Movie: 'Street Kingdom: Make Your Own Sound.'

The second day of release. I watched it at the opening commemorative stage greeting at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya. The speakers included the main cast, led by the two leads, Kazunobu Mineta and Tatsuya Wakaba, along with Riho Yoshioka, Taiga Nakano, and Shotaro Mamiya. It was a star-studded lineup that even included screenwriter Kankuro Kudo and director Tomorowo Taguchi. I have attended many screenings with stage greetings before, but this time was more moving than any I have experienced, so even though it is out of order, I will start by writing about the stage greeting.

There was a segment where the speakers revealed what they had written on panels in response to the question, "What has made your heart race recently?" While safe answers were given as one would expect at such an event, Taiga Nakano's panel read "Tatsuya Wakaba." As his turn came and he began to explain the reason, the atmosphere in the venue gradually changed.

He spoke about how he had been influenced by Wakaba since he was a teenager through the movie 'Iden & Tity.' Back then, he would visit his house, listen to Ging Nang Boyz, and learn the guitar chords for the songs featured in the film. He shared how his heart was filled with joy when he received this offer and learned that Wakaba was the lead. He was moved to see that when he visited Wakaba's room for the first time in a while, the 'Iden & Tity' poster was still on the wall, showing how he had held onto the things he loved. Tears welled up in Nakano's eyes as he spoke quietly... yet passionately. Because this was such a departure from Nakano's usual breezy way of speaking, the contrast was striking, and it changed the atmosphere of the room in an instant. This emotion was contagious, spreading not only to Kazunobu Mineta and Riho Yoshioka, who were listening, but to the entire venue. I never expected to be moved to tears at a stage greeting.

The DNA of 'Iden & Tity,' once directed by Tomorowo Taguchi and embodying the "initial impulse of rock" through Kazunobu Mineta, has been passed down over 20 years to Wakaba and Nakano, who were standing right in front of me. Confronted with this beautiful lineage of expression, the emotions of us in the audience were stirred as well. It was clear that the film was not just about acting, but that the lives and thoughts of each cast member were reflected and lived within it, turning the entire experience from the film itself to the stage greeting into one moving story. I feel like I spent a truly wonderful time there.

As for me, I had only ever encountered the "Tokyo Rockers," which could be called the dawn of Japanese punk, purely as music. Therefore, I was able to watch the film as a story from the beginning without perceiving it as non-fiction more than necessary. At the stage greeting, Kudo spoke about the difficulty of turning a source material that only contained photos and facts into a narrative, but as soon as the movie started, I was drawn into that world, immersed in it, and that feeling lasted until the end. Of course, the documentary-like aspect is an important element, but for me, the pleasure of chasing and learning about historical facts I didn't know right there in the moment was exhilarating. Thanks to the passionate performances of the cast, I was able to truly enjoy how it entered me as the reality of the film, rather than just an imagination from printed words.

Also, since I was actually around during the time depicted in the film, there were many moments where I could project myself directly into the world on the screen. Although the eras are slightly different, I was both on the side of watching live shows and performing in them. Moreover, since the live house I performed at was mainly Shibuya Yaneura, the scenes projected on screen stirred up a mix of myself standing on stage and myself watching from the audience, and there were many moments that really hit home.

Tatsuya Wakaba's Momo and Shotaro Mamiya's DEEP were highlights, and I think they brilliantly embodied the coolness of the bands and musicians they played. This was especially evident in the live performance scenes; even with director Tomorowo Taguchi's skill, there was a persuasiveness that made you honestly think they were cool. Riho Yoshioka's Sachi and Taiga Nakano's Michio were clearly crafted characters, and combined with a certain cuteness, if I may say so without fear of being misunderstood, they were characters you could really enjoy. Of course, this is a compliment. Kazunobu Mineta's Yuichi had a naturalness that didn't look like acting, and every posture felt effortless and familiar; I think it was the perfect role for him.

Among the behind-the-scenes stories revealed at the stage greeting, what left the biggest impression was the talk about how, despite it being acting, a tension was born between them as if they were a real band. The music played in the film's live scenes is the original recording, but it seems the actors actually went into the studio, played their instruments, and practiced together for the sake of their performances. I believe it was Kazunobu Mineta who said that when they entered the studio, the distance between the actors closed in an instant. Also, during filming, for example, when the members playing TOKAGE watched the Atsureki performance scenes and were influenced by them, a phenomenon occurred as if a real band was conscious of their rival band. Furthermore, Riho Yoshioka said that when she looked back at the photos she had taken on set, the story of the film felt like "something she had actually done in her teens."

From these two stories, it is clear that beyond just acting, the youth of each cast member was rising up there. Because the production side was in such a state, I think what I received was also very dense. While watching, I must have been moving, running, shouting, crying, and laughing along with the movie.

Youth.
It is a bashful and green word that I hesitate to even say out loud or write down, but I can use it for this movie without hesitation. Given the image of the band that served as the model and the songs that play, I don't think it is a movie meant to make you cry. However, it still makes you cry. An excellent musical youth film.