Meanwhile, Sayu Suzuki (role of Totsuko), Akari Takaishi (role of Kimi), Daisei Kido (role of Rui), and Director Naoko Yamada paid a courtesy visit to the Nagasaki Prefectural Government Office, which was the model for the film. They also held a stage greeting with a teach-in at TOHO Cinemas Nagasaki.
This article provides the official report.
Director Yamada has been promoting the film since mid-July in a “16 City Campaign” that has taken him to 16 locations across the country, with Nagasaki being the seventh city today, July 31st (Wednesday). Cast members Sayu Suzuki, Akari Takaishi, and Daisei Kido also joined the promotion, and the four paid a courtesy visit to the Nagasaki Prefectural Government Office. They were greeted with applause from many officials. In the reception room, they met with Nagasaki Prefecture Vice Governor Yuko Baba, the Director of the Culture, Tourism and International Affairs Department, and the Director of the Tourism Promotion Division.
In his opening remarks, Yamada spoke of his love for Nagasaki, saying, “I am happy to be able to come to Nagasaki. I really love the air of Nagasaki, and from the moment I get off the station I feel like my mind is cleared. I am really happy that the four of us could come here today.”
Vice Governor Baba also said, “I heard that the film was modeled after Nagasaki, and that various scenes such as trams and churches are scattered throughout, so the people of the prefecture are looking forward to it. The film is attracting attention both from within Japan and overseas, so I am grateful that we were chosen as the model. I will also do my best to promote it so that people will fall in love with both the film and Nagasaki (laughs).”
The Vice Governor also revealed that he was a fan of Director Yamada’s films, and used to watch them every night over a drink, warming the mood. When asked why he chose Nagasaki as the model, Yamada said, “What’s important in animation is that I want people to feel as if the characters are really alive there. Nagasaki is close to the sea, mountains, and slopes, and people live there, so I thought it was a city with many different colors. I also wanted to reflect in the film the personality of the people who built the city, such as their gentleness of heart, which I spoke of in Nagasaki.”
She added, “The color of the sea varies from island to island in Nagasaki. I wanted to express on screen the softness of the light that I and the staff felt.” Suzuki had fond memories of the cityscape of Nagasaki, which she had visited in the past, and commented that she was honored to be able to live as Totsuko, referring to the beautiful scenery depicted in the animation. When asked by the Vice Governor, in reference to her role as Totsuko, “What color is Nagasaki?” Suzuki replied with a smile, “The cityscape at sunset left a strong impression on me, so it’s orange,” impressing the prefectural staff.
Takaishi commented that he felt that the charm of Nagasaki was the kindness and gentleness that Totsuko, Kimi and Rui all share.
Kido, who has relatives in Sasebo, commented on the beauty of the ocean that is unique to Nagasaki, saying, “I think people will enjoy it if they watch the film while imagining, ‘Is this the ocean over there?'”
Finally, Director Yamada, Suzuki, Takaishi, and Kido signed a B1-size poster panel on the spot and presented it to them as a memento of their visit.
After participating in various interviews, the four of them gave a stage greeting with a teach-in at TOHO Cinemas Nagasaki in front of 160 people who had already seen a movie.
The stage greeting, organized by the Nagasaki Tourism Federation, was attended by many students from Junkoin Junior High School and Junkoin Girls’ High School, and after the director and cast spoke about the film, they answered questions from the audience.
Finally, a high school senior preparing for entrance exams was nominated and asked, “It’s entrance exam season, so please send us a message of encouragement!” The four then held a short strategy meeting. After discussing it, the four of them took off their microphones and gave their own voice-over messages of encouragement. “To everyone taking entrance exams! Good luck with your exams!” they all shouted together in unison in a stylish surprise. The venue was filled with thunderous applause.
And since “Kimi no Iro” is a work with a music theme, members of the music club of Junshin Junior and Senior High School performed “Aruku Uta (Nobunaga Takatomi)” a cappella. The director and cast were moved to tears by the beautiful singing.
Suzuki commented, “I feel like I want to take a good look at each and every person. Thank you very much.”
Kido said, “The imagery in the lyrics came to mind, and it made me want to keep moving forward, one step at a time, and do my best.”
Takaishi was so moved that she couldn’t stop crying, but said, “Her singing this time was so angelic, it was really beautiful.”
同じく、涙していた監督は「人には歩く自由という歌詞が心に染みました。ただ歩くだけでなく、いろんな意味の歩くを感じる一人一人の声に感動しました。」とそれぞれにコメントし、会場は大きな感動に包まれた。
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