A Story Where You Can Relate to the Dialogue, Feelings, or Characters

— This is your first feature film. Did you always consider a career as a film director?

I'd been saying it since I was in junior high: "I want to be a film director." At the time, my understanding was quite simple – "making visuals equals being a film director" (laughs). When I went to university, I made independent films and thought, "It would be great to work in visuals." So, I took a year off and attended a vocational school for visual arts. That's where I had a music video production internship and discovered this field, which led me to my current profession. After that, I produced many promotional videos at Sony Music, but the desire to "make films" always remained within me.




— Were you a fan of the original manga?

I've always loved Asano's work. I had read "Subarashii Sekai" and "Hikari no Machi," among others, but I had actually never read "Solanin." I read it after being offered the project, and I found it deeply relatable. It was filled with sentiments I'd experienced while following various bands. That's why I was so eager to take it on.

©2010 Inio Asano, Shogakukan / "Solanin" Production Committee Photo: Koji Ota

— It's a work with a strong message, isn't it?

I never intended to convey a moral lesson. I believe everyone goes through periods of doubt and uncertainty about their future path. What makes it painful is having to choose one option from many, and the act of moving forward towards that choice is, I think, the most agonizing time.

Whether it's choosing a company or deciding whether to quit a job, everyone experiences the act of "making a choice." That's why I felt it was a story that could resonate with people of all ages. It's not about "moving forward being important," but rather, the feelings one has leading up to that first step are crucial points in life.

I believe the core of this work lies in its depiction of situations that anyone can experience, rather than stories about "special people." How people cope with doubt and anxiety varies greatly depending on the character. What about Taneda? Meiko? Kato? Billy? Ai-chan? I think everyone can find someone to relate to. There are various standpoints, and different ways of confronting them. Within that, I believe it's a story where you can find resonance with the dialogue, the feelings of the moment, or the characters themselves.

"Just do it. If you keep at it, you'll eventually see something."

— The dialogue in this film is very striking. Are there any particular lines that left an impression on you?

Asano's works are filled with wonderful lines, and it was painful to cut them from "Solanin" (laughs). It's hard to pick just a few favorites, but the phrase Kato (Yoichi Kondo) casually says, "Just do it. If you keep at it, you'll eventually see something," really resonated with my own life, so it remains strongly in my memory.

Back then, even though I wanted to "make films," I didn't see a clear path. Yet, driven by that desire, I entered the visual arts field. I felt like I was clinging to that aspiration. Now, having become a director, I feel I've reached one of my goals. That line from Kato truly reflects a kind of truth, I believe.

©2010 Inio Asano, Shogakukan / "Solanin" Production Committee Photo: Koji Ota

I think many people appear to have no particular aspirations, but deep down, they harbor desires. They just don't express them outwardly. Whether it's wanting to be a Hollywood star or fill the Budokan as a musician, whatever it may be, I believe people feel embarrassed or shy about voicing their dreams. But by continuously saying "I want to be a film director," even without a clear path, I was able to fulfill one dream. If you tell a hundred people, perhaps one will remember, and might think, "Oh, he said he wanted to do that, maybe I'll give him a call," leading to an opportunity.

However, if you don't keep expressing it, such opportunities won't arise. So, I believe it's incredibly important to continue expressing any desire or feeling you have, even if it's just one thing. Similar to Kato's line, I think that by continuing to do and say things, you can eventually see something emerge.

— What message did you want to convey through this film?



— Thank you very much.


Solanin
A type of poison found in potato sprouts, etc.
Ingesting a large amount can cause poisoning, but it is also an essential component for the plant's growth.

Story | Meiko (Aoi Miyazaki), in her second year as an office worker, grows tired of her job and quits in search of freedom.種田 (Kengo Kora), unable to give up his dream of music, continues his band activities while working part-time. Living in a corner of Tokyo, they rely on each other, lacking certainty about their future. However, a single remark from Meiko inspires Taneda to pursue his almost-abandoned dream. With the resolve that "if this doesn't work, we'll disband the band," they, along with Billy (Kenta Kiritani) and Kato (Yoichi Kondo), who have been in a band since university, submit their song "Solanin" to a record company. But days pass with no response... One day, Taneda is involved in a motorcycle accident. How can they rise from the depths of this sorrow? The path to "rebirth" chosen by Meiko, left alone, is to sing the song "Solanin" that Taneda left behind—