About Mitsu-ju
The short narrative film Mitsu-jū is about the genesis of a monster called Mitsu-jū “secret beast” that consumes people’s secrets. This original story is inspired by Japanese folk stories and set in 16th century Japan. It follows a female shaman Shizume who discovers a dark and violent secret of her feudal lord Tadayoshi. The film is schedule to be in production during the month of January, 2013 on location around Nagano, Japan.
The production of Mitsu-jū is intended to connect filmmakers from Japan and the San Francisco Bay Area and to establish collaborative relationships that can bridge two communities for the future projects. Three young filmmakers from the Bay Area have agreed to travel to Japan for the production, and we are currently working with a filmmaker in Japan to recruit crew members. We hope the production of Mitsu-jū can inspire some young Japanese filmmakers to come to the Bay Area to shoot films of their own.
Upon completion, Mitsu-jū will be shown at public screenings that combine the film with live interactive theater and music. The director, Nao Nakazawa, envisions Mitsu-jū as a modern ritual where people can experience catharsis by sharing common feelings. At the end of the film, we see that the myth of Mitsu-jū is passed down in a secret-sharing ritual. Before the screening, masks and black robes are given to the audience members. When the film ends, a Shinto priest instructs the audience to put on their costumes. Then the live music and dance performance ensue and the audience is encouraged to join the masquerade. As the ritual comes near its end, the participants are asked to share their own secrets.
The production will seek screening around the Bay Area. Upon local success the production will seek screening in other metropolitan cities in the U.S. and Japan.
About The Filmmaker
Nao Nakazawa, born in Nagano, Japan in 1977, has been interested in the art of film making since his youth. As a teenager, he set his goal to study film in the US and produce movies of his own. He moved to California in 1996 and earned bachelor’s degree in film and digital media from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2001. For eleven years after the graduation, Nao worked for video and television productions around San Francisco Bay Area. Currently Nao studies, teaches and produces films at San Francisco State University for master’s in fine arts.
Selected Filmography: The Birth of California Shamisen (2005), Portraits of Oakland (2008), Vignettes in the Mist (2009), Bolon (2010), Merzbau: A Portrait of Kurt Schwitters (2011)