Private Project

The minimalist's homecoming

A room in an apartment. A young man lies on the floor, having seemingly fallen and hit his head hard while attempting to pick up a book from the shelf. "Where am I? Who am I?" he ponders, finding himself devoid of memory. He endeavors to retrieve his personal information but fails to locate the PIN on his phone or PC. Despite considering himself a minimalist, he struggles to find anything in his room. What should he do?

As he grapples with unlocking his phone, he stumbles upon the "emergency contact" screen and reaches out to his mom, deciding to head to his parents' house. En route, he learns from his mother that a childhood friend is getting married.

Upon arriving at his parents' house, memories gradually flood back through conversations with his mother and the discovery of mementos in his old room. Reunited with his childhood friend, his memories become even more vivid.

That evening, mother and son share precious time together, marking their first meaningful interaction in a while. The young man expresses his heartfelt gratitude to his mother.

Returning to his room shortly afterward, the young man resumes his daily routine, albeit with a newfound maturity.

  • Masaya Kudaka
    Director
  • Masaya Kudaka
    Writer
  • Masaya Kudaka
    Producer
  • Ryosuke Koike
    Producer
  • Manabu Serizawa
    Producer
  • Ryosuke Koike
    Key Cast
    "Takuya Terakado"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    ミニマリストの里帰り
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    40 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,500,000 JPY
  • Country of Origin:
    Japan
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    Japanese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Masaya Kudaka

Born in 1985 in Okinawa, Japan. Graduated from Osaka University of Arts, Visual Concept Planning Department.

Joined Take Five Inc. in 2009 and has been involved in NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) drama programs as a production staff member, while also working on many event exhibition videos, DVD and Blu-ray bonus videos, PR programs, and more.

Became a freelancer in 2019. Heavily involved in video production.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The theme of this work explores the idea that while digital data can seemingly record everything infinitely, there exists a certain quality in analog formats that cannot be replicated. Today, everything from cherished photos to work schedules and personal plans is condensed into handheld devices. However, if this data were to disappear, or access to cloud storage were lost, how could it be retrieved? Is there truly a way to access forgotten memories buried deep within the brain?

The Long Now Foundation, an organization dedicated to "pursuing long-term thinking," recently published an insightful article on their blog regarding the degradation of media and information. The article highlights the enduring nature of ancient clay tablets and medieval manuscripts compared to the impermanence of modern digital storage methods.

The protagonist of this story is a minimalist young man who has pared down his possessions to the bare essentials. He believes that by embracing a minimalist lifestyle, he can lead a richer life in today's mass-producing, mass-consuming society.

When he loses his memory and finds himself devoid of physical objects that could provide clues to his identity, he embarks on a journey to regain his sense of self. Through this narrative, I aim to convey to the audience the profound emotional impact of tactile and "original" experiences, suggesting that sometimes, true connection and meaning are found through our senses rather than through digital interfaces.