"Big Silent Man") is a 2004 Japanese-language film by Ryuichi Hiroki based on the best-selling book by Shizuka Ijuin.
A young teacher, Seigo Fujioka, arrives at a school of only seven pupils on a small island where his mother grew up.
Seigo helps Shuhei to accept reality, and realize that true strength is within oneself.
However, before he leaves the island, Seigo too will have to confront his own memories of the past to show his pupils what true courage is.
Mark Schilling of The Japan Times panned Sakaguchi's performance, stating, "This hunk of burnin' love, who comes from the worlds of fashion modeling and TV drama, complete with flawless cheekbones and flashing bedroom eyes, looks gorgeous on camera—but is in far over his head playing a role that would have challenged a much more accomplished actor.