What Is That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen? About?
The premise of That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen? in 260 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a bustling university where the scent of chemicals mixes with the nervous energy of final exams, a tight‑knit group of chemistry students finds themselves caught between the pressure to succeed and the lure of a quick, unconventional shortcut. The campus hums with lectures, late‑night study sessions, and the occasional burst of laughter that hints at an undercurrent of mischief, setting the stage for a comedy that thrives on the absurdities of academic life.
At the heart of the story is Kenji Kimura, a diligent senior determined to graduate and join the prestigious lab of a respected professor. He shares the spotlight with Yumi Morishita, a famous pop‑music sensation who has swapped the stage for a lab coat, bringing her own brand of charisma to the student lounge. Alongside them are the faculty members who oversee the exams—figures of authority whose expectations add both tension and opportunity to the students’ plans. The chemistry between these characters, ranging from earnest ambition to playful rebellion, fuels much of the film’s charm.
When the pressure of the upcoming finals reaches a fever pitch, the group conspires to devise a clever cheating scheme that promises to turn the tables on the rigid exam routine. Their undertaking blends inventive science‑class tricks with slapstick moments, all while navigating the delicate balance between friendship, rivalry, and the ever‑looming question of what it truly means to earn a grade. The result is a light‑hearted, fast‑paced tale that captures the spirit of youthful ingenuity and the comedic chaos that follows when a classroom becomes a playground for daring improvisation.
What Happens in That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen??
The complete story of That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen?, from the first scene to the last, in 820 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
A group of students heads to a university class hall for an exam, and among them are residents of the Sigma dormitory who orchestrate a cheating scheme. Kenji Kimura Tatsuya Yamaguchi, determined to graduate and pursue research under the highly regarded Professor Namazuda, refuses to cheat. After some time, Kimura’s high school friend, Yumi Morishita Namie Amuro, also begins to cheat, setting the stage for a tense clash between ambition, integrity, and the pressure to succeed.
During the examination, Professor Yusuke Migita Takeshi Masu, watching through binoculars, notices Kamei cheating. When Migita arrives at the hall, Kimura—who harbors feelings for Morishita—fears Migita has seen her cheating, but relief comes when Migita calls out Kamei instead, leading to Kamei’s expulsion. Kimura later tries to help Kamei re-enter the university, but Migita refuses.
Unbeknownst to most of the campus, Migita’s strict exterior masks a web of corruption. He colludes with the university’s chairman and a construction company president on a plan to demolish all the dormitories to make way for a hotel, a scheme designed to enrich a powerful few. A board meeting lays out the plan: the fate of the dormitories will hinge on the students’ performance in the finals, with punishment for those who fail to meet the grade threshold.
The next day, Professor Namazuda informs the dorm residents of the decision, casting a pall over everyone. Morishita is temporarily housed at Sigma after being evicted from her hostel because of her pet cat. She decides to spy on Migita, visiting his office under the guise of doing research. He asks her to shred some papers, and while she is there, Morishita stumbles upon Namazuda’s atomic theory papers—stolen by Migita to plagiarize for his own work. After overhearing Migita’s discussion with the construction company president about the hotel plan, Morishita realizes Migita’s corruption and the danger Namazuda faces. She is spotted by Migita’s assistant, who warns Migita while engaging with him in the library. Undeterred, Morishita rushes back to the dorm and warns the others, who then report Migita’s plan to Professor Namazuda.
In class, Migita warns that cheating will not be tolerated in the finals. Kimura, angry at Migita’s plan to eliminate Namazuda from the equation, joins a group of students rallying at Migita’s office to press the issue. Migita deflects and proclaims that he is trying to help the college, goading the students by calling them foolish. Kimura then proposes a bold challenge: if the Sigma dorm students achieve top grades, Kamei will be allowed to return. Migita agrees, but only if every subject earns an A, a demand that presses the students to the edge. With encouragement from Namazuda, who reveals his own history of cheating when he was a student, Kimura decides that the entire dorm will cheat in the final exams.
The finals arrive, and the dorm mates employ the strategies taught by Namazuda to seek success. Migita grows increasingly agitated as he sees that every Sigma dorm student has earned an A in every subject, convincing him that cheating must be happening. Morishita is again summoned by Migita to shred final-exam papers, but what she discovers is a test paper being prepared for shredding. When she tries to steal it, Migita forces her to shred the document. The Sigma dorm students manage to recover the shredded pieces and painstakingly reconstruct the final exam. Kimura memorizes the answers, and Morishita, pausing, confesses that she likes him.
On the day of the exam, the students feel confident, only to find themselves thwarted by Migita’s machinations. They attempt to cheat, but Migita blocks them. Chaos erupts as two invigilators fall ill due to something mixed into their food by Mr. Chin, and one invigilator is trapped in the electric room by Chin, who also cuts the power. A student named Kamei comes to their aid with a laser-sniper device, while the answers are supplied by Namazuda’s guidance. Migita cannot identify the source of the cheating, and the students struggle to complete the exam under pressure.
