The Gymnastics Samurai

Once a top contender in Japanese gymnastics, Joutarou Aragaki—dubbed “Samurai” for his trademark hairstyle—keeps competing despite a lingering shoulder injury that followed his wife’s death. Five years later, he’s still on the national team, pushing his body through punishing training, but his results refuse to improve. With time running short, coach Noriyuki Amakusa urges him to step away from the sport.

Joutarou tries to break the news gently to his bright, supportive nine-year-old daughter, Rei, during a trip to Ego Wonderland, only for their day to take an unexpected turn. A strange man calling himself Leonardo, a self-proclaimed ninja, ends up tagging along, following them home and repeatedly derailing Joutarou’s attempts to talk to Rei.

When Joutarou learns Leonardo simply wants to see him perform gymnastics again, he makes a startling public decision: he won’t retire after all. With Rei at his side, he throws himself into what may be the toughest challenge of his career, determined to prove he still belongs on the mat.