Hailing from Hokkaido, ZOOKARADERU—a dynamic three-piece guitar rock band—celebrates their 10th anniversary this year. One of their iconic tracks, “Tomodachi no Uta (Friends Song),” has been a constant presence in their live performances since day one, and was recently released as a digital single on February 19th.
While the music video, set against a breathtaking snowy backdrop, makes a lasting impression, the story doesn’t end there. The song has sparked the creation of a short film titled Winter Morning (Fuyu no Asa), directed and written by the talented Rikiya Imaizumi, known for his works like Love, at Least and On the Edge of Town. This marks his return to original scripts since At the Window.
The film delves into the delicate and often unspoken dynamics between three complex characters—Tanebe (Shion Sasaki), Miho (Shion Naito), and Sakai (Taro Uchibori)—through raw performances and dialogue that captures both the humor and intensity of their relationships. At just 40 minutes, this work is infused with Imaizumi’s signature touch, expanding the emotional world of “Tomodachi no Uta” in ways that transcend its lyrics.
As ZOOKARADERU and Imaizumi sit down for a conversation, their discussion reveals the core of their creative minds, exploring human connections and the depths of artistic expression.
INDEX
Winter Morning: Imaizumi’s Signature Style in an Original Screenplay
How did Director Imaizumi get involved with this project?
Yoshida (Vo/Gt): To put it simply, we decided to take the bold step and approach him. We didn’t fully grasp the challenge, so we just thought, “Why not ask him?”
Yamagishi (Dr): It’s our 10th anniversary.
Washimi (Ba): I honestly thought, “There’s no way he’ll be available, he’s probably too busy” [laughs]. But “Tomodachi no Uta” is a track we’ve been performing live for years. There’s this image of us on stage facing the audience, and when the song is released, it’s no longer confined to just live shows – it starts connecting with all sorts of different scenes. So, when we heard that Director Imaizumi was going to turn “Tomodachi no Uta” into a film, we became really curious about what kind of human dynamics he’d depict.
A three-piece rock band from Sapporo. Formed in 2015, they solidified their current lineup in March 2018, and will celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2025. They released the digital single “Tomodachi no Uta” on February 19.
Imaizumi: So that’s how it all came about. I got a message from the staff, but I couldn’t help wondering how my name even entered the conversation.
Was the request specifically for a film rather than a music video?
Imaizumi: Initially, they asked for a short film, around 15 minutes long. My daughter had introduced me to Zutto Mayonaka de Ii no ni., so I was familiar with their music, but I wasn’t sure if I was the right person for the job. But once I listened to the song, all sorts of ideas started flowing. Within a few days, I had a rough outline. The first thing that surfaced was a certain atmosphere—a mix of emotions, including a touch of pain—and I built the story from there.
This story really has Imaizumi’s signature touch.
Imaizumi: I felt that people caught in uncertain situations might find comfort in this song. The lyrics mention “one and one,” but I thought the story would resonate more if it involved three people instead of just two. As I explored that idea, it kept taking shape. Then, in our second meeting, they casually mentioned, “Oh, by the way, this song is actually about the relationship between a band and its audience at a live house” (laughs). By then, I had already written the script exactly how I wanted, so I started second-guessing things. If Tomodachi no Uta captured relationships in their purest form, Winter Morning might feel more muddled, a bit messier in comparison.
Born in 1981 in Fukushima Prefecture, Rikiya Imaizumi is a film director. He made his commercial film debut in 2010 with Tamano Eiga and has since released a series of acclaimed works, including Sad Tea (2014), Say Goodbye to the Days of Boredom (2017), Just Only Love (2019), Over the Town (2021), and Call Me Chihiro (2023). His latest film, Undercurrent, was released on October 6, 2023.
