INDEX
Altruism Over Self-Interest: The Value of “A Love Devoted for a Lifetime”
There’s also a tendency nowadays to dismiss those “old-fashioned, good values,” isn’t there?
Pierre Taki: Yeah — people might say, “That’s uncool.” But I think that spirit still exists in young people. The problem is that today’s society makes it hard to uncover. Numbers, metrics, and all kinds of pressures tend to cover up the feelings people naturally have. I feel this film has the power to wash some of that away, letting those values quietly resurface.
Kobayashi： People have become less able to feel that the ordinary, everyday moments are what make life truly happy. Every year, I visit a certain place on a trip, and the people who live there aren’t wealthy and don’t have much, but they farm, fish, and seem genuinely content. They’re always smiling—it’s a kind of richness you can feel. Compared to that, I think we might be lacking experiences in our lives that give us a real sense of fulfillment.
Can you give a specific example of that?
Kobayashi： For instance, no matter how much money you earn, it’s just a number. It can make you feel like you “have something,” but does it make you truly happy? Not necessarily. There’s a kind of happiness you feel when you hold a deep, personal sentiment close to your heart—something you can’t compare to receiving a diamond or an apartment. I think even just presenting this kind of worldview through a film, through animation, can help people feel that richness.
Some emotions are difficult to express in words, and perhaps animation, where even the smallest details can be crafted, allows them to be conveyed. In the film, Hōsenka Flower passes on memories as seeds even after withering. Do either of you ever think about leaving something behind for the next generation through your work?
Pierre Taki: I don’t really think about passing anything down, and honestly, when I encounter music that’s supposed to be “for the next generation,” I think, “Ugh, what a hassle,” and don’t even want to listen to it [laughs]. But speaking of what Kobayashi-san mentioned about “selfless love,” I do feel that love is about how much of your life you can give for others. Even something like taking your kids to and from school uses up your limited time, right? You do it because you love them. Nowadays, it seems like spending your time on yourself is considered the “right” thing to do — but I don’t think it should be only that. If you can also give time to your family, the people you care about, and even those around you, that’s even better. I hope that kind of feeling comes across through what we do.
Kobayashi: I don’t have that kind of intention myself. Still, sometimes it happens unintentionally, as a byproduct of what you do. Naturally, I’ve been influenced by the generation before me, but I don’t set out to deliberately pass anything on. That said, I do think certain things can be transmitted unconsciously — qualities that seem less valued today, like caring for others or cherishing life, or, as Pierre mentioned, the ability to find joy in small, everyday moments. These things are passed down in their own way. I can’t arrogantly say, “This is what should be preserved,” but like a wave, some of it inevitably flows on — and I hope it continues to do so.
The Last Blossom
Opening: Friday, October 10 — Shinjuku Wald 9 and nationwide theaters
Cast: Kaoru Kobayashi, Junki Tozuka, Hikari Mitsushima, Yoshiko Miyazaki, Hiroki Yasumoto, Soma Saito, Shusuke Murata (Torosalmón), Kota Nakayama, Pierre Taki
Director & Character Design: Mugi Kinoshita
Original Story & Screenplay: Kazuya Konomoto
Planning & Production: CLAP
Music: cero / Shohei Takagi, Yu Aranai, Tsubasa Hashimoto
Stage Direction: Mugi Kinoshita, Nana Harada
Concept Art: Michinoku Tōge
Layout & Animation Supervisors: Eiichi Tera, Yuji Hosogoe, Kazuya Miyoshi, Shuichi Shimamura
Color Design: Haruko Nobori
Art Director: Ayumu Sato
Director of Photography: Ko Hoshina, Takahiro Motokura
Editing: Yoshiki Ushiroda
Sound Direction: Koji Kasamatsu
Recording Director: Hiroshi Shimizu
Production Producers: Kinue Ito, Ryoichiro Matsuo
Promotion: Miracle Voice
Distribution: Pony Canyon
Production Committee: The Last Blossom Production Committee
Official Website: https://anime-housenka.com
Official X: @anime_housenka
Official Instagram: @anime_housenka
