The Theater Address in Hibiya-Eiga on July 15.

Japanese version is here.

On 15th of July, 1995, those who took part in making Studio Ghibli's " Mimi wo sumaseba"(Whisper of the Heart) gave a special address at the first-run theater, Hibiya-Eiga in Hibiya, TOKYO/JAPAN.
The report was as follows:

[participants]

My impression about the stage address by Yocchan

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The M.C. said some words of welcome to the audience.

To Miyazaki's Address To Index

" Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much for coming here to see the very first run of "Mimi wo sumaseba" today. How do you like it?"

(Audience: handclapping)

" Oh, great! Thank you so much! Now, Mr.Miyazaki, the producer, and Mr.Kondo, the direcror, and also two voice artists are waiting in the wings, and should be very pleased to hear this.
Well, I was astonished to hear that some of you had lined up to see the film since 9:00 p.m. last night. Wasn't it tiring? Anyway, we very much appreciate your love for Studio Ghibli's pieces. Looking back, one whole year has passed since last summer's "Heisei Tanukigassen Ponpoko". Many people should see Ghibli's film every year when they release a brand-new one. And this year's result, 'Mimi wo sumaseba' is released in all parts of Japan just today. We're very glad to have you here to see its very first-run in such a great theater, and now, thank you again for your applause."

[Performers coming]

"Now, I'd like to introduce Mr.Miyazaki, Mr.Kondo, Mr.Takahashi and Ms.Honna. He is Seiji Amasawa and she is Shizuku Tsukishima. Of course, there are more people giving voices to the characters in the film. But today, I think it's lovely for us to have some words from these two. OK. I'll call the name of every person, so would you please greet them with applause again? Thank you.
All right, please Mr.Kondo. He's been taking an active part in drawing for Studio Ghibli's pieces for many years, but, this time, he made his own film as a director."

(Audience: handclapping)

Mr.Kondo coming in.

"He may be the most worried about how you feel about this film today. Oh, wonderful. Clapping won't stop!"

"Then, here is Mr.Miyazaki, the producer of this film. He wrote the manuscript, and also drew the scenery. Everybody, please welcome him."

(Audience: handclapping)

Mr.Miyazaki coming in.

"Let me introduce Ms.Honna. She is Shizuku. How pretty she is! Once, she played for a voice artist as Taeko in Ghibli's 'Omoide Poroporo' ,didn't she?"

(Audience: handclapping)

Ms.Honna coming in.

"Please come in Mr.Takahashi, as Seiji Amasawa. He's a nice boy who met Shizuku, his sweetheart."

(Audience: handclapping)

Mr.Takahashi coming in.

"Now, we have four special persons of the film here. We'd like to have a word from each of them. First, will you please come ahead here, Mr.Miyazaki. Wow, a storm of applause!"

Mr.Miyazaki's address:

To M.C.'s Address To Kondo's Address To Index

"Thank you for today. I wanted to make a good story with this motif for years. Now, I'm really satisfied with what we've made. It especially has its own meaning for having been made in this contemporary day. Actually, I have little about 'Mimi wo Sumaseba' in my mind now, because I've already got down to the next movie. Oh, it'll be released next summer.I do hope you'll enjoy it."

(Audience:laughter and handclapping)

M.C. let him stay though he was going to withdraw.
"Oh, no. Come on please, Mr.Miyazaki. We know you are not eager to talk about the film to the audience. But I'd like to represent our hope of hearing your own words. So first of all, may I ask your ardor for 'On Your Mark'? I mean every one coming here saw it and should be eager to know your actual message. 'On Your Mark' was made as a promotional film for Chage & Asuka, wasn't it?"

Mr.Miyazaki answers with scratching his head.
"Oh, well. Everyone who came here for 'Mimi wo sumaseba' may have been surprised to see it. But the world of 'Mimi wo sumaseba' and that of 'On Your Mark' are quite compartible for me. They can exist in parallel at the same time. Shizuku and Seiji will grow up and probably encounter the world much like that of 'On Your Mark'. We have predicted this when making these two films. However, the two young people will live on indomitably, since they got off on this important and wonderful encounter. "

(Audience: handclapping)

Mr.Miyazaki asked with a gesture if he had finished what he had to say. [M.C. didn't let him leave.]
"Not yet(laughter), please! How about the message...I mean some significant materials, such as 'DANGER' or something. What do they mean?"

" Well...they are...no, you are free to give any meaning to whatever appears in the film. I think we don't have to explain each of the details there."

(Audience: handclapping)

Mr.Miyazaki asked again with a gesture if he could withdraw.
"Not yet, please. OK?"

(Audience:laughter)

"You know...well...initially there was a very small possibility that I took part in producing this film. At the start, I undertook this job from the client just because young producers had told me that they could do it. Then all their efforts proved to be a failure, I mean the one they made was no good. So, I myself ended up having to produce it in haste, pushing my old bones."

(Audience: laughter)

"So what happend next. 'On Your Mark' was only a short promotional film and made for the concert of Chage & Asuka. Talking frankly, it cost too much. So we planned to show it together with "Mimi wo sumaseba" so asto recover a loss. Thank you very much for your cooperation."

(Audience: burst into laughter, and handclapping)

[Finally, he was allowed to withdraw by M.C.]

"Thank you very much, Mr.Miyazaki.
Then it's your turn, Mr.Kondo. Didn't you feel relieved to hear the lasting applause? Will you come ahead? Everybody, here's Mr.Kondo, the director."

(Audience: handclapping)

[Mr.Kondo came ahead boldly and began to speak over a microphone. His attitude was far from that of Mr.Miyazaki's.]

