“The Fish with One Sleeve” film screening and discussion
University News | October 19, 2022
Hokkaido University’s Office for Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI Support Office) collaborates with Sapporo Rainbow Pride and the LGBTQ+ community of Hokkaido University, Nijino Tsudoi, in a film screening followed by a discussion.
The poster of the event
On October 10th, 2022, DEI Support Office invited members of the public to join the film screening of “The Fish with One Sleeve” directed by Tsuyoshi Shoji, starring Yu Ishizuka as the main actress. Three short movies by the same director: “Homosocial Dancing”, “Old Narcissus”, and “Kaerimichi” were also screened in this occasion. All the films shared the theme surrounding sex and gender.
“DEI Office was newly re-organized on April 1, 2022, in order to realize a bias-free campus. One of our objectives is to improve the campus’ environment for members of LGBTQ+ community about which perhaps many do not know much. This is a chance to learn,” said Deputy Director Rika Yano of DEI Office.
Deputy Director Rika Yano giving a welcome address
About 150 people attended the screening at Hokkaido University’s Conference Hall. Moderated by Teruko Matsushima (Sapporo Rainbow Pride), the post-screening discussion event featuring Tsuyoshi Shoji and Yu Ishizuka who shared the creative and production anecdotes behind the film.
Joining the film director and the actress were Yumi Yanagiya from Sapporo Rainbow Pride and Tomoshi Ashizawa from Nijino Tsudoi. Both Yanagiya and Ashizawa shared not only their opinions on the films, but also their reflections on the film based on their experience, touching the subjects on identity, society, and microaggressions.
Towards the end of the talk session, Shoji delivered his thoughts as a film director on the importance of such an event, “There are many opportunities to watch films on screens, but it is rare to have a talk session reflecting the message of a film like this. I hope the effect and the sentiment lasts longer than a usual film screening.”
Panelists of the talk session (from top-left, clockwise): Tsuyoshi Shoji, Yumi Yanagiya, Tomoshi Ashizawa, and Yu Ishizuka.
Written by Aprilia Agatha Gunawan
Related websites:
DEI Support Office: https://www.dei.hokudai.ac.jp/en/
Sapporo Rainbow Pride (in Japanese): https://www.sprrainbowpride.com/
Nijino Tsudoi: https://nijinotsudoi.wixsite.com/hokudai-lgbts?lang=en
