Gangoose

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Gangoose is a 2018 Japanese crime drama directed by Yu Irie. It stars Mahiro Takasugi, Ryō Katō, and Daichi Watanabe and is based on the manga Gangoose by Keisuke Hiya. The story follows three young men who steal from criminals to survive.

The project was announced in January 2018, with Irie directing the live-action adaptation and the three actors in the lead roles. Irie spent years preparing and began writing the script only after finishing the manga, wanting to show that real youths can be forced into crime to survive. He consulted more than ten people, including a documentary filmmaker who covers child welfare.

To prepare for their roles, the actors met with Daisuke Suzuki, the author of the non-fiction book that inspired the manga. Principal photography ran from January 20 to late February. Daichi Watanabe wrote, produced, and sang the lead vocals for CRYBABY, which is used as the film’s theme song.

Gangoose screened at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival in late 2018 and premiered in Toho Cinemas Shinjuku on November 13, before opening in Japanese theatres on November 23.

Critical reception was mixed. Haruhiko Ueshima of Kinema Junpo gave it 4/5, calling it a solid crime drama. Other Kinema Junpo critics gave it 3/5, praising Katō’s performance but noting some scenes dragged or could be more exciting. Mark Schilling of The Japan Times gave it 2/5, saying the serious themes felt strained and the action drifted toward fantasy, undercutting realism.

Director Yu Irie was nominated for Best Action Director at the 2019 Japan Action Awards.