nagazasshi │ March/April 2012 1

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Events | Japanese Alcohol | Blood Types | Beat Takeshi

See the SightsKyushu Travel Guide

2 March/April 2012 │ nagazasshi

nagazasshi

Editor-in-chiefAudrey Akcasu

Deputy EditorQi Yang

Assistant EditorsDouglas BonhamMatthew Jones

Layout and DesignDouglas Bonham

Laurel Williams

Japanese EditorAsami Kobayashi

ContributorsHannah ConklinKatelyn SchwartzHiroko Shirayama

Niel Thompson

www.nagazasshi.com

Volume 6 Issue 1July/August 2013

Cover photo:Yakushima, Kagoshima

by Remco Vrolijk

Copy EditorJasmine Francois

FoundersAndrew Morris

Matthew Nelson

Atsukabai! 暑かばい！

Have you been hearing this around lately? It’s Nagasaki dialect for “It’s so hot!” That only means one thing: We are in the thick of a hot, humid summer. The pools are open, the kids are (almost) out of school, the cicada chorus is humming non-stop and the scent of yakitori fills the air. Summer.

With Marine Day (7/15) and the Obon holidays, summer is a great time to explore Nagasaki and our fellow Kyushu prefectures (Pg 10). Like Nagasaki, our neighbors are also bursting with scenic views, cool attrac-tions, and famous foods.

If you don’t feel like venturing out, Naga-saki still has lots to offer in the summer months. If you get tired of the festivals (but really, who gets tired of fireworks?), there are plenty of beaches and other events (Pg 4).

If you do head out this summer here are some tips:- Wear sunscreen. Maybe you don’t need UV-blocking long-sleeve shirts and parasols, but at least remember your sunscreen!- Don’t swim in the ocean during or after Obon. Take this as Japanese folklore if you will, but jellyfish are not forgiving. - Use katori senko (蚊取り線香) to keep the mosquitoes at bay. - Use joshitsuzai (除湿剤) to keep your house a little drier. - Wipe down your shower room often to prevent molding.- Don’t forget your sweat towel!

Enjoy the summer!

Audrey Akcasu, Editor-in-chief

TreasurerSusan Fogarty

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ContentsEvents

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Umeshu in the MorningA primer on Japanese booze

The Two Faces of Beat TakeshiBilingual introduction to the famous

Japanese film director

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Kyushu Travel Guide

Know your As, Bs, and Os of romance

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19Kanji of the Month

Blood Type and Love

nagazasshi | July/August 2013

Staff recommendations on where to go from Saga to Kagoshima and back

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10 photo Remco Vrolijk

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Event of the MonthDragon Boat Races

July 27-28, Nagasaki CityIn this exciting event that dates back 350 years, 26-member teams

race special longboats in Nagasaki Bay to the beat of a gong and drum. You can catch many races throughout the day and also try out

rowing a dragon boat.

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EventsIsahaya Mando FestivalJuly 25, IsahayaStart the festival season out right in Isahaya by honoring the victims of the 1957 flood. Over10,000 candles will illuminate the riverbed, while a great fireworks show and the usual festival food and attractions will entertain you.

Gion Yamakasa FestivalJuly 27-28, IkiIki’s summer attractions don’t end with the pristine beaches; they’ve been hosting this boisterous festival for over 270 years. A parade of men carrying huge portable shrines snakes through the streets in honor of Yamakasa, who ended a sickness that plagued the area long ago.

Marine FestaJuly 27-28, Minami ShimabaraKuchinotsu harbor, a famous historical port, will light up this weekend with tons of activities, such as a fishing boat parade, traditional arts, a brass band competition, sailing experience and best of all, dolphin watching. The event concludes with a vivid fireworks show.

Hamagurihama Beach FestivalJuly 13-14, Minami MatsuuraThis two-day beach party promises beauti-ful beaches, warm water, treasure hunts, a sandcastle-making experience, competi-tions and games for kids, and more.

