INDEX
The Conclusion Reached at the End of the Journey
In the movie, it was mentioned that “the place reached at the end of the journey was a pure white world.” The end credits were white, which seemed to represent the world your father passed into, but also reflected the place you reached after your tour journey. Can you share your thoughts on that?
Moriyama: When I was singing “Wonderful World” on stage at Ryogoku Kokugikan, the band members gradually left, and I was left alone. At that moment, it felt like being in a park with everyone playing in the sandbox, but when the 5 o’clock chime rang, everyone went home, and I was left alone. There was a certain loneliness to it. That’s when I thought, “Ah, there is no such thing as a wonderful world.”
Was that feeling more of disappointment, or did it feel more like a sense of relief?
Moriyama: It was exactly a mix of despair and relief. I thought, “Ah, thank goodness.” The realization that there is no such thing as a “wonderful world” meant I didn’t have to search for it anymore. That’s when I was able to feel what I had mentioned earlier—that “the wonderful world is inside of me.” And with that, I was able to let go of something. Ironically, the stage was lit with a pure white backlight. The time my father lived and passed, and the time I spent on my final stage, were both the same.
Given how your father and you became so intertwined, it makes sense that the theme song “New World” feels like a song “written by my father.” I was curious—does the “you” in the lyrics, “I’ll leave it to you,” refer to you?
Moriyama: Yes, it’s me, but I think it could also refer to anyone who was touched by my father in some way.
If there’s something your father passed on to you, what would that be?
Moriyama: It’s this—talking about him like this. What I mean is that everything physical fades away eventually, but it lives on in people’s memories. Life may be transient, yet it’s incredibly precious. I feel like my father taught me this through how he lived, especially in his final moments. Though I was physically apart from him, after his passing, I strangely feel a deep sense of closeness to him.
The movie ‘Where is the Wonderful World?’
Limited Release Nationwide from Friday, March 28, 2025, for Two Weeks
■ Director: Shūichi Banba
■ Starring: Naotaro Moriyama
■ Theme Song: Shinsekai by Naotaro Moriyama
■ Produced by: SETSUNA INTERNATIONAL
■ Promotional Cooperation: Universal Music LLC
■ Distributed by: Asmik Ace
2025 | Japan | Color | 101 minutes | Vista | 5.1ch
(C) 2025 SETSUNA INTERNATIONAL
Official Website: https://subarashii-sekai-movie.asmik-ace.co.jp/
Naotaro Moriyama “Shinsekai”
Early release scheduled from Friday, March 28, 2025! Available on various subscription services including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, LINE MUSIC, and more / Also available on major music download sites like iTunes, RecoChoku, and others!
https://naotaro.lnk.to/shinsekai
Naotaro Moriyama Official Website: https://bio.to/naotaro_moriyama
