Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims (Japanese: 真夜中の弥次さん喜多さん, Hepburn: Mayonaka no Yaji-san Kita-san) is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Kankurō Kudō. The film stars several well-known and highly respected Japanese actors. It is based on the manga series Yajikita in Deep by Kotobuki Shiriagari.
The story follows two Edo-era gay men, Yaji Robei (Yaji) and Kita Hachi (Kita), on a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine. It is loosely based on the Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige.
Contents
Plot
Yaji and Kita are two men who live in Edo. They are deeply in love. Yaji is married to a woman, while Kita is an actor addicted to various drugs.
One day, they receive an advertisement for the Grand Shrine at Ise, and decide to set out on a pilgrimage there, hoping to cure Kita of his drug addiction. They set out on a modern motorcycle but are forced to turn back and walk the Tōkaidō road to Ise, encountering various characters and obstacles along the way.
Cast
Yaji: Nagase Tomoya from the band TOKIO
Kita: Nakamura Shichinosuke, a well-known kabuki actor
Kin-kin: Sadao Abe
Ohatsu: Koike Eiko, a Japanese idol
Hige no oiran (the bearded courtesan): Suzuki Matsuo
King Arthur: Nakamura Kanzaburō, a kabuki actor
Bartender: Arata
Bartender's wife: Aso Kumiko
Spirit of the dead: Arakawa Yoshiyoshi
Non-non: Emoto Tasuku
Naniwa Hotto: Itsuji Itao
Foreman: Iwamatsu Ryō
Vendor: Minagawa Sarutoki
Landlady: Morishita Aiko
Newsdealer: Namase Katsuhisa
Tourists: Ogi Hiroaki, Yahagi Ken
Samurai: Nao Ōmori
Oyuki: Shimizu Yumi
Tower Phonographs owner: Shiriagari Kotobuki
Kimura Shonoshin : Riki Takeuchi
Policeman: Terajima Susumu
Fantom Yaji: Tsumabuki Satoshi
Old man: Kazuo Umezu
Ochin: Yamaguchi Tomomitsu