Synopsis
Produced by TOCHKA, this is a light animation. Takamori Saigo, born in Kagoshima in 1828, is remembered as the last true samurai and remains beloved by the people of Kagoshima. Saigo died by harakiri during the Battle of Shiroyama in 1877. His actual appearance is unknown, as only an etching and a few drawings exist; no photographs survive. To create this film, the directors visited Saigo's descendants to gather details about his facial features and characteristics. Now, Saigo is brought back to life in animation, wandering through towns and around Sakurajima, an active composite volcano in Kagoshima. This experimental animation was made using penlights.