Shanghai bansu-kingu

Set in Shanghai during the turbulent years leading up to and through World War II, the film follows a group of Japanese jazz musicians and performers struggling to hold onto music, love, and friendship amid political unrest and war. As censorship, nationalism, and conflict reshape the city, their once-vibrant nightlife gradually gives way to disillusionment, separation, and loss.

Directed by Kazuyoshi Kushida, Shanghai bansu-kingu leans on a strong ensemble — Hideko Yoshida, Kazuyoshi Kushida, Takashi Sasano — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about music titles of 1988.