Ikku, Mighty and Tomu live in Saitama, not exactly the coolest places to get involved in a wanna-be rap star lifestyle. But try they do with their freestyle rap band Sho-Gung. Yu Irie, who gained the Grand Prize at Yubari Fantastic Film Festival with this film, grew up in Saitama and inserts the grim realities of suburban youth skillfully in his comedic style.

8000 Miles

With Saitama no rappa 2 (AKA 8000 Miles 2 – Girls Rapper), Yu Irie tells the story of amateur girl rappers who dream of a small big-time. The film opens with Saitama 1 B-boys, Ikku and Tom coming to town. They run into young Ayoma (Maho Yamada), inspiring her to gather her girlfriends and work up their rap routine.