KUROSAWA AND MIFUNE! Visiting a Special Exhibit in Kamakura!

With actor Shigeo Kato at the Kamakura City Kawakita Film Museum.

Today I traveled to Kamakura to visit Japanese Film Legend: Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune. Running from September 16 until January 15 at the Kamakura City Kawakita Film Museum, the special exhibit boasts many rare and interesting items.

Shigeo Kato at the Kamakura City Kawakita Film Museum. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

I was fortunate to attend with veteran Toho actor Shigeo Kato, who himself has appeared in numerous Kurosawa films, going all the way back to Ikiru (1952) and Seven Samurai (1954). It was quite an experience to walk around the exhibit with an actor who has worked with Kurosawa and Mifune many times.

Shigeo Kato meets his old friend Ultraman again! Photo by Brett Homenick.

On hand at the exhibit were many posters for Kurosawa films (both domestic and international), several rare photographs (such as a shot of Toshiro Mifune with Charlie Chaplin and a photo of Mifune visiting the set of Kurosawa's Dersu Uzala), and even a few of their personal effects. For example, a medal awarded to Mifune by UCLA in the mid-1980s was on display, as was a coat Mifune himself made from a blanket he received shortly after leaving the military. Some of Mifune's own shooting scripts from his collaborations with Kurosawa could also be seen.

Kurosawa's memorial message to Mifune (written shortly after the actor passed away) was also on display, as was the Golden Lion award given to Rashomon by the Venice International Film Festival. Additionally, some of Kurosawa's personal art supplies (with which he drew up storyboards) were on hand, along with some of his other belongings, like his binoculars. 

It was a fascinating display filled with Toho history. I was lucky enough to take it all in with a man who was there for most of it. Many thanks to Kato-san for a wonderful afternoon!

SETSUKO HARA AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS! A Full Day in Kamakura!

Actor Shigeo Kato in Kamakura. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today (March 30) I paid a special visit to Kamakura. I always have a blast meeting Toho actor Shiego Kato, and given that I happen to have a lot of free time for my birthday week, I decided to come see him again.

After having coffee, we made our way to the Kamakura City Kawakita Film Museum in order to take in a special exhibit on the late actress Setsuko Hara. The exhibit featured many rare photos and movie posters. While looking at one poster, Kato-san pointed out to me that the film was directed by Yasuki Chiba, a director he worked with and admired.

Following that, we made our best attempt at viewing the cherry blossoms. The only problem? They're not in full bloom yet! Still, we enjoyed seeing what there was to see!

While the cherry blossoms may not have been out in force, the tourists were. It was very difficult to get from one place to another. I suppose they were expecting the cherry blossoms to be in full bloom, but that was unfortunately not the case.

Today was a very fun day, and it encompassed Japanese movie history as well as Japanese culture. I feel it's very important for me to make the most of my time here, and that means not letting opportunities to do cool and unique things pass by.

Thank you very much, Kato-san! Let's do it again soon.