After the exam, the Sigma dorm residents and Morishita are asked to leave, while attempts at a strip search fail. Migita’s promise to protect Kamei is denied, and the university president—arriving with the conglomerate head and the construction president—in custody information reveals Migita’s true involvement. Migita’s own researcher corroborates the corruption and also exposes more of Migita’s plagiarism. The president declares that legal action will be taken and that the dormitories will remain, bringing relief to the students.
Migita’s researchers determine that all students cheated when papers are checked, and Migita, despondent, accidentally knocks over a chemical bottle, causing an explosion that injures him. In a quiet turn, Kimura confesses his love for Morishita, who decides to drop out and pursue a path as a junior high school teacher, intending to use the cheating method that Namazuda developed. The two share a final embrace, marking both an ending and a new beginning.
That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen? Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Exam day opens with Sigma dorm cheating scheme” to “Ending: love, new beginnings”. 13 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Exam day opens with Sigma dorm cheating scheme
The group of students heads to the university class hall for the final exams. Residents of Sigma dormitory organize a cheating scam, while Kenji Kimura refuses to cheat, hoping to earn his place honestly under Professor Namazuda. Later, Yumi Morishita joins in cheating as the pressure mounts.
When:Finals day Where:University class hall
- 2
Migita spots Kamei cheating and expels him
Using binoculars, Migita spots Kamei cheating during the exam and confronts him as the professor arrives in the hall. The cheating student is expelled, sending a shock through the Sigma group. Kimura watches anxiously, hoping the scandal won't touch him.
When:During the exam Where:University class hall
- 3
Aftermath: Kamei's readmission denied
Kimura worries Migita saw the cheating and asks about letting Kamei re-enter. Migita refuses to readmit Kamei, reiterating his stance on integrity and campus rules. The decision deepens the divide between Kimura and Migita.
When:After the incident Where:University / Migita's office
- 4
The dorm demolition plot is hatched
Migita secretly joins forces with the university chairman and the construction company president to demolish the Sigma dorms and build a hotel for profit. A board meeting is convened to decide that the plan will go forward if the students do not pass finals with good grades. The scheme treats the exams as a lever in a broader corruption scheme.
When:Days later Where:Boardroom
- 5
Namazuda breaks the bad news to Sigma
Namazuda visits Sigma dorm to inform the students about the board’s decision and the threat to their housing. The mood is heavy as they realize the stakes extend beyond the final exams.
When:Next day Where:Sigma dorm
- 6
Morishita moves in and starts spying
Morishita takes temporary residence at Sigma dorm after eviction due to her cat and begins observing Migita under the pretense of research. Her spying sets the stage for discovering Migita’s corruption and the campus plot.
When:Soon after arrival Where:Sigma dorm
- 7
Morishita uncovers stolen papers and overhears the hotel plan
While visiting Migita’s office, Morishita finds Namazuda’s atomic theory papers Migita stole to plagiarize. She overhears a discussion about the hotel plan with the construction head, confirming Migita’s corruption. An assistant warns Migita while they are in the library.
When:During spying Where:Migita's office / Library
- 8
Morishita reports the truth to the dorm and Namazuda
Morishita rushes back to Sigma to tell the residents what she has learned, and they report Migita’s plan to Professor Namazuda, who vows to defend the dorm and campus integrity.
When:Same day Where:Sigma dorm / Namazuda's space
- 9
Migita warns against cheating; Kimura pushes to cheat anyway
In class, Migita declares that cheating will not be tolerated during finals. Kimura, outraged by Migita's stance and the dorm issue, proposes a challenge that if they all achieve top grades, Kamei can return; Migita adds the condition that every subject must be an A.
When:Before finals Where:Classroom
- 10
Finals begin and Sigma dorm cheats; papers get shredded
The final exams start and the Sigma dorm students use Namazuda's methods to secure high scores. Migita grows suspicious as the entire dorm achieves A grades. He orders Morishita to shred the final exam questions, but the students manage to retrieve the shredded pieces and reconstruct the exam.
When:During finals Where:Exam hall
Show the other 3 events of That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen? Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Power outage and poisoning attempt disrupt the exam
Two invigilators fall ill after Mr. Chin tampered with their food, and he cuts the power to the exam hall. Kamei helps the students cheat with answers provided by Namazuda, while Migita searches for the source of the disruption.
When:During finals Where:Exam hall
- 12
Exposure, confrontation, and aftermath
After the exam, the university president arrives with the conglomerate head and chairman to confront Migita, whose corruption and plagiarism are exposed by his researchers. The president announces potential legal action and confirms that the dormitories will remain. Migita's researchers reveal that all students cheated when checking the papers, and an accidental chemical explosion injures him.
