On Saturday, November 29 at 12:30, a teach-in session led by animation director Sunao Katabuchi was held at NTT CRED Hall No.2. This year marks Katabuchi’s 12th appearance at the festival. Even before the doors opened, the venue was filled with anticipation as fans eagerly awaiting his latest work and audience members interested in behind-the-scenes insights gathered in large numbers.
Director Katabuchi remarked that “while there are many opportunities to see completed films, it is rare to be able to encounter a film while it is still in production.” He explained that by sharing the current progress of his upcoming film “The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black”, he hoped to convey the unique appeal that exists during the creation process itself. The film focuses on “Minamoto no Shōnagon,” a figure who appears only once in Sei Shōnagon’s The Pillow Book. Although her identity has long been uncertain, Director Katabuchi shared that by carefully tracing historical materials, a surprising amount of information emerged. These discoveries accumulated to form the foundation and motivation for the film’s production.
During the talk, he described how the team has been conducting meticulous, source-based research—such as estimating Sei Shōnagon’s approximate birth year and examining her relationship with her husband, Tachibana no Norimitsu. Particularly captivating for the audience were stories about consulting Edo-period scholar Matsudaira Sadanobu’s studies on Heian culture—compiled after his fall from political power—to better understand Heian architecture, as well as adopting a “three-dimensional” perspective based on Kyoto’s natural topography to grasp the layout and structure of the imperial palace. Director Katabuchi also presented a selection of the extensive materials he has gathered, offering attendees a valuable glimpse into the background of the film’s creation.
In the Q&A session, when asked about his approach to digital tools, Director Katabuchi answered that rather than accepting information—whether documents or written texts—at face value, new discoveries often emerge by deliberately resisting or questioning them. He explained that this attitude led to insights such as visualizing the imperial palace spatially and uncovering clues to Minamoto no Shōnagon’s true identity. He emphasized the importance of rethinking how we engage with information itself.
Throughout the event, the atmosphere remained warm and friendly, with moments of laughter sparked by the director’s lighthearted storytelling.
