Riku no ôja (1928) - A scrappy, silent track movie with a lot of heart

Is this worth watching today? If you like seeing how movies used to be made or you have a thing for old Japanese history, then yes. If you need 4K explosions and fast cuts, you're going to hate every second of this. 🏃‍♂️

It’s a sports movie from 1928. That means the 'action' is mostly people running in very high-waisted shorts on dusty tracks.

I wasn't expecting much from a movie called Riku no ôja (King of the Land). It sounds like it’s going to be a boring lecture about being a man or something.

But it’s actually kind of sweet. It’s got that specific college vibe that feels universal, even if it was filmed in a Japan that doesn't exist anymore.

The main guy is a track star. He’s played by Denmei Suzuki, who has this incredibly square jaw that screams 'I am the hero.'

He spends a lot of time looking intense. Like, he's not just running; he's running for the honor of his entire bloodline and maybe a girl.

Speaking of the girl, we get a very young Kinuyo Tanaka here. She’s legendary for a reason, and even in this grainy silent footage, her eyes just pop on the screen.

There is this one scene where they are sitting near a fence. It lingers for a bit too long, but you can feel the awkwardness of young love.

The print I saw was a bit messy. There were scratches everywhere, which weirdly made the race scenes feel more frantic.

Speaking of the races, they don't use much slow motion. It’s just raw, fast-cranked footage of guys huffing and puffing.

One of the runners in the background has a mustache that looks totally fake. I kept staring at it instead of the main action during the big relay race. 🥸

The movie doesn't really explain the rules of the track meet very well. You just kind of have to guess who is winning based on who looks more tired.

It reminded me a little bit of the physical energy in The Play House. Not because it’s a comedy, but because everyone is moving with this deliberate, silent-film urgency.

There’s a lot of focus on the training. They show the athletes doing these weird stretches that look more like they're trying to summon a ghost than warm up their hamstrings.

The rivalry between the schools feels real, though. You can see the fans in the stands—real people from 1928—looking genuinely excited.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Riku no ôja (1928) through its definitive frames.

I wonder if any of those extras knew they’d still be being watched in 2024. Probably not.

The music in the version I watched was a modern addition, I think. It was a bit too zesty for the somber moments, which was distracting.

There is a subplot about family expectations that kind of drags. I found myself wishing they’d just get back to the running.

The way the sunlight hits the track is actually beautiful. Hiroshi Shimizu, the director, clearly knew how to use natural light even back then.

It’s not quite as animalistic or raw as something like Black Beauty, but it has that same earnestness. It really wants you to care about the effort being put in.

One thing that bugged me was the editing during the final sprint. It cuts away to a reaction shot of a guy eating a snack right at the climax.

Why? Why would you show the guy with the snack right then? It was probably meant to be funny but it just felt poorly timed.

The title cards are fine, though some of the translations felt a bit stiff. 'My heart beats for the finish line'—okay, we get it, buddy.

There’s a scene where the protagonist is alone in his room. The shadows on the wall are actually quite moody and cool-looking.

It’s these small moments that make the movie worth it. The big sports drama is predictable, but the quiet bits are where the life is.

I think people who like Chariots of Fire might actually dig this. It’s the same 'running is a metaphor' thing, just much older and in black and white.

If you’re looking for a masterpiece, this isn't quite it. It feels like a director finding his feet and a cast having a good time on a field.

But honestly? I'd rather watch this than a lot of the polished, boring stuff that comes out now. At least the sweat here looks real.

One last thing: the shoes. They look like they offer zero arch support. My feet hurt just watching them run on that hard dirt.

It’s a decent watch if you’re in the mood for something slow and old-fashioned. Just don't expect a life-changing epiphany. 👟