OPENERS

today

Keiko Toda | From Stage and Screen to Volunteering: A Powerful Start to 2012! Gallery

Gallery

Keiko Toda | From Stage and Screen to Volunteering: A Powerful Start to 2012! Gallery

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />After a good rest over the New Year holidays, I began filming in mid-January in Kyoto's Uzumasa for the first time in a while, for the two-hour drama "Kyoto Satsujin Juken" starring my favorite actor, Isao Hashizume. The fact that my character was set as his ex-wife was a delightful surprise.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />In February, I started filming another two-hour drama, "3.11: What Happened in Ishinomaki? - Six Wall Newspapers -". It's a unique drama, like a docudrama, where all the cast members play real people.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />I played Michiko Hirai, a reporter for the Ishinomaki Nichinichi Shimbun. Among so many actresses, I felt deeply moved to be offered this role.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />The filming involved walking through water, being stopped from taking photos, wrapping myself in a blanket in an evacuation shelter, and not being able to meet my family... Just recreating these scenes was so difficult; I can only imagine how much harder it must have been in reality.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />We also filmed in Ishinomaki, where the disaster-stricken area was a vast expanse of white snow. It was still heartbreakingly empty. Only piles of wrecked cars could be seen near the distant coastline; otherwise, there was nothing.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />Seeing the unchanged landscape brought tears to my eyes out of helplessness and regret. I sincerely hope this drama becomes a "light," a "hope," reaching everyone's hearts. I myself want to renew my resolve, keep my thoughts on the affected areas, and continue my volunteer activities.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />From February 13th, I took a whirlwind three-day trip to the Berlin Film Festival! My goal was to select films to be screened at the Kinder Film Festival this summer and to meet with people involved in children's cinema.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />The foreign animated film I watched with the children of Berlin on the big screen was a Latvian production. Naturally, the language on screen was Latvian, the subtitles were in English, and one person was doing the German voice-over!

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />The dedication to filmmaking for children in Germany far surpasses that in Japan, not just in quantity but also in the sheer number of films produced. I was greatly surprised to see so many live-action films in addition to animation.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />If I have the chance to go to the Berlin Film Festival again, I want to stay longer next time and watch many more films!

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />The passion of those involved in children's sections from various countries. The fact that most of them are driven by volunteer spirit...

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />Along with the desire to show more wonderful films to children in Tokyo, I feel inspired to make a significant contribution to children's filmmaking in Japan as well.

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />Oh, and by the way, the food was delicious!

<strong>Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012!</strong><br />The German beer and German wine were also delicious (laughs)!

/

Keiko Toda: From Stage and Drama to Volunteering, Powering Through 2012! Gallery

Back to Article