Takeshi Kitano is one of the top movie directors in Japan. He seems to have come back to his school,Meiji University, yesterday and made a long speech about his recent workds and his history.
Takeshi Kitano dropped out Meiji University before graduation. But he got honored graduate degree about 10 years ago from Meiji University, it’s because he made remarkable footprints in Japanese art works and media history, together with the career, he contributed to Meiji University’s fame. So Takeshi Kitano became a GRADUATE of the university since then, and this time he got back to his University as one of the graduates.
As always, he joked away any kind of topics and all the questions from the audience. The speech led people to endless laughter although the speed and sharpness were not good as his younger time.
In the speech, he confessed that he is making YAKUZA ( Japanese mafia ) movie as the next work. His works often emphasize violence, but inside the aggressive power shown on the surface, there always is a tenderness. That is his style. He seems to be back in his original world after roaming in the various tentative creations.
We want to expect it, but he is also old now 62 or 63 ?). When I first saw his movie, I was drawn into his world without a rest. His movies always showed us something new when observing human mind. Violence, Madness, and tenderness are his tripod to support the visual works and basic story.
He is originally a genius comedian. In his talks as a comedian, we also are moved by his sharp observation to human mind. He can expose any hidden mind of people and immediately decorate it with comedy essence. Explosive laughter is born by the extreme paradox of hidden secret and exposed reality. His story is always a magic of laughter.
He talked over any taboos. But he was allowed. Probably if a politicians or a critic says the same thing, people behind the TVs will get angry about the rude comments. But when Takeshi Kitano cuts in the taboos, we rather expected it. It’s really like a story of Naked King. He could be the kid shouting at King ” He is naked !”
In a sense, Japanese mental culture has been restructured by Takeshi Kitano too. He was one of the vans of modern Japanese culture builders.
So, we expect his next work again.