Shimabara Water FestivalEarly August, Shimabara CityStarting along the samurai house water-way, bamboo lanterns light the path of this

whimsical festival celebrating the fresh spring water and brief revival opening of Kanzarashi “Silver Water” shop, after a ten-year hiatus.

Nagoshi FestivalAugust 1-3, OmuraKicking off this three-day festival is a spectac-ular fireworks show, but the real excitement is during the following two days. Don’t miss the taiko and dance performances, which conclude with a line of over 2,000 dancers parading through the street in unison.

Seaside FestivalAugust 3-4, SaseboKyushu’s biggest fireworks display is a must-see for hanabi lovers. In the daytime you can participate in beach volleyball and other sports contests or just enjoy the performanc-es and festivities.

Hatsubon (Obon) FestivalAugust 15, Nagasaki CityAs dusk approaches, a long parade of floats is marched down the main streets of Nagasaki toward the sea to cast off the souls of the year’s deceased. While it may sound like a sol-emn event, Nagasaki does it loud and lively, with copious firecrackers and amusing floats.

Sentoro FestivalEmukaeAugust 23-24, EmukaeNot only is this festival famous for its 10,000 lanterns and 25 m high lantern tower (the tallest in Japan), but also its secondary Mizu-kakejizou festival, where children carry port-able shrines honoring Jizou, while getting drenched in water. The crowd is not spared, so be prepared!

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Not sure what’s in your glass? Let Katelyn Schwartz take you on a tour of alco-hol in Japan

Umeshu in the Morning

It was about 4:30 in the morning when my jetlag refused to allow me any more sleep. With noth-

ing else to do, I decided to make a nice nutritional breakfast. I made beautiful sunny-side-up eggs, buttered toast, and to top it off, a refreshing glass of juice.

The girl who had my job and apartment before me had done a bit of shopping and left some food, so I wouldn’t starve when I arrived. One of the things she left me was a carton of what I could only presume was fruit juice, given the tantalizing illustrations of plums. I had no real idea what it was. Prior to arriv-ing in Japan, I had no concept of what the country, its culture, its people, or its food was like.

New land, new culture… new juice? I

poured myself a nice big glass and dove right into my breakfast. As I was sipping my new Japanese juice, I detected an odd, yet familiar note on my palate. It had that slight blowback sting of whisky, yet the fruity sweetness of it led me to dismiss any hints of alarm. As I finished my breakfast (and my juice) I was ready to get going. It was going to be a fantastic second day at work, I could just tell.

Everything seemed wonderful, but then I just wanted to nap to rid myself of a slight headache. As I arrived home that evening, I decided

to further investigate this mystery juice. I inquired with my neighbor what particu-lar sort of juice it was that I had so freely ingested that very morning. She looked at the carton and just laughed, “You see this kanji down here? This means alcohol. This is umeshu, plum wine, my friend.”

Navigating alcohol in Japan can be a bit tricky. Here’s a nice little guide to learn your shus.

”“ One of the things she left was a carton of what I could only presume was fruit juice...

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ビール (beer) and 発泡酒 (happoushu)

Real beer, typically referred to as nama (生), contains at least 67% malt. It is like beer anywhere in the world, but a bit on the lighter side. Real beer will always say ビール on the can or label. Happoushu is a low-malt beer-like drink that is sold at a lower price. It has less than 25% malt and is taxed lower than actual beer.

日本酒 (nihonshu)

Nihonshu is what the West typically calls sake; however, in Japan, the umbrella term for all alcohol is sake. The alcohol content is usually 10-20% and can be drunk hot or cold.

焼酎 (shouchuu)

Shouchuu is like Japanese vodka. It can be made from rice, sweet pota-toes, wheat, sugar cane or a variety of other bases depending on what is famous locally. The alcohol content is usually 20-40% and is typically served mixed with hot or ice water, fruit juice, sparkling water, or oolong tea. This tends to be more popular than nishonshu on Kysuhu.

