Music like cotton wool depicting Suzu's thoughts - Kotoringo and the movie "In a Corner of the World

Sunao Katabuchi's animated film "In a Corner of the World," which opened in theaters nationwide on November 12, 2016. Set in wartime Kure, Hiroshima, the film depicts the lives of the people of the time and the war that overshadowed them through the eyes of one woman, Suzu. Director Katabuchi spent six years adapting Kono Fumiyo's original manga into a film. The main character Suzu is played by actress Non Non, which has also attracted a great deal of attention.
The theme song and soundtrack were composed by Kotoringo. The soundtrack album was released on November 9, prior to the film's release. We spoke with Kotoringo about how they added music to "In This Corner of the World," a film that painstakingly depicts the lives of ordinary people.

I met Director Katabuchi through "Mai Mai Shinko and the Magic of a Thousand Years".

─ I heard that the first preview was held yesterday (October 17).

Kotringo Yes, I visited the first preview for the staff and cast. The director made some last-minute changes to the film, and it has evolved since the No. 0 preview. I thought, "Suzu-san might be a little tanned," or "the pattern of her clothes might have changed." It seems that the warships and bombs were also repaired. I don't know much about mechatronics, so I don't really understand it myself (laughs). I also saw the crowdfunding credits for the first time yesterday. I was surprised to see that an episode that is not in the film was added to the credits.

─ Did you talk with Director Katabuchi at the screening?

Kotringo: There were many cast members there, so I just greeted them. I also had a chance to talk with Non-san for a while.

──You met Director Katabuchi through his previous work "Mai Mai Shinko and the Magic of a Thousand Years," right?

Kotringo: Yes. avex, to which I belonged at the time, was involved in the production of "Mai Mai Shinko and the Magic of a Thousand Years," and they thought my song would be a good fit for the film, so I was brought in.

─ So you met through a record company.

Kotringo: Actually, yes (laughs). (Laughs.) When we were working on the theme song, the director showed us not only the finished images, but also materials and background art, and even lent us books on the Pillow Book and other related subjects. He also lent us books on The Pillow Book and other related subjects. He talked to us about various topics, and I remember thinking, "He explains everything so thoroughly, he is a very passionate person.

─ ─ The song "Kodomo no sekai" was the result of this process, and was included as a bonus track on Kotringo's 2009 album "trick & tweet. The following year, your cover album "picnic album 1" was released, and it included the song "Sad and Yarikinai".

Kotringo: I gave "picnic album 1" to the director. It was right around that time that we started production of "In a Corner of the World". I heard that he thought it suited Suzu's sentiments.

─ ─ "In This Corner of the World" was to be made into a pilot film with the funds raised through crowdfunding from March to May 2015, and "Sad and Unfulfilled" was to be used in that film.

Kotringo: That's right. Whether or not it would be used in the film was not discussed at the time.

─ ─ Kotringo, when did you first become aware of "In This Corner of the World"?

Kotringo: At the same time that I was contacted about using "Sad and Unfulfilling", I was sent a copy of the original manga, and I read it right away.

─ What was your first impression of the original work?

Kotringo: I was surprised at first because of the unique drawing style and the fact that some pages were drawn in pencil. I was surprised at the very detailed descriptions of the cooking scenes and the episodes of romantic relationships. I was drawn into the story, and as the story progressed, I found myself more and more drawn into the story. And as the story progressed, war loomed closer and closer. ......

───The pictures are soft, but you used quite experimental techniques in this work, didn't you?

Kotringo That's right. It was the first time I was exposed to this kind of manga.