Gedo Senki (Tales from Earthsea)

29th July 2006

This is a supplementary entry while the director is busy

Number 132 - Goro's First Battle

This day has finally come,
The release date of "Tales from Earthsea".

Because of interviews and audience greetings, Director Goro has been extremely busy these last two days and has been basically unable to update the weblog, so for the first time in a long while it is up to the pinch hitter Nayo to write this entry.

The first thing I should report was 10 hours ago, the Countdown Audience Greeting that took place from midnight at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills.

I'll leave the fine details to Director Goro himself, but I will confine myself to writing about the appearance of Director Goro and Producer Suzuki.

Firstly, Mr. Suzuki's appearance was of a middle-aged man who'd just had a bath. Levi jeans (8,900 yen[1]) with a white t-shirt (2,000 yen). On his feet he wore the leather sandals that he received at the ryokan in Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture on the nationwide campaign (0 yen)[2]. I don't know about his underwear, but judging by the rest it is about 500 yen.

Whether I should take this as perfect artlessness developed out of long experience, or whether I should take it as he's just lazy...

In contrast to which, Director Goro is like the handsome boy samurai Atsumori from the Tales of the Heike[3] preparing for his first battle.

"He wore a silk robe embroided with cranes
and armour trimmed with green
a shell choker on his helmet cord
and a sword with golden fittings."[4]

Speaking "spiritually" it's this kind of feeling isn't it?
But although he's a good looking[5] guy, it's more in the mould of Golgo 13.[6]
He tends to be a bit strong featured for Atsumori.

So, So,
How does the young warrior Goro fight!?
Go straight to a theatre near you!

[Photo of Toshio Suzuki and the director with microphones in front of a screen]

[caption] "One frame from the Countdown Screening audience greeting"

Translator's Notes

[1]: The prices are average/cheap - 'Kmart clothes' rather than bargain basement.

[2]: Remember they stayed at a Japanese inn one night in Shikoku (entry 125).

[3]: This is the "Heike Monogatari" the story of the Taira clan's wars with the Minamoto clan and eventual defeat. This story is of how the warrior Kumagai encountered a handsome youth in battle who reminded him of his own son and wanted to spare him but the young man refused to surrender and battlefields being what they were Kumagai was forced to kill him, for which he felt great remorse.

[4]: This is a quote from the Heike Monogatari. I have translated in rather inexpertly, but it is approximately correct. It is from a description of what the young warrior was wearing and the equipment he bore when Kumagai encountered him.

[5]: Or 'active'

[6]: Hitman comic