チュウハイ (chuhai)

Chuhai is shouchuu mixed with soda wa-ter and fruit flavor. The alcohol content is usually 3-8%. Don’t confuse them for soda pop, as they are dangerously deli-cious. In restaurants you’ll often seen these drinks as “sours,” サワー (sawa).

梅酒 (umeshu)

Umeshu is commonly called plum wine in the West; however, it is not wine at all. It is white liquor soaked in Japa-nese plums and sugar for a minimum

of three to six months. The alcohol content is usually 12-16% and is typi-cally drunk on the rocks or mixed with soda water. It is commonly made at home in the spring. Ask around and you can find someone to teach you how to make it, too.

If you can’t remember all the different alcohols, at least remember this kanji: 酒. It means alcohol. If you see it, I highly recommend not drinking it right before going to work.

photo flickr.com/soniat360

She looked at the carton and just laughed. “This means alcohol. This is umeshu, plum wine, my friend”

“”

nn

People will often tell you that the best way to know if someone is right for you is to talk to them,

get to know their values and who they are, and be honest about what you want in a relationship. Who has time for that? I know I don’t, which is why when I want to know my compatibility with someone, I steal some of their blood and send it off for testing to learn their blood type. Knowing a person’s blood type is a much simpler and less convoluted way of determining compatibility.

What does your blood type say about you and your future love prospects? Niel Thompson brings some insight on this aspect of Japanese culture

Blood TypeandLove

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Type A’s are the main characters in romance stories. They are calm, col-lected, shy, and are generally honest. They are often secretive and usually come off as very strong-willed, when in truth they are very nervous. They are lightweights and can be very belliger-ent when drunk.

Type B’s are those annoying people in your class who were good at every-thing and anything they got around to trying. They are very passionate and curious about a lot of things. This causes them to have the attention span of a six year old. They are extremely in-dividualistic and often don’t care about what other people think of them. They can be selfish, unpredictable, and lazy.

Type O’s are the people who manage to win every election even though no-body has any idea what their platform was, but do remember that they have a charming smile and really great hair.

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Let’s study

the most effective way!

2-19-22 HaikiSasebo City Nagasaki

090-7162-7577

kuumons@mtf.biglobe.ne.jp

Instructor Kiyoko Hayashi

Japanese

KUMON HAIKI CENTER

” Knowing a per-son’s blood type is a much simpler and less convo-luted way of determining compatibility

“

They are the natural politicians and athletes of the world. They love be-ing the center of attention and often control the dynamics and workings of any group they are a part of. They are generally loveable like Mr. Rog-ers, but unlike Mr. Rogers, they can also make huge gambles that can turn into large mistakes. They can be greedy, clumsy, and loud-mouthed.

All the above blood types are most compatible with people of a similar genetic disposition. Any attempt to contamin…I mean, mix the blood types will result in a long and unhappy

marriage…probably.

People of the Type AB persuasion don’t have this problem. They can have a successful relationship with anyone. Type AB’s are the bipolars of the world. They have a different persona for both

the people they are close to and the rest of the world. They are friendly, consid-erate, and kind, but also easily

offended and prone to cause conflict.

Knowing the implications of both your own blood type and your love interest’s will help you to not waste time in the dating scene and ensure a happy ending. nn

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SAGA — 佐賀Our friendly neighbor to the east, Saga Prefecture, is easy to look past when mak-ing travel plans. After all, it’s one of the smallest prefectures in all of Japan and full of nothing but farmland. Right? Maybe not -- there’s plenty to explore.

First and foremost is the Yoshi-nogari Historical Park in the town of Kanzaki. The ruins lo-cated there, spread throughout three current towns, provide one of the best glimpses at ancient Yayoi-era Japanese life. The park is open year-round and is a great spot for Japanese history buffs. If you’re into traditional arts, the towns of Arita and Imari are the birthplace of some of the most famous Japanese pottery. For

If you’re looking for a summer getaway, no need to stray far from home. Nagasaki’s neighboring prefectures offer a variety of fun and delicious options. Let Nagazasshi’s staff guide you to your next adventure

those looking for onsen, Ureshino City is a must-visit.

