Lanterns on Blue Waters
| Lanterns on Blue Waters | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Akio Jissoji |
| Screenplay by | Sō Kuramoto |
| Produced by | Shigeru Umetani |
| Starring | Chishū Ryū Eri Ishida |
| Cinematography | Masao Nakabori |
| Edited by | Keiichi Uraoka |
| Music by | Tōru Takemitsu |
Production companies | Nippon Television TV Man Union |
Release date |
|
Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Lanterns on Blue Waters (Japanese: 波の盆, Hepburn: Nami no Bon; lit. Bon Festival on the Waves[1]) is a 1983 Japanese television film directed by Akio Jissoji. Nippon Television produced the film.[2]
Story
It is about a Japanese American in Hawaii, Kosaku Yamanami, who recalls his life during the historical events of World War II. A family get-together takes place in the present day as he recalls his past.[3]
Cast
- Kosaku Yamanami (山波 公作 Yamanami Kōsaku) - Chishū Ryū
- Misa (ミサ) - Eri Ishida
Production
Filming took place in Lahaina, Hawaii, in the summer of 1983. 300 Japanese Americans extras were used to film a scene at a temple.[3]
Music
Tōru Takemitsu composed the film's score. Kyōko Koizumi, author of Tōru Takemitsu's Seigenki (Time within Memory): An Anti-Experimental, Tonal Film Score, stated that fans "loved" this theme. Takemitsu's friend Shuntaro Tanikawa said that the best musical score Takemitsu ever made was the one for this film, though Takemitsu disliked his friend's statement.[1]
Release
The film was aired in Hawaii on Nippon Golden Network (NGN). The English subtitles were done by James Araki, the chairperson of the University of Hawaii at Manoa East Asian Language and Literature Department.[3]
Reception
In 1983, the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture ranked Lanterns on Blue Waters as the best television drama.[3]
References
- 1 2 Koizumi, Kyōko (2014-07-17). "Tōru Takemitsu's Seigenki (Time within Memory) An Anti-Experimental, Tonal Film Score". In Tōru Mitsui (ed.). Made in Japan: Studies in Popular Music. Routledge. p. PT247. doi:10.4324/9780203384121-13. ISBN 9781135955410.
- ↑ The Japan Foundation Newsletter Volumes 9-14. 1981. p. 17.
- 1 2 3 4 Taylor, Lois (1983-11-30). "Japanese-Americans Become Prime Time on Japanese TV". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu. p. B-3.