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Interview with Yoshiro Osaka, director of "Bride by Horse-drawn Sled," a short film depicting Tokachi in the 1950s

2024.01.23

East Hokkaido

Set in the Tokachi region in the 1950s, the short film "Bride by Horse-drawn Sled" depicts the bond between horses and people that has existed since the pioneer days and the lives of the people of that time. Why did you choose to focus on the previously little-known relationship between horse-drawn sleighs and brides? What was the inspiration behind the shooting of the film? We interviewed Yoshiro Osaka, who wrote and directed the film.

The Bride by Horse-drawn Sled

Mr. Osaka was born in Makubetsu-cho, Hokkaido. He studied filmmaking in the U.S., and after returning to Japan, he has worked as a filmmaker based in Tokyo. He has worked in a variety of genres while also producing his own films. About 5 years ago, Mr. Osaka came across this photo.

Photo: Kiyoji Shoda, Collection of Obihiro Centennial Memorial Museum

It was taken in 1956 by Kiyoji Shoda, a local photographer in Obihiro. He had never seen a woman dressed in a bridal gown riding in a horse-drawn sleigh in a snowy landscape, and he had a hunch that it would be suitable for a movie.

He immediately gathered a variety of documents and interviewed acquaintances who had actually experienced horse-drawn sleigh rides. What she found was that horses were a big part of the life in those days, and that the family was the same as it is today. What she sensed there was the magnitude of the horse's presence, which was unique to that era, and the family structure that is the same as today. Ms. Osaka's imagination was filled with ideas for the story, and she began filming in the fall of 2023.

Synopsis of "Bride by Horse-drawn Carriage

A farming village in Tokachi in 1955. Families and villagers are sweating and working hard on the farm with their horses. The eldest daughter Ichiko, the hard worker in the family, is attracted to a young leader named Rich at a youth club meeting. At a village festival, Ichiko sings a song, and she and Yutaka connect with each other, and the two huddle together on a hill. At the end of winter, Ichiko, dressed as a bride, rides off to Yutaka on a horse-drawn sleigh, with her family seeing her off...

The ending with the bride riding on a horse-drawn sleigh to the venue of the ceremony. Toward this point, the film depicts the daily lives of the family and townspeople living on the farm, as well as the so-called normal life, such as the meeting with the lover and the wedding greeting scene. Although it is a film, it is depicted in a documentary style and recreates life in Tokachi in the 1950s.

The hardships of recreating the rural landscape of the Showa 30s. The joy of filming prevailed over it.

Creating a film set in the Showa era required a great deal of care in selecting locations. Some of the costumes and props are actually from that period, adding a sense of reality to the film. Ichiko's residence is an old private house found in the town of Taiki. The parts of the house that had been renovated and remodeled for modern use were "reverse-renovated" to bring the house back to its original appearance. The roof was replaced with an old material that was given away at the site of the house demolition. In addition, a new stable was built adjacent to the house. A local carpenter assisted in the construction.

When the staff from Tokyo saw the house, they were surprised at the high quality of the work. Even an independent film can go this far."

Various people from not only Tokyo but also Hokkaido were involved in the production. Hair and makeup was done by a Tokachi resident who enjoys arranging hair in the Showa style. Actors living in Sapporo and interns in their 20s are also participating as production staff. Many of the staff had no experience in filming movies, but their passion to "make it! The film's atmosphere on set was joyful from start to finish.

The lack of a suitable location for the filming led to the creation of a field. The land was overgrown with weeds and was cultivated with the help of volunteers. It was like working in the pioneer days, but that is why he realized firsthand how much he appreciated the presence of horses. For Mr. Osaka, his impressions of the horses, the region of Tokachi, and the strength of its predecessors have deepened even further since before he began filming.