The two most famous festivals in Saga are both in the fall: the Saga International Balloon Festival and Karatsu Kunchi. Hundreds of hot-air balloons fill up the autumn skies at the world-famous balloon

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The city is still a place of international ex-change, hosting monthly events and shows from artists and performers from all over the world. Be sure to visit the Fukuoka Art Museum in Ohori Park and while you’re there, enjoy the beautifully designed landscape. Fukuoka boasts two major shopping areas, Tenjin and the Canal City mall, where you can find the latest fashion trends. You can also get a great view of the city from Fukuoka Tower and watch baseball or a concert at Fukuoka Dome. For the history buffs, visit the Fukuoka Castle Ruins, Dazaifu or Shofukuji, Japan’s first Zen temple.

Fukuoka is famous for its yatai (food stalls) along the Tenjin and Nakasu streets. Enjoy Japan’s version of street food and lively conversation while sitting under the night stars. This city is also famous for Hakata tonkotsu ramen (pork rib noodles), so try Ippudo and Ichiran for a taste.

festival near Saga City starting in late October. Karatsu Kunchi is arguably the most-attended festival in Saga. Groups from each of the traditional neighbor-hoods of Karatsu pull huge floats from the 19th century.

Being an agriculture-based prefecture also has its perks. Saga is famous for its green tea, soybeans and soybean products, like tofu. Head to Ogi for a very special treat of carp 鯉 (koi) sashimi.Saga may be small and it may be rural, but it has its charms.

FUKUOKA — 福岡Fukuoka Prefecture is home to the largest city in Kyushu. Fukuoka City began as a prosperous port city, and when it merged with Hakata in 1889, it became the grand Fukuoka we know today.

Below left: Yoshinogari Historical Park in Saga. Above: Squint and you can see yatai lining the river near Tenjin in Fukuoka

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KUMAMOTO — 熊本Kumamoto Prefecture, located in central Kyushu, is home to one of Japan’s most popular mascots, Kumamon. It possesses both mountainous and coastal regions, making it a diverse place in which to ex-plore Kyushu’s natural beauty.

The most popular tourist attraction is Mt. Aso, an active aqueous sulfur volcano. The Aso area is great for hiking, rolling green pastures, and delicious dairy products from the local livestock. Also, be sure to visit the expansive grounds of Kumamoto Castle. With the scent of 600 year-old cinnamon trees and cherry blossoms it is the perfect place to visit in the spring. For an active tour, climb the longest stone staircase in Japan, all 3,333 steps. The hike for 日本一の石段 (nihon ichino ishidan) takes about two hours at a steady pace and includes a stone marker and a great view of Kumamoto at the top. Those who love beaches may visit Amakusa (天草). This

island to the west of mainland Kumamoto is famous for dolphin watching and beauti-ful coastal scenery. You can enjoy kayaking, diving, surfing or just laying out.

Kumamoto’s special eats include 馬刺し (basashi), raw horse meat, 辛子レンコン (karashi renkon), lotus root stuffed with raw horse meat and spicy mustard, and 豚骨ラーメン (tonkotsu ramen), Kumamoto’s own version of boiled pork rib noodles.

OITA — 大分Oita Prefecture is home to two sites of ex-treme natural beauty: the Harajiri Falls and the Inazumi underwater caves. The Harajiri Falls are ranked among Japan’s top 100 waterfalls, and the view from the top is breathtaking. Then there are the Inazumi limestone caves. The unique shape of the caves maintains a comfortable swimming temperature, as well as a fantastic vista, all year round.

