Movie "Charihen♪" Screening - Director Koichi Kuwata's Thoughts Connecting to the Next Generation: "I Love Kojima"

The 4th film screening of "Charihen♪" and stage greeting by film director Kuwata Koichi was held on October 16, 2022, at the Kojima Community Exchange Center (Jeans Hall).

Tickets for parts 1 to 3 were sold out in advance, with approximately 900 people in attendance.

It was a day that felt the excitement of Kojima, with the director's feelings of "I love Kojima" spreading and connecting to the next generation.

In the film screening of "Charihen♪", I will mainly introduce the stage greeting.

Introduction to the film screening of "Charihen♪"

The film screening of "Charihen♪" took place in the Jeans Hall on the 3rd floor of the Kojima Community Exchange Center.

On that day, it was a beautiful clear day that suggested the success of the screening.

I arrived 30 minutes before the opening, but I was surprised to see a large number of people already waiting on the stairs leading to the screening venue.

In addition to the high expectations for the film "Charihen♪", I felt the connection to the previous work "Ishidan", which had a certain momentum.

Volunteer staff are handling things smoothly.

Thanks to the cooperation of many staff members, we are able to enjoy the screening.

When I entered the venue and took a breath, it was almost full.

Just in front of where I sat, I could see special guest Sakurai Hiroko, and Wata Hiroshi.

Now, the long-awaited film "Charihen♪" is about to start.

"The Seto Inland Sea. The islands floating in the sea. For those who see the scenery of Kojima for the first time, their hearts are captured in an instant. But for those like me who live looking at it every day, it is just an ordinary daily landscape"

It began with a narration by the main character Nishiyama Hayato, and the ending conveyed a story that evokes miracles for the near future.

▼ My recommendations are as follows.

• The voice of the main character Nishiyama
  The narration at the beginning that I just introduced is highly recommended.
• The performance of "Chokori" (11-year-old female toy poodle)
  How can "Chokori" act so still in the bicycle basket? It’s a natural talent.
• Sakurai-san and Wata-san's scene
  The bus stop scene is stunning. The atmosphere clearly changes.
• Hieda Park Cherry Blossom Avenue
  One of the proud landscapes of my hometown. It is an ordinary daily landscape that I viewed on my way to junior high and high school.

Stage greeting by the cast (Part 1)

Following the screening, the stage greeting by the cast (Part 1) begins.

The host and moderator is former OHK announcer Fuchimoto Kyoko.

I will introduce selected highlights from the stage greeting by the cast (Part 1).

Director Kuwata and the following cast members appeared.

• Sakurai Hiroko
• Wata Hiroshi
• Nishiyama Hayato
• Aoki Aria
• Yosoi Miki
• Ohtaki Akitoshi

Seeing them lined up like this, they are indeed a glamorous group.

Kuwata (no honorifics)

I am overwhelmed with emotion. Today, Sakurai-san, Wata-san, and Ohtaki-san have gathered from Tokyo.

It is almost unheard of for actors from Tokyo to come to Kojima for a stage greeting like this.

Thank you very much for today.

Now, let’s have the guests on stage introduce themselves.

Nishiyama (no honorifics)

I am Nishiyama Hayato, playing the role of Kurumi Hayato.

Ohtaki (no honorifics)

I am Ohtaki Akitoshi, playing the role of Kurumi Hayato's father.

Originally, Aida Shogo was supposed to be here, but he is absent due to work commitments. Therefore, I will only greet you for Part 1.

Aoki (no honorifics)

I am Aoki Aria, playing the role of Aoki Aria.

Yosoi (no honorifics)

I am Yosoi Miki, playing the role of Hayato's younger sister (Kurumi Miki).

I am very honored to stand on the same stage as Sakurai-san, Wata-san, and Ohtaki-san.

Wata (no honorifics)

I am Wata Hiroshi, playing the role of Mori Takashi.

I am very excited to be standing here with everyone.

Sakurai (no honorifics)

I am Sakurai Hiroko.

I cried watching my own performance. I hope everyone enjoyed it.

"Chokori" gave such a sincere performance that I felt overshadowed.

Thank you very much for today.

Hayato-kun, it was your first time as the main character. How was it to play the lead role?

Nishiyama

As it was my first lead role, there were many lines in the script and difficult parts, and I was nervous talking to various people.

As I continued to practice, I gradually got used to it and lost my nervousness, and I was able to enjoy playing the lead role during the performance.

Wata-san, you also played the lead role for the first time in "Space Sheriff Sharivan" (aired from March 1983 to February 1984). Do you remember that time?

Wata

I remember. Since it was my first lead role, (looking at Nishiyama-kun) I was nervous too. I was also nervous.

Is it really different?

Wata

The lead role is definitely different. Everyone around supports you.

I may not be as young as Hayato-kun, but I entered this world at 18 after graduating from high school and played the lead role at 19.

I think I was nervous too.

Miki-chan, what is your favorite scene in "Charihen♪"?

Yosoi

My favorite scene is when I got to eat a lot of manju. I was able to enjoy many delicious sweets from places like Kangeido and Fujito Manju.

Thank you, Director Kuwata (bowing towards Kuwata-san).

