Sorry, Saitama citizens

“Saitama citizens require a waybill to go to Tokyo!”

“Saitama citizens eat the grass over there!”

“Just saying Saitama turns your mouth into Saitama!”

Such extreme lines that have no reason to be said are being spat out one after another in Tonde Saitama.

Saitama citizens, you have my sympathies.

But I believe that there is no other work that overflows with as much love for Saitama as this one.

After watching, I kind of wanted to become a Saitama citizen. Just a very tiny bit.

Just when you’d think that Maya Mineo-san, the author of works like Patarillo! and more, was born in Saitama, he was actually born in Niigata Prefecture.

Maya-san’s comment is the best. He said,

“My own local love belongs to Niigata, where my parents live in, and while I lived in Tokorozawa I had no love for Saitama at all, so I would like everyone to forget their own birthplaces and watch it”.

Won’t you try laughing out loud in a cinema?

This is a report of the Nagoya talk show that the lead stars, Nikaido Fumi-san and GACKT-san, attended.

By the way, the both of them were born in Okinawa Prefecture.

GACKT-san speaks to Nikaido-san?

This event, called “Nihon Saitama-ka Keikaku in Nagoya”, was held in the form of a talk show at Nagoya Sakae’s Oasis21 in the cold.

Right from the start, GACKT-san said, “Are you cold? Everyone, let’s go home soon!”, and he was warmed by the screams of “No way―!” form the 150 audience members, who were selected via a draw.

The two of them were asked what image they have of Nagoya.

Nikaido-san: A sparkling shachihoko*.

GACKT-san: Let’s see. It’s a place between Tokyo and Osaka… But didn’t a feature come out recently? The women in Nagoya are beautiful too.

Audience: Hyuー!!!

GACKT-san: I’m not just talking about the people gathered here today though. I’d get asked, “Why are you staying at Nagoya?”, and I often step out of the car halfway. There are lots of delicious restaurants too.

GACKT-san was asked about his impression of Nikaido-san.

GACKT-san: Adorable, just like how she looks. That’s without a doubt. But she’s a stranger person than she looks. I wanted to communicate with her and I asked a variety of questions, but when I do that, I’d get asked back, “What does GACKT-san think about that?”. I’d explain what I think, and then she’d say, “I understand what GACKT-san thinks. In my case…” and she’d start explaining. So the conclusion that comes out at the end just disappears right before that. And I’d always, a-l-w-a-y-s, be scream “Oyyy!”.

Nikaido-san: No, I don’t think so.

GACKT-san: I don’t like people who don’t think so.

Next, they were asked what a sequel set in the Tokai region would be entitled.

Nikaido-san: … What was the question? Ah, I like Mie. Nagoya doesn’t have to fly to get noticed, so I’d like to give that spot to Mie.

GACKT-san: “Tonda Matsusaka” or something. I think that there are probably a lot of people all around Japan who don’t know where Matsusaka is. Mie is difficult, isn’t it? It’s got something like a mysterious presence, or maybe its the accessibility. I like beef, so I do come to Matsusaka by train too. Though I do think that perhaps the inaccessibility is a charm of its own.

After that, as it is one day before Valentine’s Day, they gave out Saitama’s local product “Soka Senbei” to everyone in the audience. There was also a surprise where 8 people were selected to go on stage to personally receive them.

Lastly, a message from each of them.

Nikaido-san: Everyone in Nagoya has been so energetic, so I’m really happy that we came to Nagoya as our last stop of the Nihon Saitama-ka Keikaku. Thank you for your support for
Tonde Saitama!

GACKT-san: There’s definitely a lot going on in this series, isn’t there? When natives of Mie and Gifu get asked “Where did you come from?”, they’re bound to say “Nagoya”. Tonde Saitama isn’t a story that’s only relating to Saitama. This movie is exceptionally lame. It’s a comedy. The actors gathered in this comedy have all very seriously acted out the drama. We think that if all of us gave our all like this, everyone who comes will be able to laugh. I think this may become a movie that you’ll all be able to laugh out loud at in the theatre and then as you’re going home, you’ll be able to say to fellow audiences who are strangers that it was a fun movie. Please do, by all means, enjoy it in theatres. And a sincere thank you for coming here in this chilly weather.

As expected, GACKT-san closing things up with a snap is cool!

During one part of Tonde Saitama, there’s a conflict scene between “Saitama” and “Chiba”. It is so pointless, so lame, that I love it!

By the way, I was not born in Aichi Prefecture’s Nagoya too. I come from the countryside.

*A shachihoko or shachi is an animal in Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp.

Source: cinema.co.jp

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA