(the) Road to the Deep East

*If you have something to say about this Kitano vs. Matsumoto series, please comment on this entry.

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It looks Matsumoto's 'Dai Nihonjin' will succeed , at least commercially. 'Dai-Nihonjin' gathered 157,000 people last eek end and earned almost 300 million yens a week. It was ranked at #2 in the income ranking in Japan, next to 'Pirates of the Caribbean' , more than 'Spider-man 37. (Kitano's 'Kantoku Banzai' was #10.) As a debut work, this number is incredible, and it's absolutely true that he attracted a lot of movie audience by his comedy, just as he did on TV 10 years ago.

However, at this point, I don't think Mr Matsumoto will become the movie director who leads Japan 20 years later, just like Kitano Takeshi does today. Artistically, his work is very poor, and I couldn't find the possibility from his debut work.

Especially, as an export product, this comedy is very poor, again. To understand this comedy, the people living in foreign countries need a lot of prerequisite to understand this work; for example, knowledge on 70's Tokusatsu movies, mixed marital arts, the hierarchy of Japanese comedians , and off course, Japanese culture. In addition, Matsumoto requires a very delicate sense of humor, and even a Japanese needs some years to understand his point of view. That's his comedy.

*If you can laugh with this skit, it may be enough to understand 'dai nihonjin' though. 'Dai Nihonjin' is lying on the extension of this comedy made over 12 years ago.


It is very contrary to 'internationally sophisticated' Kitano Takeshi's newest comedy. There are some jokes which only the Japanese old may laugh, but his world is opened to the world, and I guess while a gaijin finds 1 point to laugh in Matsumoto's movie, I think he or she can laugh for 3 times at Kitano's one. For example, the world-famous French headbutter is parodied in 'Kantoku!Banzai', and Takeshi's figure transforms into him.

However, if you need something just to console you when you are sad, I have to say, you'd better see other Japanese product in another format. I bet 'Ouran High School Host Club' -will make you laugh more in more simple way. Or, even 'Bishojo Club Panchanne' may be enough.

To be frank, both 'Dai Nihonjin' and 'Kantoku Banzai' must be failed works, not only as movies, but also comedies. When two prodigies who lead Japanese comedy in 80s and 90s created comedy movie, ironically, the works just became fossils which captured 'what they thought interesting' decades ago. 'Dai Nihonjin' may look very innovative, for an ex-fan of Matsumoto like me, it looked the same thing as what he did 10 years ago.

So, at this point, as far as judging from these comedy works from two geniuses, the chance that 'J-comedy' will become the competitive product like anime or visual rock will be very little- less than J-idol music.

However, among these boring comedies, our hope, international Kitano showed us his infinite possibility as a film maker. According to an interview, he is now coming back to the 'violence movie' wold again, and his next work will be like the one. I'm very looking forward to this movie, and just like 'Kids Return' after 'Minna Yatteruka', the next work will be another masterpiece from him with a lot of beautiful Kitano-blue.

As for Matsumoto, we'd better think he is just a hero of televised comedy, not a talented film maker. Supported by the commercial success, it's sure that he'll make his 2nd work, but I won't expect too much on him anymore.

But even 10 years after his golden age in 90s, it's sure that Matsumoto is still the leading authority of J-comedy. If you want to see the cutting edge of Japanese comedy, or want to know something amuse Japanese the most, 'Dai Nihonjin', or following his works will be the best example.