When:Immediately after exams Where:University buildings and lab
- 13
Ending: love, new beginnings
Kimura confesses his love for Morishita, who decides to drop out and become a junior high school teacher, planning to teach with Namazuda's method in a responsible way. They embrace as the film closes, choosing a path beyond the cheating saga.
When:Ending Where:Sigma dorm / campus
Who Are the Main Characters in That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen??
4 characters, among them Kenji Kimura (Tatsuya Yamaguchi), Yumi Morishita and Professor Yusuke Migita: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 3 of them link to the actor’s page.
- KK
Kenji Kimura (Tatsuya Yamaguchi)
Played by Tatsuya Yamaguchi
A high school friend of Morishita who aims to graduate and do research under the respected Namazuda. He starts as someone who resists cheating, but under pressure and Namazuda’s encouragement, he becomes involved in the group’s plan to cheat in the finals. He also harbors feelings for Morishita, which affects his decisions.
- 🎯 Ambitious
- 🤔 Moral conflict
- 💘 Romantic tension
- YM
Yumi Morishita
Played by Namie Amuro
A Sigma dorm resident who becomes fed up with evictions and the dorm’s uncertain future. She spies on Migita and uncovers his corrupt plan, then joins the push to expose him. Her wit and determination help rally the other students, and she ultimately faces a personal choice between romance and a teaching vocation.
- 🔎 Investigator
- 💖 Romantic interest
- 🧭 Resourceful
- PY
Professor Yusuke Migita
Played by Takeshi Masu
A strict professor whose public image of integrity masks deep corruption. He conspires with the chairman and construction heads to demolish dormitories for monetary gain and uses deceit to manipulate exams. His schemes unravel under investigation, culminating in a dramatic downfall and exposure.
- 🧪 Corrupt
- 💼 Power
- 🕵️♂️ Scheming
- N(
Namazuda (Professor Namazuda)
An admired professor who hints at his own past cheating and lends moral support to the students while revealing the system’s flaws. He provides the students with a framework for their exam strategies and encourages critical thinking, even as he is entangled in the broader academic politics. His arc underscores the tension between aspiration and integrity.
- 🧭 Idealist
- 🧠 Intellectual
- ✨ Mentor
Where and When Is That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen? Set?
That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen? is set in University Class Hall and Sigma Dormitory (Modern day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Modern day
Set in contemporary times on a Japanese university campus, the story follows exams, dorm life, and office politics. The atmosphere reflects present-day academic pressure, student activism, and the murky intersection of education and industry. The technology and social dynamics point to a current-day setting rather than a distant past.
Where
University Class Hall, Sigma Dormitory
Primarily set on a university campus, the action unfolds in a tense final exam hall and the adjacent Sigma dormitory where residents live. The hall becomes a pressure-filled arena for cheating while the dorms symbolize a close-knit community under corporate threat. The setting blends academic rigor with underlying corruption that threatens student housing and futures.
- 🎓 Academic setting
- 🏛️ Campus life
What Are the Themes of That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen??
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Corruption, Cheating Culture and Solidarity.
-
01
Corruption
A central thread is the corruption within the university’s leadership and a conglomerate that schemes to demolish dormitories for a hotel. The plot reveals stolen papers and plagiarism used to justify unethical plans. As students uncover the schemes, the story explores accountability, legal action, and the consequences of greed on education.
-
02
Cheating Culture
The Sigma dorm students devise and execute a cheating strategy to secure top grades, prompting a tense clash with an ostensibly righteous professor. The film chronicles how academic pressure and manipulation normalize deceit, then reveals the vulnerabilities and resilience of the students. The final exam chaos exposes the fragility of integrity and the ingenuity they muster to survive.
-
03
Solidarity
Despite competing motives, the Sigma dorm residents rally together to defend their future and expose corruption. Their cooperation in gathering information, sharing resources, and supporting each other demonstrates the strength of collective action against a corrupt system. The friendship bonds formed during hardship shape their choices and futures.
-
04
Love
A romantic thread develops as Kenji confesses his feelings for Morishita, complicating the group’s dynamic. The relationship influences decisions about participation in cheating and personal futures. In the end, Morishita chooses a path of teaching, signaling growth and sacrifice beyond romance.
What Kind of Film Is That’s Cunning! Shijo Saidai no Sakusen??
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A cheeky and fast-paced comedy that follows a group of defiant students as they orchestrate an elaborate cheating scheme against a corrupt professor, balancing tense academic pressure with lighthearted rebellion and a sweet romantic subplot.
- cheeky
- energetic
- lighthearted
- defiant
- anxious
- hopeful
- academic pressure
- cheating
- institutional corruption
- student rebellion
Quiz
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