In this smart, heartwarming and often hilarious comedy-drama based on Yama Wayama’s popular manga, Yakuza lieutenant Narita is desperate to improve his karaoke skills. His boss, a karaoke aficionado, has his mob underlings compete in an annual singing contest and the prize for the worst singer is a tattoo, wretchedly executed by the boss himself.

On “business” in Osaka, Narita happens upon the nerdy Satomi, the lead male soprano of a high school choir and enlists him to become his singing teacher. The two bond as the gangster reveals more of his troubled past and vulnerable real self and the soprano’s voice begins to change as the big school choral concert approaches.

Nobuhiro Yamashita’s crowd-pleaser won the Audience Award at the Camera Japan Festival and has proved a big hit with both Japanese audiences and critics.