A feature-length documentary chronicling the life of Japanese fighting game legend Daigo Umehara is set to open in Japan on January 29 next year.

This film shines a light on the turbulent career and relentless competitive spirit of Japan's first professional fighting gamer, Daigo Umehara. Titled 'ReBEAST: Daigo Umehara, A Life Wagered on 1/60th of a Second', it released promotional footage and posters in late September, signaling nationwide screenings beginning at Theatre Shinjuku.

Daigo is a flagship star of the Street Fighter series, currently active under the professional esports organisation REJECT. After first encountering the series in the first year of junior high school and displaying exceptional skill, Daigo pulled off the historic 'Evo Moment #37' against Justin Wong at the 2004 EVO world championship, creating an unforgettable classic match. Following a brief retirement period, Daigo returned to active competition upon the release of new titles and earned a reputation as Japan's finest player. The production starkly contrasts this glorious past with the present through a poster set against a blue background.

The first half of the film unsparingly captures the realistic walls Daigo faced upon joining the current team, REJECT. The struggles of being a professional gamer are vividly depicted, including strategic disagreements within an unfamiliar team system, crushing pressure to win, and deep contemplation over declining performance. Along the way, teammates and broadcast commentator Arga appear in the footage, adding a palpable sense of being right there in the venue.

Moving into the second half, the fighting game tournament KEMONOMITI, which Daigo directly helped plan, takes center stage. In particular, the first-to-ten match against MenaRD held in late April 2026 drew massive attention from fans and forms the core narrative of this production. The film intensively focuses on how this battle-hardened veteran, now 45 years old this year, reignites fighting spirit through intense competition and searches for the reasons to keep the competitive career alive.