ARTicle Films
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OSHIKA WINDS OF CHANGE
Director by KIM Myoung-yoon
The Full Story
Among the residents of Kamasawa is Simon Piggott, a translator originally from England, who moved to Oshika 30 years ago after living in and around Tokyo for many years. For him Oshika is somewhere special and, over shots of him and his daily life, he explains why. He has three daughters and the third one Karin is married to Tim, who comes from England but has a Japanese father. Tim says that he came to live in Oshika because of the warmth of the villagers. Another of the Kamasawa incomers is Taniguchi Noboru from Osaka, who felt suffocated in the city. His anger is aroused when cherry trees near an ancient shrine are felled by Linear contractors. Maeshima Kumi, whose family has lived in Oshika for several centuries and now runs a traditional inn, talks about her opposition to the Linear project, as does Tsuchiya Michiko, whose son manages a cattle farm that was begun by hier husband. Michiko's daughter Kaito talks about why it's important to preserve the beautiful village in which she was born for her child Fumi and the children of future generations.
Director Statement
During military service, I was stationed on the island of Dokdo (Takeshima in Japanese), a disputed piece of territory in the Japan Sea that is a symbol of the strongest anti-Japanese ideology in the whole of Korea. At that time, I can distinctly remember watching the ocean and feeling hatred towards the Japanese people.
Now 6 years later, I find myself in Japan, gazing at the mountains. And I’ve made a film about the experience.
So, I wonder what happened to me over those years? Am I having a love affair (another meaning of palam) with Oshika and Japan?
My role in Oshika was to pick up the stories that the villagers told me. So, my film is actually a co-production with them.
Perhaps the seeds sown from the fruits that they gave to me will in turn produce bear fruit. Who knows? But I want to watch.
In a world suffering in the covid-19 pandemic I hope that those who watch our film will feel the gentle, abundant breeze blowing from the Japan Southern Alps.
I feel that I’ve grown a lot while making this film.
Once again I want to thank the villagers of Oshika and the co-workers who supported my work.
Japan/South Korea/2021/87min/DCP/Color/English Sub/Korean Sub