Directed by:
Fumihiko SoriScreenplay:
Kankurô KudôCast:
Yōsuke Kubozuka, 井浦新, Sam Lee Chan-sam, Shidō Nakamura, Naoto Takenaka, 松尾スズキ, Chie Tanaka, YosiYosi Arakawa, Junko Nakajima, Shōta Sometani, Kanji Tsuda (more)Plots(1)
The film traces the growth and friendship of 2 very different high school ping pong players. "Peco" Hoshino is a brash, arrogant player, determined to turn "pro". He taught his quiet, nerdy childhood friend, "Smile" Tsukimoto. "Smile" frustrates his coach and rivals who recognize his talent for the game since it is just a game to him. To teach him, his high school coach learns that coaching is more than just training the students to be good ping pong players. Ironically, as "Smile" begins to develop his game, "Peco" undergoes a severe crisis after his defeat by rival players. "Peco" is unable to play well until he rediscovers the original reasons why he plays ping pong. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Yōsuke Kubozuka](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/639/164639494_47799f.jpg)
Yōsuke Kubozuka
Japan
![井浦新](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/313/168313046_x3d388.jpg)
井浦新
Japan
Best movies:
Like Father, Like Son (2013)
True Mothers (2020)
Ping Pong (2002)
![Sam Lee Chan-sam](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/112/160112208_0e7ea2.jpg)
Sam Lee Chan-sam
Hong Kong
Best movies:
Made in Hong Kong (1997)
The Longest Night in Shanghai (2007)
Still Human (2018)
![Shidō Nakamura](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/418/168418027_cewp7i.jpg)
Shidō Nakamura
Japan
Best movies:
Be with You (2004)
Red Cliff: Part II (2009)
Fearless (2006)
![Naoto Takenaka](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/929/164929427_de1451.jpg)
Naoto Takenaka
Japan
Best movies:
Vengeance for Sale (2001)
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004)
I Just Didn't Do It (2006)
![松尾スズキ](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/763/157763552_9550bb.jpg)
松尾スズキ
Japan
Best movies:
Be with You (2004)
Ping Pong (2002)
Drive (2002)
Chie Tanaka
Japan
Best movies:
Ping Pong (2002)
Snowy Love Fall in Spring (2005)
Initial D (2005)
![YosiYosi Arakawa](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/515/515882_48eb2d.jpg)
YosiYosi Arakawa
Japan
Best movies:
Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad (2007)
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2003)
Memories of Matsuko (2006)
![Junko Nakajima](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/490/167490658_i9zkjz.jpg)
Junko Nakajima
Japan
Best movies:
Spirited Away (2001)
Samurai Fiction (1998)
Isle of Dogs (2018)
![Shōta Sometani](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/169/003/169003223_5toukv.jpg)
Shōta Sometani
Japan
Best movies:
Wolf Children (2012)
Suzume (2022)
The Boy and the Beast (2015)
![Kanji Tsuda](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/401/166401351_0d987f.jpg)
Kanji Tsuda
Japan
Best movies:
Fireworks (1997)
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)
Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World (2004)
![Kouji Ookura](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/081/160081274_6d4f9c.jpg)
Kouji Ookura
Japan
Best movies:
Swing Girls (2004)
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2003)
Ping Pong (2002)
![Koen Kondo](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/379/166379994_034dab.jpg)
Koen Kondo
Japan
Best movies:
Our Mother (2008)
The Hidden Blade (2004)
Tokyo Family (2013)
![石野真子](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/403/166403780_b361ab.jpg)
石野真子
Japan
Best movies:
700 Days of Battle: Us vs. the Police (2009)
Ping Pong (2002)
Hačikó monogatari (1987)
Shin'ya Hamazoe
Japan
Best movies:
Your Name. (2016)
Ping Pong (2002)
Ace Attorney (2012)
![Erika Mabuchi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/645/166645786_d4c471.jpg)
Erika Mabuchi
Japan
Best movies:
Ping Pong (2002)
Welcome to the Quiet Room (2007)
When the Show Tent Came to My Town (2005)
![Shô Tomita](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/007/168007402_1yf0nk.jpg)
Shô Tomita
Japan
Best movies:
Ping Pong (2002)
Doushitemo furetakunai (2014)