Pebble by the wayside AKA Robo no ishi (1938) DVD-R

Starring: Akihiko Katayama, Reizaburô Yamamoto, Hisako Takihana, Ureo Egawa, Mitsuru Date
Directed by: Tomotaka Tasaka
Print: Black & White
Runtime: 104 minutes
Genre: Drama
Language: Japanese (English subtitles)

A turn-of-the-century tale follows young Goichi who is raised by his mother while his father succumbs to drinking and neglect. To support the family, Goichi is apprenticed to a clothing store, endures loss when his mother dies, then moves to Tokyo where hardship forces him into odd jobs and even theft. Eventually, a concerned teacher rescues him, restoring hope amidst adversity. Directed by Tomotaka Tasaka, Pebble by the Wayside (Robô no Ishi) is a sensitive adaptation of Yûzô Yamamoto’s novel, exploring childhood, social inequality, and resilience.