Tsurune the Movie: The First Shot 2022

Minato Narumiya, a young boy with a deep fascination for kyūdō, is introduced in a touching scene where his mother takes him to a kyūdō hall. As he watches Akihiro Yasaka, son of Masaki Takigawa’s grandfather, expertly handle his bow and arrow, Minato is captivated by the distinct sound of the bowstring hitting the bow upon release—an experience he later learns is called “tsurune.” This moment sparks a desire within him to learn and master the art, setting the foundation for his journey.

Fast forward to present-day, Minato is now a member of the Kazemai High School kyūdō club, where he practices alongside his childhood friends Seiya Takehaya and Ryōhei Yamanouchi, as well as Nanao Kisaragi and Kaito Onogi for the boys’ team. They are preparing to compete in the upcoming prefectural tournament after successfully qualifying from the preliminary round. However, Minato is still trying to overcome the lingering effects of target panic, which developed during his middle school days, making his practice sessions tense and sometimes frustrating for him.

During this period, Seiya Takehaya begins to act strangely, a change sparked by a fallout with their coach, Masaki Takigawa, who is also Yuto Uemura. Seiya’s strange behavior becomes more evident during practice sessions, especially after missing practice due to illness. The tension between the teammates grows when Masaki, who is involved in coaching the team, is seen to harbor personal motives rooted in his past. His conversations with Minato reveal that he is seeking “revenge” against his late grandfather, which adds emotional complexity to his decision to coach the team.

One day at a Shinto shrine, the team members visit together and, during this outing, Minato learns from Shū Fujiwara—a former teammate of Masaki—that Masaki’s connections to his grandfather are complicated. That evening, Minato encounters Seiya feeling weak from his illness at a bridge, and the two reconcile, reaffirming their friendship and mutual resolve to continue practicing kyūdō together. Minato’s determination to improve his skills is further fueled by his decision to practice wholeheartedly with Seiya, despite the internal struggles they face.

At school, Minato overhears Masaki discussing his motivation for coaching, hinting at his desire for “revenge” against his past. This revelation prompts Minato to visit the home of Saionji, their mentor, where he unexpectedly runs into Masaki. During their conversation, Minato learns that Masaki’s grandfather was once a friend of Saionji and that their relationship has been strained over the years. This discovery motivates Minato to encourage Masaki to visit Osone, a mutual friend of Saionji, Akihiro Yasaka, and others involved in the world of kyūdō, in hopes of uncovering more about his grandfather’s true character.

As the prefectural tournament begins, the Kazemai team faces other strong competitors. Unfortunately, Masaki gets involved in a serious car accident while visiting Osone, which leaves him hospitalized. Despite this setback, the team’s morale remains high. They manage to qualify for the finals after winning a tight tie-breaker round. The championship match is fierce, with both Kirisaki High School and Kazemai missing shots, raising the tension. Just as the climax approaches, Masaki, having recovered from his injuries, arrives at the match to support the team. He witnesses Minato delivering a perfect shot that secures their victory, while Shū Fujiwara misses the final shot.

Minato’s success helps Kazemai advance to the national competition, bringing a sense of achievement and hope to the team. The story concludes with a post-credits scene featuring Eisuke Nikaidō of Tsujimine High School, also heading to the nationals, who vows to definitively beat their opponents, hinting at future rivalries and the ongoing spirit of competition in kyūdō.

This film is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, perseverance, and the pursuit of mastery in a traditional art form, emphasizing that overcoming personal struggles can lead to greater victories not just in sport, but in life.