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Shunji Iwai

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Shunji Iwai
岩井 俊二
Iwai at the 2015 Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Born (1963-01-24) 24 January 1963 (age 61)
Sendai City, Japan
Occupation(s)Director, video artist, screenwriter, editor, composer, producer

Shunji Iwai (岩井 俊二, Iwai Shunji, born 24 January 1963) is a Japanese filmmaker, video artist, writer and documentary maker.

Life and career

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Iwai was born in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. He attended Yokohama National University, graduating in 1987.

In 1988, he started out in the Japanese entertainment industry by directing TV dramas and music videos. In 1993, his television drama, Fireworks, brought him critical praise and the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for his portrayal of a group of children in the town of Iioka.[1]

In 1995, he went on to start his career in feature films, starting with the box-office hit Love Letter, in which he cast pop singer Miho Nakayama in dual roles. Love Letter also launched the film career of Miki Sakai who won a Japanese Academy Award as 'Newcomer of the Year' for her portrayal of Itsuki Fujii as a young girl. Iwai collaborated with cinematographer Noboru Shinoda to produce a film praised for its evocative winter cinematography. Love Letter made an impact in other east Asian countries too, notably South Korea where the film's success helped break down the post-World War II barriers to Japanese films being shown there.

In 1996, came the commercial and critical success of Swallowtail Butterfly, a multifaceted story of the fictional Yen Town, a city of immigrants in search of hope and a better life with three separate and distinct main characters. Ageha (Ayumi Ito), an orphaned teenage girl, Glico (Chara), a prostitute turned pop star, and Feihong (Hiroshi Mikami), an immigrant who manages Glico's career and owns the Yen Town club. He also wrote the lyrics of a theme song for the film Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta) with Chara and Takeshi Kobayashi.

In 1998, Fine Line Features released Love Letter in the United States theatrically under the new title When I Close My Eyes; it was the first Iwai-directed film to be released in the United States theatrically.

Iwai enjoyed another kind of success with this film as well, having teamed up with Takeshi Kobayashi to create the music for the film and the Yen Town Band, headed by Pop star Chara. The band they created became a commercial hit in Japan. He would team up with Kobayashi again in 2001 for the harrowing High School Drama All About Lily Chou-Chou. Kobayashi would create the music for the titular pop star, Lily Chou-Chou (voiced by Japanese singer Salyu), that is spread through the film (as well as Debussy), and later be released as an album entitled Kokyu (Breathe).

In 2002, he released a short, ARITA, in which he composed his own film score for the first time. In 2004 Iwai released Hana & Alice, his first comedy. He once again composed the film score himself.

He has recently[when?] directed a commercial airing in Japan featuring Matsu Takako, whom he has not worked with since 1998.

October 2006 sees the Iwai-produced film Rainbow Song released in Japan. The film is directed by Naoto Kumazawa and was written by Ami Sakurai. It stars previous Iwai actors Hayato Ichihara, Yū Aoi and Shoko Aida. Also in 2006, Iwai spent time documenting and interviewing Kon Ichikawa while filming The Inugamis (Inugamike no ichizoku) to create a feature-length documentary about the director's life.

A more recent project, a piece he wrote about the Japanese indie rock scene in the early 1990s called Bandage, was released on January 16, 2010. Apart from being in charge of the music production, Bandage represents Takeshi Kobayashi's first time as a movie director.[2] The project was originally taken by Ryuhei Kitamura, but was dropped in 2006. The filming started in 2008 and Kobayashi chose a completely different cast for the movie, casting J-pop singer Jin Akanishi and Kie Kitano for the main roles. It also included other actors who have worked with Iwai before, such as Ayumi Ito and Hideyuki Kasahara.[3] The release of the horror film Vampire marked his English-language film debut.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Composer Notes
1995 Love Letter Yes Yes No Yes No
1996 Picnic Yes Yes No No No
Arcri No Story No No No
Swallowtail Butterfly Yes Yes No Yes No
1998 April Story Yes Yes No Yes Yes
2001 All About Lily Chou-Chou Yes Yes No Yes No
2004 Hana & Alice Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Based on his short-film series of the same title[5]
2006 Rainbow Song No Yes[a] Yes No No
2009 Halfway No No Yes Yes No Also executive producer
Baton No Yes Yes No No
2010 Bandage No Yes Yes No No
2011 Vampire Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Also cinematographer
2012 I Have to Buy New Shoes No No Yes Yes No Also director of photography and executive producer
2013 Far Away, So Close No No No No Yes
2015 The Case of Hana & Alice Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Animated prequel of Hana and Alice
2016 A Bride for Rip Van Winkle Yes Yes Yes Yes No Also based on his novel
2018 Last Letter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Chinese adaptation of his novel
Also executive producer
2020 Last Letter Yes Yes Co-producer Yes No Japanese adaptation of his novel[6]
The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 Yes Yes No Yes No Also cinematographer, monster design and musical producer
2023 Kyrie Yes Yes No Yes No Also based on his novel

