Take Care, Red Riding Hood (1970)
A quietly compelling Japanese drama about youth, protest, and the courage it takes to grow up.
Take Care, Red Riding Hood - Movie Information
- Original Title: 赤頭巾ちゃん気をつけて
- Release Year: 1970
- Directed by: Shirō Moritani
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 29m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 4, 1970 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: Akazukinchan kiotsukete (JP)
- Production Companies: TOHO
- Production Countries: Japan
Take Care, Red Riding Hood - Plot
A high-schooler involved in turn-of-the-decade student movements works to escape his comfort zone and apply himself.
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Take Care, Red Riding Hood - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Shirō Moritani
Main Cast
- Yusuke Okada
- Kazuyo Mori
- Akiko Mori
- Akira Nakao
- Mieko Yuki
- Sumio Tomikawa
- Hisano Yamaoka
- Akiko Kazami
- Yoko Minakaze
- Tomoko Fumino
Writers
- Shirō Moritani
- Toshiro Ide
Take Care, Red Riding Hood - FAQs
What is Take Care, Red Riding Hood about?
Take Care, Red Riding Hood follows Kaoru Shoji, a Japanese high-schooler caught up in the turbulent student protest movements of the late 1960s. The film traces his efforts to break out of his comfortable, sheltered existence and find genuine purpose, capturing the restless energy and idealism of a generation at a crossroads.
Why is the film titled after Little Red Riding Hood?
The title draws on the fairy tale as a metaphor for youthful naivety and the dangers lurking in the wider world. Kaoru, like the classic storybook character, must navigate unfamiliar and potentially threatening territory as he steps beyond the safety of his privileged upbringing into the charged political landscape of 1960s Japan.
How does the film portray Japan's student movement era?
The film offers an intimate, ground-level look at the student protest culture that swept Japan around 1969–1970. Rather than depicting grand political spectacle, it focuses on one young man's personal reckoning with social upheaval, blending coming-of-age introspection with the collective restlessness of a generation demanding change.
Who directed Take Care, Red Riding Hood?
Shirō Moritani directed the film, also co-writing the screenplay alongside Toshiro Ide. Moritani was a notable figure in Japanese cinema of the era, working under the TOHO banner. His direction here brings a thoughtful, character-driven sensibility to the social and political tensions of late 1960s Japan.
Who are the main actors in Take Care, Red Riding Hood?
Yusuke Okada leads the cast as protagonist Kaoru Shoji, with Kazuyo Mori playing Yumi Shimojo and Akira Nakao as Kaoru's elder brother. The ensemble also includes Mieko Yuki, Sumio Tomikawa, Akiko Kazami as Kaoru's mother, and Tomoko Fumino as Yumi's mother, among others.
Is Take Care, Red Riding Hood based on a book?
Yes, the film is adapted from Shumon Miura's novel Akazukinchan Kiotsukete, which won the Akutagawa Prize in 1969 — one of Japan's most prestigious literary awards. The source novel captured the disillusionment and searching quality of Japanese youth at the close of the 1960s, themes the film faithfully carries forward.
What are some films similar to Take Care, Red Riding Hood?
If you enjoy this film's blend of youth drama and social commentary, you might also appreciate The Strawberry Statement (1970), which explores American student protests of the same era, as well as Moving (1993) and Imperial Dreams (2014) for their similarly introspective portrayals of young people navigating difficult personal and social transitions.
When and where was Take Care, Red Riding Hood released?
The film premiered in Japan on August 4, 1970, released through TOHO. It arrived at a historically charged moment, just as the student movement it depicts was beginning to wind down, giving the story an immediate, almost documentary resonance for Japanese audiences of the time.
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