Whenever you hear of a jidai-geki film you often think of clashing swords, bloodshed and manly heroism - which is why this entry in this year's Eiga Sai is so strange: it is a period film (set before, during and after the Meiji Restoration) but it does not have a single sword fight. Replacing the clashing of swords is the clack-a-clacking of a abacus.
Abacus and Sword tells the story of the Inoyama family, most prominently Naoyuki, the 8th generation heir. This family consists of accountants who have served a noble house in Kanazawa for many years, and their skill is not with the sword but with the abacus and brush. Indeed, Naoyuki is 'hopless' in the sword arts, yet he is a gifted mathematician and uses his skill with the abacus to great effect. Aside from that Naoyuki is straight laced and filled with a sense of honor and fairness that is his defining quality.
The film itself is divided roughly into three acts: Naoyuki's early years as an accountant, establishing the many characters of the Inoyama family, then moving on to battles against corruption in the system to a very personal battle against a very dangerous foe: crushing debt. The final part deals with Naoyuki's later life and his relationship with his son Naruyuki as the age of the samurai comes to an end.
The film succinctly describes the film as such: the samurai's soul may be their katana, but for these people it has always been their abacuses. The Inoyama family go through hard times as the samurai class declines; frugality is emphasized, possessions sold. Aside from that, the shadow of shame from living in poverty looms over them, a very important thing considering their Samurai status.
The film portrays another side of the Samurai caste: instead of the retainers or high ranking warlords we see in many films of this type, we see the low class samurai, the 'salarymen' of the old world. The atmosphere of a different time is prevalent, yet the persevering culture of the Japanese people shines through as we see the levels of politeness and respect practiced by members of its society.
Masato Sakai, who was in last year's Eiga Sai offering Chef of South Polar is reserved and stoic in the face of hardship as Naoyuki, sticking to his moral and philosopical guns to the end. He's not doing this for himself, but for the longevity of his family, in a very efficient way, in the only way he knows. Popular actress Yukie Nakama, who J-drama fans may know as Yankumi from Gokusen (among others) portrays the dutiful wife, though no amount of makeup can age a lady like Yukie Nakama.
There are some times where the pacing feels a bit off. The whole middle part of the film could have been shortened to focus on the final part, whose heavy reliance on a knowledge of Japanese history may confuse some viewers.
While flawed, Abacus and Sword has some great moments and is genuinely endearing at points. If you didn't catch it on Eiga Sai, reruns are always showing on Channel Red.
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