Known for works such as Mind Game (2004), Lu Over the Wall (2017), and Ride Your Wave (2019), world renowned anime director, Masaaki Yuasa's recent work, Inu-Oh(2021) depicts the life of a14th Century noh＊-performer, Inu-Oh and his journey, from being an outcast to becoming a celebrated notoriety.
*noh - classical Japanese dance-drama
Based on a novel, Tales of the Heike: Chapter of Inu-Oh, by Hideo Furukawa, Yuasa cleverly fuses together the real-life story of Inu-Oh, a celebrated performer at his time, and modern day rock concert, like never seen before.
Based on The Tale of the Heike, Inu-Oh depicts a legendary figure in Japanese history. Source: Sydney Film Festival
Yuasa had little knowledge of a noh-performer called Inu-Oh, or his "buddy", a blind biwa* priest called Tomona, when he was first approached by the producer, to "portray a pop star of the Muromachi period (1338–1573)." *Japanese short-necked wooden lute
"I was intrigued" Yuasa tells SBS Japanese.
"The past which one imagines through history is very limited, there must have been so much more to it"
"Inu-Oh was a man whose name is all that remains, but he must have been even more wonderful than those whose names remain"
The director reveals that he became fascinated by the main characters, who despite living during a chaotic and difficult time, pursued honestly, what they wanted to do.
As Yuasa invested into the characters of Inu-Oh and Tomona, he gradually became inspired- "I wish I could be like them"
Playing the voice of Inu-Oh is a lead singer of the band Queen Bee, while that of Tomona is played by Japanese actor and dancer, Mirai Moriyama.
For the director, it was a priority to portray "a person of honest expression" , such that the production team worked tirelessly together to create a character that was as close to the actor as possible.
The film which is hailed as a "rock opera", is driven by music, but unlike a typical musical where the story is created around the piece, the music was produced simultaneously with the story and the characters.
"It was the hardest part of the film" says Yuasa, revealing that there were endless discussions going back and forth with the musical director, Yoshihide Otomo.
"At one point, there was even an unpleasantness in the air" says Yuasa.
But because of these challenges, the team is "extremely happy" with the final piece.
The director hopes that the audience will "experience" Inu-oh and Tomona's energetic and powerful performance, as if they were at an outdoor rock festival.
The film Inu-Oh will be screened as part of the Sydney Film Festival on June 9 and 10. Director Yuasa will also appear at the screening as a guest.
Inu-Oh is a fusion of Japanese Noh and contemporary rock anthems Source: Sydney Film Festival
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