Film looks at quake-hit Noto communitiesーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
It was New Year’s Day 2024 when a massive earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck Japan’s Noto region. Then just nine months later, the same area was dealt another blow. Torrential rains that caused destructive mudslides and more suffering for people already reeling. Among the many volunteers helping in the area is Miamoto Amo, a leading Japanese theater director who has even staged a musical on Broadway. The situation in Noto compelled him to helm a movie for the first time in decades. NHK World’s Tak Minori has the story. Not there. The film I is set in disasterstricken Noto and centers around a feisty widowerower nicknamed Kuro Oni. With the loss of his beloved, Kurooni retreats from the world. Then the landslides destroy part of his home. Yet Kuroni refuses to evacuate. For him, life is over. That is until he forms a bond with a volunteer. Miamoto Ammon did not originally visit the region with the idea of creating a movie. His mission was volunteer work. Even over half a year after the calamity, much of the rubble still hadn’t been cleared. It was an unexpected encounter with a survivor that influenced Myamoto to reassess his actions there. A man approached me. Aman son, what are you doing here? I said, volunteering. We don’t need you to do that. I thought he was annoyed, but he went on, someone like you who creates should help us by sharing what we’re going through. Miamoto felt a theater piece would be a tricky medium for adapting the reality of the disaster. So, he turned to making a film, something he hadn’t done in 30 years. Miamoto interviewed 50 local people and based all the dialogue on these sessions. For him, it was essential to be faithful to the survivors. And he didn’t use any sets. Everything was shot in and among actual damaged homes and streets. This footage was recorded behind the scenes as the film was being made. Myoto and his collaborators felt it was important to show it to audiences as well to honor the residents that made the film happen. I’m doing good. Miamoto has made friends with some of the volunteers, especially who relocated here from the greater Tokyo area. It’s not so much that I love volunteering itself. I just really enjoy connecting with people. After experiencing the kindness of people in Noto, I felt I wanted to do something for them. So, I quit my job to do volunteer work here. Seniors living in temporary housing have requested help as they’re moving to Tokyo soon. Miamoto sites that it was exchanges like this that helped him to see things from the survivor’s side and they became elements he would incorporate into the movie. Miamoto points out that what may look like rubbish to volunteers could be precious for survivors. The cup is actually a keepsake of Kurooni’s late wife. I used to think the most important role of volunteers was to sort and remove the trash. But after watching volunteer work, I realized that’s not all there is to it. In fact, there’s so much humanity involved. It really made me feel even more strongly that human connection is truly invaluable. The director also cast actors with strong ties to the area. The headstrong Kuroni was played by Kagatakishi. He’s from Ishkawa Prefecture where Noto is located. There are still many who live in temporary housing, but I truly hope that by connecting with others, they will be able to keep moving forward, even if it’s a little at a time. It would make me very happy if this film can help them feel that way. The instant a movie is released, it becomes something concrete that can be preserved for future generations. Earthquakes and disasters are terrifying as they may happen again just as people start forgetting about them. And that’s why I think it’s so important to record and pass down this story. The people Miamoto most wanted to share his film with were the Noto residents. So, he held his first screening in a local school’s gymnasium. Even so, he was anxious about whether he would live up to their expectations. Please What we saw in the film was all real and very raw. Many structures have since been demolished and lots cleared, but the recovery work is far from done. The film’s title, Ikigay, refers to the concept of finding your reason for being. Miamoto’s depiction of it will surely resonate with audiences, getting through the worst of times, and coming out on the other side. That’s all from me.
Noted Japanese theater director Miyamoto Amon’s experience volunteering for earthquake recovery in Noto, central Japan, inspires a movie based on survivor stories. #japan #noto #disaster #earthquake #art #culture
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