Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Journey: His Deep Connection with Film and Its Origins

Childhood and an Interest in Diverse Cultures

Ryusuke Hamaguchi was born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1978. Interested in stories and visual arts from an early age, he grew up surrounded by books and films. He was particularly drawn to overseas cinema, and his fascination with other cultures and the complexity of human relationships influenced his later style.

Film Experiences as a Student

At the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Letters, Hamaguchi joined a film club and deepened his practical knowledge of filmmaking. While studying literature academically, he became drawn to storytelling through images and began making independent films. This period laid his foundation as a director.

In-Depth Study at Film School

After university, he entered the Graduate School of Film and New Media at Tokyo University of the Arts and committed himself seriously to filmmaking. His experiences there were extremely important to his career, helping him establish a distinctive directing style that emphasized dialogue with actors within collaborative work. His graduation film Passion brought his talent to public attention.

Documentary Production and the Establishment of His Style

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Hamaguchi made the documentaries The Sound of Waves, Voices from the Waves, and Storytellers. Their focus on people’s spoken accounts connects to the portrayal of emotion through dialogue later seen in Happy Hour and Drive My Car. Hamaguchi has earned high praise in Japan and abroad for weaving stories that are quiet yet powerful.