The biographical film “Eikou no Bakku Hōmu” (The Glorious Home), chronicling the life of the late Hanshin Tigers player Yoko Shintaro, will air for the first time on terrestrial television on July 7 at 10 p.m. JST. Social media reactions on X (formerly Twitter) have included comments like, “Absolutely watching this,” “I hope people who aren’t just Hanshin or baseball fans will see this,” and “Get your towels and handkerchiefs ready from the opening scenes,” Sponichi reported.
Film Based on Bestselling Memoirs
“Eikou no Bakku Hōmu” is adapted from two bestselling books: Yoko’s autobiography “Kiseki no Bakku Hōmu” (The Miraculous Home), published by Gentosha, and “Eikou no Bakku Hōmu” by Yuri Nakai, also from Gentosha. The film is directed by Jun Akiyama, 61. The lead role of Yoko Shintaro is played by newcomer Takaya Matsutani, whose casting is a story of its own. Matsutani’s father, Ryūjirō Matsutani, was a former pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon-Ham Fighters, and Takuya himself played as a pitcher at Gakufu Fukushima High School. Born in 1995, Yoko was just one year younger than Matsutani, who was born in 1994. They are also the same height and share the same left-handed pitching and batting stance. Their fathers were both professional baseball players, a striking similarity that led Akiyama to say, “The Miraculous Home could not have been made without Takuya Matsutani,” Sponichi reported.
Actor's Personal Bond with Yoko
The connection between the actor and his subject runs deep. Five years ago, in 2021, Matsutani met Yoko in their hometown of Kagoshima. With the film project already in the works, Yoko gave Matsutani his own glove from his playing days, telling him, “Use this to practice.” After Yoko was given a terminal diagnosis, Matsutani visited him at his care facility every day. On the day Yoko passed away, Matsutani was on location for another project but immediately boarded a Shinkansen, telling colleagues he was going to see Yoko as he headed for Koshien and Naniwahama Stadiums. To prepare for the role, Matsutani joined the Fukuyama Rose Fighters, a club team in Hiroshima, as a trainee starting in 2023. He practiced baseball skills and underwent strength training, successfully gaining 20 kilograms to reach 90 kilograms to physically embody Yoko Shintaro for the film, Sponichi reported.
Star-Studded Cast and Box Office Success
The supporting cast features a lineup of prominent actors. Kyoka Suzuki co-stars as Yoko’s mother, Manami, sharing top billing with Matsutani. Katsunori Takahashi portrays his father, Masayuki, while Hiroko Yamazaki plays his sister, Mako. The film also depicts real-life figures from that era: Aya Koto plays the role of then-Tigers manager Kazuhiro Kimoto, Nao Omori portrays Minoru Hirata, the then-minor league manager, and Arata Furuta plays “Mr. Tiger,” Kazuo Kabushima, who had a mentor-mentee relationship with Yoko. Akira Hashimoto plays former Tigers player Kozoendo Kawato, who delivered a eulogy at Yoko’s farewell ceremony, and Kenta Maeda plays senior player Fumihito Hojo, who mentored Yoko. Endo Re, a Hanshin Tigers reporter who was a close friend of Yoko’s, is played by Takuya Kusawa, a member of the music group “Chō Tokkyū,” Sponichi reported.
The film had a limited theatrical release on November 26, and its appeal quickly expanded beyond Hanshin fans through word-of-mouth, becoming a major hit. It drew approximately 1.3 million viewers and grossed 17.7 billion yen at the box office, Sponichi reported.
The ‘Miraculous Home’ Play That Inspired a Nation
The film’s title and central theme are drawn from a legendary moment in Yoko’s career. On September 26, 2019, during a Western League game against the SoftBank Hawks at Naniwahama Stadium, Yoko played his final game as a professional. He was originally scheduled to play only the ninth inning as a defensive player. However, with two outs and a runner on second base in the top of the eighth, Minoru Hirata, then the minor league manager (now the head coach), called on Yoko to play center field. Yoko immediately responded to a hit by Tsukada, fielding the ball cleanly and making a no-hop throw to home plate to record the out. This final play of his career became known as the “Miraculous Home,” Sponichi reported.
Actor Matsutani’s Path to the Role
Takuya Matsutani, the actor who brought Yoko’s story to the screen, is 30 years old and from Kanagawa Prefecture. He began playing baseball seriously in the third grade and, as a pitcher for Gakufu Fukushima High School, led his team to the Tohoku Regional Tournament in his second year. In his third summer, his team lost in the quarterfinals of the Fukushima Prefecture tournament, failing to qualify for the Koshien National Championship. After graduating, he pursued a career as a model and was a Kanagawa Prefecture representative in the 2015 “Mr. Japan” male beauty pageant. Concurrently, he honed his craft behind the camera, gaining on-the-job experience as a production and assistant director under Jun Akiyama before being cast in this leading role, Sponichi reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is ‘Eikou no Bakku Hōmu’ about?
- ‘Eikou no Bakku Hōmu’ is a biographical film about the late Yoko Shintaro, a Hanshin Tigers player who passed away from a brain tumor in 2022 at the age of 28. It is based on his bestselling memoirs.
- When and where is the film airing on television?
- The film will air for the first time on terrestrial television on July 7 at 10 p.m. JST on the TV Asahi network in Japan.
- Who plays the lead role of Yoko Shintaro?
- The role of Yoko Shintaro is played by actor Takuya Matsutani in his first major leading role. The casting is notable due to the many parallels between their lives.
The film’s upcoming broadcast offers a wider audience the opportunity to experience the inspiring story of Yoko Shintaro, whose legacy on and off the field continues to resonate.
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