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TOKYO—Mr. Yanagawase, one of the most famous film visual effects artists in Japan, saw Divine Performing Arts (DPA) in Tokyo on Feb. 11, 2009. He praised DPA for its stage production.
“It creates a unique atmosphere, and a beautiful, colorful world. It’s such a delightful experience.
“The backdrops not only coordinate with the dancers on stage so seamlessly to deliver a wonderful effect, but also they are in harmony with the content of each program. The unfolding of the plots and the way of expressing stories are very attractive. It is a precious event to remember.
"The effects of the scenes in the backdrops are different from those in movies. Yet they did not distract from the dancers and the content of the stories at all. I can say that the backdrops were used to the extent that was just right.”
Upon watching the show, Mr. Yanagawase said that all the stories of the performances unfolded without complicated narrations. He originally thought that if the audience didn't understand the backgrounds of the legends ahead of time, it would be difficult to understand. Yet it was not so. He found the methods that DPA use to be rather “exclusive.”
He also said that the vivid Chinese traditional music had the special Chinese style. It blended in perfect harmony with the dancers, delivering a very joyful experience.
Mr. Yanagawase remarked that the colors played an essential role in the overall stage effect of DPA. It’s unique and very spectacular. The harmony of the colors greatly inspired him.
“For example, the fan dance is to welcome the spring. in Japan, we would not have thought of using green to match with pink, but it turns out to be very delightful.“
He was referring to Welcoming Spring, where ladies with quick footwork and crisp movements portray a beautiful floral scene of spring.
Another program, The Poet’s Vision, which delineates the story of Li Bai, one of the most celebrated poets in the Tang Dynasty, impressed Mr. Yanagawase very much. Since he personally loves art and enjoys drinking, he wishes that he could have the luck to witness the descent of the moon fairies like Poet Li did.
Mr. Yanagawase is the "icon of inferno," a term used to refer to Japanese film visual effects. He is good at using cinematography for commercials and MTV, which normally uses luxuriously bright colors. As a technician for a renowned director, he created dreamy and colorful worlds for a series of comedies.
His work is regarded as some of the best in modern Japan. He did the visual effects for "Kamikaze Girls" (2004) and "Memories of Matsuko" (2006), a film that has been rated as one of the best in Japan in recent years. He has also won the visual effects award at the First Asian Film Festival and later the technological award as part of the 63th Japanese Picture Award.
Please see www.DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.
