The Calamari Wrestler

The Calamari Wrestler (いかレスラー, Ika resuraa) is a 2004 Japanese film by director Minoru Kawasaki,^[1] starring Kana Ishida and Osamu Nishimura.^[2]

The Calamari Wrestler /Ika resuraa
Directed by	Minoru Kawasaki
Written by	Minoru Kawasaki Masazaku Migita
Produced by	Shuntaro Kanai
Starring	Miho Shiraishi Osamu Nishimura Akira Nogami Yoshihiro Takayama
Cinematography	Minoru Kawasaki
Edited by	Minoru Kawasaki
Production company	Imagica Corp.
Distributed by	Klock Worx Co.
Release date	July 30, 2004 (2004-07-30)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	Japan
Languages	English Japanese

Plot

The plot revolves around a professional wrestler who, after developing a terminal illness, becomes a giant squid-like creature (Osamu Nishimura). As a giant squid, he must battle to reclaim his former life both inside and outside the ring.

Cast

• Kana Ishida as Miyako
• Osamu Nishimura as Kanichi Iwata/The Calamari Wrestler
• Akira Nogami as Koji Taguchi/The Octopus Wrestler
• Hirohisa Nakata as Godozan/The Squilla Boxer
• Miho Shiraishi as Sister
• Yoshihiro Takayama as himself
• Hariken Ryu as Calamari Wrestler's suit actor

Reception

Jeannett Catsoulis of The New York Times described the film as goofy and bizarre "yet surprisingly coherent" with "a good-natured charm."^[3] Catsoulis commented on the themes of the film noting a "convincing parallel between the anxieties of post-World War II Japan and what the film calls the "utter chaos" of the country today."^[3]