The film "Signature: Making Japan a World-renowned Brewery Destination" was released on November 4, 2022.
This drama depicts the efforts of Anzo Mitsuhiro, a winemaker who inherited the will of Asai Usuke (Asai Shogo), known as the "father of modern Japanese wine," as he strives to make Japan a world-renowned wine-producing region.
Image source: Signature official website
The film is directed by Kakizaki Yuji, who also directed "Usuke Boys," and this time he is also trying his hand at writing an original script.
"Signature" has also received high praise, winning the Best Film Award at the Nice International Film Festival in May this year and Best Actress for its heroine, Yuka Takeshima, at the Paris International Film Festival.
"Signature" is a movie that is highly recommended not only for fans of Japanese wine, but also for anyone who likes wine. In this article, we will introduce an overview of "Signature" and some trivia related to the movie so that you can enjoy the movie even more.
We will also tell you more about the legendary New Zealand wine, Providence, which appears in the film.
Summary of the film "Signature"
Synopsis
This drama depicts the life story of winemaker Yasuzo Mitsuhiro, who inherited the will of Asai Usuke (Asai Shogo), a driving force in the Japanese wine industry, and strives to make Japan a world-famous wine-producing region. In 1995, Yasuzo Mitsuhiro, who aspires to be a winemaker, graduated from the University of Tokyo Graduate School and joined Chateau Mercian * in Katsunuma, Yamanashi Prefecture. There he meets Asai Usuke, a senior colleague at the company, and is captivated by his insight and personality.
While working on wine with his friends, Yasuzo met his future wife, Masako, and worked hard to make the perfect wine. He and Masako soon began to live together, and he was posted to Bordeaux in France, so his path to winemaking was going smoothly. But one day, his respected wife, Asai, fell ill and was given a prognosis for how long he had left to live.
Hiroyuki Hirayama plays the role of Yasuzo, Yuka Takeshima plays the role of Masako, and Takaaki Enoki plays the role of Asai. The director is Yuji Kakizaki, whose work "Usuke Boys" depicts young people who are passionate about winemaking. The title "Signature" refers to the fact that the head wine brewer signs a special wine.
Source: Movie.com
*The correct answer is "Joined Mercian Corporation, assigned to Chateau Mercian"
overview
| Production year/country | 2021/Japan |
|---|---|
| time | 120 minutes |
| director | Yuji Kakizaki |
| Official website | https://www.signature-wine.jp/ |
Trailer
Cast introduction
Starring: Hiroyuki Hirayama (role of Mitsuhiro Anzo)
Hiroyuki Hirayama is an actor who has appeared in many dramas and movies. This will be his first starring role in a film.
Yuka Takeshima (role of Masako Yasuzo)
Yuka Takeshima, who also appeared in the previous film "Usuke Boys" as "Kamimura Kuniko", modeled after Masako, will once again play Yasuzo's wife, Masako.
Takuro Tatsumi (role of Haruo Omura)
Takuro Tatsumi, a well-known wine lover, will be playing the role of Haruo Omura, the managing director of Marufuji Winery.
Takaaki Enoki (role of Usuke Asai)
The role of Asai Usuke will be played by Enoki Takaaki, a renowned supporting actor.
Also, pay attention to the other amazing cast members!
"Signature" brings together a star-studded cast including Yamazaki Yuta, Ootsuru Yoshitan, Hasegawa Hatsunori, Miyazaki Yoshiko, Kurosawa Kazuko (Mori Sanchu), Itao Itsuji, Shinoyama Terunobu, and Horii Arata.
Also appearing in the film are sommelier Tanabe Koichi, as well as Watanabe Dai, Deai Masayuki, Ito Tsukasa, and Izumi Motoya, who appeared in "Usuke Boys."
(Titles omitted)
I think you'll enjoy the movie more if you watch "Usuke Boys" before going to see "Signature."
▶︎ For details and reviews of "Usuke Boys" click here
Highlights of this movie
"Signature" is a must-see movie for wine lovers. The story of a young man's growth through wine is sure to warm your heart.
However, for those who are not interested in wine, there may be many situations that are a little difficult.
Wine terminology appears freely and without explanation, and the story progresses slowly without any dramatic developments.
Of course, there are some slight ups and downs in the story, but it lacks the dynamic developments and plot twists found in Hollywood hit movies. Rather, it is a rather matter-of-fact depiction of the lives of Yasuzo and his wife, based on facts.
If you love wine and enjoy not only drinking it but also learning about it, then this is definitely a movie you'll enjoy.
Not to be overlooked is the presence of New Zealand
The word "New Zealand" appears many times in the film.
Like Japan, New Zealand is an emerging wine-producing country, but it is known for producing extremely high-quality wines, and there are many scenes in the story where the characters are encouraged by this.
