Tokyo International Film Festival Opens With Sukiyaki
Director Zeze Takahisa’s film “Sukiyaki” opened the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, tracing how the titular 1963 song became a global chart-topping standard. The movie examines the complex relationships behind the music, focusing on lyricist Ei Rokusuke, composer Nakamura Hachidai, and singer Sakamoto Kyu, who were collectively known in Japan as the “689 trio.”
Protest Roots Shape 1963 Hit Song
While the upbeat tune captured international audiences despite language barriers, its origins stem from political defeat and social upheaval in Japan. Lyricist Ei Rokusuke found inspiration in the 1960 demonstrations against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Protesters called for peace but ultimately failed to block the treaty’s ratification. Ei wrote the poignant words—locally titled “Ue o Muite Aruko” or “I’ll Walk with My Head Up”—to encourage activists to maintain their dignity despite political setbacks. “So the song has depth — it’s not just a cheery pop tune,” Zeze said.
Creative Tensions Define the 689 Trio
The film moves beyond a straightforward success story to confront the personal strains within the creative partnership. While Sakamoto brought early rock-and-roll energy inspired by Elvis Presley and Nakamura contributed jazz piano expertise honed in New York clubs, their dynamic soured. The narrative highlights the severe friction between Nakamura and Ei as Nakamura spiraled into alcoholism following their international fame. Zeze noted that showing these professional and personal lows was essential to making the drama compelling.
Showa Era Boom Revives Postwar Energy
Zeze connected the film’s release to a broader cultural fascination with Japan’s Showa Era, spanning from 1926 to 1989. Speaking at the headquarters of Toho, the film’s Japanese distributor, the director observed that postwar Japan absorbed diverse foreign influences that fueled a wide-open popular culture. He contrasted that era with the present, arguing that contemporary Japanese culture has narrowed and absorbs fewer outside influences. This appetite for historical energy also drove audiences to theaters for the 2023 smash hit “Godzilla Minus One” and its follow-up, “Godzilla Minus Zero,” which is at TIFF as the festival’s Centerpiece screening.
Worth a look