Second Prize / Chicago International Children\'s Film Festival 2009
 

 Synopsis
 Yuuki, a hearing-impaired middle school student with a love of dance, enters a dance team of hearing girls. Despite her difficulties in communication with the charismatic team captain Rena, their friendship ushers them towards the regional dance competition. But with the championships looming just ahead, Rena injures her leg and becomes unable to compete. Vice-captain Miki, bully-magnet Noriko and Yuuki herself are nominated to fill Rena’s shoes...
 
 Program Note
 Middle school girl Yuki is crazy about dancing. When she sees someone dancing in the street, she stops walking and forgets everything else. One problem is that her hearing is impaired. Yuki learns how to dance by watching dance DVDs, so she learns by feeling the rhythm rather than listening to the music. One day, she happens to see the dance practice of ‘Jumping Girls,’ a dance club of neighborhood girls. The leader Lena sees that Yuki wants to join them but is hesitant and helps her to dance. So the two girls get grow closer through the universal language of dance. When Lena gets hurt and misses the practice for an important dance competition, things start getting tense between Yuki and the other members of the club.
 The Azemichi Road is a simple and sweet coming-of-age story that captures the images of passionate teenagers who go after their dreams. The characters and the dance sequences by the enthusiastic young performers are worth watching as well as the breathtaking landscapes of Japan that seem to cleanse the eyes. (Jay SOHN)