Interviewer: One of the themes of your film seems to be LGBTQ issues, particularly the perspective of a mother with a gay child. What kind of message did you wish to engrave?
Director KITAHATA: In today's world, homosexuality is no longer an extraordinary topic; it’s becoming more common, and circumstances are changing. However, because it’s something close to home, it can still be difficult for families to fully understand, even if they want to. I focused on capturing the struggles and conflicts within families trying to bridge that gap in understanding.

Interviewer: The ramen shop scene, I heard, involved some ad-libbing from the actors midway through. It felt so natural and immersive that I forgot it was a performance.
Director KITAHATA: I’m glad to hear that. We had discussions beforehand about what kind of dialogue might help guide the mother toward a better direction. We paid close attention to conveying the relationships through expressions alone during the actors’ interactions.

Interviewer: How has your experience been participating in the Hiroshima International Film Festival?
Director KITAHATA: I’m filled with a pleasant sense of exhaustion. In a short amount of time, I was exposed to diverse values from six different countries, experiencing unfamiliar landscapes and perspectives all at once. For instance, in Cambodia, which is one of the countries that produced a film for the short film competition, there are values I’ve never known before. It’s been a chance to expand my awareness of unknown countries and worlds. I’d love to return to Hiroshima with my next project!