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We sneak into the stage greeting to thank fans for the release of the movie "Sunset Sunrise," which was filmed in Kesennuma City!
The venue was packed, and lead actor Masaki Suda, director Yoshiyuki Kishi, and screenwriter Kankuro Kudo all took to the stage, and even Hoya Boya had the opportunity to make an appearance.
We will report on what happened on the day!
Shinsaku (Masaki Suda), a fishing enthusiast working for a large company in Tokyo, falls in love at first sight with a 4LDK apartment with a rent of 6 yen. He starts a relaxed "trial move" in the town of Sanriku, which is close to the sea and where he can enjoy his favorite fishing. In between work, he goes to the sea and spends his days fishing, but the townspeople are worried about Shinsaku, an "outsider" from Tokyo.
Although Shinsaku is confused by the quirky locals who have no sense of distance between them, he eventually blends in thanks to his inherent positive personality and drive, but an unexpected life awaits him...
Since the first day of its release, the film has been met with a lot of positive feedback, with many people saying it was a wonderful film. Everyone was happy that the film was being shown to the people of Tohoku and Sanriku, where it is set.
The stage greeting began with the question, "How do you feel now that you're back in Kesennuma, Miyagi, where the majority of the filming took place, after such a long time, and how do you feel now that the people of Tohoku have watched the movie?"
Sugata:First of all, I'm really happy that you all came to watch it. Because they are the audience I most want to see. I'm also happy to be standing here in front of all those people.
Director Kishi:I came here feeling a little nervous. I was wondering how the people of Miyagi would receive the film, which is about victims of the disaster, but I was relieved to be greeted with applause.
Miyato:When I did "Amachan," I was asked "Why Iwate?" and "Aren't you the Miyagi Kizuna Ambassador?" and I thought I might lose my Miyagi Kizuna Ambassador title, but... (laughs) I'm glad that I was somehow able to create a story set in Miyagi this time.
Filming for this work took place from September to October 2023. The members of the Kishi troupe stayed in Kesennuma for about a month, and while filming they "almost moved there," sharing stories from that time and engaging in a fun conversation.
Sugata:During filming, I went for walks around a lot. There were lots of deer and other animals around, and we shot a scene where a bear attacks us, and there was a real "bear warning sign" on the mountain where we filmed. I also went to the "Sea Market" in Kesennuma quite a bit and bought souvenirs. In the souvenir area, there was an "ice aquarium." There was an ice sea squirt boy, and I took pictures of him.
I also drew illustrations for the film during the filming period. When I was walking, I saw beautiful blooming akebia vines and a mysterious raccoon dog figurine. I practiced drawing things like that and drew the illustrations for the film.
Supervision:Mr. Suda is the one who understands "Shinsaku" the best, so I thought that he would surely be expressing various thoughts as Shinsaku while drawing. That's why I asked him to draw the illustrations in the play.
The "Sea Market" that Suda visited is a tourist and product facility in Kesennuma, and the "Ice Aquarium" is a tourist spot unique to Kesennuma, where you can enjoy a world of minus 20 degrees.
The clear, transparent ice, illuminated with illuminations and projection mapping, was frozen over the course of a week using advanced ice-making techniques from the fishing city of Kesennuma, a true work of art. In addition to 450 fish of 80 different species landed at Kesennuma Port, ice sea squirts are also on display.
<Details about the Ice Aquarium>
-The thoughts behind the "Imonikai" scene-
Director Kishi:Rather than me putting it into the film, I think it's filled with Miyato-san's various feelings about his hometown. When I read the script, that scene was in it, so I thought, "I really want to do this." Directing that scene was something I put a lot of energy into, and the actors actually expressed their feelings in the local dialect. I was really in tears watching it on set, but I think the film was made just for that scene.
Miyato:The original story does not feature imonikai (a type of taro stew party). Imonikai have an atmosphere of "heart-to-heart talk" that is unique to people from Tohoku, and since I was a child I wondered why these people go to the river every autumn to have an imonikai (a type of taro stew party), but as I grew up I understood some things.
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, I went to Ishinomaki City, nine years after the disaster. There, I talked about how people from Tokyo and all over the country were trying to make sure we didn't forget, but they couldn't come, and I had a lot to think about. When the director asked me to "put some feeling into Takehara Pistol's lines" in making this film, I remembered that story.
