While focusing on his own boxing career of late, debut filmmaker Eigoro Akai has since made headway in the world of the sport with Akai, a new documentary coming this Friday centered on the life and trials of his champion father, Hidekazu Akai. A teaser arrived earlier this summer but you can now watch a full-fledged trailer just above, ripe with English subtitles courtesy of its Gaga distribution label.
Hidekazu Akai is an actor and a TV personality beloved by generations of Japanese, yet many people today don’t know his career began as a boxer in 1980, racking up a record of 19 wins (16 by knockout) and 2 losses while winning over the country with his indomitable spirit. AKAI is a documentary film about that period directed by Eigoro Akai, a boxer himself, U.S.-trained filmmaker and the actual son of Hidekazu Akai.
The documentary follows Akai’s overnight rise to stardom as a boxer to frustrating loss and his battle back from an injury that had only a 20% survival rate.
The film opens on September 9 and folks in the biz looking to inquire within can contact the film’s international sales reps at Gaga. Peep the trailer above and the poster below!
