Kazuyuki Izutsu: Top 5 songs

Kazuyuki Izutsu

井筒和幸
Film director
Izutsu began producing movies as a high-school student and, by 1981, had won his first award, receiving the 'New Face' trophy, sponsored by the Japanese Association of Film Directors, for his movie Gaki Teikoku. He has since continued to win prizes, including the Blue Ribbon Best Picture award with his movie Kishiwada Shonen Gurentai in 1996 and the Blue Ribbon Best Picture award with his movie Pacchigi in 2005. His latest movie is Hero Show (2010).

Itsutsu no Akai Fusen: Tooi Sekai Ni
五つの赤い風船『遠い世界に』
'They are a folk band that made it big before folk songs hit in Japan. It really is the perfect song.'

The Folk Crusaders: Imuzin Kawa
ザ・フォーク・クルセイダーズ『イムジン河』
'The Folk Crusaders added Japanese lyrics to this piece of classical Japanese music. I used it in my movie Pacchigi.'

The Folk Crusaders: Ano Subarashii Ai Wo Mou Ichido
ザ・フォーク・クルセイダーズ『あの素晴らしい愛をもう一度』
'A folk-rock piece written by Kazuhiro Kato, who was the music director of my movie Pacchigi.'

Hibashi Misora: Tokyo Kid
美空ひばり『東京キッド』
'Released in the '50s, I want everyone to hear her bluesy voice, rather than that of a child.' Editor's note: Hibashi Misora began her music career as a child, which is what Izutsu is referring to here.

Kina Shokichi: Hana
喜納昌吉『花』
'This could be seen as the Okinawan version of John Lennon’s 'Imagine'.'