Good Soil (希望の大地) is a 2007 short film starring Shin Koyamada and written and directed by Craig Shimahara.
Contents
Plot
Jinbei Masuda, a Japanese Christian of the samurai class, draws his strength from his faith, family, and fencing. However, he is caught up in the shogun's policy of religious persecution and must choose between his loved ones and his God.
Ships from Europe brought Christianity to the shores of Japan in 1549. For decades the seeds of faith grew under the watchful gaze of the Shogun. But the fear of foreign influence eventually gave rise to persecution. By 1624, Japanese Christians enjoyed only a few more years of peace.
Cast
Shin Koyamada as Jinbei Masuda 益田甚平
Yoshi Ando as Michijiro
Atsushi Hirata as Iwanaga
Yutaka Takeuchi as Tsunoyasu
Craig Reid as Catholic Priest
Kazumi Zatkin as Otsu
Maxwell Banchi as Shiro
Christine Shimahara as Kinu
Tex Nakamura as Daimyo
Yuji Tone as Attendant
Mitsuji Higashimoto as Guard No. 1
Agata Toshiya as Guard No. 2