This year there were five separate Home Movie Events in Japan. Thanks to Kae Ishihara and the Film Preservation Society. Highlights from the venues follow:
Chihiro Takmori reports from Hirosaki:
The venue was a former cafe, so just for HMD the kitchen was used, and we had summer vegetable curry, etc. together.
The atmosphere was very good and although we were all meeting for the first time, we could talk about films together. A lot of episodes, questions, etc.
Some films were discovered at the University of Hirosake and brought in by the University’s Cinema Club.
Kyoto, report by Kazunori Emura:
There was a double 8 film shot in 1937 (no. 7 below) which was in beautiful color, so it was chosen as Best Home Movie this year. Also, there was a b/w film about “Ueno Zoo” which is 3 minutes walk from the Film Preservation Society’s office in Tokyo.
Films screened:
1.Emura Family’s Home Movie, double8, 3mins, 1950s
2.Skiing, double8, 3mins, 1942
3.Dolls Play, double8, 3mins, late 1940s
4.Airplane, double8, 3mins, late 1940s
5.GHQ soldiers, their families in the base in Gunma, shot by Bill H. Issacs (Military gov’t team), double8, 3mins, 1948
6.Tokyo Tower, Expo, Twins, single 8, 10mins, color & b/w
7.Picnic to Mt. Akagi, double8, 3mins, 1937, color
8.Ueno Zoo, 3mins, 1940
Kenji Emori writes from Nagano:
Films screened:
1.Showa Era of Shimizu Family 18min 19552.Sports Festival at Junior High School of Shinshu University 4min 1969
3.Festival in Nagano 16min 1956
4.Sports festival of Chuo Kindergarten 4min 1970
5.Election campaign from the sky 8min 1965
6.Visiting Zenkoji Temple 4min 1965
7.Nagano Expo for Culture and Industry 11min 1961
8.Zenkoji Temple, Open for public viewing 30 min 1987
9.My Family 10min 1960
10.Showa Era of Shimizu Family Part 2 20min 1950
This year’s HMD was a related event of Misuzukaru Shinano NAGANO Film Festival. The local 8mm film club helped us with all the projection work.
Nagoya’s report comes from Satoe Tamura:
Special events/screenings:
-flowing somen noodles in the garden
(Japanese seasonal tradition – cold noodles washed down a half-pipe of bamboo, and scooped out with chopsticks by whoever can catch them on the way past. They’re eaten with a dip and assorted garnishes)
-fresh vegetables, HMD original pottery with cold beer and other drinks were sold and pickles and ice cold Japanese tea were served
-16mm animation film show
-a short talk from the administrator about the preservation of the old house, Shumoku-kan, as a cultural heritage
Films screened:
1.Showa 73 1998
2.A Small Fighting Sprit 1984
3.Skiing in Nozawa Hot Springs
4.Moonlight and the Glasses (16mm)
5.Nagoya Toyopet Sports Festival 1973
6.Soyogo 2005
7.America San Francisco 1969
8.Asuka Road 1974
Best home movie went to No. 5 where you can see how Japanese people used to be very loyal to the company (in this case, Toyota motors whose headquarters are in Nagoya) and serious about an event like this, which reminded the audience about something we have lost unwittingly
Also, No. 2 was a film shot by elementary school students. The teacher used to organize 8mm film club, and he kept the film for more than 20 years. There’s a scene showing a famous professional wrestler “Antonio Inoki”, so, probably no good for a HMD Japan 2006 DVD, but will be shown at Best Home Movies Screenings in October in Tokyo.
Tokyo, by Kenichi Shima:
Most films we showed were double 8, black and white films.
“Masao’s bicycle” was a double8 film shot in Tokyo after the war, but for some reason, it got the biggest audience reaction, as the sight was so different from modern Tokyo, almost like a different country. And more than that, Masao looks so cute with the happiness of finally riding his own bike. Everybody wrote this down as their favorite in the questionnaires, no doubt about choosing this one as Best Home Movie this year. Another Masao related film was not shown on the day, but two films will be added to HMD Japan 2006 DVD, and also Best Home Movies screenings in October.
The wooden church is a very small building but if we reorganize the tables and chairs it’ll hold more than 50 people next year again. This year we borrowed projectors from FPS’ office but one of the film owners is going to donate a projector to me, so I’ll practice with it for next year.
Actually, I learned about film projection from FPS’ film projection workshop for the first time, and did all the projection work alone this year.