[Report on the 'Election and Depression' Opening Day Stage Greeting] 'Let's keep living through this film!' The record of Suidobashi Hakase and his companions' battle, 'Election and Depression,' is released. Director Taku Aoyagi and the Doctor look back on that summer.
Title photo: Stage greeting after the screening of 'Election and Depression'
(From left) Director Taku Aoyagi, Suidobashi Hakase, Matazo Mimata, Harada Senmonka
Reporting and text by Kenji Goto
In June 2022, Suidobashi Hakase ran for the House of Councillors election as a candidate for the Reiwa Shinsengumi party. His makeshift campaign team, formed by his disciples and fellow comedians, steadily gained the understanding of the audience amidst a chaotic nationwide tour, eventually leading to his election. However, three months after his first day in the Diet, the Doctor took a leave of absence and eventually resigned due to depression. What kind of waves surged and flowed during that dizzying period? There was someone filming the entire process up close. It was Director Taku Aoyagi, who gained attention for his masterpiece documentary 'Tokyo Bicycle Bushi' (2021), in which he turned the camera on himself while continuing his work as a bicycle delivery worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. For his latest work, he responded to a call from film critic Tomohiro Machiyama and decided to film the campaign closely. He captured the tumultuous days from the Doctor's candidacy to his campaign activities, his election, and his eventual depression, depicting Japanese society from a new perspective.
The film began screening at Eurospace in Tokyo on June 28. A stage greeting was held after the first screening of the opening day, where Director Taku Aoyagi, Suidobashi Hakase, fellow comedian Matazo Mimata who supported the campaign, and Harada Senmonka, who is active in a wide range of fields including graphic design, took the stage to look back on that summer.
Director Aoyagi, who took the stage first, said, 'Thank you for coming. Three years have passed since that summer. In this incredible heat, I was watching the film with you today, remembering the enthusiasm of that time. I am truly glad we finally reached this point. First, I want to thank the cast members. And above all, I was able to make this film because I had the connection with Suidobashi Hakase,' expressing his heartfelt gratitude.
The Doctor, who took the stage next, showed a smile and said, 'I am truly happy to welcome the opening day with a full house,' and continued, 'I feel it more than when I was elected in the election,' making the audience laugh. 'I have welcomed the opening day of a film many times, but a full house is the most gratifying and rewarding thing. The director worked very hard to get us here. Thank you,' he said, followed by a scene where the two bowed deeply to each other.
Mimata and Harada Senmonka, who both livened up the film with their singing. Although Mimata introduced the unit name he formed with Harada as 'The Penibans,' the Doctor immediately retorted, 'I don't know them (laughs).' Mimata, who watched the film with the audience, said with a wry smile, 'The producer and director told me,
Laughter will definitely happen during your scene, Mr. Mimata,
so I was expecting it, but there was absolutely no laughter today (laughs). I was scared to come up on this stage.' The Doctor showed his kindness by following up, 'Everyone is laughing on the inside,' and from there, the conversation heated up about Mimata's behavior during the campaign, such as his Kinpachi-sensei impersonation, which had nothing to do with the election. Although Mimata was running wild in the film, such as shouting the chorus of B'z's 'ultra soul,' it seems he was even more out of control, revealing, 'It was cut from the film, but I also sang
Aso is the Boss, a parody of Anta ga Taisho. He didn't just tell jokes; he also talked about how the election is something to participate in, and looked back on that time with nostalgia, saying he realized the joy of being able to speak confidently on the street with a microphone.Also, the scene where Mimata sings the lyrics 'Come on, let's do our best!' from Elephant Kashimashi's 'Oretachi no Ashita' is impressive. Regarding this, Mimata revealed the truth: 'I suddenly started saying Come on, let's do our best! and I must have seemed like a strange guy. But, that was...' It was from a YouTube conversation between the Doctor and Tomohiro Machiyama. 'I came to know and love Mr. Miura and Tomohiro Machiyama through the Doctor. When the Doctor decided to run for office, I watched Mr. Machiyama start singing Come on, let's do our best! in a video, saying Isn't it great! Suidobashi Hakase is running for office, there's no way I can't support that! and I thought, I have to support him.' However, the Doctor calmly retorted, 'Just because of that, it doesn't mean you should copy it. It's exactly the same (laughs).'Even within the Reiwa Shinsengumi, the Doctor's camp consisted only of a small number of inexperienced members. The Doctor said, 'People with long election experience build their camps with incredible organizational movements. We just had seven clumsy people, it really was like Seven Samurai. We gathered like, let's do our best for the village one by one,' talking about how difficult the battle was. The Doctor's camp also developed an aerial battle through online dissemination, but the heat is still something that is brewed on the ground. The Doctor looked back on the camp's efforts, which had been livened up like a festival, and said, 'Once you get caught in the vortex, the audience joins in, and the space where they cheer and dance continues.' Then, he spoke about the House of Councillors election that will be held this year: 'After all, an election is a battle and a festival. I hope you all understand through this film that everyone should participate and enjoy it. Regardless of your ideology or supporting party, please experience that kind of thing close to you,' he conveyed his thoughts.At this point, Harada Senmonka, who had taken the stage with a guitar, began to prepare to sing. Harada said, 'There is a support song that is used a little bit in the film, but I made a song for Election and Depression for this stage greeting,' and then placed his hand on the guitar strings. And he started to sing.
