Japanese Actress Fumi Nikaidou Calls Koji Yakusho Her "Benefactor"
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Japanese actress Fumi Nikaidou has described actor Koji Yakusho as her benefactor, meaning someone who has helped her greatly. The two star together in the film "The Children I Don't Know."
Nikaidou said she wants to show her gratitude to Yakusho "for her whole life." She did not give specific details about how he helped her, but her words show deep respect.
The film's director, Miwa Nishikawa, made the movie about war orphans, children who lost their parents because of war. Nishikawa is known for looking closely at difficult social topics.
According to reports, the director has also shown interest in other groups who face hardship, including women who are exploited, meaning treated unfairly for someone else's benefit, Korean residents living in Japan, and children in Gaza.
Nishikawa reportedly said she feels that a certain kind of "irresponsibility" feels typical of her own country. This comment appears to connect to the film's themes about people who are forgotten or left without protection.
To support the film's release, special talk events will be held on several days. These events will give audiences a chance to learn more about the movie and its themes directly from people involved in making it.
Vocabulary10 words
- benefactor
- someone who helps another person a lot
- gratitude
- a feeling of wanting to say thank you
- director
- the person in charge of making a film
- war orphans
- children whose parents died because of war
- exploited
- treated unfairly so someone else can benefit
- irresponsibility
- not being careful or fair with duties
- talk events
- public meetings where people discuss a topic
- themes
- main ideas in a book or film
- hardship
- difficult living conditions
- social topics
- issues about how people live together
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Quiz
Answer key
1. He is her benefactor 2. War orphans 3. Exploited women, Korean residents in Japan, and children in Gaza
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Japanese actress Fumi Nikaidou has described actor Koji Yakusho as her _____, meaning someone who has helped her greatly.
The two star together in the film "The Children I Don't _____."
Nikaidou said she wants to show her _____ to Yakusho for her whole life.
The film's director, Miwa Nishikawa, made the movie about war _____.
War orphans are children who lost their parents because of _____.
The director has also shown interest in women who are _____, meaning treated unfairly.
She has also looked at Korean _____ living in Japan.
Nishikawa reportedly said a certain kind of _____ feels typical of her own country.
Special talk _____ will be held on several days to support the film.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Nikaidou feels such strong gratitude toward Yakusho?
- What challenges might a film about war orphans try to show audiences?
- Why might a director choose to connect war orphans with other groups facing hardship?
- Do you think talk events help audiences understand a film better? Why or why not?
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