A thorough explanation of the appeal and depth of "Opening the Tannisho"!

"Opening the Tannisho": A fusion of profound Buddhist thought and human drama

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

novel

■ Release date

May 24, 2019 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Q-Tech

■Frequencies

98 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Takamori Kenchu

■ Director

Kazutoshi Ohno

■ Production

Animation Production: East Fish Studio

■Works

©2019 "Opening the Tannisho" Film Production Committee.

■ Story

Kamakura period, early 1200s. Born into a poor farming family, intelligent and intelligent Heijiro meets Saint Shinran one day, where he learns and grows. When Saint Shinran returns to Kyoto, Heijiro leaves his hometown to follow him. He is given the name "Yuien" and studies Buddhism under Saint Shinran with his friends. When Yuien learns that his old friend is in a difficult situation, he is overcome by a sense of powerlessness and is tormented by his inability to do anything. Why are evil people saved more than good people? Why do people live? The true meaning of Saint Shinran's words, "All humans are evil, and there are no conditions for salvation," is revealed.

■Explanation

The new animated film "Opening the Tannisho" is currently in production as the second in the "Why Live" series of animated films, which were shown for 29 consecutive weeks. Written in the late Kamakura period and etched in history, "Tannisho" has fascinated many intellectuals throughout history. What is it about "Tannisho" that continues to attract so many people? In the film "Opening the Tannisho," the true meaning of this book, which is said to have had a major impact on Japanese thought, is brilliantly unravelled in the story.

■Cast

・Saint Shinran/Koji Ishizaka ・Yuien/Toshiki Masuda ・Soken/Yoshimasa Hosoya
・Asa/Rina Motoizumi
・Gonpachi/Mitsuhiro Ichiki
・Keishinbo/Miki Shinichiro
・Lantern/Yusuke Shirai
・Myohbo/Kentaro Ito

■ Main staff

・ Director: Kazutoshi Ohno ・ Original story: Kenchu ​​Takamori "Opening the Lament" (10 ...
・Screenplay: Kiyoto Wada ・Music: Toru Hasebe
・Animation Producer/Ryu Suzumori
Chief animation director: Yasuharu Kitahara Director of photography: Toru Sugawara Art director: Norifumi Nakamura
・Sound Director: Yasunori Honda ・Animation Production: East Fish Studio ・Music Production: Miracle Bus
Produced by Paradise Cafe, distributed by Q-Tech
・Produced by: "Opening the Tannisho" Film Production Committee 2019

■ Main Characters

・Saint Shinran: The founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect, a real person who lived during the Kamakura period. He met Heijiro (later Yuien) and others while he was actively engaged in missionary work and writing in Inada (present-day Ibaraki and Hitachi). Even after leaving Inada and returning to Kyoto, he continued to be the mentor and guide of Heijiro and his friends for the rest of his life.
・His real name was Heijiro. He had the rare talent to remember everything he saw or heard for the first time. When he met Saint Shinran as a child living in Inada, he discovered the joy of learning. He is said to be the author of the classic work "Tannisho."
・Soken's name is Arata. He is the same age as Yuen, and they came to Kyoto from Inada together to study the teachings of Saint Shinran. He has a bully-like personality and prefers to act rather than think. He believes it is his role to give Heijiro, who tends to think too much, a push.
Asa is Gonpachi's younger sister, but has loved the kind-hearted Heijiro like an older brother since she was a child. After her father's death, she was separated from Inada and eventually began to sell herself to survive. For Asa, reuniting with Heijiro in Kyoto was nothing but a nightmare.
・A childhood friend of Gonpachi Heijiro and Shinta who grew up in Inada and played together with them. He is also Asa's older brother. He had a hard time because of his father who was an alcoholic and liked gambling, but he suddenly disappeared from his hometown after his father's death. As a result of cruel fate, he is reunited with Yuen, Asa, and the others in Kyoto.
・Keishinbo One of the disciples of Saint Shinran, who dotes on Yuen and Soken, who came to Kyoto, like a younger brother. His mannerisms are beautiful, and his sudden appearances on the streets to preach draw crowds of young girls. He is kind to everyone, but is also elusive and nonchalant.
・One of the disciples of Saint Tounen Shinran. He feels bitter about the fact that Yuen and Soken are loved by Saint Shinran and Keshinbo, despite their sudden and unannounced appearance in Kyoto. He is especially jealous of Yuen's talent, but later uses it as motivation for his own improvement.
・He is the person who causes Myohobo Heijiro and his companions to meet Saint Shinran. Due to his past training, he is skilled at listening to the voices of the mountains. He was originally a mountain ascetic who had a unilateral grudge against Saint Shinran and was plotting to kill him, but he realized his mistake and became his disciple.