"If such great wine can be made in the emerging country of New Zealand, surely it can be done in Japan too."
That's what Yasuzo and Asai find inspiring.
As a store specialising in New Zealand wine, this was an extremely pleasing moment for us.
Who is Yasuzo Mitsuhiro? What does the title "Signature" mean?
Now, I'd like to briefly tell you about the main character of this film, Yasuzo Mitsuhiro.
After graduating from the University of Tokyo Graduate School in 1995, Yasuzo joined Mercian Corporation and was assigned to Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery. After joining the company, he met Asai Usuke (Asai Shogo), a senior colleague at the company, who influenced him in many ways, including winemaking. He was later transferred to the head office, but returned to the winery in 1998 and once again devoted himself to winemaking.
From 2001, he was stationed at Chateau Reyson in Bordeaux for four years, where he worked on cultivation and brewing. His experiences there are detailed in the book "What I Learned Making Wine in Bordeaux: For a Japanese Wine Strategy," which was produced based on the reports that Yasuzo sent to Asai during his time in Bordeaux.
Yasuzo is currently the Production Manager and Chief Winemaker at Chateau Mercian, and also serves as Chairman of the Yamanashi Prefecture Wine Makers Association, making him a central figure in the Japanese wine industry.
The film's title, "Signature," refers to the winemaker personally signing a special wine, and was named after the "Kikyogahara Merlot Signature 1998," which Yasuzo signed on the label.
Yasuzo is in charge of the lyrics for the theme song of this film, "Drops of the Earth," so if you're going to see the movie, be sure to pay attention to the lyrics of the theme song.
About Usuke Asai (Shogo Asai)
We will also briefly tell you about Asai Usuke (Asai Shogo), an important character in the film and an indispensable figure in any discussion of Japanese wine.
"Usuke Asai" is the pen name of Shogo Asai. He contributed to the improvement of Japanese wine for many years, and played a leading role in Japanese winemaking, including as the factory manager of Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery and chairman of the Yamanashi Wine and Sake Makers Association. In his later years, he also worked as a wine consultant.
Mr. Asai is the man who revolutionized winemaking in Japan.
In the past, grapes for eating, such as Kyoho and Delaware, were commonly used in Japan, and it was thought that cultivating European wine grapes, known as Vitis vinifera, was difficult.
Also, in Europe, it is traditional for one winery to handle everything from grape cultivation to winemaking, but this style was almost unheard of in Japan. "Grape cultivation" and "wine brewing" were completely separate businesses. Naturally, the idea of improving the quality of grapes, the raw material for winemaking, with one's own hands was not yet common.
It was Usuke Asai who spoke out to break away from this traditional Japanese winemaking method and began conducting research.
Mr. Asai believes that "grapes are the most important element in winemaking," and he devotes himself to cultivating them. He succeeded in cultivating Merlot grapes that rival those grown overseas in Kikyogahara, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, proving that high-quality wine can also be produced in Japan.
Asai also always cared about young people who aspired to be wine makers in Japan, teaching them his knowledge and philosophy on winemaking. He generously shared his "sur lie" technique, which is effective in producing Koshu wine, with rival wineries, and passed on his knowledge to the next generation in a number of well-known books, including "The Philosophy of Winemaking" and "The Four Seasons of Winemaking."
What is the New Zealand wine "Providence" that appears in the film?
In fact, a New Zealand wine called "Providence" is featured in this film.
"Providence Private Reserve 1996" stored at Bokumo
Providence, which is described in the film as a “miracle wine,” is a wine that had a major impact on Asai.
Asai was impressed when he tasted Providence wine, which was made without the addition of sulfites, a rare product at the time. He realized that even in a region with a short history compared to France and other countries, it was possible to make wine with minimal human intervention by taking advantage of the climate and soil to produce excellent grapes.
Mr. Asai actually visited the Providence winery in Matakana on New Zealand's North Island and saw the wine-making process with his own eyes. After returning to Japan, he spoke enthusiastically to his juniors about the appeal of Providence wine, encouraging them to believe that such wine could be made in Japan as well.
New Zealand wines have had a significant influence on Japanese winemaking today. By the way, Providence was highly praised around the world immediately after its release in 1996. It can be said to be New Zealand's first "Cinderella wine."
summary
"Signature - Making Japan a world-famous wine-producing region" is a drama that depicts the life of Yasuzo Mitsuhiro, who has inherited the will of Asai Usuke, the father of Japanese wine, and continues to work sincerely on Japanese wine.
In recent years, the quality of Japanese wine has improved remarkably, and the number of fans is increasing. If you watch this film that focuses on Yasuzo, a legendary figure in the field of Japanese wine, you will surely be able to feel the passion of people who are committed to creating things.
After watching the film, of course you'll want to toast with some Japanese wine!
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