Others: Movie director Hideyuki Katsuki

By Judit Kawaguchi

Handsome with a 5 o’clock shadow, Hideyuki Natsuki, the movie’s director looks more like one of the actors than a man in charge of the whole movie. Between cuts he is carrying his little chair around and still manages to have plenty of authority. Power comes from the inside and when you’ve got it, you don’t need to flaunt it.

Judit Kawaguchi: How do you feel working on this movie?
Hideyuki Katsuki: It is great because I get to work with real truckers who are all cool and passionate, just like folk heroes who always help the weak. Tough guys are strong enough to cry, right? I’m glad there are men like that around and to make a sort of tribute to them. I actually think people are very good to each other. Maybe now that Japan is rich we have even more chances to show kindness to others.

JK: You are always joking with everyone.
HK: Well, no matter how tough the situation, it’s better to crack jokes! That is our movie’s premise, too: anyone can be happy in a comedy format. Plus the whole crew is handpicked so we all get along so well.

JK: What is this movie’s key theme for you?
HK: People sometimes forget their own history, where they belong. I think once they lose their past –which is actually like erasing their memory–, the result is that their whole future changes. They might not want to remember their relationships and what is expected from them in a certain situation or what they might owe others. This is a very difficult topic but we made it easy to grasp and we also added lots of action and funny elements so hopefully people from all walks of life will enjoy watching it.
JK: For sure! Thanks, Katsuki san.

Dekotora movie director Hideyuki Katsuki & journalist Judit Kawaguchi on a break from filming in Asakusa, Tokyo

A bilingual version of Judit Kawaguchi’s dekotora article series appeared in the Japanese magazine Truck King. Reported at the shooting of “DECOTORA NO SHU – KOI NO HANA SAKU SHIMIZU KO” (Decorated Truck Driver Shu – Flower of Love Blossoming in Port of Shimizu).

This Quote
Well, no matter how tough the situation, it’s better to crack jokes! — Hideyuki Katsuki