True stories of ordinary people struggling to rebuild their lives,
six years after the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011.
81 min./Japan/2017/Digital/5.1ch/16:9
Screening Schedule Overseas HERE
Life endures. How resilience, fortitude, and benevolence prevail after an unimaginable disaster. In the beautiful land of Tohoku, on Japan’s North-Eastern coast, people stricken by immeasurable loss never give up moving forward.
Courage and compassion in the face of adversity
Six years on from the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster of March 11, 2011. In the heavily devastated area, many people are trying to move forward with their lives while feeling a profound sense of loss or trauma. A couple decides to build a community centre on the site where they lost their three children. An oyster farmer, discovering the mineral-rich sea bed produced in the wake of the tsunami, devises a new approach to oyster cultivation. A hotel manager keeps memories alive by recounting stories from his community to his visitors. A five-year-old girl treasures the photographs of the father she never knew. A farmer in Fukushima defies the evacuation order and continues to grow rice. Each in their separate ways, is learning to live again after the disaster.
The small hopes and joys of the people of Tohoku
This documentary reveals the everyday realities of the Tohoku region and of Japan today, through the hidden stories of ordinary people living in the affected area. It is also a hymn to life. Director, Mia Yoon, a third-generation Korean immigrant, was involved in the production from development to advertisement and sales; “Life Goes On” is her directorial debut. As a producer, her filmography includes: “Beyond the Tsunami: Onagawa, Hearts Connected”. She explains the passion that drives her to continue visiting the area: “The tragedy of Tohoku has been broadcasted to the world, but since then, rays of hope and happiness have begun to emerge, and these stories deserve to be told.” The film is narrated by actress Norika Fujiwara, a committed volunteer in the disaster area, and dubbing artist Koichi Yamadera, who is a native of the affected region.
- This film successfully portrays the victims’courage in the face of this catastrophic disaster (60’s, Male, Saitama, Japan)
- It wasn’t simply a moving story. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t stop crying in the cinema. You can feel the warmth and courage of the people of Tohoku (50’s, Male, Tokyo Japan)
- We were all devastated. We all suffered. We were all at rock bottom. But now everyone is trying to live for today. A moving testament. (30’s, Female, Chiba Japan)
● Cast
[Ishinomaki] Shinichi Endo/Ryoko Endo/Jean Anderson/Andy Anderson
[Kawauchi] Yoshitaka Akimoto/Sonoko Akimoto/Shigeru Ide
[Minami Sanriku] Erika Okuda/Shun Ito/TomokoSato/Kazuma Goto/Kiyohiro Goto
[Kamaishi] Tomokatsu Maekawa/TomitaroNihonmatsu/Kenichi Suzuki/Hisao Kashiwazaki
[Namie] Masami Yoshizawa
● Narrator
Norika Fujiwara / Koichi Yamadera
● Staff
Director: Mia Yoon Co-Director/DP：Takeshi Tsuji
Producer：Yumiko Masuda Associate Producer: Hideyuki Okamoto Supervisor: Shizuo Suzuki
Composed by: Hiroshi Nishio Edited by: Yuichi Iwakiri Music Director: Yasufumi Hikichi Music by: Ryuji Iuchi
Title calligraphy: Fuyo Kobayashi Promotion: Mai Kuroda
Produced by：Kokoro Film Partners Produced and Distributed by：Heisei Project Inc.
● Sponsors, support and recognition
Sponsored by: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd./Daiwa Lease Co.,Ltd./XEBIO GROUP/NIRAKU Co.,Ltd/Naito Kogyosho/Inovv Inc./TOTO/Hiramoto Shoten CO, Ltd.
Supported by the Reconstruction Agency, the principal agency of the Government of Japan tasked with the reconstruction process in the Tohoku area(Japan)
Special selection by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(Japan)
Special recommendation by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare(Japan)
Recommended by EIRIN (Film Classification and Rating Organization)(Japan)
● Awards
HIROSHIMA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2017
Special Screening
JAAP International Short Film Festival 2017
2nd Place
London International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema LONDON 2018
Official Selection
Richmond International Film & Music Festival 2018
Honorable Mention
Nice International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema NICE 2018
Official Selection
Children’s Welfare and Cultural Awards 2018, supported by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(Japan)
