staff

I feel truly blessed to have met Wim Wenders at this point in my life. His way of thinking about visual images, his approach to films, and the way he views the world completely cleared my mind of roadblocks akin to doubts. It’s like the permanent fog clouding my windshield that I had just about given up on is finally gone. We were faced with a daunting task: to create a story about Japan, in Japan, with a Japanese cast, in Japanese. I’m sure it was tough for the director, but thanks to these conditions, I had a front row seat to the process of creating this film.

Every time we started filming, Wim would say, "Let’s go visit Hirayama." He would examine this fictional story as carefully as if it were an actual document, never creating scenes based on his own assumptions. It was a beautiful approach. The moment Koji Yakusho arrived on set, Hirayama would already be there. I have no idea how the actor Koji Yakusho got there. I tried to get it out of him several times, but I couldn’t get to the bottom of it. Maybe it’s because putting something into words cheapens it somehow. Looking back, I regret that I let my curiosity lead me to ask some very tactless questions. Wim kept an appropriate distance from Hirayama. I feel like he may still be keeping it. I think if Hirayama had been a real person, I would have done that. That’s the key difference between my immaturity and his richness of life experience. As filming progressed, we did fewer test takes. This really surprised me. The incredible skill of the actors and Wim’s deep insight made it possible. It was like witnessing a jam session between top-level musicians.

This man, Hirayama, deliberately chose his way of life. I realized this after the film was completed. Some things that can’t be written in a script really come through onscreen. I think this is truly amazing.

We’ve been able to find our creative way at our pace through this project thanks to Koji Yanai’s talent for diving headfirst into what fascinates him. I would like to use the many treasures that this film has given me as creative fuel and do all I can so that as many people as possible can meet our friend Hirayama.

When it was decided that Tokyo would host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I remember a conversation I had with my father where he said, “Everyone is different. We are all equal in the sense that no two people are the same.” The Tokyo Toilet (TTT), a public works project for the Shibuya district, was started as a way to offer all people a unique form of Japanese omotenashi, or hospitality, that serves something fundamental to human beings.

TTT asked famous creators to redesign public toilets in a way that everyone would want to use them. I believe this has led to the creation of new value for public toilets, but at the same time, we were made keenly aware of the importance of cleaning and maintenance. Why is it that even if you don’t clean your toilet at home every day, it stays pretty clean, but public toilets get pretty dirty even if they are cleaned multiple times a day? Despite the positive response to TTT, the cleaning situation remains a serious issue, even today.

Wanting to improve this situation as much as I could, I consulted with Mr. Takasaki. He said, “You have to get people to see the TTT toilets as something valuable and important, not just as buildings. The power of art could help you do that.” The true value of TTT lies not only in its architectural significance, but also in the hard work of the staff who tirelessly clean the toilets day in and day out. This inspired me to use the power of art to express gratitude and respect to all the cleaning staff.

So what is the power of art? Let’s say you encounter a stunning piece that moves you somehow, though you can’t quite put your finger on exactly why. These kinds of unexplainable emotions plant seeds in the subconscious mind and have the potential to change our behavior.

When I finished watching the completed Perfect Days for the first time, I was so gripped by emotions I had never experienced before in my life that I couldn’t speak. I sincerely hope that something beautiful will flourish in the hearts of those who watch Perfect Days, and that it will change their feelings and actions for the better, even if just a little. Then, please visit a TTT public toilet and look for Mr. Hirayama. Feel his presence, and know he is happy you came.