The Minaen Boy of Minaen Town

"The Minaen Boy"

On the day of the Obon send-off fire,
at a venue with thorough COVID-19 measures,
at Shinkaichi's "Kirakukan",
I went to a screening of
Yoichi Honda's independent film❣️

What a great place! What a great place! Shinkaichi♪
Speaking of Shinkaichi, this song by HEROs keeps playing in my head👂

https://youtu.be/EUhWI8Dpj0E

In Shinkaichi, Hyogo Ward, Kobe, there still remains a nostalgic shopping arcade called Minaen Town.

Do you know about the Kobe Tower in Shinkaichi,
which was demolished due to aging in 1968?
It was an observation tower built in Minatogawa Park in 1924 through local joint investment.

https://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/kobe/202002/sp/0013110857.shtml?pg=amp

At the time, it was hailed as the best in the Orient and seemed to symbolize the vitality of that era.
Kobe City Hall was also in Minatogawa back then! Thanks to this movie, I ended up searching for all sorts of things!
I feel the changing of the times, with projects underway to decorate the Kobe City Hall in Sannomiya with mural art of gratitude before it is demolished this autumn after surviving the earthquake.

52 years since the Kobe Tower was demolished

The Minaen boys in the movie were 8 years old.
It begins with four Minaen boys going on an exploration of the Kobe Tower, which had already been closed due to aging.

A heartwarming interaction between the Minaen boys of the past and the Minaen boys of the present that transcends time and space.
The direction shows the changing and unchanging aspects of Minaen.

The surprise that it was filmed with just one smartphone!
All the actors were amateurs.
I even spotted a few people I know!
Unexpected cameo appearances by celebrities,
and so on—it was packed with highlights and the screening time flew by.

The guests included rakugo performer Ayame Katsura, who is from the local area, and songs by
blues singer Kogen, who sings the movie's ending theme.

And the fun conversation with Tetsuya Koshoyen,
the owner of "key west" in Minaen Town, who was also the star of the movie.

And so on, is that volume really okay for 500 yen? 🤣
The illustrations by Mofumofu-do Illustrations! on the flyer are also lovely. 💕

I was given a wonderful opportunity during this Obon season to reminisce about the past, including the feelings Yoichi Honda had for his late father, who had preserved movies of what Shinkaichi used to look like.

The sense of adventure from when we were children,
it's something you never want to forget no matter how old you get, right? ♪

It was also great to be able to watch it with friends who can instantly return to their childlike hearts even as adults!

I also purchased the DVD,
so we will definitely watch it together again! ♪

It was the best work,
I want to see it in the theater again! ❣️