Okura-san
2023 / Video
This work is a documentary film closely following “Mrs. Okura,” a neighbor. It captures the anxiety he expressed before surgery, his thoughts about his husband, his love for the sea, and his singing voice, all alongside his demeanor during conversations.
2023 /映像
この作品は、ご近所に住む「大蔵さん」に密着した映像作品である。会話の中で大蔵さんの口から溢れた、手術前の不安や、旦那さんのこと、好きな海のこと、そして歌声をその様子とともに収めている。
My encounter with Mrs. Okura was quite fortuitous. You see, the very night I finished moving into this town, I lost my smartphone. I didn't realize I didn't have my phone until I woke up in my new place for the first time. Unfortunately, I had a very important appointment that morning. Panicking, I knew I had to contact the other party immediately to explain the situation and say I'd be late. I dashed down the apartment stairs and ran down unfamiliar streets. Without looking around, I approached the first person I saw and said, “Please lend me your phone.” The person who kindly agreed, not only lending me a phone but inviting me into their home, letting me use their PC under Wi-Fi, and offering tea and snacks, was “Mrs. Okura.” Since then, meaning even now, six months after my move, we've remained close friends. We call each other regularly, and sometimes we go together to a snack bar very close to both my place and Mrs. Okura's, where we sing and dance.
However, the change that occurred during filming was enormous.
Mr. Okura took a major fall and broke his leg. It was discovered that the cause of the fall was fluid buildup in his brain. We started filming around the time this brain abnormality was identified. Mr. Okura lost his last husband, whom he married at age 60, about a year ago. He told us that since then, he'd been thinking more about loneliness and death.
Amidst this situation, the interview took place as he was preparing to undergo his own surgery.
大蔵さんとの出会いは数奇なものだった。というのも、私はこの町に引っ越しを終えた夜、スマートフォンを失くした。携帯がないと気づいたのは、初めて新居で目を覚ましてからのことである。運悪く、その日は朝からとても大切な予定があった。とにかくこの状況を先方に伝え、遅れる旨を言わなければと焦る。アパートを駆け降りて見慣れぬ道路を走った。脇目も振らず視界に入った一人に「携帯を貸してください」と言う。快く引き受けてくれて、電話はおろか、家に招待してWi-F環境下でPC操作タイム・お茶・お菓子の提供をしてくれたのが、「大蔵さん」だったのだ。それ以降、つまり私が引っ越してから半年になる今もずっと親交がある。定期的に電話をし、時には私と大蔵さんの家にすぐ近いスナックに一緒に行って歌や踊りをする。
しかし撮影時におきた変化は大変大きい。
大蔵さんが大転倒して足を骨折、その転倒の原因が、脳に水が溜まっているからだと発覚した。ちょうど脳に異常があると分かった頃からカメラを回している。大蔵さんは、60歳の時に結婚した最後の旦那さんを約1年前に亡くした。以来、寂しさや死に対して考えることが増えたと教えてくれた。
そんな状況のさなか、自身の手術に向かうという契機での取材となった。