Gate of Youth 2 (1982)

Interesting facts

The Gate of Youth: Part 2 , also known as The Gate of Youth: Independence Chapter, is a 1982 Japanese drama film directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara and written by Kôji Takada. It is a direct sequel to the 1981 film The Gate of Youth, which was co-directed by Kurahara and Kinji Fukasaku. Both films are an adaptation of the literary series of the same name by Hiroyuki Itsuki. The Gate of Youth: Part 2 continues the story of Shinsuke Ibuki as he navigates life at Waseda University in the mid-1950s. Compared to the first film, which largely took place in a rural setting, Part 2 is a gritty urban drama.

Production

Following the success of the first film, Toei announced that the series would receive annual installments. As he was given more production time on the sequel, Kurahara chose to be sole director for Part 2. The producers chose Kôji Takada as the film's screenwriter. He would work with Kurahara again on Haru no Kane.

With the exception of Kōichi Satō as Shinsuke and Kaoru Sugita as Orie, the cast almost entirely features new characters and actors. However, Tsunehiko Watase, who played Kanayama in the first film, appears again in Part 2 as a Waseda professor and boxing instructor. Nenji Kobayashi also returned in a new role. Kaori Momoi was selected for the role of Kaoru, who was played by Ayumi Ishida in the Toho version.

After shooting this film, director Kurahara committed to full-time production on Antarctica, a project he had been planning for four years. According to cast and crew, Kurahara could not stop talking about Antarctica during filming for The Gate of Youth: Part 2.

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