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Many of Oita’s cities have lovingly restored castle towns to visit, and these provide ex-cellent sightseeing opportunities. For the more spiritual visitors, Rakanji Temple, on Mt. Rakan has almost 4,000 different Bud-dha statues. It is said that amongst these, there will be one that looks like you. Also the stone Buddhas in Usuki are well re-garded and 59 of them have been declared national treasures.

Finally, on the third Sunday of every month, you can rent traditional kimonos in the town of Kitsuki. Any visitor who is wearing a kimono will have free access to all public tourist spots.

From the gourmet Kokonoe Yume burger and bungo beef, to a variety of cold noodle dishes for those warm summer months, Oita has the die-hard foodie covered. Beppu, a city famous for its onsens, has its own specialty: Jikoku mushi, seafood, vegetables or pork cooked in the steam vents from the onsens.

MIYAZAKI — 宮崎Miyazaki Prefecture, located in the southeast corner of Kyushu, is the perfect destination for a summer getaway. Set-ting it apart from the other prefectures is Takachiho-kyo, a stunning gorge located in the northwest of the prefecture. The remarkable cliffs, surrounding foliage, and sparkling water of the Gokase River make for a really spectacular view. For 2,000 yen, you can rent a three-person boat for 30 minutes and get a close-up view of the cliffs and Minainotaki waterfall. Or you can explore by following a path along the edge of the gorge and leads to a local shrine.

Traveling further south, you will find Aoshima, a tiny island connected by a

photo Remco Vrolijk

Left: The rolling plains of Kum-amoto from Mt. Aso. Above: Local dishes in Beppu, Oita. Below: Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki

photo beppu-navi.jp

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bridge to the mainland, just south of Mi-yazaki city. Explore Oni no Sentakuita, or Devil’s Washboard, a natural formation of basalt rock surrounding the island. Nearby shops sell local specialties, such as mango, charcoal-grilled yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), and cheese manju (steamed bread). A 40-kilometer drive south of the city will bring you to Udo-jingu, a shrine uniquely placed in a cliff-side cave over-looking the ocean. For a small fee, you can purchase some undama, small ceramic balls, which visitors can throw at a target for good luck.

KAGOSHIMA — 鹿児島Located on Kyushu’s southern tip, Kagoshima’s diverse scenery, rich history and mouthwatering delicacies make it a perfect summer destination for hikers,

history buffs and foodies alike. The 2011 extension of the Kyushu shinkansen (bullet train) has made it even easier to explore.

Home to Sakurajima, one of Japan’s most active volcanic islands and Kirishima, hon-eymoon spot of samurai Ryoma Sakamoto, Kagoshima hardly lacks in tourist hot spots. This summer, however, try escaping to the stunning islands off Kagoshima’s southern coast. Both Tanegashima and Amami Island beckon surfers with beauti-ful beaches and some of Japan’s best reef breaks. Many will skip these islands because of the required travel, but conse-quently miss out on some of Japan’s best surf and surfing atmosphere.

For a different kind of adventure, you can’t beat Yakushima. Take the hike to Jomon Sugi, kayak at the foot of a waterfall, or

Sakurajima in Kagoshima photo Jon Arnouts

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stargaze while relaxing in a seaside hot spring. Regardless of what itinerary you choose, this World Heritage Island never falls short of unforgettable.

On top of ravishing nature, Kagoshima adds great dining. Kurobuta 黒豚 (literally, black pork) has put Kagoshima on the map as a culinary prefecture with popular vari-ations such as shabu-shabu and tonkatsu. However, shirokuma, a Kagoshima classic, is arguably Japan’s top summer treat. The origin of this fruit-filled variation of shaved ice, Mujaki, is conveniently located within the shopping district of Tenmonkan, so stop there for a delicious break from Japan’s brutal summer heat and be sure to ship some home so you can enjoy a taste of Kagoshima even after you’ve left. nn

ビ｜トたけしの二足の草鞋

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Have you ever heard the phrase “Nisoku no waraji”? It has the same meaning as “wearing two hats,”

and it describes a person who has talents in two areas. It is the best phrase to describe Takeshi Kitano, who is a Japanese film director and comedian commonly known as Beat Takeshi.

