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December 9, 2014
MOVIE│The Chair on the Plains, a cinematic adaptation of Teru Miyamoto's literary masterpiece.
MOVIE│Win a pair of tickets for 15 groups of 30 people to a preview screening
A journey to take a step towards Pakistan's Hunza, the world's last paradise
The Chair in the Grass, a film adaptation of the pinnacle of Teru Miyamoto's literary works
The Chair in the Grass, based on the novel by Akutagawa Prize-winning author Teru Miyamoto, which chronicles a grueling 40-day, 6,700-kilometer journey along the Silk Road following the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, has been adapted into a film and will be released nationwide on Saturday, February 23. In anticipation, OPENERS is offering a chance for 15 groups of 30 people to attend a preview screening on Wednesday, January 30, at Nissho Hall in Toranomon.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Hit producer Masato Hara brings to the screen a film conceived over 10 years
Teru Miyamoto, who lost his home in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, traveled the Silk Road six months later. Based on this experience, he penned the novel The Chair in the Grass, exploring themes of loss and rebirth. The story, considered the pinnacle of Miyamoto's literary achievements, depicts how two friends who became close in their 50s, a woman running a pottery shop while harboring a painful past, and a four-year-old boy withdrawn due to neglect, are drawn together by fate. They embark on a journey to Hunza in Pakistan, known as the world's last paradise, taking a new step forward in their lives.
Executive producer Masato Hara, a hitmaker known for bringing numerous masterpieces such as "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence," "Ran," and "A Taxing Woman" to the screen, was deeply moved by this acclaimed novel. After a decade of conception, the film adaptation has finally been realized.
The film is directed by Izuru Narushima, who swept numerous film awards, including the Japan Academy Prize, for "Rebirth." He has teamed up with Koichi Sato, an actor of overwhelming presence. The cast is rounded out by a host of distinctive actors, including Masahiko Nishimura, Michiko Kichise, Eiko Koike, and AKIRA.
©2013 "The Chair in the Grass" Production Committee
©2013 "The Chair in the Grass" Production Committee
What will each of them find at the end of their journey towards the vast, boundless land?
Kentaro Toma is a divorced salaryman working for a camera manufacturer. In his fifties, he unexpectedly develops a friendship with Togashi from a client company and Kishiko, the owner of a pottery shop whom Toma secretly admires. Around this time, he meets Keisuke, a four-year-old boy who carries the scars of neglect and finds it difficult to open up to others.
Toma and the others are pained by Keisuke's deep emotional wounds, which cast a shadow over his future. Then, Toma becomes captivated by a photograph he chanced upon – a lone chair in a vast grassland. To find a path forward for Keisuke and themselves, Toma decides to embark on a journey to Hunza, known as the "last paradise," where the photo was taken.
What will each of them find at the end of their journey towards the vast, boundless land?—Against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes, we look forward to witnessing each character take a new step forward.
Preview Screening of "The Chair in the Grass"
We are inviting 15 groups of 30 people!
Date: Wednesday, January 30
Time: Doors open 6:00 PM, Screening starts 6:30 PM
Venue: Nissho Hall
2-9-16 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Application Deadline: Friday, January 18, 10:00 AM
Applications are now closed.
Thank you for your many applications.
Winners will be notified via email. Please reply to the email with the subject line unchanged and all necessary information filled in. Please note that failure to reply by the deadline will result in disqualification.
The Chair in the Grass
Nationwide release on Saturday, February 23
Director: Izuru Narushima
Executive Producer: Masato Hara
Starring: Koichi Sato, Masahiko Nishimura, Michiko Kichise
Distribution: Toei
2013 / Japan / 139 minutes