Actors Masaki Okada, Suzu Hirose, and Tatsuya Kitani took center stage on February 22 at the TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi for the film premiere of Yūki te Kagura, directed by Yoshitaro Negishi. The film, inspired by the turbulent love lives of actress Yasuko Hasegawa, poet Chūya Nakahara, and literary critic Hideo Kobayashi, explores the emotional intricacies of youth romance set against the backdrop of the Taisho era.
The premiere featured the cast sharing nostalgic stories from their own high school days relevant to the movie's themes of young love and ambition. Okada recalled his own youthful misadventures from high school, humorously reminiscing about his first attempt at drumming for his school band. "I was assigned to play the drums, even though I had never touched them before. But during the first song, I cramped up and couldn’t keep playing. It was quite sad," he reflected with laughter, recalling the nerve-wracking moment.
Suzu Hirose also shared her personal anecdotes about her early acting experiences, particularly when she first starred on TV at the tender age of 16. "I had to practice lines intensively with the producer—10 pages every day for hours. It was tough, but I learned so much!" Hirose recalled. She described one chaotic day where tensions flared during preparation for her character’s monologue, leading to some amusing but intense exchanges with the producer.
Joining them on stage, the singer-songwriter Kitani, who wrote the film's theme song, reflected on the parallels between his own teenage band experiences and the film itself. "I recall my high school days with my band. I was strict with my members, which resulted in us not staying together long—yet those were formative times," he stated with nostalgia. With smiles all around, the cast discussed how their own "red spring" anecdotes—a phrase they used to describe passionate, albeit tumultuous, periods of their youth—echoed the story's themes.
Set during the culturally rich Taisho period, Yūki te Kagura presents the intense love triangle involving Hasegawa, Nakahara, and Kobayashi, performed by Hirose, Okada, and Daisei Kido respectively. The chemistry among the cast was evident, with Kido expressing admiration for Nakahara's character. "I would love to have spent time with him if I could; his brilliance and passion for life were thrilling," he confessed, illustrating the desire to embrace youthful folly alongside artistic genius.
Director Negishi added depth to the conversation, reminiscing about his youth filled with ambitious creatives who shaped his career. He spoke about how meaningful friendships impact artistic expression and personal growth. He emphasized the importance of youthful relationships, stating, "Even if we make mistakes, what we learn carries forth to adulthood. Understanding ourselves through our youth is invaluable.”
The event was more than just a film premiere; it served as a reflective moment for the cast, reminding them and the audience of their shared youthful struggles and triumphs. The bonds formed during those early years, marked by trials and passion, clearly echoed the film's narrative.
Overall, Yūki te Kagura promises to be not only visually stunning, highlighting the beauty of the Taisho era, but emotionally engaging as well, thanks to the poignant storytelling immersed within the performances of its talented cast. To experience their homage to youth and fleeting love, the film opens to the public this week.