Program Note
The 450-year-old vampire Mori Ranmaru currently lives and works at a bathhouse. He is the fourth-generation heir of a family that has operated the bathhouse for years and is determined to protect the virginity of Rihito, the boy who once saved him. His goal is simple: to drink Rihito's "ultimate fresh" virgin blood when he turns 18. However, things take a turn when Rihito enters high school and falls in love at first sight with Aoi, a classmate. Faced with the risk of Rihito losing his virginity, Mori launches 'Operation Virginity Protection'. Based on the popular manga of the same name, the film cleverly uses BL tropes. While it appears to be a vampire-boy romance on the surface, it unfolds into a playful 'bloody love' story centered around the pursuit of pure blood. Amid a whirlwind of absurd humor, its eccentric characters gradually draw viewers in with their bizarre charm. Manga-style performances by Yoshizawa Ryo, Itagaki Rihito, and Hara Nanoka bring credibility and energy to this quirky universe. (Martin LEE)