An evening of Japanese documentary presented by NHK WORLD TV

On Monday 10 April 2017, NHK WORLD TV, the 24-hour international English-language channel from Japan’s public service broadcaster, NHK, will bring two documentary films to London for a screening event, An Evening of Japanese Documentary presented by NHK WORLD TV at the Curzon Bloomsbury in London.

What You Taught Me About My Son (59mins)

In 2007 thirteen-year-old Naoki Higashida wrote a book of essays called The Reason I Jump. Naoki was diagnosed with autism at the age of five and the book offers remarkable insights into his inner world, challenging popular misconceptions. The book was discovered by British author David Mitchell, who felt that his own autistic son was speaking to him through Naoki’s words. David translated the book into English to help other families living with autism – it became an international bestseller, sold in over 30 countries. What You Taught Me About My Son follows David on a journey to Japan to meet Naoki for the first time. As their friendship develops, we meet other parents with autistic children around the world and hear how their relationships have been transformed by Naoki’s extraordinary words.

Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki (70mins)

In 2013, Oscar-winning film director and animator, Hayao Miyazaki, suddenly announced his retirement at the age of 72. But after an encounter with young CGI artists, the director of Spirited Away decided to embark on a new artistic endeavour. This candid documentary follows Miyazaki as he crafts his first CGI film in an intimate behind-the-scenes portrait filmed over two years. Miyazaki – who believes hand-drawing on paper is fundamental to animation – confronts many tough challenges on the project and, at one point, the film even faces the threat of being cancelled. Never-Ending Man provides a rare opportunity to see one of the world’s most celebrated filmmakers at work. This is the first time a feature-length version of this NHK WORLD TV documentary will be screened in UK.

NHK WORLD TV’s screenings of Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki and What You Taught Me About My Son at the Curzon Bloomsbury in London are ticketed but free to attend. The director of What You Taught Me About My Son, Takuya Maruyama, will attend the Q&A, following the screening of the documentary. Both sessions will include a short introduction to NHK WORLD TV, film screening and a post-show Q&A with Miwako Nishikawa, senior manager of NHK WORLD TV’s Global Strategy Division, where audiences will be invited to offer feedback on the documentaries.

INSIGHTS FROM THE FILMMAKERS

What You Taught Me About My Son

“Naoki told me that to think and write is just like breathing for him. It is very mysterious and miraculous to see how Naoki produces each word so energetically and dynamically from his inner world, like a deep fountain. Throughout the years six months I spent with Naoki, I could not help but feel that Naoki was actually giving life to his words and they became the bright hopes to help the families with autistic children all around the world.”
– Takuya Maruyama, director

Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki

“I followed Miyazaki closely over a ten-year period. After retirement, he lived a quiet and solitary life, but when I visited Miyazaki in January 2015, he talked about making a short?animation called Kemushi no Boro (Boro the Caterpillar). That was the spark that led to filming this documentary. At first, he just reworked the CGI artist’s pictures, but he soon realised this was no good and he decided to redraw everything himself. Then the fire started blazing again and the passionate Miyazaki of old started to reappear. It made me realise – it doesn’t matter how old you are, if your passions are aroused, you can do anything.”
– Kaku Arakawa, director

Screening 1: 6.30pm, What You Taught Me About My Son
Screening 2: 8.30pm, Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki

Films