Synopsis

Okinawa Prefecture, famous for its unique cultural blend of East and West set against a backdrop of unrivaled natural beauty, is the heart of Japan’s pop music scene. Okinawa is the birthplace of artists like Amuro Namie, Da Pump, Orange Range, and Kiroro. Saturated with the blues of the skies and seas, *Chekeraccho!* captures the waning summer days of Toru, Yui, Akira, and Tetsuo, high school seniors who become captivated by rap music. After seeing the up-and-coming band 'Workaholic', Toru and his friends form their own band, named 098 after Okinawa’s area code. The band gets a break when they are invited to open for Workaholic’s upcoming concert, but their stage debut turns into a complete disaster. As Toru becomes infatuated with Nagisa, an older girl, Yui feels her heart breaking. Filled with comedy, innocence, and vibrant youth, this coming-of-age film features charismatic performances from Ichihara Hayato (from *The 101st Proposal*) and Inoue Mao (from the TV series *Hana Yori Dango*). The original score by Orange Range, a popular Okinawan band, along with the stunning landscapes and traditional tunes of Okinawa, make this film a must-see. The original title *‘Chekeraccho!’* is the Japanese pronunciation of ‘Check it out, Yo!’ a classic vocal tagline in rap music.

Director

Miyamoto Rieko

*Chekeraccho!!* is the feature debut of director Miyamoto Rieko. Before turning to film directing, she had already made a name for herself by directing popular TV dramas such as *101st Proposal*, *Fire Boys*, *Kind Time*, *Out: Wives’ Crime*, *Dear Father*, *Gentle Time*, *Smiling Faces Therapy*, *Tokyo Story*, and *Naniwa Financial Do 2*.