Data sheet
Gender: Animation and a story built for viewers who love music, growth, and character-driven journeys. The film blends vibrant animation with a heartfelt jazz spirit, inviting audiences to feel the rhythm as much as they see it.
Duration: 120 minutes
Age: +APTA
History: Friday, March 8, 2024; the data entry reflects the initial release date and has since been updated to reflect ongoing relevance and renewed interest in the title.
Manager: Yuzuru Tachikawa
Company: Choose Vision
Summary:
High school student Dai Miyamoto grows up under a quiet sunlit rhythm, practicing the saxophone with a devotion that borders on obsession. The spark arrives when a friend drags him to a live jazz performance that cuts straight to his core, delivering an experience he cannot shake. Although he cannot read music, Dai plays with an urgency and warmth that speaks louder than sheet notes. As graduation nears, the pull of jazz pushes him toward Tokyo, a sprawling city that promises opportunity and challenge in equal measure. There he encounters Yukinori Sawabe, a gifted pianist whose early skepticism gives way—slowly, then decisively—after he witnesses Dai’s raw talent unfold in real time.
Together they decide to form a band, but the road is not a straight line. They are joined by Shunji Tamada, a rookie drummer whose enthusiasm fuels the group, and three members from JASS who bring both precision and edge to their sound. The quartet — later expanded by other talented musicians — sets its sights on Japan’s most iconic jazz stage, the legendary So Blue, where legends and newcomers collide in late-night improvisations that shimmer with possibility. Their ambition isn’t merely to perform; it is to redefine what a modern jazz act can sound like on one of the country’s most storied club circuits.
Just as momentum builds and an opportunity to take the stage at So Blue becomes tangible, life throws a curveball that changes everything. The twist tests every member’s resolve, forcing them to confront personal fears, creative differences, and the fragile balance between ambition and friendship. What follows is a story about resilience, collaboration, and the power of music to heal, unite, and transform a group of young artists who are determined to leave a lasting imprint on the Japanese jazz scene.