A talk between director Mamoru Hosoda and the mayor of Ueda City Souichi Motai
On June 24th, 2009, the mayor of Ueda City Souichi Motai saw SUMMER WARS at a preview in WARNER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN INC. The mayor had a conversation with the director of SUMMER WARS Mamoru Hosoda after the preview. This is the report on the conversation.
D: Director Mamoru Hosoda
M: The mayor of Ueda City Souichi Motai
M: I felt "Ueda-the home of SUMMER WARS" throughout the movie. The citizens of Ueda will be impressed with the images.
D: It's nice of you to say so. The family in the movie is the establishment which involves the continuation of famous families from generation to generation since the period of Warring States. It is based on the feudal lords of the Sanada Clan, especially, Masayuki Sanada.
M: Sanada Clan is now attracting attention under the circumstances of "The period of Warring States boom". The story in which Jinnouci family, based on the descendant of Sanada Clan, stands up against the enemy is totally-unexpected.
D: Well, concerning the story, I have to tell you about my marriage. I made the marriage proposal in the summer that "Toki-Wo-Kakeru-Shoujo"(The Girl who Leapt through Time) was completed. She told her parents about it and was told "You shouldn't say such a thing on the phone. Why don't you bring the person to Ueda?" by her parents. Therefore, we went to Ueda City, Nagano prefecture by bullet train "Nagano Shinkansen". It was the first time for me not only to get off at Ueda station but to ride Nagano Shinkansen bullet train. Going to her parents' house, I met her parents and grandparents and I asked them for permission to marry. It was my first meeting with Ueda. Then my wife told me about Ueda City and Sanada Clan and what I was told by her are in many places of SUMMER WARS.
M: I see. What was the first impression of Ueda City when you arrived at Ueda station?
D: I was too nervous to look around the scenery that day. But, when I left the house after the meal I was relieved and the scenery of Ueda was outspread before me. It was the beginning of August. The weather was nice and the fresh winds brew overhead. I felt good about blueness of the sky, movement of clouds, and greenness of the mountains. Particularly impressive were nearness of the mountains before me and beautiful ridge line of the mountains.
M: When I saw a poster of SUMMER WARS for the first time I thought it was the mountain near my house.
D: Oh, really? Blue of the sky, green of the mountains…, the mountains were near the urban area but I felt no pressure about them and they made me feel easy. My wife, her parents, and her grandparents were very gentle and I felt cozy with them. I think it's probably true to say that it's a personality of the citizens of Ueda, who live in such environment.
M: What do you think is the attractiveness of Sanada Clan?
D: My wife and her parents told me proudly "Twice, the Tokugawa army suffered defeat by Sanada Clan". Examining by myself, I thought the way they fought was glorious. They were the battles to protect their land not only by samurais but also by farmers and merchants. Now, I know why the citizens of Ueda are proud of their local history in which the local people defeated the enemy under great disadvantages and I am envious of the citizens of Ueda.
Based on the article in the August 1st, 2009 issue of "UEDA-Navi"