Many Japanese filmmakers have made documentaries and dramas about the disaster that struck the Northeast coast of Japan on March 11 last year. Hiroki Ryuichi’s is among the shortest — only three minutes long — and most poignant.
Traveling to his native Fukushima Prefecture with a small crew, he filmed local children holding drawings of their most and least favorite things and what they wanted to be when they grew up. Some have same likes, dislikes and dreams of children anywhere, while others reflect what they experienced on March 11 and after, particularly the disaster at the Fukushima Daichi nuclear plant that spewed radiation over wide swatches of Fukushima and forced thousands to evacuate, many never to return.
As Hiroki himself commented: “I was born and grew up in Fukushima. I don’t have special affection to my hometown, far from it. I had the opposite feelings once. But I was shocked about the fact that we’ve got restricted areas in Fukushima, no, in Japan. I loved going to the movies as a child. Of course I loved playing baseball at paddies and parks as well. I didn’t want to make today’s children give up those things. Making a short movie is one of the things I’m able to do, and as I’ve been involved with film making, I think it’s my responsibility to record how I feel right now. Not only the staff members from Fukushima, but also the members from other areas gave me a supportive push to make this movie. I am grateful to the children and their guardians in Fukushima for their cooperation.”
The film can also be downloaded for a minimum contribution of 500 yen at http://www.pj-fukushima.jp/en/. Money raised from downloads go to Project Fukushima!, which organizes concerts, art exhibitions, classes and other activities to benefit the people of Fukushima.
Mark Schilling