Yuuka Eda
（Film director / Screenwriter）

Even in a cultural mecca like Shibuya, a number of movie theaters and bookstores have closed their doors in recent years. Yuuka Eda, our guest this time, describes how she feels not mere nostalgia but actually mourns the loss of contact with an unfamiliar world – in a space that has closed its curtain on its history. An up-and-coming film director, she is known for her first feature film “Shojo KAIKOU (Girl’s Encounter),” an acclaimed hit at the age of just 23. Even after her own works began to grace the screens of Shibuya, she still takes the time to visit cinemas, look for inspiration on the shelves of bookstores, and to just take a stroll as a break from her creative process. We asked her to let us in on six of her favorite spots to get a better sense of her director’s gaze.

Creating the mood for writing screenplays

“Being a film director is not so very different from elementary school in terms of what you do. If writing screenplays is Japanese, then keeping an eye on the numbers is arithmetic. On-site work is like physical education. It is like doing Japanese, arithmetic, and physical education, no matter how old you are.”

Smiling quietly, Yuka Eda describes herself as “the type of person who can’t concentrate at home.” It is not unusual for her to write screenplays in cafes, and her favorite is in Sakuragaoka-cho. I often go to “WHITE GLASS COFFEE”.

My writing tends to be influenced by my mood at the time. So I try to choose a bright space with large windows and beautiful natural light. It’s also nice to be a little away from the hustle and bustle of the Shibuya station area.”

Cinema for the everyday, and for absorbing the new

Among cinemas in Shibuya, I like “CINE QUINTO”. They have a unique selection, so I try to pop in after a meeting or when I am on the move if I see a film that catches my eye. This year, when I was feeling run down after a busy day, I ran into “Licorice Pizza” just five minutes before it started, ha ha !

There are periods when she goes to the cinema every day, and there are other times when she abstains for as long as a month to avoid disrupting the worldview of the film she is working on. What is the filmmaker’s frame of mind when watching a film?

“Of course, there are times when I arrange to go with friends and watch a movie with a bowl of popcorn in hand. But if it’s a film like they show at “CINE QUINTO,” I want to concentrate on watching it from beginning to end and actually glean something from it. Since I am a director, I have to have an eye on what I bring to the beginning of the film, the design of the shots, and the ambience of the setting …… After watching a film with my friends, we often go out for a drink and share our impressions and opinions with each other.”

Finding serendipity in real life rather than online

Eda explains that what she expects from a film is not to empathize, but to encounter a world she has never seen before. The same applies to books. In her job, which requires her to attend meeting after meeting, she tries to find the odd moment to visit a bookstore.

“Just by walking around the large MARUZEN & JUNKUDO bookstore in Shibuya, for example, you may stumble across a book that you never knew existed. I once wandered around looking for an interesting book and found a psychology book that I could use as a reference for my work. No matter how many books are available online, searching is still a very restricted and limited world. You can only search what you know.”

Best places for topping up the creative juices

“I often visit “SHIBUYA PUBLISHING & BOOKSELLERS main store” as I can peruse books and encounter the unknown, unlike large bookstores. I actually bought the three books in the photo, and these can definitely not be found by searching online. You also find rare zines for sale that are not in general circulation.” 

 There are several companies in Oku-Shibuya which she sometimes goes to during certain phases of production. She also often finds herself in Jingumae for this reason. 

“I am a fan of “LOTUS” because of its inviting space and have been to all of its branches. I also love Yogoro and have eaten there a dozen times. I think about movies all day long, so going to my favorite restaurants like this is a great way for me to unwind.”

 Before she goes, I ask Eda-san about where in Shibuya she would depict in a film. 

 “Good question…… since the area has so many buildings extending skyward, I’d want to point the camera the other way to capture the streets. …… Lottery ticket booths, for example. You don’t see them at all in my hometown, and it is amazing that they remain in a city that is constantly changing. If I pointed my camera at it, I might just be able to make an interesting film.”

Yuuka Eda
Born in Gunma, Japan in 1994. Film director, scriptwriter. Her first feature film, “Girl’s Encounter,” produced in 2017, won the Audience Award at MOOSICLAB 2017 and was highly acclaimed when released in theaters. Officially invited to the Hong Kong International Film Festival and Shanghai International Film Festival and won the Best Director Award at the Barcelona Asian Film Festival.  In 2019 she won the Best New Director Award at the Japanese Movie Critics Awards. She also works on dramas and music videos, including “Kamiki Ryunosuke’s Shooting Holidays” (Episode 4), and is active as a photographer for artist photos and advertisements.