“Your Name” Shinkai Makoto and Sakamoto Yuji, a screenwriter who is a fan of Shinkai’s works, crosstalk! NHK’s “Switch Interview” aired on April 4th and 11th

“Your Name.” NHK’s interview program “Switch Interview,” featuring animation director Shinkai Makoto, known for his latest work “The Sparrow’s Door Clothing,” along with screenwriter Sakamoto Yuji, will be broadcast on NHK E-Tele for the second consecutive week on April 4th and 11th, 2025. Comments have been received from Shinkai and Sakamoto in preparation for the broadcast.

“Switch Interview” is an interview program with NHK, featuring two “teachers” who are active in different fields, and “switch” guests and interviewers for two consecutive weeks (EP1 & EP2) to discuss their path to success and their unique philosophy. Not only does it allow you to see each of them, but it also involves crosstalk, which is the essence of “chemical reactions” that are not found in regular interview programs.

Sakamoto Yuji is a screenwriter known for dramas such as Quartet, Soyada Towako and His Three Ex-husbands, and Woman, as well as films such as Unrequited Love World, First Kiss 1ST KISS, and I fell in love like a bouquet. Monster, which teamed up with director Koreeda Hirokazu, won the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival, and his lines, which can be called Sakamoto’s style, have been stolen worldwide.

On “Sakamoto Yuji x Shinkai Makoto,” which will be aired for two consecutive weeks on April 4th and 11th, a crosstalk with the globally attracting animation director Shinkai Makoto, who hopes to talk in depth. Speaking of Shinkai, I think “Your Name.” “, which sold over 25 billion yen in box office revenue, and its latest film, “The Sparrow’s Doors,” was a huge hit both domestically and internationally. The “Shinkai World” depicted in beautiful colors and delicate words is gaining popularity.

In fact, Sakamoto, who is a huge fan of Shinkai’s works, says, “The current Japanese video industry is supported by anime. There are visual limitations to live-action films, but it should be produced with a more purposeful sense of production, just like anime.”
In preparation for his appearance, Sakamoto commented, “The gaze of the times is unique and I really respect them. I would be happy if I could continue to say that I love them,” and Shinkai commented, “Animation and live-action films don’t usually intersect, so I feel like I’m fine with them. I was wondering why Sakamoto’s works were so good, so I’d like to hear about their secrets.”

NHK’s interview program “Switch Interview,” in which animation director Shinkai Makoto, will be aired for the second consecutive week on NHK E-Tele on April 4th and 11th, 2025. How do the two who work on hit works that also spark social phenomena create stories? The creative theories of artists, which fly beyond the boundaries between “animation” and “live-action,” are sure to be a must-see.

Sakamoto Yuji

I’m a huge fan. I don’t think anyone can portray this era as much as Shinkai-san.
His gaze on the times is unique and I really respect them.
I would be happy if I could continue to say that I love you.

Shinkai Makoto

I was honestly surprised when I was told I wanted to meet him.
Since anime and live action don’t usually intersect, I feel like I’m fine. I was wondering why Sakamoto’s works are so good, so I would like to hear about the secret.

Switch interview “Sakamoto Yuji x Shinkai Makoto”
[Broadcast schedule]
April 4th (Friday) and April 11th (Friday) 9:30pm – 9:59pm *2 consecutive weeks

《Nakase Kotaro》