Think the Earth

Is there a way in which we could remind people not only in afflicted areas in Japan to help heal their wounds, but also people across Japan and around the world about the wonders of Japan? With this desire and the desire to do what they can, to create their own vehicle for this purpose, the cast and staff from Japan and China embarked on a self-produced co-production film,"Chingensai No Natsuyasumi (Green Pak Choi's Summer Vacation)" , which was shown until November 27th at the Sanuki Film Festival（PDF） held in Kagawa prefecture.

The screenwriter who created the project and wrote the script, Ms. Natsuki Matsuda, lives in Shanghai. She got together over 20 staff and cast members from among her Japanese friends studying abroad in Beijing or who live in Shanghai, and spent a month on the islands of Awa and Shishi located in the Seto Inland Sea creating the film. Ms. Matsuda explained that the "Director and camera men are from Hong Kong, and the child was half Taiwanese and Japanese. There were also people from Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. The common language was Chinese. Although many of the staff couldn't speak with the people on the island, the more time they spent with one another, the more they intuitively understood each other.

The story begins when a mother and son, who live in Shanghai, travel to an island in the Seto Inland Sea to meet the boy's Japanese father. A humongous, old camphor laurel tree, a natural treasure which has been around for over 1,200 years, holds the key to the story. The story develops as the magical tree and the memories of the people of the island become intermixed.

"We were looking for a large tree during our location hunting, and we finally came across the large camphor laurel on Shishi Island. It has been a silent witness, standing guard over the island and its people for over a millennium. This awe-inspiring, regal tree, with infinite depth and all-accepting aura was where our shoot began. Living on the island reminded us of things that we had forgotten; things that were important. We were physically exhausted from living together in the Children's Center on the Awa Island for an extended period of time and shooting all day every day, but the bright smiles of the people of the island helped us keep going. Watching the resplendent sea-fireflies and listening to the sound of the breaking waves while walking back to our lodge was a luxury befitting of our film" said Ms. Matsuda, looking back at the shoot.

Shooting at the "Buoy Buoy Garden," where artworks created using buoys were exhibited - Awa Island.

The main theme of the movie is "family ties", but the film also describes bonds between people in different countries, across national borders, and also reminds us about the unique natural wonder of Japan. But it also expresses the bonds the staff experienced while on shoot and their passion. After premiering at the Sanuki Film Festival, the film will travel to other cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, and Sendai.