Acting roles

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  • M.B. Movie (1987)
  • Shiki-Jitsu (2000), main role as "The Director"
  • Ribbon (2021)
  • From the End of the World (2023)

Executive producer

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Short film

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Year Title Director Writer Editor Composer Notes
1994 Undo Yes Yes No No
1996 Knit Cap Man Yes Yes No No Short music videoclip to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the band Moonriders
1998 Ikieta Nobunanga Yes Yes No No Short film within his film April Story
2002 ARITA Yes Yes Yes Yes Segment of Jam Films
2008 Segement 3 Yes Yes Yes Yes Segment of the anthology film New York, I Love You

Early independent films

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Year Title
1982 Kajitshuo
Yubari Sonata
Requiem
White Country, Summer Country
1984 Lemu (Rainy Day Labrinth)
1986 Mina's Legend
Hana
1987 Buro Popins Pocky Poppins
Indy Poppins Candy Poppins

Documentaries

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Year Title Director Writer Editor Notes
1999 Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? Yes Yes No Making-of documentary of his short film Fireworks (1993)[7]
2002 Triumphal March and 30 Days of Their Own Yes No Yes Documentary about the Japan national football team for Japan Football Association[5]
Also producer
All About "All About Lily Chou-Chou" Yes No No Making-of documentary of his film All About Lily Chou-Chou[7]
2006 The Kon Ichikawa Story Yes Yes Yes Documentary about Kon Ichikawa on the making of his last film The Inugamis
Also composer

Making-of appearances

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Television

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Year Title Director Writer Editor Notes
1988 Miko Morikahua: The Document Yes No No TV Documentary Special
1989 Idol Aquarium Yes No No TV Special
1990 What is Bunchin Story? Yes No No TV Documentary Special
Seikimatsu Utahime Aquarium Yes No No TV Special
1991 Unknown Child Yes Yes No TV horror drama for Kansai TV's DRAMA DOS;[5] available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD
The Man Who Came to Kill Yes Yes No available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD[5]
1992 Ghost Soup Yes Yes Yes available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD
Maria Yes Yes No TV drama;[5] available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD
A Tin of Crab Meat Yes Yes No Fuji TV's third series of Tales of the Unusual;[5] available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD
A Summer Solstice Story Yes Yes Yes available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD[5]
Omelette Yes Yes No TV special for Fuji TV's La Cuisine;[5] available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD
1993 Jocx Midnight Music Aesthetics Yes No No TV Special
Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? Yes Yes No Television play
Fried Dragon Fish Yes Yes No Final TV special for Fuji TV's La Cuisine;[5] available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD
The King of Snow Yes Yes No TV drama;[5] available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD
1994 Lunatic Love Yes Yes No TV drama;[7] available on Initial: the Shunji Iwai Collection DVD
2011 Friends After 3.11 Yes No Yes Documentary that explores the aftermath of Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami[8]
Also producer and received a theatrical release in 2012
2014 Mysterious Transfer Student No Yes Yes Miniseries
2017 A Bride for Rip Van Winkle: The Serial Edition Yes Yes Yes Extended version of his film "A Bride for Rip Van Winkle" adapted into a miniseries
Also based on his novel

TV appearances

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  • Friends After 3.11 (2011)
  • The movie continues to sound the alarm to the world (2012)
  • Shunji Iwai Film Festival Presents My Little Film Festival (2012)
  • Scola Ryuichi Sakamoto School of Music <Movie Music Edition> (2013)
  • Shunji Iwai MOVIE LAB (2015–2016)
  • 3.26 "Rip Van Winkle's Bride" Commemorative 24-hour Whole Shunji Iwai (2016)
  • YEN TOWN BAND ・ Lily Chou-Chou Project ~Yento Space in Inujima~ (2016)
  • Nobuhiko Obayashi Film Festival! ～Flower basket flower language What I want to pass on now. Nobuhiko Obayashi x Shunji Iwai x Takako Tokiwa Special Trial Talk (2017)
  • Under this sky that two people can see Makoto Shinkai x Shunji Iwai (2020)
  • Let's change the future with movies ~ A message from Nobuhiko Obayashi to four directors (2020)
  • Close-up Gendai + Asked about "the power to change the future"-A testament from Nobuhiko Obayashi (2020)

