Somersault on the Way

The film follows Chomatsu, who lives with an old man named Denbei and works as a bell ringer near Asakusa temple. Their life is disrupted when a local kingpin seeks a valuable Echigo lion mask, prompting a series of events that intertwine family secrets and community tensions. As the story unfolds, Chomatsu embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his past and his family's history.

With a runtime of 82 minutes, Somersault on the Way showcases performances by Hibari Misora, Kodayu Ichikawa, and Yoshiko Tsubouchi, among others. The film's unique blend of music and drama, along with its jidaigeki setting, makes it a noteworthy entry in post-war Japanese cinema. This film can be of interest to collectors looking for historical context or those focused on the musical genre in Japanese film.