■ “Every time I sing “Machi” I have a conversation with my younger self, and that structure is the same as with the song “Maru”.” (Tsuyoshi Domoto)
The theme song for the movie “Maru” starring Tsuyoshi Domoto (opening on October 18th) has been decided to be “Machi (movie ver.)”, a re-recording of the 2002 song “Machi” written and composed by Tsuyoshi Domoto. The theme song announcement video has been released.
Regarding “Machi,” the first single that Domoto released under the name “Tsuyoshi Domoto,” being the theme song for his first solo starring role in 27 years, producer Yamada Masako of the film commented that the story of “Maru” is “a parallel world that asks, what if Domoto Tsuyoshi wasn’t a superstar?” and said of the theme song, “The song that projects Tsuyoshi’s feelings during a difficult time has now, more than 20 years later, gained a new presence as the song that concludes the life story of a man named “Sawada,” who was written specifically for Tsuyoshi but is not Tsuyoshi…it’s not something that can easily be done unless the original song is amazing.”
The story behind the offer to sing the theme song is that, as Director Naoko Ogigami was working with Domoto and bringing the character Sawada to life, Producer Yamada approached Director Ogigami about using “Machi” (City) for the theme song. The director responded miraculously, saying, “Actually, I was listening to ‘Machi’ while I was writing the script.” It was revealed that the decision was inevitable.
Regarding his casting as the theme song for this film, Domoto said, “I felt like the ending was such that it gave the illusion that Sawada was singing the song ‘Machi’, so I was very happy to be able to sing it.”
The theme song announcement video released this time includes the melody of “Machi (movie ver.)” along with footage of the recording of the theme song and the production of the soundtrack, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the filming. It is packed with precious footage, including Domoto playing the piano and chatting with Go Ayano and Win Morisaki.
Currently, there are no plans to release “Machi (movie ver.),” and the full version can only be heard in the movie. Don’t miss it right up to the end credits.
Be sure to head to the cinema to experience the moment when Domoto’s message in this song, “Living your own life is wonderful,” connects with the core of the story of “Maru.”
Comment from Tsuyoshi Domoto
The song itself was written at a time when I didn’t like people, and although I hurt others and get hurt myself, I don’t want to forget the pain inside me. It’s a song that sings of a strong heart that says not to lose sight of the pain because if you forget it, you might hurt others. So every time I sing it, I have a conversation with my younger self, and the structure is the same as the work “Maru”. When I face myself in this way…I don’t think I’ve changed much since then. That’s also similar to Sawada. I get in the spotlight for the “〇” I drew by chance, but I thought, “No, this isn’t what I wanted,” and I began to realize the happiness and joy that I have by drawing the pictures I want to draw. Every time I sing the song “Machi,” I go back to the time when I was young but tried to be myself, so I thought it was meaningful to sing a version just for this movie, so I sang it in a zone where I valued things that I felt more emotional than thinking. It was a very luxurious piece to be able to close with my own song, and I felt like the ending created the illusion that Sawada was singing the song “Machi,” so I’m really happy to have been able to sing it.■ Comment from Producer Masako Yamada (Asmik Ace)
This time, if the collaboration between Director Ogigami and Tsuyoshi Domoto was going to happen, I had a desire from a producer’s perspective that I didn’t want them to be limited to their established roles of director and lead actor.Director Ogigami, who has been active mainly in film, and Tsuyoshi Domoto, who has now distanced himself from acting and is mainly active in music… Couldn’t these two people, each with a strong worldview, team up to break new ground with their respective creative talents? It was inevitable that we would ask Tsuyoshi, a musician, to compose the film’s music, and we discussed this with him when we received the offer to play the lead role.
Director Ogigami, who normally doesn’t write scripts for specific actors, was faced with Tsuyoshi, someone he had always been interested in, and as they came to understand each other as human beings and brought the character of Sawada to life, he consulted with Director Ogigami about using Tsuyoshi’s signature song “Machi” as the theme song…to which Ogigami replied, “Actually, I was listening to ‘Machi’ while I was writing the script.”
Between you and me, I knew that Director Ogigami is not the type of writer who is proactive about theme songs, so I was surprised by his positive response. However, would they allow me to use his solo debut song, which he wrote during the most difficult period of his life, as the theme song? That’s why I felt strongly that it was necessary. At this timing, two artists, Director Ogigami and Tsuyoshi Domoto, were drawn to each other, and this film, his first solo starring role in 27 years, was realized. The story can be interpreted as a parallel world, asking what if Tsuyoshi Domoto was not a superstar? More than 20 years later, the song that projected Tsuyoshi’s feelings during his difficult period has gained a new presence as the song that concludes the life story of a man named “Sawada”, who was written for Tsuyoshi but is not Tsuyoshi… This is not something that can be done easily unless the original song is great. In response to this proposal, Tsuyoshi himself said, “In that case, I would like to re-record it with my current voice at 45 years old,” and the phantom theme song “Machi (movie ver.)”, which can only be heard in full at the movie theater, was born.
Its persuasive power is incredible, and it makes you imagine how the protagonist will live from here on out, and what happens after the story ends… (Maru)… It certainly exists as part of the story, and I think it’s a one-of-a-kind theme song.
Movie Information
“circle”
Opens Friday, October 18th
Starring: Tsuyoshi Domoto
Go Ayano / Riho Yoshioka Win Morisaki Junki Tozuka Welcome to Oda Mari Hamada
Akira Emoto / Taichi Saotome Hairi Katagiri Kotaro Yoshida / Satomi Kobayashi
Director and screenwriter: Naoko Ogigami
Music: .ENDRECHERI./Tsuyoshi Domoto
Theme song: Tsuyoshi Domoto “Machi (movie ver.)”
Produced and distributed by Asmik Ace
(C)2024 Asmik Ace, Inc.
Movie “Maru” website
https://maru.asmik-ace.co.jp
.ENDRECHERI. OFFICIAL SITE
https://tsuyoshi.in
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