Source: Toho Co., Ltd. Official Site: overdrive-movie.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and high-res photos from the racing drama OVER DRIVE (????????, Obaadoraibu). The movie opens in Japanese cinemas on June 1, 2018. INTRODUCTION

A “brothers’ challenge” as depicted by Eiichiro Hasumi of the hit UMIZARU series... OVER DRIVE is a drama about two brothers who overcome their past and pursue their dream. Rally racing, competed on public streets and through nature, is a motorsport as popular as Formula One in Europe and America. This movie is a human drama about two brothers in the worldof rallies -- the older brother, a mechanic, and the young brother, a driver. The story was specifically written for the movie, which was filmed with extensive cooperation by Toyota, Japan’s largest automobile manufacturer. The plot is woven around Spica, an automobile manufacturer competing in Japan’s largest rally race. The big brother, Atsuhiro, Spica’s chief mechanic, and the little brother, Naozumi, an unrivaled racing driver, face the challenge of the invincible Sigma team. However, their encounter with Hikaru, Naozumi’s new agent, brings back memories of losing a loved one, and the two brothers find themselves in a love triangle. A rift forms between the brothers after the traumatic death of a loved one. The main character of this movie is a mechanic in the world of rallies who repeats the “scrap and build” process that has supported the advancement of technology in Japan. Against the backdrop of a “trade using one’s hands,” the two brothers strive to restore not only cars and machines but also their relationship. It is also a moving, poignant story about their reconciliation kindled by a common goal and their joint efforts to help Spica overcome a crisis and lead it the manufacturers’ championship. This love story revolving around the brothers’ secret past is an entertainment masterpiece that can be enjoyed by both men and women.

STORY The SCRS (Seiko Cup Rally Series), a top-category domestic race fiercely competed by young drivers, is the stepping stone to the WRC (World Rally Champion), the world’s most prestigious competition. The rivalry between Spica Racing Factory and Sigma is intensifying. In the special stage, a 0.1-second difference sets the winner apart from the rest. “We have to be aggressive in order to win!” Naozumi Hiyama is Spica’s racing genius with eyes set on the WRC. Ignoring advice from his big brother, Atsuhiro, a diligent and competent team mechanic, Naozumi races recklessly and aggressively. The two brothers clash over every round, and their animosity slowly starts to wear off on the team atmosphere. Then one day, they meet Hikaru Endo, Naozumi’s new agent who has been delegated to manage his bad behavior. She knows nothing about motorsports and is completely out of place. Soon, she confronts a secret from the brothers’ past that is at the root of their hostility, and faces an ordeal that puts the entire team to the test.

CREDITS Japanese Theatrical Release: June 1, 2018 (Nationwide Roadshow) Running Time: 104 Minutes Cast Atsuhiro Hiyama: Masahiro Higashide Naozumi Hiyama: Mackenyu Arata Hikaru Endo: Aoi Morikawa Akira Shinkai: Takumi Kitamura Junpei Masuda: Keita Machida Issei Tsuzuki: Kotaro Yoshida Staff Director: Eiichiro Hasumi Screenplay: Sayaka Kuwamura Producer: Noriaki Kuramoto Cinematography: Shinya Kimura Music: Naoki Sato Theme Song: "Drive" by WANIMA (unBORDE / Warner Music Japan) Production Company: “Over Drive” Film Partners Distributor: Toho © 2018 “Over Drive” Film Partners All Rights Reserved.

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About Toho Company. Ltd.

Founded in 1932, Toho Co., Ltd. is one of the leading entertainment conglomerates in Japan. Toho is best known worldwide as the producer of the Godzilla films, as well as most of the films by the world-renowned director, Akira Kurosawa. Besides film production, Toho also distributes Japanese films (earning the highest box office receipts for decades in Japan) as well as foreign films through its subsidiary, owns first class movie theaters throughout Japan, produces legitimate plays and musicals, and has more than 100 entertainment-related subsidiaries.