Synopsis
A 17-year-old high school girl nicknamed Maru calls phone dating services. Her date is a handsome man in his early 40s. He looks like a businessman but after checking in at a hotel, he introduces himself as a yakuza named Oshima who is driving out high-school part-timers who threaten the underworld's sex business. He demands money from Maru but she doesn't have it. She goes to Jonko for help. Jonko agrees to work as a karaoka hostess for Oshima until Maru's debt is paid. Meanwhile, Lisa who wants to go to the United States for study is spotted by Sapp, a so-called "talent scout," as she arrives from the northern city of Sendai. He follows Lisa to a small shop where she tries to sell her used underwear. The shopkeeper asks Lisa to shoot a video and make more money. On the scene of video shooting, Lisa meets Raku. When two thugs break into the place, the girls flee but the men take the money Lisa has saved. Raku decides to help Lisa and introduces her to Jonko. Jonko and Raku plan to finance Lisa's trip but things don't go as planned and soon they are chased by the yakuza... This film thrusts the camera in the face of teenaged girls who are stirring up the Japanese society these days. While the majority of growing-up movies are focused on the obstinacy of the older generation and the deviant attitudes of the young, this film cooly observes the reality, while giving a righteous motive of helping a friend in distress to the young ones. In other words, this is a storyof girls who are treated by grown-ups almost like sex goods but who take advantage of the situation for themselves. The movie earned a favorable comment for depicting the innocent sentiments of teenagers. It may be remembered as a good example of the young generation drama of the 1990s. (Kim Eui-Chan)