He began his career as a comedian with Beat Kiyoshi as a comedy duo. Kitano and his partner are important in the history of Japanese comedy because they led the manzai (two-man comedy act) boom in the 1970s.

He has acted in many films, but in 1989 he directed his first film, Violent Cop. After his directing debut, his films were acclaimed not only in Japan, but in many countries. For example, A Scene at the Sea (1991) and The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003) won prizes at the Japanese Academy Awards. One of his most successful films, HANA-BI (1998) earned the Golden Lion Award at the Venice International Film Festival. The fans of his works call themselves “Kitanists,” and their number is especially great in France. There are many adjectives to describe his

films including violent, unique, silent, funny, and critical. His films let us think deeply, and this is exactly what makes Ki-tano Takeshi different from other directors and allows him to attract a wide audience.

When we compare his films to others, especially Hollywood films, we notice that the characters in Kitano’s films do not talk much. This is why many people describe his films as silent. This is one of the techniques Kitano uses to make us think about his film topics deeply. In his third film, A Scene at the Sea, the two main characters are both hearing and seeing impaired. It forces us to guess at what they are thinking and feeling from only what we see. This also happens in real life, especially in Japan with its very high-context culture. It is this culture in which people value what is not spoken, such as atmosphere, facial expression, or social hierarchy, more than what is spoken. From this perspective, Kitano’s films seem to be very Japanese and real.

Also, films usually draw us into their world, but Kitano’s do not. Generally speaking, films make the audience identify with the main characters. However, Kitano often uses very long shots so that the camera does not focus on his characters’ facial ex-pressions. This is also a unique technique of Kitano’s to make the audience think deeply. We do not lose ourselves in Kitano’s films,

Hiroko Shirayama on the critically acclaimed and multitalented Beat Takeshi

The Two Faces of Beat Takeshi

nagazasshi | July/August 2013

but watch them very calmly and objectively from the perspective of the third person. This allows us to think critically. For an example of this, we can look again at A Scene at the Sea. After a scene in which the two main characters (who are a couple) get back together after an argument, they are sitting on the sea wall. It seems romantic, but soon after that, a man riding a bicycle falls into the sea and breaks the mood. This scene seems to be poking fun at other romantic films, or pulling us out of our absorption in the film. The romantic atmosphere is broken by the man riding his bicycle and we watch this scene from a third person’s view, totally as a detached member of the audience.

Kitano is a rather unique man in Japan, who plays big roles not only as a comedian, but also as a film director. His style of directing, such as using silence and making the audience an objective third person, makes his films outstanding.

「ビートたけしの二足の草鞋」

皆さんは、「二足の草鞋」を履いている芸能人と言われて、誰を想像するでしょうか？私は、

お笑い芸人でもあり、そして映画監督でもあるビートたけし、別名、北野武を表すために、最も適切な言葉だと思います。彼がツービートとして、ビートきよしと共に「漫才ブーム」を引き起こし、お笑い界で活躍したのは皆さんご存知でしょう。そして彼は今もなお、お笑い芸人そしてタレントとしてテレビで活躍しています。しかし、彼はそれだけでなく、映画界でも重要な存在でしょう。彼は映画を主に監督する際には、北野武という名前を使い、二つの名を使い分けているようです。例えば、彼の初めての監督作品である「その男、凶暴につき」では、監督は北野武であるものの、出演の欄にはビートたけしとあります。また彼が海外でも評価され、「世界のキタノ」と呼ばれるのも北野武という名が使われているからでしょう。彼の作品には多くの海外ファンが

Beat Takeshi in his film HANA-BIphoto flickr.com/beatmojo

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いますが、彼らファンは自分たちのことを「キタニスト」と呼びます。「キタニスト」が海外でも多いのは、第54回のヴェネチア国際映画祭で彼の監督・出演作品である「HANA-BI」が金獅子賞を受賞したことでも理解出来るでしょう。

