▲ Director Shunji Iwai who was interviewed
◇10 years after the East Japan Earthquake - Remember and continue to move forward (11)
This interview is to find the memories of people in the disaster area about "that day", review the 10 years after the earthquake and support the disaster area. The 11th interviewee is Shunji Iwai (58 years old), a film director born in Sendai.
In December last year, because NHK's revival support project "Flowers Bloom 2021" was to be filmed on the outdoor scene, Shunji Iwai went to the coastal area of Sendai City. The area was hit by a tsunami, and nearby Aramahama Primary School was revealed as a seismic remains.
"This land has been in a state of abandonment and nothing. 10 years ago almost all the houses were destroyed, leaving only the foundation that could not be seen at all. Now even these are gone. There is no feeling of redevelopment, it is not the way to revival."
10 years ago, Shunji Iwai was discussing with staff in Los Angeles and Tokyo, USA. There was a sudden commotion on the other end of the phone, so he knew that an earthquake had occurred. In a panic, he turned on the TV and found that the source of the earthquake was Northeast. He saw the image of the tsunami rushing into the house. He had no other choice but to be stunned.
5 In addition to Arakahama, he also went to Yanbu City and Ishimatsu City. After talking to friends and the affected people I met through TA's introduction, I was hit even more.
"Although I listened to a person's story, I can really feel that many people died in an earthquake. I feel that when considering the disaster area, I must not only consider the survivors, but also the lives of the people who have passed away, otherwise it will be different.
documentary "Friends After 3·11" records this. The lyrics of the revival support song "Flowers Bloom" written by him are also poured into his feelings.
"I think the lyrics written while missing my hometown are easier to understand. I understand the mood of people in the Northeast, so it is more appropriate to say things to snuggle up next to you. "
"Flowers" was first released in March 2012, and various versions have appeared since then, and have been sung to this day. The movie "Last Letter" released in 2020 was filmed in the outdoor scene for the first time in his hometown. 10 years ago, the female boss of Ishimatsu's izakaya said to Shunji Iwai, "Play a tear-jerking movie." Her words have always remained deep in his heart. These buildings that are about to be demolished can also come in handy. He recalled deeply: "There are many beautiful scenes, and brand new things are more eye-catching than nostalgic things. Shooting in the gradually disappearing scenery also made me feel that another story was born in my heart. I want to take another shot. "
also has some ideas that came up because it was a film director.
" Because my job is to create stories, one day I may create a work based on the theme of earthquake disasters. I hope to continue to embrace this theme in this form and face it in the form of a work. "
staying in the form of images is the best way to prevent the memory of earthquakes from being forgotten. (Suzuki Moto)
◆Shunji Iwai (いわいしゅんじ) Born in Sendai on January 24, 1963 (Showa 38), he is 58 years old. He started filming TV series and MVs in 1988, and he has been in various video worlds. In 1994, he started his career as a film director with "Undo". His main film works include "Swallowtail Butterfly" in 1996, "Everything About Lily Zhou" in 2001, "Rip Van Winkel's Bride" in 2016, etc. (Hohe/Translation)