An 'Election and Depression' movie has been made
Director Taku Aoyagi's 4th film
A film about Suidobashi Hakase who ran for the House of Councillors election
When Matazo Mimata comes out, it becomes a complete comedy from there
Laughing and crying, and laughing again, a Suidobashi Hakase film
A film with hope
A film with tears
A film with laughter
A Suidobashi Hakase film
During the singing, clapping occurred naturally from the audience, and applause broke out when the song ended. Mimata said something blunt like, 'You just changed the lyrics,' but the Doctor seemed impressed, saying, 'They are honest lyrics.' Mimata appealed to the tear-jerking points of the film, saying, 'There was a lyric in the song earlier that said
a film with tears,
but I love the scene with the Doctor's wife in the film. I'm only with him for a short period, so it's fun, but his wife has it tough. I like the comedian Suidobashi Hakase, but I also love Masayoshi Ono (his real name), right?' The Doctor warmed up the somber audience with laughter, saying, 'You really can't run an election without the understanding of your family. My house was also filmed, but I let it go for the election. Now, it has been bought with Chinese money and has become a rental house. Our family's current dream is to stay there for one night (laughs).'
Regarding the spread of this film, which began screening on this day, the Doctor says that the fundamental part is the same as an election. 'Movies and elections are the same, but I hope you all spread it horizontally. Impressions or counterarguments are fine, the reaction is the most important thing.' Director Aoyagi agreed, saying, 'In the election, we implemented many good strategies. Just as I discovered them, I want to share that process and show it in the film.' He continued, 'It depends on how much people know about the film. This was my first time making a film about a celebrity, but there really is so much we can do. We kept doing promotional activities and made it here, but today is just the beginning!' he appealed strongly with renewed determination.
The subsequent stage greeting saw an impromptu comedy routine where the Doctor teased Mimata, who now works at a real estate company, saying, 'I hope Mr. Mimata doesn't get caught for land-shark fraud while the film is being released,' and Mimata replied, 'I work for a decent company, and I'm on the side that prevents being deceived by land sharks!' The event was full of content, and finally, each of the speakers gave their greetings.
Harada appealed, 'It's a film where you can find new discoveries every time you watch it. A film that gives you courage and hope.'
Mimata recalled, 'A film that started with a word from Mr. Machiyama and in which I participated. It was the best summer.'
Director Aoyagi revealed his honest feelings, believing in the power of the film: 'Today is the completion of this film. I am overjoyed. I will spread this film. There is an election coming up, but an election is something you can participate in. Maybe you can't change politics with a film, but I hope something is born within you to make the world a better place. Thank you for today.'And the Doctor concluded. ' Election and Depression - this title plays on binary oppositions like mania and depression, life and death, hare and ke. It expresses that life is in two patterns of waves. For me personally, this film is proof of survival. Just as I am living, you are all living. In a Me, Wee relationship, let's keep living through this film!' When he barked with energy like Antonio Inoki, thunderous applause erupted from the audience in response. [Titles omitted in the text]Also, the August issue of 'Eiga Hiho,' currently on sale, features a special section and includes a commemorative dialogue between Suidobashi Hakase, Taku Aoyagi, and Tomohiro Machiyama. Please check that out as well.
'Election and Depression'
Now showing at Eurospace in Tokyo. Also scheduled to be released sequentially nationwide.
Director/Cinematography: Taku Aoyagi
Cast: Suidobashi Hakase, Tomohiro Machiyama, Matazo Mimata, Harada Senmonka, Ai Yahata, Akiko Oishi, Taro Yamamoto, and others
Production: Mizuguchiya Film, Nonderai-ko
Distribution/Promotion: Nonderai-ko
2025 / Japan / 124 minutes / Color / DCP