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Ryo Kagawa
Ryo Kagawa Biography
Born in Tokyo in 1955
Born as the second son of an artistic family
He got polio at the age of 3.
Then, right after graduating from university, he was admitted to a mental hospital for schizophrenia.
After 30 years of rehabilitation, he was completely cured.
After that, he started his art activities.
Selected twice for the public exhibition of paintings held at the National Art Center, Tokyo (Sanki-Exhibition).
Selected for the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum's public photography exhibition (General Photography Exhibition).
Studied scenario creation at a scenario school in Aoyama, Tokyo
Began working on scenario and film production, making use of his experience in a mental hospital
First film "MICHIKO
Documentary films "PARADISE FOR THE HEART" and "MOVIE MICHIKO
MAKING AND INTERVIEW”,” FATEFUL ENCOUNTER”,” JAPANESE HEART AND SOUL”
Currently WINNER 251 at international film festivals in India and other countries.
Also, in Rajasthan, India,
India with her Indian friends to support preschool children.
Your project has entered our festival. What is your project about?
A1 This is a music video for "Lotus Flower Enka" submitted as the theme song for our next film, "Kodawari Ramen Honpo". This film is a story about the independence of the disabled. The main character, who was hospitalized for mental disability, becomes independent with the help of many well-meaning people and then returns the favor he received from them to the society.
What are your ambitions with your project?
As you can see in my profile, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was about 24 years old and overcame it after 30 years of rehabilitation. My ambition is to use this experience to make a film that will inspire people with mental or physical disabilities, or those who are socially vulnerable, and motivate them to become active participants in society.
Tell us something about your shooting/editing/animation? What pleasantly surprised you?
I am a film director, but I handle all aspects of film production almost single-handedly!
Story script production, management producer, film director, publicity, sales, etc. In this context, personal computers play a very important role in production Shooting editing, music production, animation, etc. I am currently working on a documentary film "HAGOROMO PROJECT" about people with disabilities, and I am very active in filming, editing and music. I have also already acquired animation production software and have made connections with animators and animation production companies for an animated film with an original script to be released the year after next. Meeting people in this process has been a great pleasure for me and has added color to the second half of my life!
What expression elements did you use in your project?/animation? What pleasantly surprised you?
I am currently working on a project called "Kodawari Ramen Honpo", the content of which is a story about the independence of the handicapped, in which the main character becomes independent with the help of people of good will around him in various problems, and grows into a full-fledged member of society!
What I want to emphasize in this film is that no matter how difficult the situation is, if you stand up, make an effort, and as a result, a path in a better direction will surely open up.
And when you succeed, I hope that you will give back to those who have benefited you, give back to society, and give a helping hand to those who come after you.
This is the theme.
How would you characterize your work?
Characterized by the production of films that provide emotional support and cheer for people with disabilities, the socially vulnerable, and their support groups, based on the experience of mental disorders.
For what group of spectators is your music video targeted?
t has the purpose of supporting people with mental disabilities, people with physical disabilities and their support groups, etc., who try to live seriously and earnestly despite their disabilities, and targets people with disabilities, vulnerable people in society, and their supporters.
This is a documentary film about a famous Japanese commercial choreographer, Ms.Kaoruco, and her activities.The content of the film is to teach a unique dance method to the mentally and physically handicapped, to expand their range of expressionThe content of the film is about the confidence and social participation of people with disabilities, and how they can express themselves no matter what their circumstances are.We are also planning to make many more films after that, such as "LAST HONEYMOON".
What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
Immediately after graduating from college, I was admitted to a mental hospital for schizophrenia. I was grieving over the reality that I would not be able to recover from my illness. A few months later, when I was getting used to life in the hospital, my doctor told me, "Your schizophrenia will be cured. I had been sinking into the depths of despair until then, and I felt like I had seen a ray of light in the darkness. So I followed the doctor's instructions and went through a very hard recovery program. Three years after my hospitalization, I was able to leave the hospital. But that was the hard part. When I was discharged from the hospital, the doctor told me, "You have completed the recovery program, but now you have to go out into the world to finish it all up, and once you do that, you will finally be in a normal state of mind and become mentally healthy. And that day came 30 years after I left the hospital. The doctor told me, "You seem to have recovered a few years ago. You don't need to take any more medication. You are in complete remission. At that time, I thought of all the others who had worked together to achieve complete remission, encouraging and helping each other, but had run out of steam. I wondered why I was the only one who survived. Then I realized that I had a mission. Without hesitation, I decided to make a film that supports the disabled and socially disadvantaged. And I set my sights on becoming a film director.
What topics do you like to explore in your work?
I want to explore stories that provide a foundation for living for the disabled and vulnerable in society.
What genre do you like to shoot and why?
In the case of a film, it is a story of people who overcome difficulties and rise up seriously and earnestly from their circumstances.
In the case of documentaries, stories of people who overcame obstacles and changed their destiny, and the people who supported them, etc.
What project would you like to shoot one day, and what would it be about?
I would like to make a film about the story of three generations of my mother's family, from my grandfather to my mother and me, left behind in writing by my mother.
How has COVID affected your film life?
Corona has changed the movie-viewing style of the Japanese people. Until now, people used to go to theaters to watch movies, but during the spread of Corona, the on-demand movie-viewing style has been increasing. This has resulted in more opportunities for our independent filmmakers to have their films seen by the audience
What do you do if you're not thinking about a movie, work, shooting?
I discuss with my friends about human life, religion, philosophy, the existence of God and Buddha, the universe, Buddhist philosophy, etc.
What are your hobbies?
Electronic construction and repair
What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
Most recently, the documentary film”HAGOROMO PROJECT”.
