The New Chimu Don Don
~ Okinawa Elections and U.S. Military Bases ~
『シン・ちむどんどん』
Director: Darthreider / Petit Kashima
Exective Producer: Yu Hirano / Umezo Kato
Producer: Arata Oshima / Aki Maeda
Cinematographer: Loft Project
Editor: Akira Funaki
Music: The Bassons
Sound: Takashi Nakashima / Kenichi Tominaga
【STORY】
"Elections are festivals!"
Okinawa, home to the most hotly contested elections in Japan
With the motto “Elections are the most fun festivals!”, rapper Darthreider－a Tokyo University dropout－and current affairs comedian Petit Kashima－certified at the highest level of the news proficiency test－team up as onlookers to explore Japan’s political scene. This unlikely duo’s YouTube show "Hirukaranandesu"("It Starts from Noon") won over audiences with its honest, humorous take on current events, and now expands into a feature-length documentary: “Senkyonandesu: the Movie” ("It's an Election"), released in approximately 50 theaters nationwide, attracting more than 10,000 viewers.
The story is set in Okinawa, known for having the most hotly contested elections in Japan. The two travel to cover the gubernational election held on the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return to Japan.
They ask the candidates not only about their policies but also about the popular morning drama “Chimdondon” (“My Heart is Excited”) airing at that time, shedding light on each candidate’s personality in unexpected ways. They also confront the overwhelming amount of misinformation surrounding Okinawa and its election, widely spread on social media.
However, one month after the election, an influencer mocked the sit-in protest online and receives a flood of “likes”. Unwilling to ignore the situation, the duo returns to Okinawa once more. What did they witness? And what does it say about how truth, politics, and public perception collide in Japan today?
【Director's Biography】
Darthreider
Rapper/musician
Born in Paris and raised in London, Darthreider dropped out of the University of Tokyo. In 2010, he suffered a cerebral infarction, resulting in the loss of vision in his left eye. Since then, his eye patch has become his trademark. He formed the band The Bassons, where he’s the lead vocalist, and regularly appears on various online programs alongside public figures from diverse fields.
Petit Kashima
Current Affairs Comedian
Petit Kashima analyzes and compares coverage across 14 newspapers, offering sharp and humorous commentary on topics ranging from sports and culture to politics. He holds Level 1 certification in Japan’s News Proficiency Test. A prolific writer, he publishes 17 columns a month and is the author of multiple books. He frequently appears on both radio and television programs.
【Director's Statement】
We don't know anything. While covering the gubernatorial election, which felt more like a festival, held 50 years after Okinawa's return to Japan, we were struck by how little we truly knew. About Okinawa, about Japan, about America. About democracy, and even about the Constitution. What are we really doing? Why are there songs and dances in that place? Please join us on this journey to face those questions. By Darthreider
Our “election tour” master, Michiyoshi Hatakeyama, once told us, “You should see an election in Okinawa－it’s like a festival.” So going on a tour of Okinawa during the election was a dream come true for us. The first half of the film is flashy. The second half is our own report－our personal take on Okinawa. The theme is about recognizing how much we don’t know. We hope it serves as a starting point for reflection and deeper thoughts. By Petit Kashima
