Director Sugioka Follows Miyake's Campaign as an "Outsider"

Yohei Miyake, active as the vocalist and guitarist for the reggae-rock band "Inu-Shiki" and as a solo musician. In the 2013 House of Councillors election, for which he received the Green Party's endorsement, his unique "Senkyo Fes"—a style of street live performance political speech—gained momentum online, generating significant buzz and earning him the highest number of votes among the unsuccessful candidates.

The film "Senkyo Fes!" capturing this entire process was directed by Taiki Sugioka. He previously directed "A Spring That Doesn't Fall Silent," a documentary that followed anti-nuclear demonstrations after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Although Miyake, whom he met through that work, asked him to "film my election campaign as a member of the team," Sugioka agreed to produce this film only on the condition that he could "cover the election as an outsider, without any financial support."

Yohei Miyake's "Speeches" Saw Increasing Online Views Day by Day

The House of Councillors election was announced in July 2013. Alongside topics like "constitutional revision," "resumption of nuclear power," and "Abenomics," the lifting of restrictions on online campaigning also drew attention. Yohei Miyake, a 34-year-old musician running in the national proportional representation block with the Green Party's endorsement, was known among music fans but was largely unknown to the general public.

However, the situation changed dramatically when Miyake began his "Senkyo Fes," delivering his message while playing his guitar. His speeches were captured on cameras and smartphones by the crowds, immediately uploaded online, and their view counts steadily increased each day.

Consequently, discussions erupted online, and Miyake himself actively engaged with them via Twitter and Facebook, directly translating the "call and response" of music into politics. By the final "Senkyo Fes" on the day before the election, the crowd had swelled around Shibuya Station, with people eager to catch a glimpse of Miyake, who just 17 days prior was virtually unknown.

Director Sugioka states, "This is not a promotional piece for Yohei Miyake. My aim is to depict the 17 days I experienced with him as they were, allowing for direct interpretation." Through the campaign of musician Yohei Miyake, "Senkyo Fes!" poses questions about the nature of Japanese elections and citizen participation in politics.



Senkyo Fes!
Opening Saturday, July 4th, at Eurospace and other theaters nationwide
Directed, Filmed, and Edited by Taiki Sugioka
Starring Yohei Miyake
Distribution: mirrorball works
2014 / Japan / 114 min
http://senkyofes.com


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