Trailer: ‘Hero’s Island’

By   |  Aug 19, 2025

‘Hero’s Island’ (宝島) is a 2025 Japanese historical drama directed by Keishi Ohtomo.

Based on the novel ‘Takarajima’ by Junjo Shindo, the film follows three friends in 1952 Okinawa who steal from U.S. bases until their leader vanishes, driving them to become a detective, teacher, and yakuza while chasing his legacy. The cast includes Satoshi Tsumabuki, Suzu Hirose, Masataka Kubota, Eita Nagayama, Shinya Tsukamoto, and Aoi Nakamura.

Synopsis: In 1952 Okinawa, under U.S. occupation, childhood friends Gusuku, Yamako, and Rei, part of the “Sengoku Agiya” group, stole from military bases to share with locals, led by the charismatic On. After On vanished with an unexpected “prize” from a raid, the three pursued separate paths—Gusuku as a detective, Yamako as a teacher, Rei as a yakuza—haunted by his legacy. In a frustrated, occupied Okinawa, their pent-up emotions exploded after an incident, while the U.S. military hunted for On’s mysterious haul, revealing shocking truths over two decades. [© Far East Films]

‘Hero’s Island’ opens across Japan on September 19, 2025.

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