The heartbeat of that day continues to resonate today -
A documentary that depicts the untold story behind the legendary live performance
The Beatles, a legendary rock band that captivated the world in just under eight years of activity and continues to be talked about more than 60 years after their debut. How did they become an unprecedentedly popular band in Japan? What path led to their legendary Nippon Budokan concert? And why are The Beatles still beloved by people of all ages? What were the thoughts and motivations of the unknown key players who worked behind the scenes at the Budokan concert and the witnesses who witnessed the frenzy? This documentary depicts a new history of The Beatles in Japan through footage from the time and the testimonies and thoughts of over 50 prominent figures from all walks of life and across all generations.
●A must-see documentary that uses rare footage to depict the behind-the-scenes of The Beatles' Japan tour
2022 marks the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' debut. The four-piece band debuted in 1962, and returned to Japan four years later in 1966 for their first and final performance. This film was conceived ahead of the upcoming 60th anniversary of their Japan tour (2026). With fewer people familiar with the period, the impetus for launching this project was the desire to quickly gather this valuable evidence.
On September 25, 2022, footage of The Beatles' visit to Japan filmed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was made public. The footage was shot by the police at the time as a record of security. A citizens' group learned of the footage and filed a Freedom of Information request, leading to its release following a lawsuit. The approximately 35-minute, soundless, black-and-white video includes scenes of the band members descending an airplane ramp in happi coats, their concert at the Nippon Budokan, and police officers providing security. Portions of this footage are used in this film.
●A stellar cast of over 50 people talk about "The Beatles"
The highlight of this film is the passionate interviews with over 50 people, including those who worked behind the scenes at the Japan tour, witnesses to the enthusiasm of the time, and prominent figures from various fields who were influenced by The Beatles. Artists active in the current music scene, such as Osamu Iguchi (King Gnu), Kazunobu Mineta (Gin Nang Boyz), and Tamio Okuda, express their deep respect for The Beatles, depicting the impact that The Beatles, as a culture, had on Japan. The dynamic illustrations for the poster visuals were created by Naoki Urasawa, Japan's leading manga artist known for classics such as "YAWARA!", "MONSTER," and "20th Century Boys." Known as a die-hard music lover, Urasawa was a member of the light music club from high school through college, and continues to be active in the music industry, including songwriting. He also appears in this film as one of the speakers recounting his experience of The Beatles' visit to Japan. The film is narrated by actor Hikari Mitsushima. Having demonstrated her solid acting skills in numerous films, stage plays, and TV dramas, she is truly a top-class singer, both in name and in reality. She began her career as a singer who could sing and dance, and is also a Beatles fan who was exposed to The Beatles' music from a young age, when her father listened to them.
●Luxurious bonus footage you can only see here!
The bonus footage includes a special conversation between Naoki Urasawa and Kunihiko Fujimoto (Beatles researcher)! This is a must-see, as the two passionately discuss their feelings and fascination with The Beatles.
●Cast
Narration: Hikari Mitsushima
Cast (titles omitted, alphabetical order)
Osamu Iguchi / Naoki Urasawa / Tamio Okuda / Yuzo Kayama / Osamu Kitayama / Tetsuko Kuroyanagi / Yoshio Yasu / Kazuo Zaitsu
Julia Baird / Hiroyuki Takashima / Katsuhiko Takahashi / Chikara Noji / Isao Bitou / Frida Kelly
Rumiko Hoshika / Takeo Hori / Takashi Matsumoto / Mickey Curtis / Kazunobu Mineta / Reiko Yukawa, and over 50 other people involved.
●Staff
Director: Koiku Azuma
Supervising Editor: Kunihiko Fujimoto
Cinematography: Makoto Yoshida
Editor: Yoshihiro Okawa
Music: Hidetoshi Miyai
Producers: Hiroyuki Ishigaki, Hiroshi Takezawa, Tomoko Tomita, Koichi Shimada
Planning and Producer: Hiromitsu Sugita
Producers: Yoshitaka Kamo, Kane Mountain
Main Art & Drawing: Naoki Urasawa
Production: Television Man Union
Produced by: "Mr. Moonlight" Production Committee
●Bonus Footage
Naoki Urasawa x Kunihiko Fujimoto (Beatles Researcher) Special Discussion + Unreleased Interview
●Bonus Included
Postcard
*Product specifications are subject to change.
© "Mr. Moonlight" Production Committee
Regular Edition