Charming and heartwarming movie about the humble beginnings of Takeshi Kitano. While it isn't necessarily a characterization of Takeshi Kitano or his working process, it does show his formative years. At its core, Asakusa Kid is a touching depiction of the relationship between a student and his mentor which makes for an entertaining watch even if you aren't a Takeshi Kitano fan.

What made me thoroughly enjoy this were the wonderful performances by Oizumi Yo, Yagira Yuya and Kadowaki Mugi. Oizumi Yo is convincing as the charismatic mentor, while Yagira Yuya impresses with his nuanced portrayal of Takeshi Kitano's mannerism while giving a heartfelt performance of the artist's early years. On top of that, their chemistry and dialogues are what makes this movie work. Kadowaki Mugi was captivating, and I've yet to see a performance of her that I don't like. She has long become a favorite of mine.

An added bonus were the vibrant sets and lively jazz sounds that made me feel nostalgic for a time I didn't live in. If I had to criticize anything, it would be the fact that it seems a bit rushed. It feels like there was more to explore, and this might have had more impact if we had enough time to get to know the characters better. But it's a movie and not a drama, and I think they did a great job with the time they had. It's a colorful coming-of-age story brought to live by the stellar performances of the cast and the atmospheric set design.