Awake (2020)

AWAKE (Awakening), directed and written by Yamada and starring Yoshihiro Yoshihiro, releases stills. The film tells the story of Rong Yi, a chess player played by Ji Xiliang, who withdraws from professional circles after being badly hit by talented chess players. Frustrated, Rongyi forms a seminar with several friends, using computer AI to play rematch games with former opponents. Later, in order to inspire chess players with similar circumstances, Rongyi chooses to return to the stage. Director Hiroshi Yamada said: in order to play this role, Yoshihiro Yamada designed his own weight gain, hunchback and even walking posture, so much so that he said to Yoshihiro Yamada on the set, "seeing you now, I have forgotten how cool you were before." The film will be released in Japanese cinemas on December 25, 2020.