Online short films

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Year Title Director Writer Editor Notes
2003 Hana and Alice Yes Yes Yes Short webseries later adapted into a feature length-film of the same name
Also producer and composer
2014 Town Workers Yes Yes No Short animated webseries
2017 Chang-Ok's Letters Yes Yes Yes Short miniseries commissioned by Nestlé
Also composer
Halfway Road No Yes No Also composer
2018 Wish Upon a Star No No Yes Short webseries
Edited Episode 3: "1 Hour for a Shooting Star"
2019 Little Letter Yes Yes Yes Short film commissioned by Nestlé
2020 The 12 Day Tale of the Monster that Died in 8 Yes Yes Yes Short webseries later adapted into a feature length-film of the same name
Also cinematographer
Even If I Could Find You In My Dreams Yes Yes Yes Also cinematographer
2023 Lemon Dream Yes Yes Yes

Producer only

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  • Koibana-Watermelon and adhesive plaster (2009)
  • HaraI Monogatari: "One Night in Chengdu" (2013)
  • HaraI Monogatari: "Grandpa's Secret" (2013)
  • HaraI Monogatari: "Sayonara Hot Pot" (2013)

Music videos

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Director

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Year Title Artist Notes
1988 Someday Somewhere Keisuke Kutakawa
Girl Yuko Hara
How are you? Miko Morikawa
1989 April White Paper Sumika Yamakana
Why Sumika Yamanaka
J's Bar Hiroyuki Kurata
I'm Only Dreaming Miwa Kawagoe
Broken Heart Chami Satonaka
Shine the Most Miki Fujitani
1990 On a Sunny Slope Tokyo Boys
Key to the Heart Miwa Kawagoe
Umi Miyoko Yoshimoto
NEXT Rizzo Tachibana
Put me on Your Song Tokyo Boys
Midusummer Shadow Yuki Hoshino
1960's Gun Wells
Good-Bye Rie Sugimoto
Welcome Home Again The Shamrock
Present Tokyo Boys
LaPaPa The Shamrock
Shy Shy Japanese Tokyo Boys
1991 Good-Bye My Loneliness Zard
Harmony Tokyo Boys
Five The Shamrock
Blue Light Yokosuka Mi-ke
I want to Change the Times Rikuo
Fushigi ne... Zard
Silent Mobius~Sailing Tokyo Boys
Fairy Sketch Rie Sugimoto
Whistling Way Home PAN PAN HOUSE
Love only for You FLYING KIDS
Mō Sagasanai Zard
I Want to Give to You a Merry X'Mas Masami Inoue
BLANCIN' LOVE Masaki Inoue
Merry Christmas to You Maeda Wataru
White 2 White-Reef Mi-Ke
1992 Yumemiru JACK & BETTY The 5 Teardrops
Goodbye, I Love You
I am your Santa Claus
Room Y-Shirt and Me Ari Hiramatsu
Don't Stop Spring Nagasawa Gijuku
Sad Teddy Boy Mi-Ke
Let's Sing a Song Important MAN Brothers Band
Surffing Japan Mi-Ke
SHULABA LA BAMBA Southern All Stars
Let's Dance Unitl Morning Mi-Ke
Magic Railway Reimi
OCEAN
Last Fragance
I Have No Choice to Laugh Airi Hiramatsu
Let's Laugh BOO WHO WOO
Monkey's Tail Nagasawa Gijuku
Wonder Girl Reimi
Like Blue Moon Mi-Ke
Yokahama Boy Style Coco
Daiseki, I Love You BOO WHO WOO
1993 The Reason Why Love is Wonderful Masami Inoue
I Want to Live Forever with You TO BE CONTINUED
Single is Best? Ari Hiramatsu
Good Luck Angel UP-BEAT
Variation Ari Hiramatsu
Just Look At Ozo Jinnouichi
Nice Birdy (NO BIRDY) Southern All Stars
Erotica Seven
1995 Cheers for You Nakayama Miho
1996 Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta) Yen Town Band Single by the band formed by Iwai's film Swallowtail Butterfly
Knit Cap Man Moonriders Special music video in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the band
1997 Mirror of the Sky Takako Matsu
1998 Stay with Me
2000 Gilde Lily Chou-Chou Songs by the band formed by Iwai's film All About Lily Chou-Chou
2001 Resonance (Empty Stone)
Wings that Can't Fly
2007 Kumuriota Ai Otsuka
2010 Sakura no Shiori AKB48
Fluffy Yui Makino
2012 Unrequited Love miwa
Flowers Will Bloom Flowers Bloom Project
Why Not? Ari Hiramatsu
2013 Crusising of the Sea of TV Hana Kuorki & Yuiko Kariya
Circle of the Thanks Ayaka
HOME Furukawa Honpo
2014 The Wind's Blowing Hec & Pascal
2015 Fish in the Pool
Ainone Yen Town Band Animated music video
Single by the band formed by Iwai's film Swallowtail Butterfly
2016 Cosmology Cocco
My Town Yen Town Band Single by the band formed by Iwai's film Swallowtail Butterfly
Bowknot Aimer
Echo, Kotadama Bank Band
Your Favourite Color Hec & Pascal
Miracle Illon
2017 Forever Friends DAOKO
Goodbye My Love ShiorI Niyama
2018 urar Chima General Director
Step Hitsujibungaku
Break These Chains Heku and Pascal
Before the Star Falls JY
Appearance Alive Year
2019 Tired of Seeing the Unknown World ikire
2020 Kaeru No Uta Nanana Mori
Nice to Meet You
Kaeru No Uta ("Last Letter" movie version) Music video for the single for Iwai's film Last Letter
Little Lie ikire
Connect
Beautiful
Letter
Aoi
2021 Flowers Bloom 2021 Flowers Bloom Project
Even If We Can Meet in a Dream Music Issue ~for rooftop~ Alexandros
Take me Fantagen Kyoko Koizumi
Tomorrow's hot water will boil tomorrow Moeka Hoshi
A Monster That Wants To Be Enough ikire
Next Door Monster
A Monster, Not a Dream
Hikari
2022 Another Day Goes By Lizabet

