Japanese director Yuichiro Sakashita's latest film, 'Blonde,' is premiering in the main competition at the Tokyo International Film Festival. The social satire follows a junior-high teacher whose life unravels amid a student protest against outdated school rules on hair color. Inspired by real-life events, the comedy critiques generational divides and institutional conformity in Japan's education system.
Film Overview
'Blonde' centers on a meek junior-high teacher played by singer-turned-actor Takanori Iwata. The story unfolds as his students launch a 'blonde-hair protest' against the school's restrictive rules, which escalate into a nationwide spectacle via social media. Blending comedy with sharp social commentary, the film targets the conformity enforced by Japan's education system and the widening gap between generations, particularly the apathy among millennials caught in between.
Directed by 38-year-old Yuichiro Sakashita, 'Blonde' builds on his 2022 political farce 'The Sunday Runoff.' Produced by Tokyo-based studio The Klockworx, it represents Sakashita's most polished work, described by the director as a 'coming of middle-age' comedy that highlights the absurdity of outdated institutions.
Inspiration and Development
The premise draws from real-life debates in Japan about 'black kōsoku'—harsh, outdated school regulations on hairstyles and appearance. A key influence was a case where a student sued her school for forcing her to dye her naturally light hair black. Sakashita initially envisioned an ensemble piece focused on adults like teachers and education officials but restructured it around a single protagonist for dramatic impact.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sakashita explained the teacher's character as a reflection of millennial apathy and fear of becoming out of touch, akin to 'rōgai'—tone-deaf statements from older men. 'That lack of self-awareness—and the fear that I might one day become like that—became the root of the protagonist,' he said. The satire flips expectations by making the students mature while the adult lead undergoes growth.
Satire in Japanese Cinema
Sakashita chose social satire to stand out in a field dominated by other genres, noting its rarity in contemporary Japanese films. He enjoys comedy rooted in Japan's humor tradition and aims for commercial appeal with commentary. On bolder satire, he acknowledged challenges for emerging directors: 'If you’re an established director with a big reputation, maybe yes. But for someone like me at this early stage in my career, it would be very difficult.'
The blonde hair symbolizes deviation from the black-hair norm, provoking extreme reactions and marking students as delinquents. Sakashita joked about dyeing his own hair for the premiere but opted to maintain directorial authority.