5th OKINAWA INTERNATIONAL MOVIE FESTIVAL

“Namba Jogakuin,” a classy girls’ prep school, is the dream of every girl in Kansai; however, it has a very unique after-school club, “Owarai Bu,” with only five members; Sayaka Yamamoto, Yui Yokoyama, Nana Yamada, Mayu Ogasawara, and Riho Kotani.

Their motto is “Laughter, rather than Feminine Charm!” and they devote themselves to manzai (comic dialogue) ignoring opportunities to date. One day, they receive the news of a “National Female High School Students Comedy Championship,” known also as “JK-1,” and decide to compete.

Around the same time, a mysterious and beautiful new student, Miyuki Watanabe, joins Owarai Bu, resulting in the group’s interpersonal relationships becoming complicated, causes them to fight, backstab, and ultimately dissolve the project. It turns out that Sayaka Yamamoto and Miyuki Watanabe have a hidden past.

When will the truth be revealed? Is Owarai Bu able to win JK-1? This is a high school drama full of laughter and tears.

This film is a movie version of a sitcom broadcast by Nippon Television Network Corporation. The television show became popular despite its late-night programing time because of the pop-idol cast, its handling of unusual everyday events, and performances by “Ogiri (comedy dialogue),“ “Monoboke (playing the fool using props,)” and Manzai (comedy dialogue).

The movie version is still set in the Owarai club of Namba Jogakuin but with a newly developed story. Yui Yokoyama, of AKB48, appears in the film. Mitsuko Oka is cast as a grandmother of Miyuki Watanabe, and Ritsuko Tanaka is cast as the mother of Sayaka Yamamoto. Kendo Kobayashi playes the role of an advisory teacher to the Owarai Club. Additionally, there are a host of great comedians playing supportive roles to provide laughter and smiles, including Shizuru and Asian. This film is not just for pop-idol fans. It is captivating for children and adults alike!