Trailer: ‘Sham’

By   |  May 23, 2025

‘Sham’ (でっちあげ 殺人教師と呼ばれた男) is a 2025 Japanese crime drama directed by Takashi Miike.

Based on the novel ‘Detchiage Fukuoka Satsujin Kyoshi Jiken no Shinsou’ by Masumi Fukuda, the film revolves around an elementary school teacher who is accused of physically punishing a student. The cast includes Go Ayano, Kou Shibasaki, Kazuya Kamenashi, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, and Masahiro Takashima.

Synopsis: In 2003, elementary school teacher Seiji Yabushita (Go Ayano) was accused by parent Ritsuko Himuro (Kou Shibasaki) of physical punishment towards student Takuto Himuro. The so-called physical punishment was, in fact, unbearable bullying. A journalist from Weekly Spring Report, Michihiko Narumi (Kazuya Kamenashi), caught wind of the story and decided to proceed with “real name reporting.” The article, adorned with extreme language, quickly shocked the world, and Yabushita became the target of the media. He faced slander, betrayal, suspension, and an unravelling daily life as an endless despair crushed him.

Meanwhile, there were many voices defending Ritsuko, with a “massive defence team of 550 people” formed, resulting in an unprecedented civil lawsuit. Everyone hoped and believed in Ritsuko’s victory, but in court, what came from Yabushita’s mouth was a complete denial, claiming that it was all a “fabrication without a shred of truth.” [© Far East Films]

‘Sham’ opens across Japan on June 27, 2025.

Phil Mills
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