Film director Yoshinori Sato's film "One More Look"

Delivering the courage to face the challenges to people's hearts through film

Film director Yoshinori Sato

■ Profile
In 2013, "BAD CHILD" was officially selected for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. "HER MOTHER: Conversations with a Death Row Inmate Who Killed His Daughter" (16) was officially selected for the New Currents section of the Busan International Film Festival and the Osaka Asian Film Festival, and won a Special Mention in the International Competition section of the Vesoul International Asian Film Festival. In 2019, the documentary film "Shinjuku Tiger" was officially selected for the Osaka Asian Film Festival.

Director Sato Yoshinori has been passionate about filmmaking since his university days. His approach of confronting the realities of society and empathizing with young people and those struggling to make ends meet gives his films a deep appeal.Movie "Once More Staring"He spoke about the thoughts he put into the song, what he values ​​as an artist, and his message to university students.

■ Encounter with film and challenges during university

I've loved movies since I was little, and even in the upper grades of elementary school, I would sometimes go to the cinema by myself. I loved the cinema itself, and watching a movie was a special time for me. When I went on to university, I thought that if I could study film, my university life would be more enjoyable, so I studied film production at the University of Southern California.
During my university years, I would sometimes use films to raise questions about social issues and discomfort, which had been an interest of mine since childhood. For example, when I was in the United States, I made a film in English that was based on the theme of social satire.
I also encountered independent cinemas at university, where I was able to broaden the scope of my expression by being exposed to films with unique worldviews, such as director Aoyama Shinji's "Eureka." These experiences later had a major impact on how I approached filmmaking and the themes I chose for my films.

■ Finding fulfillment in working as both a TV director and a filmmaker

After graduating, I returned to Japan and continued making independent films while working as a television director. Working in television is busy, but learning about unknown worlds through various projects and research was very rewarding. At the same time, filmmaking, which allows me to turn my own ideas into reality, offers a high degree of freedom of expression and is a place where I can pursue my own interests and thoughts.
By working in both television and film, I feel that the knowledge and skills I have gained from each job are mutually beneficial. The experience of structuring and directing I learned in television is useful in film, while the understanding of themes and expressiveness I have gained through filmmaking bring a new perspective to my work in television.
I also enjoy the opportunity to meet many different people through filmmaking and to interact with people active in their respective fields. Being exposed to the abilities and passion of others also heightens my sensitivity to my own expression. Through these experiences, I feel that both jobs are enjoyable and fulfilling.

■ The Revision of the Juvenile Law Brought About the Film

"Stare Again"The big reason I wanted to create this was the 2022 revision of the Juvenile Law. As harsher penalties are being imposed on 18- and 19-year-olds, I felt something frightened about the structure that strengthens penalties for young people. From there, I began to think about how to interact with society and young people.
I have always been interested in issues related to life, such as the death penalty, and have previously created a work on the theme of the death penalty (Her Mother: A Conversation with a Death Row Inmate Who Killed His Daughter). In this work, I focused on the process by which young people who have left juvenile detention centers return to society. This is because I believe that it is not the family environment before entering prison, but rather the interactions with people and contact with society after release that have a major impact on their subsequent psychological recovery.
At the end of the film, it is not shown how they live in the city. I deliberately left out a clear ending, leaving the audience to think for themselves. Rather than being a story that can be easily consumed, I wanted to convey that there are no right answers in life and get viewers to think about it from various angles. After watching the film, I would definitely recommend watching it again. I think there are some parts that you will only understand the second time.
The 18- and 19-year-olds who are the target of the revised Juvenile Law are around the same age as university students. A group of 18-year-old university students also appear in the play, contrasting them with the protagonist who is not attending university. Even though they are both 18 years old, they are divided by their respective environments and career paths, making it difficult for them to connect with each other.
Taking this perspective into consideration, I would be delighted to hear your thoughts on how you, as university students of this age, feel about this issue as people directly affected.

■"Stare Again"The thoughts behind

The title expresses my discomfort with the modern trend of "shutting down." There's a tendency to immediately dismiss things as soon as they arise, but I felt it was necessary to face them again properly, rather than letting it end there.
The word "gazing" is not used in an exaggerated sense like forgiving, but rather with the nuance of "facing oneself squarely." It's a simple title, but it's a straightforward expression of my thoughts on today's society.
In this work, I depicted the process by which two people struggling with life become aware of each other's difficulties and, through their relationship, begin to confront their own difficulties. What one person perceives as a weakness can sometimes have a warm meaning for the other person. I wanted to carefully depict how this realization is born.
Nothing major happens in the film, but the two characters change little by little as they spend time together. I hope the audience can sense that change.

■Message to university students

Looking back, the best time for me was when I was a university student. I remember the scenery and the sensations I had back then very well, and it was a really good time. I think the reason I feel that way is because I was doing things that interested me to the fullest.
For example, in my case, I first discovered the joy of studying at university. On top of that, I was also really into surfing during that time. There was a beach near the university, so whenever I had free time, I'd go there and surf, and on my days off, I'd go on budget trips. I think I was simply doing what I wanted to do at the time.
So, I want all university students to pursue anything that interests them to the fullest. It doesn't matter what it is. If you like games, try playing them for three days and three nights, or if you like to space out, spend that time spaced out to the fullest. In this way, I want you to pursue what moves you. This will help you get to know yourself, and it will be an irreplaceable time in your life.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on April 12, 2025 by Toyo University fourth-year student, Ota Fuuka

Movie "Once More Staring"
Set in the forest, this film depicts the emotional connection between a young man released from a juvenile detention center and his aunt, who is struggling to survive.
Director Yoshinori Sato, whose film "HER MOTHER: A Conversation with a Death Row Inmate Who Killed His Daughter" was officially selected for the Busan International Film Festival, is producing a new film with Mariko Tsutsui and Mansaku Takada on the theme of dialogue.

Fuuka Ota, a fourth-year student at Toyo University / Hinano Shinoda, a second-year student at Tokyo Kasei University