Itazu Kuma

Itazu Kuma (Japanese: イタズ 熊), also known as Born Wild, Run Free and The Forest of the Little Bear, is a 1987 Japanese drama film directed by Toshio Gotō. Set at the end of the Taishō era, the film depicts the story of a hunter who raises a bear cub after killing its mother. As the cub grows, it comes into conflict with the hunter's village. The film stars Takahiro Tamura as Ginzō the hunter, in addition to Junko Sakurada, Hiroshi Miyata, Ryutaro Tatsumi and Nijiko Kiyokawa. Itazu Kuma was theatrically released by Toei Company on September 5, 1987, in Japan. It was acclaimed and nominated for several awards, winning the Kinema Junpo Best Supporting Actress award for Junko Sakurada's performance. Itazu Kuma was also shown at the 15th Moscow International Film Festival. The film's score was composed by Masaru Sato, while its theme song "Itazu" was performed by Iruka. Itazu is the word for bear in the Ani branch of the Matagi dialect.