(Looking at Kuwata-san) Adding "san" to the sponsor. Very mature, right?

Kuwata

Miki-chan came to audition for my previous work "Ishidan". She was one of over 100 people.

Originally, the announcement was scheduled for about a week later, but due to an incredible performance, she was accepted on the spot.

As a result, she continues to appear in "Charihen♪".

On a different note, what I wanted to express the most was about the declining population in Kojima.

I had the thought that "I want many people to see this region through the film, and I want them to come to the Kojima 88 Sacred Sites pilgrimage."

When I produced "Ishidan", I thought that maybe "1 in 100 people know about the Kojima 88 Sacred Sites", but it was hardly recognized.

After screening "Ishidan", many people have watched it and have developed a desire to go on the pilgrimage.

From the temples, I have heard that "the number of people doing the pilgrimage has greatly increased".

At one temple, they said it has "increased by five times".

Today, for those who watched "Charihen♪" for the first time, are there any who feel like going on the pilgrimage?

(Many audience members raised their hands)

I hope you will go on the pilgrimage, contribute to regional revitalization, and visit the Kojima 88 Sacred Sites.

Thank you. Next, I would like to ask Ohtaki-san to share his thoughts on the film.

Ohtaki

I would like to introduce one point that will make watching "Charihen♪" even more enjoyable.

The flower that Aria held, the globe amaranth. Does anyone know its flower language?

No one, right? Not many people know.

The flower language of the globe amaranth is "immortality, everlasting love".

I think the feelings behind why Aria held that flower and what she entrusted to Hayato at the end are very well conveyed.

Sakurai-san, how was it to appear in Kuwata-san's film in Kojima?

Sakurai

I visited Okayama Prefecture during my early career, but I had never seen the town, and I only knew that Kojima was famous for jeans.

It was also my first meeting with Director Kuwata, and through my connection with Ohtaki-san, he brought me this project.

As I wrote in the flyer, the reason I accepted the role was that my mother had the same illness.

In fact, I have been watching from the sidelines. So I thought, "I can do this role," and I was allowed to take it on.

Kuwata

Fuchimoto-san was also in the movie, right? How was it?

I thought I wanted a little more screen time.

Watan

I cried so much that my eyes were swollen, but it got cut. I cried a lot.

Kuwata

It's not cut. If you look closely, you can see the tears.

It’s a movie that was filmed in about ten days, but the bus stop scene with Sakurai-san and Watan-san was truly chilling for all the staff.

I really felt it was a wonderful scene, and actors are truly amazing.

While it might be possible to edit in tears, when actors cry, they really cry.

It wasn't eye drops; they shed tears right there, so we were able to capture a truly wonderful scene. Thank you.

Question Time (Part 1)

After the stage greeting by the cast, there was a question time for the audience to ask the cast.

Surprisingly, the first five people to ask questions received a signed paper from the cast as a special benefit.

There were many questions that excited the venue, but here I will introduce two questions selected by the author.

Audience (a girl about kindergarten age): This is a question for Aria-chan. Were you nervous?

Aoki

I was nervous. You're so cute. Thank you.

Audience: I have a question for Director Kuwata. I would like to ask if it would have been okay to use more Okayama dialect.

Kuwata

It seems that there are some people who feel discomfort with the dialect spoken by the actors in dramas or NHK morning dramas (NHK serial television dramas).

I actually wanted to challenge that, but I thought it would be quite difficult.

The main character is from Okayama, but the Kojima dialect doesn't come out that much.

For example, even though he was born and raised in Kojima, he speaks standard Japanese.

I wondered why that was, and I thought that if he really committed, the Kojima dialect would come out, but if he stayed as he was, standard Japanese would come out.

So I went with it as it was in "Charihen♪".

I will take this into consideration for the future. Thank you.

After the stage greeting and question time by the cast, there was a greeting by the main character Nishiyama-san.

Nishiyama

Thank you for watching "Charihen♪" today.

At the end, there was a commemorative photo with all the cast members and the audience.

The photograph was taken by Kuwata's team photographer Katayama Chieko, and the first part of the screening ended successfully.

Conclusion

The movie "Charihen♪" created by Kuwata-san as a culmination.

• I love Kojima.
• I want to contribute to the revitalization of Kojima.
• Above all, I want many elementary school students to see this movie.

The words Film Classification and Agency for Cultural Affairs that were not present before have been added to the posters and flyers, and can be confirmed.

As Kuwata-san wishes, I hope that it will be screened safely in elementary and middle schools.

Additionally, I mainly introduced the stage greetings and question time during the screening.

Throughout, I hope you could feel the excitement of the venue filled with laughter and applause and the momentum from the previous work "Ishidan".

The momentum of the movie "Charihen♪" and Kuwata-san's feelings will continue to connect.

Starting from Jeans Hall, there are plans for screenings in Tamano City and Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture.

If you have time, please watch the scenery of the Kojima region, temples and shrines, and the performances of the cast on a big screen in a movie theater.

There are plenty of scenes that will make you laugh even more than the previous work "Ishidan".

At each screening venue, please feel Kuwata-san's love for Kojima that connects to the next generation.

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