I watched the movie 'Kokoku' ~Searching for a beautiful place to belong~

How is everyone doing?

"Cool goals end in the blink of an eye, the stars just zipped away"

(SMAP / Ganbarimashou)

SMAP's hit song 'Ganbarimashou' is my life's theme song. I believe the theme of my current life is how to live after the 'cool goal' has ended, having once been a popular writer myself.

I went to see the much-talked-about movie, 'Kokoku'.

(Contains spoilers)

I am just a humble creator, but I felt there was much in this movie that I could empathize with.

First of all, this movie is made to be very easy to understand. There is never a moment where you think, 'Wait, what did that scene mean?', as it carefully follows the emotions and meticulously builds up the episodes. It never leaves the viewer behind.

Of course, this is a testament to the expressive power of the actors, but it is difficult to make a world like the performing arts—which is extraordinary to us—into a work that is this relatable. Even though depicting an artistic world tends to lean toward artistic expression, I was impressed that they explained things carefully right up to the very last scene (sorry, that might be a poor way to put it).

In my life, where 'Ganbarimashou' is the theme, what I empathized with most was the part where Kikuo is cast out of the glamorous world. I remembered the day at the movie theater when my own mother scolded me, saying,

"You're already past your prime!"

She is a pitiful person who has absolutely no connection to the world of creation and, I'm sorry to say, is quite ordinary. She can only measure the value of what I create by whether or not it earns money.

Kikuo talks about a 'beautiful world' (or was it scenery?). For creators and non-creators alike, this world is far too difficult to live in. Some people find their ideal place to belong in the worlds of movies, anime, or manga. However, for those who cannot find a place to belong within the creations of others,

they have no choice but to create it themselves.

I think the same applies to performers, not just creators. They can only live within their own art. They have no place to belong. Even if they admire the creations of others, they cannot breathe within them.

They can only live within beauty.

It is also impressive that Mankiku, a Living National Treasure, chose a place without 'beauty' at the very end. While one cannot live without beauty, the pursuit of sublime beauty is also terrifying, like a curse.

To create is to build a place to belong. Is it a place for oneself, or a place for everyone? In terms of healing, it might be a place for everyone, but from the perspective of beauty, I wonder if it is an egoistic place that belongs only to oneself. Because I think beauty also has a side that keeps people at a distance.

When something reaches the level of a national treasure, perhaps its place of belonging is elevated to a place where everyone belongs. I felt the poignancy and cruelty of art in the fact that Kikuo was finally able to find a beautiful place only after he became a national treasure.

The original work seems to be long, divided into first and second parts, but I would love to read it!

Thank you for reading.

Please come back and take a look tomorrow too!