The Calamari Wrestler
# The Calamari Wrestler

The Calamari Wrestler (いかレスラー, Ika resuraa) is a 2004 Japanese film by director Minoru Kawasaki, starring Kana Ishida and Osamu Nishimura.

## Plot

The plot revolves around a professional wrestler who, after developing a terminal illness, becomes a giant squid-like creature (Osamu Nishimura). As a giant squid, he must battle to reclaim his former life both inside and outside the ring.

## Cast

* Kana Ishida as Miyako
* Osamu Nishimura as Kanichi Iwata/The Calamari Wrestler
* Akira Nogami as Koji Taguchi/The Octopus Wrestler
* Hirohisa Nakata as Godozan/The Squilla Boxer
* Miho Shiraishi as Sister
* Yoshihiro Takayama as himself
* Hariken Ryu as Calamari Wrestler's suit actor

## Reception

Jeannett Catsoulis of The New York Times described the film as goofy and bizarre "yet surprisingly coherent" with "a good-natured charm." Catsoulis commented on the themes of the film noting a "convincing parallel between the anxieties of post-World War II Japan and what the film calls the "utter chaos" of the country today."