Producer

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Year Title Artist Notes
2020 I Don't Need a Reply Nanana Mori Music video directed by Ryo Furukawa
Beautiful ikire Music video directed by Emi Tai

Commercials

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Director

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Year Title Company
1994 Nissan Lichuno Nissan
Sasion Group Sasion Group
IH Jar Rice Cooker National
1996 Live Notebooks Panasonic
1997 Thanks Fair Winter NTT
Thanks Fair Summer
OCN
ISDN
D-MAIL
1998 Legaia Legend Sony Computer Entertainment
1999 Like a Long Sigh The Brilliant Green
2002 Salon Style Kosé
Sokenbicha Coca-Cola Japan
It's My Life LIFE CARD
2003 PanaHome PanaHome
Kit-Kat Nestlé Japan
It's My Life LIFE CARD
2007 Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Mitsubishi UFJ Securities
2012 BS Japanese Movie Specialty Channel
2013 Nescafe Excella Nestlé Japan
Kit-Kat
2019 Kit-Kat

Live concerts

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Director

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Year Title Notes
2016 ETON KUNAN in FUJANA Live Concert movie
2018 Clamboon x Shunji Iwai "Hiba Open Air Concert Hall Live
2020 CHRONIC: Special Small Concert Live concert with music of his movie Last Letter aired on YouTube
2021 Yen Town Special Band Special Live in Kurkku Fields Live concert in honor of the 25th Anniversary of his movie Swallowtail Butterfly aired on U-NEXT

Bibliography

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Novels

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Original work

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Graphic novels

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Original work

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  • The Murder Case of Hana & Alice [Manga: Seimei Doman] (2015)
  • Fireworks, Should We See It form the Side or the Bottom? VOL.1/VOL.2 [Manga: Makoto Fugetsu] (2017)

Essays/Interviews books

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  • Trash Basket Theatre (1997)
  • Magic Launcher (1998)
  • NOW and THEN: Shunji Iwai (1998)
  • Film Makers (2001)
  • Don't Spell Words Lighter than the Silence (2012)
  • Shunji Iwai: From "Love Letter" to "Last Letter" to "Chifa's Letter" (2020)
  • Kei Meno's Art Book Just as it was Before He Wrote Words (2021)

Photo albums

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Audiobooks

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  • Eraser (2021)

Awards

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Unknown Child

Fireworks

Undo

Picnic

Love Letter

Swallowtail Butterfly

April Story

All About Lily Chou-Chou

Hana & Alice

See also

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Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ Credited as Aminosan

References

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  1. ^ "Nihon Eiga Kantoku Kyōkai Shinjinshō" (in Japanese). Directors Guild of Japan. Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Keisha Castle-Hughes, Kristin Kreuk join Iwai Shunji's Vamprie"
  3. ^ http://bandage-movie.jp/ Bandage Official site
  4. ^ First Report, Images from Iwai Shunji's 'Vampire'
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j [1] Shunji Iwai's Works
  6. ^ "ラストレター". eiga.com. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b c [2] Rockwell Eyes: Staff
  8. ^ Halligan, Fionnuala (13 February 2012). "Friends After 3.11". Screen Daily. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
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