A young boy is sent by his parents to live with relatives in the country. When it becomes too dangerous to stay in Tokyo after the Allies start dropping bombs.

Takeshi: Childhood Days was adapted from Hyozo Kashiwabara's novel "The Long Road". Takeshi: Childhood Days was directed by Masahiro Shinoda (Samurai Spy). Every area of this production excels the cinematography, the score and the pacing. Performance wise the entire cast are all very good in their respective roles, especially Tetsuya Fujita in the role of Shinji.

Most World War 2 movies center around adult characters. It was refreshing to see a film about World War 2 that is almost entirely told from a child's perspective. The film's main character is a young boy named Shinji who is sent to live with relatives in the country. The most compelling aspect of this film is the way that it examines the underlying hostility that the country children feel for the child from the big city.

From the moment that Shinji arrives, his place as an outsider is solidified when the children laugh at him when he introduces himself. Shinji is a bright boy and the other children wanting to improve their social status, they use him. The character that Shinji forms the strongest friendship is a boy named Takashi. All the other children's fear of Takashi has elevated him to the top of the social pyramid. One of the main sub plot's is the power struggle between Takashi and those who he has bullied. Just like countless other tormentors, Takashi comeuppance eventual comes. Of course it doesn't take long before new bullies emerge and another power struggle ensues.

Michael Den Boer