The Apology King
The Apology King (Japanese: Shazai no Ousama) is a 2013 Japanese comedy film directed by Nobuo Mizuta and written by Kankuro Kudo. The film centers on the professional life of Ryoro Kurojima, an expert in the art of apology who operates a specialized agency in Tokyo.
Plot
Ryoro Kurojima, played by Sadawo Abe, serves as the director of a Tokyo-based apology center. His professional services involve teaching clients how to navigate difficult social and political situations through the strategic application of apologies. The film follows his efforts to resolve a wide range of conflicts, spanning from simple arbitration cases to complex national crises.
Production
The film was written by Kankuro Kudo and directed by Nobuo Mizuta. Principal photography for the production was scheduled to conclude in mid-January 2013. The film was distributed by Toho and features a runtime of 128 minutes.
Cast
- Sadawo Abe as Ryoro Kurojima
- Mao Inoue as Noriko Kuramochi
- Masaki Okada as Takuya Numata
- Machiko Ono as Office worker
- Katsumi Takahashi as Tetsuro Nanbu
- Yasuko Matsuyuki as Tetsuro's ex-wife
- Yutaka Takenouchi as Masanomi Minoa
- YosiYosi Arakawa as Gosaku Wada
- Gaku Hamada as Wakubaru
- Matsu as Funaki
Release and Festivals
The Apology King held its world premiere at the 17th Fantasia Film Festival on August 4, 2013. It was subsequently released in Japan on September 28, 2013. The film was also featured at the 23rd Focus on Asia-Fukuoka International Film Festival in September 2013 and the 14th Nippon Connection festival in 2014, where it served as the European premiere.