Mr.Kondo's address:

To Miyazaki's Address To Takahashi's Address To Index

"Well, you know, this is my first time to direct a film. Well, actually I never imagined that I had to make some kind of speech in such place when someone makes a film. A speech on the stage of theaters! Well, you know, I took this job on myself without knowing such things. Well, we have already toured some local areas. Well, there may be 16 places for the campaign, I remenber. Go to such places and make a speech on a stage. Every time for the campaign, I felt I should not have undertaken this job. I mean I'm not used to saying something in public. So, so...in the wing, I thought of what to say, but it just disappears when came up to the stage. Understand why I'm mixed up?
Usually, I'm only painting pictures in charge of films. So when I finished my own painting job, I felt the work for the entire film was over, too. But this time, of course I was in charge of everything. So, I had lots of things to do even after painting, such as sound effects or something. But the happiest thing for me was, as you know, there are excellent staff with wonderful talents. It was thanks to such gifted persons for making their best efforts to make this film.
This is also my first time for nationwide campaign for films. I was moved to know that everyone who is related with this film is doing their best for success in showing to as many people as possible. I was impressed by noticing such efforts.
So, anyway I have campaigned in 16 places, the first one was in the west area of Honshu. For one week, yeah, it was probably three weeks ago. And next, we go to the northeastern area, Kyushu, and Hokkaido for two weeks. We move here to there by plane, and move from the airport to the TV or radio station, or to the newspaper company by car. We go to the place where we have an interview so directly that we seldom see what the city is like. I felt I was too rude for the people who live there. I'm suffering for it.
So, through this campaign, I have talked enough to think the job was half over. But today I came here to remenber oh, it's the very first day. So, if you think this movie great, or if you're impressed, will you kindly recommend it to your friends, relatives, or anyone around you for us?"

(Audience: laughter)

"I was told to make an efficient campaign by the producer because its final cost came up to 800 million yen from 200 million yen. I'm due to half of this miscalculation. Only concerning about money, I feel pressure of course, enen though I said I didn't. Oh, anyway it is my greatest pleasure if this movie is seen by as many people as possible. Please enjoy once again. Thank you very much."

(Audience: handclapping)

[Mr.Kondo withdrew after putting the microphone.]

"All right. Thank you, Mr.Kondo.
Then, we'd like to have Mr.Takahashi here. Please, Mr.Kazuo Takahashi."

(Audience: handclapping)

[Kazuo Takahashi coming ahead.]

Takahashi's address:

To Kondo's Address To Honna's Address To Index

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Kazuo Takahashi as Seiji Amasawa.
I have played as a voice artist several times in the past. For Studio Ghibli's piece, I took part in 'Omoide poroporo'. And this time I was happily given the role for Seiji Amasawa, and I think I was awakened to the truth through this performance.
In comtemporary Japan, there is no certain thing. But I noticed that there are a great many wonderful things, which are hidden behind every day life.
And one more thing I noticed by being with Seiji Amasawa is, working for all my worth, or doing my best for something is very cool. Believing in one's hope and going forward is never an embarrasment or shaming.
I thought it's never cool to regard a sincere life to be dull, worthless or hickish. Hereafter, I'm going to look for the real coolness.
Then, also I'm very very looking forward to encounter my Shizuku whom I've not met yet. Thank you very much, every one."

(Audience: burst into laughter, and handclapping)

[Kazuo Takahashi withdrew.]

"Thank you for your excellent speech, Mr.Takahashi. It's full of humor. You're going to be an actor, right? He'll be a great actor.
All right, everybody. Here's the last person. Please Ms.Honna as that pretty, lovely and charming Shizuku."

[Ms.Yoko Honna came ahead.]

Ms.Honna's adress.

To Takahashi's Address To My impression about the stage address by Yocchan To Index

"Good morning. I'm Yoko Honna as Shizuku Tsukishima.
Thank you everyone for coming here to see our film in such a hot day. Actually, I have enjoyed Studio Ghibli's films very much for years, and I'm one of those who are cheered up by their messages of courage, hope and love.
This time, I have a relationship with the film not as an audience member but as a participant. And thanks to that, I could learn more wonderful things.
The staff of Ghibli was really superb. They were kind, tender and polite to me, though I'm lacking in experience. I myself think that there are no such wonderful staff, producers or directors anywhere else in the world.
Through performing as Shizuku, I determined that I was going to live faithfully not losing my hope so as to make my dreams come true. Thank you very much for today."

(Audience: handclapping)

[Yoko Honna withdrew.]

"I think there are many people who still remenber the chaste melody of 'Country Road, Take Me Home' which Yoko sang.
Her speech concludes our appreciate for your coming today. Thank you very much everyone for coming to see the first-run though it's so hot today. We'd like to express our gratitude again. Thank you very much."

(Audience: handclapping)

"Then, would you give them an applause again for making an exit?"

[performers leaving]

That's all.

[My impression about the stage address]

To Honna's Address To Index

I wrote this article by seeing the 8mm video tape I had recorded. I saw it again and again. Then, I felt the contrast between the reliable young people and unreliable old people, just same as in the film.
Mr.Miyazaki was devoted himself into making 'Mononokehime', his next movie, and his mind was not there. His attitude plainly expressed that he's going to make a brief speech.
How about Mr.Kondo? He used such words as 'well' and 'you know' many times because he thought of nothing in advance. Moreover he didn't modulate his voice for effect, so in consequence, his speech got to be a typically dull one.
Mr.Kazuo Takahashi speaks frankly what he really thinks through the experience of making the movie. And Ms.Yoko Honna gave a decent impression on me. I thought her address was steady enough though it is a little bit in due form.

Yocchan (YBH83028@pcvan.or.jp)
Translated into English by Hiroe Suzuki (HQD01026@niftyserve.or.jp)

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