On Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 12:30 PM, Director Kosuke SAKODA, along with cast members Koichi KAWANISHI, Kaori HARA, and Ikue TADARA, attended the stage greeting for “Laying Down Looking Up” at Venue 2 of the NTT CRED Hall. The screening drew a standing-room-only crowd, followed by a lively talk session with SAKODA and KAWANISHI, moderated by film commentator Yukiko SUZUKI.

“Laying Down Looking Up” is a 20-minute short film about China (Iroha SAKAMOTO), a middle schooler visiting her grandmother Hisako (Ikue TADARA), who is hospitalized after a cerebral hemorrhage. Worried by her grandmother’s unresponsiveness, China finds her diary, which is filled with entries about China herself. Curious about her grandmother’s "search for China," she visits a park and meets Toshiya Katada (Koichi KAWANISHI), who recalls seeing her grandmother lying on a bench, looking content. Watching China’s journey, audiences might feel inspired to try "just lying down" themselves!

Dir. SAKODA remarked, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but I think it’s quite good.” KAWANISHI added, “During the test screening, I felt embarrassed, but watching it today, I think it turned out rather well.” Dir. SAKODA mentioned that he aimed to highlight KAWANISHI’s human charm, which naturally brought out a sense of playfulness in his character.

KAWANISHI's preparation for the role involved deep character research, delving into details such as Katada’s high school romances and past heartbreaks. Despite having no acting experience, KAWANISHI spent three months in workshops and learned a lot from “senpai” Iroha SAKAMOTO, who had previously appeared in a SAKODA film as a young DJ.

As a drummer for the band Unicorn, KAWANISHI reflected, “Even in concerts, unless everyone on the team finds something entertaining, it won’t turn out well.” Dir. SAKODA added, “It was a collaborative effort. While it may seem like a low-key film, it has turned into a solid, well-crafted one. To me, it’s like medicine I’d watch when I’m tired—maybe I’ll package it into capsules and sell it!” He continued, “Life has its tough moments, but I hope people take time to look at the sky. If, in those moments, they remember this film, I’d be honored.”