制作は佳境。逢坂さんが映画を通じて伝えたいこと<h3 class="ptn_4"> Actors with a dignified presence, portraying the powerful people of the Hokkaido region.</h3><img id="31158" src="https://domingo.ne.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/12f2bf0a24d41d6563b94bebebb7d640.jpg" alt="馬橇の花嫁" ><p class="imgcaption"> Aika Higashimori as Ichiko (left) and Riku Tanaka as Yutaka (right)</p> <p> Although there are only photographs of Tokachi in the early to mid-Showa period, there were very few images left. That is why Ms. Osaka says she wants to create a work that will be loved beyond generations, so that those who know those days will feel nostalgia and pass on their memories.</p> <p> The cast includes up-and-coming actors Aika Higashimori and Riku Tanaka. Their acting ability and presence reminded him of his predecessors who survived the harsh natural environment of Hokkaido. Ms. Osaka is looking forward to seeing the expression of the original landscape and culture of Hokkaido and the emotions of the people who lived there.</p><img id="31159" src="https://domingo.ne.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/c727c9cce5205dfab31d566b96467377.jpg" alt="馬橇の花嫁" ><p> So far, the fall scenes have been shot and the climax will be shot this March. Currently, he is working on adding inspiration and newly obtained testimonials obtained during the filming so far to the script, and is focusing on improving the details of how the people of the village spent their time in the last scene.</p> <h3 class="ptn_4"> The "horse-drawn sleigh" and the "bride" that he wanted to portray. How enthusiastic are you about shooting the last scene?</h3> <p> Mr. Osaka says he has not visited the location since the fall. He says he wants to incorporate the new impressions he gained from seeing the full-blown winter weather into the script. What were the people in the youth club doing on the day the bride rode in the horse-drawn sleigh, and what was Ichiko's sister thinking?</p> <p> The original script focused on Kazuko's feelings, but I knew that everyone in the family was living hand in hand, and that the villagers were helping each other. I wanted to depict that while I was making the film. I hope that through the wedding ceremony, I can show the mutual support that was once there."</p><img id="31160" src="https://domingo.ne.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/680675dbf85cc5b4626f766f5430c08d.jpg" alt="馬橇の花嫁" ><p> They plan to finish editing the film in May, and will proceed with advance screenings and participation in short film festivals. After living in Tokyo for more than 10 years and interacting with people in many countries, Osaka has moved back to Tokachi. How will this short film, which gives form to the thoughts and feelings he has gained in his life to date, turn out? Expectations are high.</p> <div class="box_stroke"> <p><a href="https://domingo.ne.jp/player/detail/43">Yoshiro Osaka</a><br> Filmmaker / Director</p><img id="31161" src="https://domingo.ne.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fe1717362de4a41a0f51028a354d3e46.jpg" alt="馬橇の花嫁" ><p class="imgcaption"> Mr. Osaka (right) at a meeting to discuss filming.</p> <p> Born in 1980 in Makubetsu-cho, Hokkaido. After graduating from Obihiro Kashiwaoha High School, he went to the U.S. to study filmmaking at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, where he received his B.A. degree. After returning to Japan, he began working as a freelance filmmaker based in Tokyo. While shooting, editing, and producing a wide variety of genres, including commercials and documentaries, he has also made independent films. In recent years, he has been actively involved in projects in Asia. 2014 and 2016, he produced a short film "my little guidebook" (my little guidebook) aimed at promoting the attractions of Tokachi, and both films won the Hokkaido Director's Award at the Sapporo International Short Film Festival. 2021. Produced "Little Circus," a short film set in Cambodia during the Corona disaster, which was screened at more than 10 film festivals in Japan and abroad and was selected for the Golden Goblet Awards in the short film category at the Shanghai International Film Festival. 2022: Resident of Obihiro City, Japan.</p> <p><a href="https://yoshiroosaka.onfabrik.com/">HP：https://yoshiroosaka.onfabrik.com/</a><br> Instagram: https: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yoshiroosaka/">//www.instagram.com/yoshiroosaka/</a></p></div> <div class="box_stroke">

Interview with Yoshiro Osaka, director of "Bride by Horse-drawn Sled," a short film depicting Tokachi in the 1950s

The Bride by Horse-drawn Sled

Synopsis of "Bride by Horse-drawn Carriage

The hardships of recreating the rural landscape of the Showa 30s. The joy of filming prevailed over it.

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