japan known for its traditional ryokans which locals as well as tourists visit for much needed R & R.

Yuka is a young lady fascinated with tap dancing so she ventures to Tokyo to hopefully become a famous tap dancer. But after several auditions which don't go in her favor, she decides to go back to her hometown after her mother, an okami falls ill. Putting her tap dancing dreams on hold, she has to step up and learn the ropes of becoming an okami so she can take over the family business.  Back home is a gorgeous rural small town in the Kaga Onsen region, where everything is simplified, less hectic but still peppered with interesting and colorful characters. 

For a supposed to be dancer, she is pretty clumsy and has difficulty in her training as a landlady. Being an okami is hard work, one must be equipped with special skill sets not just in doing physical chores but also maintain a proper decorum with impeccable character and integrity.

The film then pretty much turns into a tourism campaign of the various inns and onsens of the Ishikawa Perfecture in the Kaga Onsen region. A contest is launched in the small town so Yuka along with her fellow okami trainees, decide on an extensive song and dance presentation featuring what else but tap dancing. The other land ladies all struggle with the steps yet persevere until the very end in order to showcase the onsen industry.

Good acting from the ensemble cast as you can truly feel their struggle in their dancing lessons, this inspiring tale of guts and glory towards a common goal - to promote the beauty of their town - will likely motivate the audience to never quit on their dreams, even if the journey is paved with obstacles, to keep dancing, with a never say die attitude and a whole lot of perseverance.  Everything is worth it, in the end!