【特集】主演・佐藤勝利さんが語る「平和を思いながら願いながら」長岡花火を描く7月公開映画「君と花火と約束と」【新潟】スーパーJにいがた4月17日OA

Every summer, magnificent fireworks bloom in the night sky of Nagaoka. An animated film set against the backdrop of this Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan's most representative fireworks displays, will be released nationwide in July. The film, "You, the Fireworks, and the Promise," depicts themes of recovery from air raids and the desire for peace through a love story between high school students. The voice actor for the protagonist is Sato Shori, a member of the popular idol group 'timelesz'. He spoke about his thoughts on the film. "You, the Fireworks, and the Promise" will be released in theaters nationwide on July 17th. It's a love story about Makoto, a high school student living in Tokyo, and the heroine, Aki, as they are tossed about by the past and present while weaving their future together, all centered around the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival. The lead role of Makoto Natsume is played by Sato Shori, a member of the popular idol group 'timelesz'. The heroine, Aki Hayama, is played by Hara Nanoka, who has appeared in numerous popular works, including films by director Shinkai Makoto and television dramas. Recently, footage of Sato's voice recording session was released. While Sato is active as an artist and has starred in stage plays and dramas, this is his first time voice acting. ■ Sato Shori (playing the main character, Makoto Natsume) "Matching the mouth movements to the animation is difficult, as is the timing and emotions. Holding a book, it feels like I'm abroad. I feel like I'm being immersed in various cultures all at once." The film is set at the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, one of Japan's three major fireworks displays. It embodies a memorial for those who died in the war, gratitude to those who worked hard for reconstruction, and a wish for world peace. ■ Sato Shori (playing the main character, Makoto Natsume) "Since this film was made for the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, as I read the script, I felt that I had to connect and convey the message of peace." The key to the story lies in this single painting. The fireworks depicted are modeled after the 'Shiragiku' flower. The pure white fireworks represent a tribute to the 1489 victims of the Nagaoka air raid. Every year on August 1st, the fireworks are launched at 10:30 PM, the exact time when the air raids began. In the film, Makoto and Kira visit Nagaoka to fulfill a promise made 81 years ago regarding the Nagaoka Fireworks. Many real-life buildings and other locations appear in the film. March 31st – Michihiko Umezawa, who planned and produced the film, visited the Nagaoka locations featured in the movie. His first stop was Aore Nagaoka. Umezawa, who had been developing the concept for about nine years, also spoke with people who experienced the air raids while working on this project. ■Planning and Production: Michihiko Umezawa "I heard that the Kakigawa River was engulfed in oil from incendiary bombs, and everyone fled to the river, but the river was on fire, and many people died. I interviewed Tomi Kaneko and heard her story directly." ■Nagaoka Air Raid Storyteller: Tomi Kaneko "I jumped in from somewhere below that area; there's that red bridge now, but that bridge didn't exist (at the time). I jumped in with a splash, still covered in my futon, and I survived." Tomi Kaneko lost her father and sister in the Nagaoka air raid when she was 11 years old. She passed away five years ago at the age of 87, sharing her tragic experiences and memories as a storyteller. She spoke about "Shiragiku" (White Chrysanthemum) during her lifetime as follows: ■Nagaoka Air Raid Storyteller, Tomi Kaneko (then 86 years old): "For those of us who experienced the tragic events of the air raid, these fireworks evoke a deep sense of reverence. We pray that such a cruel event will never happen again." ■Planning & Production, Michihiko Umezawa: "Someone told me, 'I'm looking forward to the movie,' but before that..." In the film, this "Shiragiku" (White Chrysanthemum) will greatly influence the fate of Makoto and Kira. Another location featured in the film is... Chosei Bridge. This is also an important place for Makoto and Kira. The reason for choosing Chosei Bridge is— ■Planning & Production, Michihiko Umezawa: "The bridge piers, including the bridge structure, make for a beautiful picture. They're doing the Niagara (fireworks) display over there, right? That's why we thought Chosei Bridge would be a good location for the climax." A few hints about the story were also given. On this day, we also inspected one of the theaters showing the film, "T-Joy Nagaoka." ■Planning & Production: Michihiko Umezawa "(Q. Would you like the people of Nagaoka to see it?) That's the most important thing, since it's my hometown." There are a little over three months until the release, but because Nagaoka is the setting, movie theaters are prominently featuring the film. It seems to be attracting a lot of attention from locals. ■T-Joy Nagaoka ...