One of Shodoshima’s most iconic cultural symbols is the classic film Twenty Four Eyes.
Based on Sakae Tsuboi’s novel, the story depicts the heartwarming interactions between a young female teacher and her 12 students at a village branch school, as well as their lives during a turbulent period in history. It has been adapted into film twice.
The movie studio, built for the 1987 remake, features open-air sets that recreate the atmosphere of the period. Spanning 10,000 square meters, the grounds are lined with buildings reminiscent of the early Showa era, which serves as the historical backdrop for the story.
Among them, the wooden schoolhouse of the Misaki Branch School, the setting for the story’s teacher and her 12 students, is especially striking.
The real Misaki Branch School, an elementary school that existed from the Meiji era until 1971, is located about 700 meters away. The wooden school building in the movie studio was constructed for filming as an exact replica of the original. Inside, the hallways and classrooms are furnished with desks, chairs, and blackboards, creating a deeply nostalgic atmosphere.
At Gallery Shochiku-za, a recreation of a 1950s movie theater, the retro design evokes the spirit of the era. Here, visitors can watch the digitally remastered version of Twenty Four Eyes, starring Hideko Takamine.