彼の映画は、「暴力的だ」とか「過激だ」、「会話が少ない」、「独特すぎる」、「批判的」などとどちらかというと否定的なイメージを持たれていることが多いように感じます。しかし、このような否定的なイメージの中に実は、北野武らしさが現れています。日本文化を発信する意図と映画の観方を意識した北野武の監督作品はどれも、観客である私たちに考えさせる映画であり、だからこそ彼は「世界のキタノ」と呼ばれ、どこか特別な存在であり続けるのではないでしょうか。

彼の映画は特にハリウッド映画とは大きな違いを有していると思います。まず、北野映画では圧倒的に、出演者たちはあまり言葉を発しません。これによって観客である私たちは、映画の登場人物たちが何を考えているのか、そして何を感じているのか考えさせられます。例えば、1991年の「あの夏、いちばん静かな海」は、登場人物の茂と貴子は互いに聾唖（ろうあ）者という設定です。この映画では、私たちは茂と貴子の行動や行動の“間”に注意を向ける必要があり、“言葉ではない部分”を重視しなければなりません。これは、とても日本らしいのではないでしょうか？日本の文化はしばしば”High-Context Culture”と呼ばれます。“KY”という言葉があるように、場の雰囲気や表情、先輩後輩や上司部下などの社会階級などを重視する文化です。対照的に捉えられるのは、言葉でハッキリと示す西洋の文化です。北野映画は過激で独特だと言われがちですが、この点から、実

はとても日本らしく、そして現実に忠実なものだと言えるのではないでしょうか。

更に、北野映画がハリウッド映画と異なる点は、観客の視点にも現れています。映画ではしばしば、観客は映画の主人公と同じ視点に引き込まれます。例えば、皆さんは、ヒーローものを観る際、悪役に対して反発意識を持つでしょう。キレイな女優さんが恋愛をする映画を観れば、ファッションを真似し、運命の相手を探すことさえあるかも知れません。これは当然のように思えますが、観客が主人公に影響されている、もしくは同調しているからに他なりません。これらは、ハリウッドでよくみられる、主人公の表情を重視する映画の撮り方にも関係があるかも知れません。一方、北野映画では、遠くの風景なども含む遠写しがよく使われます。「あの夏、いちばん静かな海」でも、主人公の表情よりも、その空間の全体像を写す場面があります。例えば、カップルである茂と貴子が喧嘩をして、仲直りをした後のシーン。防波堤で二人は時間を共に過ごします。一見ロマンチックなシーンのように思えますが、すぐに、自転車に乗った男性が海に落ち、その雰囲気が壊されてしまいます。これは、ビートたけしらしいおふざけのシーンにも思えますが、私は、これは映画の世界に夢中になる観客を小バカにすると共に、第三者的に映画を観るきっかけを観客へ与えているようにも思います。この結果、私たちはその映画の意味を冷静にかつ客観的に捉えられるのです。

北野武とは、お笑い界だけでなく映画界でも大きな役割を担う人物です。それだけでなく、実は日本らしさに富む、沈黙や観客の第三者的視点を引き出すといった彼らしさは、北野武を他とは比較の出来ない存在にするのでしょう。nn

19nagazasshi | July/August 2013 19

The best Mexican food in Nagasaki

International beers and specialty margaritas Hungry Hombre Special

Homemade salsa and guacamole Taco Salad

Nomihoudai party plans available

A short walk from Sasebo

Station

Contactwww.mikes-sasebo.com

0956-24-2704

Open17.00-22.0011.30-14.00

Sat/Sun

R35

Sasebo Station

x

x

x

Shidax

Family Mart

Koen-dori

Yonka

Arcade

Address

長崎県佐世保市下京町4-8Sasebo, Shimokyo-cho 4-8