Taiko drummer Kaoru Watanabe and Fue ( Japanese flute)-making master Ranjo, two artist-musicians in traditional Japanese arts, demonstrate how to create a Fue and share their stories about the joy of music and life.

Credits

Hsuan-Yu Pan: Director

Specifications

• Project Type: Documentary
• Runtime: 8 minutes 50 seconds
• Completion Date: January 26, 2018
• Production Budget: 12,000 USD
• Country of Origin: United States
• Country of Filming: Japan
• Language: English, Japanese
• Shooting Format: Digital
• Film Color: Color

Screenings / Awards

• Barcelona Planet Film Festival Barcelona
  Spain
  Official Selection
• Diversions International Short Film Festival Sveti Ivan Zelina
  Croatia
  Official Selection
• Los Angeles CineFest Los Angeles
  United States
  Official Selection
• Canal town Moving Movie Festival HONESDALE, PA
  United States
  May 19, 2018
• Boulevard Film Festival Queens NY
  United States
• MINIKINO FILM WEEK Bali
  Indonesia
• Indie Best Films Festival Santa Monica, California CA
  United States
• Cinemaway/Кіномаршрут Lviv, Zhovkva
  Ukraine
• Militello Independent Film Fest Sicily
  Italy
• Portobello Film Festival London
  United Kingdom
  September 1, 2018
• Formosa Festival of International Filmmaker Awards Taichung
  Taiwan
• The Lift-Off Sessions Pinewood Studios, UK
• Ocean City Film Festival Ocean City Baltimore
• Shorts@Fringe Azores
  Portugal
• SPLICE Film Fest Brooklyn NY
  United States

Director Statement

In December 2017, Kaoru Watanabe gathered Taiko drummers from all over the world to explore Japanese traditional performing arts in Tokyo. The visit at Ranjo’s studio, where he creates flutes is one of these events. I documented the entire tour and this visit is the most impressive one for me as an artist.

During the visit, Kaoru and Ranjo demonstrated how to create a Fue and share their stories about the joy of music and life. Both of these artist-musicians are knowledgeable in traditional Japanese arts and passionate in preserving and promoting these traditions. It’s a rare chance to capture the moment of the conversation between two masters who are so deeply immersed in tradition. I want to share these precious moments with many more people through my film.