It's like, "Just come to the place, eat the delicious food, and then go home." I thought that line was the most fitting for me, so I wrote it that way.
Sugata:When I read the script, there was a line that said, "I don't care about the earthquake." I thought it was a great line. Of course, it's not like he was making light of the earthquake. For Shinsaku, he was struggling with the distance between himself, who wasn't affected, and those who were, and not knowing how to communicate with them, and the line that came out of that was, "I want to go to the future together, but I..."
I thought a lot about how to go about this.
The potato stew party scene is the climax, where the characters' emotions explode and passionate exchanges unfold. Every character seems like they could actually be anywhere, and that's why we can sympathize with them. The cast also made a lot of effort to deliver the long lines in dialect. You can read about behind the scenes, such as dialect practice, in an interview with Onodera Zuru, who was in charge of dialect coaching.
"About that person and Kesennuma."
--This film is also a "food porn movie," so what was the most delicious thing you ate? --
Mouka no Hoshi was a shock. I found that at an izakaya or something when I was filming. You can't eat raw liver these days, right? As someone who used to love raw liver, I was like, "It's almost raw liver!" It was like a wild rawness.
Director Kishi:He ate it so deliciously. The original script was different, so I contacted Miyato-san right away. He kindly included the harmonica grill and Mouka no Hoshi.
Miyato:It's better if it's delicious! lol
Sugata:The simmered and cut dishes were also delicious.Director Kishi:And then there's the "Azara". I think the Azara was in the original work, so Miyato-san left it in.Sugata:It was delicious because it contained sake lees. Also, there was "Yakikaze" with sea urchin on a shell. It was also really delicious, so I bought it at the antenna shop.
Director Kishi:I'm talking about "Yakikaze" but it probably isn't in the movie (laughs).
Sugata:Oh, that was cut too! (laughs) Sorry, we just thought it was delicious (laughs)
"Kaze" means sea urchin in the Sanriku region. And "yakikaze" is a local dish that uses sea urchin (kaze), a simple yet luxurious dish of sea urchin piled high on an abalone shell and grilled. You can find out more about the delicious food in Kesennuma, including Mouka no Hoshi, recommended by Sugada, here!
≪Summary of information about the movie "Sunset Sunrise"≫
-Finally, a message to everyone-
Miyato:Set in Miyagi Prefecture, the story deals with two serious issues, the earthquake and the coronavirus, while also being a heartwarming comedy, which I think I did a pretty good job of, so if you enjoyed it please leave a comment saying "It was interesting."
Director Kishi:In the pamphlet, I'm listed as being from Yamagata Prefecture, but my father was born in Naruko Onsen, Miyagi Prefecture. He passed away last October, and I had a lot of thoughts about losing a family member, so I put a lot of thought into making this. If you like it, please share it.
Sugata:Thank you for today. I'm glad you watched the movie. Hoya Boya came too, and my manager uses a lot of Hoya Boya goods. I'd be happy if they continue to spread their wings and fly even further, and I think one of the great things about movies is that people who watch the movie will come to the locations to eat the delicious food, and spread the word about the great things about each place in this way. I'd be happy if we could spread the word about this movie with your help. Thank you!
At the end of the stage greeting, Hoya Boya was presented with a bouquet of flowers. He looked very happy when he was allowed to take a photo between the three of them.
From the same day, the location of the shoot, Kesennuma"Sunset Sunrise" Film Exhibitionis being held.
You will be greeted by oversized fabrics of the cast members, and there will also be displays of actual props and autographed illustrations, creating a space where you can immerse yourself in the world of "Sunset, Sunrise."
Please come and visit us while you're touring the filming locations!
≪Click here for the "filming location map"≫
Publication:Nationwide release: January 2025, 1
distribution:Warner Bros. Pictures
Copyright:Ⓒ Shuhei Nire/Kodansha Ⓒ 2024 "Sunset Sunrise" Production Committee
【Official HP】sunsetsunrise-movie.jp
[Official X] @sunsunmovie2025
[Official hashtag]#Sunset Sunrise Movie
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