ARTICLE FILMS
Mother,
I've Pretty Much
Forgotten Your Face
Michiro Endo, the legendary punk singer , has ventured into film direction with a documentary on a subject that he is better placed than anyone to examine: himself.
Endo, a native of Nihonmatsu in Fukushima, on a nationwide solo tour in 2011 celebrating his 60th birthday that was interrupted by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
While performing at various venues, he visits old friends and expresses his thoughts on a wide variety of subjects, such as his complex about growing up in the countryside, his thoughts about Fukushima and its pre- and post-disaster status in Japan, his family’s experiences in World War II, the significance of Hiroshima,
JAPAN / 2015 / Japanese / Color / DCP / 5.1ch / 102"
Documentary
michirooiaw.jp
Director: Michiro Endo
Producer: Shigeki Shima
DP:Futa Takagi
Sound, Sound Design Izumi Matsuno
Editor:Shigeki Shima. Izumi Matsuno
Associate Producer Seiichi Tanaka
©2015 SHIMAFILMS
YAMAGATA INTERNATIONAL
DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
2015
JAPAN CUTS NEW YORK 2016
“A partial but engaging picture of a galvanizing artist and human being… it harnesses one of the main reasons Endo has remained vital while other punks have fallen by the wayside: It rocks.”
–Don Brown, The Asahi Shimbun
Michiro Endo
Born in Fukushima, 1950. Formed punk band THE STALIN in 1980. Their radical performances and unconventional methods of expression bring them attention, in 1982 they appear in "BURST CITY", directed by Sogo Ishii (Now, Gakuryu Ishii). Makes their debut the same year. After disbandment in 1985, he experiences various band activities to then go solo in 1993 in acoustic. Since entering the 21st century, he shows in various live performances and also publishes many poems, photography books and essays. 2011, he begins the "Project FUKUSHIMA!" with various activities to support the restoration after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The same year, he begins filming centering on his 60th anniversary solo tour, to direct his first film "Mother, I’ve Pretty Much Forgotten Your Face". 2013, he is hospitalised for connective tissue disorder. At the same time he publishes the anthology "Collagen Hospital" and announces the album "FUKUSHIMA". 2015, he arranges his songs into Bon Festival Dance style, to form a band specialising in folk song, "Shida Myojin", and "THE END" as his final band. He currently continues to perform energetically.
The musician Michiro Endo created an era with The STALIN. Even after disbandment, to this day, he continues to perform solo.
In 2011 when he reached 60 years old, he reunited The STALIN for a concert, and toured the whole country for his 60 year anniversary. In the midst of which there was the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake, his hometown Fukushima was faced with earthquakes, tsunamis and meltdown. Endo had never regularly visited his hometown, but started up the project FUKUSHIMA!. Focusing on his family, his identity, the respect towards his father who left for Guadalcanal and Philippines during the WWII, the fierce emotions of conflict towards his mother that are also expressed in his song "Mother, I’ve Pretty Much Forgotten Your Face" are frankly addressed.
2011 was an unbelievable year. I was confronted with what it means for me to sing. An unexpected happening as I finally reached my 60's. What on earth was I until this moment.
Like everyone has a hometown (mother), everyone knows what it means, how difficult it is, to confront it. Spoiling myself on this fact to travel and sing. That is me.
Things that don't change, never change. Things that change, change rapidly. I don't want to overlook these things.
─── Michiro Endo