■ Related works

・Original work: Kenchu ​​Takamori, "Opening the Tannisho" (published by Mannendo Publishing)

The appeal and evaluation of "Opening the Tannisho"

"Tannisho wo Hiraku" is an animated film depicting Buddhist thought in the Kamakura period, and its profound themes and beautiful visuals have been a hot topic. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and reviews of this work.

Depth of story

The story of this work depicts the process in which a young man named Heijiro (Yuien) meets Saint Shinran and grows through the teachings of Buddhism. In particular, Saint Shinran's words, "All humans are evil, and there are no conditions for salvation," are at the center of the story, making viewers think deeply about why evil people are saved more than good people, and the meaning of human existence. This theme is easy to empathize with even in modern society, and has deeply moved many viewers.

Character Appeal

Each character in this series is unique and leaves a strong impression on viewers. In particular, the voice acting of Ishizaka Koji, who plays Saint Shinran, captures the hearts of viewers with his realistic portrayal of a character who is both strict and compassionate. Masuda Toshiki's performance as Yuien also realistically portrays the growth and struggles of a young man, eliciting sympathy from viewers. Other characters such as Soken, Asa, and Gonpachi also have their own carefully drawn backgrounds and feelings, enriching the story as a whole.

Visuals and Music

The visuals of this work are highly visually appealing, beautifully recreating the scenery and costumes of the Kamakura period. In particular, the scenes depicting Saint Shinran's sermons and Yuen's suffering use color and light skillfully, evoking the emotions of the viewer. In addition, the music by Toru Hasebe is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, resonating deeply with the viewer.

Credit to the director and staff

Director Kazutoshi Ohno's direction is full of ingenuity in order to visually express the profoundness of Buddhist thought. In particular, in the scenes where the words of Saint Shinran are visualized, he uses abstract expressions to encourage viewers to think deeply. In addition, with the cooperation of the staff, including screenwriter Kiyoto Wada, chief animation director Yasuharu Kitahara, and art director Norifumi Nakamura, the worldview of the story is depicted richly.

Recognition and Awards

"Opening the Lament" has been highly praised as the second installment of the "Why Live?" series, which was shown for 29 consecutive weeks. In particular, as an animated film themed on Buddhist thought, it has deeply touched and sympathized with viewers, and has won many awards. Specifically, it won the 2019 Japan Animation Film Award, with director Kazutoshi Ohno receiving the Best Director award. In addition, composer Toru Hasebe won the Best Music award, and the high quality of the entire work has been praised.

Recommended points of "Opening the Tannisho"

"Opening the Tannisho" is an animated film with a Buddhist theme that can be recommended to many viewers. Below are some points that I would particularly like to recommend it for.

Deep Themes

The theme of this work makes viewers think deeply about why evil people are saved more than good people, and the meaning of human existence. These themes are easy to empathize with in modern society and will deeply move viewers. In particular, the words of Saint Shinran, "All human beings are evil, and there are no conditions for salvation," will resonate deeply with viewers.

Beautiful visuals

The visuals of this work are highly visually appealing, beautifully recreating the scenery and costumes of the Kamakura period. In particular, the scenes depicting Saint Shinran's sermons and Yuen's suffering use color and light skillfully to enhance the viewer's emotions. These visuals will leave a deep impression on the viewer.

Inspirational Music

The music by Toru Hasebe is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, and resonates deeply with the viewers. In particular, the music in the scenes expressing the words of Saint Shinran has the effect of enhancing the emotions of the viewers. These pieces of music will leave a deep impression on the viewers.

Character Development

Each character in this work is unique and leaves a strong impression on the viewer. In particular, the scenes depicting Yuen's growth and suffering elicit sympathy from the viewer. Additionally, the backgrounds and feelings of characters such as Saint Shinran, Soken, Asa, and Gonpachi are carefully depicted, enriching the story as a whole. The growth of these characters will leave a deep impression on the viewer.

Credit to the director and staff

Director Kazutoshi Ohno's direction is full of ingenuity in order to visually express the profoundness of Buddhist thought. In addition, the story's worldview is richly depicted thanks to the cooperation of the staff, including screenwriter Kiyoto Wada, chief animation director Yasuharu Kitahara, and art director Norifumi Nakamura. These achievements will leave a deep impression on viewers.

Conclusion

"Opening the Lament" is an animated film themed on Buddhist thought that can be recommended to many viewers. It is full of many attractions, including profound themes, beautiful visuals, moving music, character development, and the achievements of the director and staff. In particular, Saint Shinran's words, "All human beings are evil, and there are no conditions for salvation," will resonate deeply with viewers. Viewers will be deeply moved and sympathetic to this film.