Hikari Mitsushima (prod. Mondo Grosso) -- Shadow Dancing

 

I haven't really been an avid follower of actress/singer/dancer Hikari Mitsushima（満島ひかり）in her movie and TV career although I've known about her acclaimed portrayal of real-life TV veteran Tetsuko Kuroyanagi（黒柳徹子）and the observation that one movie critic in "The Japan Times" admired her bravery in one early movie in allowing the camera to do a close-up of the inside of her nose (yes, I know that I've made that point before). Of course, I also remember her as a member of the song-and-dance kids' group Folder around a quarter of a century ago.

Since then, she's been collaborating with music producer Mondo Grosso over the past several years which has resulted in "Labyrinth"（ラビリンス）in 2017 and then "In This World" last year. This has included accompanying mesmerizing music videos which have reminded folks of a certain generation like myself that she is indeed a talented dancer. Such is also the case with her and Mondo Grosso's latest work together "Shadow Dancing" which now has Mitsushima front and centre on the credit byline instead of Mondo Grosso.

Released last month in August, both aforementioned artists provided words and music for "Shadow Dancing" which strikes me as a very chill dance tune so I can imagine anyone hitting the floor for this one moving slowly and rhythmically. As I was watching, I was getting some Chris Nolan "Inception" vibes from this one. Speaking of which, will Mitsushima make a break into Hollywood someday?

Mondo Grosso feat. Hikari Mitsushima and Ryuichi Sakamoto -- In This World

 

Almost five years ago in 2017, I put up an article on the groovy "Labyrinth"（ラビリンス）, a collaboration between musician/producer extraordinaire Mondo Grosso, aka Shinichi Osawa（大沢伸一）, and actress/singer/dancer Hikari Mitsushima（満島ひかり）. I had been reminded through Mitsushima's tripping the light fantastic through Hong Kong that she was indeed that third descriptor because of her time as a kid in the song-and-dance group Folder decades ago.

Well, this year, Mondo Grosso and Mitsushima got back together again, and this time, they had a couple of more big names in Japanese music helping out. Not only was Osawa providing music and Mitsushima singing, but R&B chanteuse UA wrote the lyrics and Ryuichi Sakamoto（坂本龍一）was on the piano for the March 2022 digital download single "In This World". A song hauntingly delivered by Mitsushima, "In This World" is a siren song set to beats as if an angel hit the dance floor and had to interpret the music (wouldn't that be an idea for an anime?). UA's lyrics seem to feel as if they were addressing the urge to get out of the shadows of self-isolation due to the pandemic and actually engage the five senses once again beyond the computer screen in a world that's worth experiencing and saving. 

In an article on "In This World" for Anime News Network, there was a comment from Sakamoto stating that he hadn't been sure how he could actually contribute to such a song but Osawa's music was able to lead the way. For me, I'm glad that MG did ask The Professor to help out. It was a sign that I had wanted to hear for some time that Sakamoto was still able to work despite his cancer battles over the past few years.

The music video with Mitsushima literally dancing in air in a theatre is quite the tour-de-force performance, and it gave me a "What If?" thought. A couple of years, there was that NHK Kohaku Utagassen in which the annual New Year's Eve special had to be held without any spectators due to COVID regulations. It would have been quite the thing if "In This World" had been formulated and recorded earlier with Mitsushima appearing as part of the Red team to do this at NHK Hall. I'm not sure if that would be done now in the now-renovated facilities with full audience participation expected (unless the situation really worsens in Tokyo).

A couple of weeks following the release of the original single, an EP of "In This World" came out, and this particular track has Sakamoto performing "The Piano Mix" an orchestral instrumental.

Mondo Grosso feat. Hikari Mitsushima -- Labyrinth （ラビリンス）

The first time I heard about actress Hikari Mitsushima（満島ひかり）was through a review in "The Japan Times" for a local movie. I don't remember the title or the story behind the flick but the reviewer was fairly gushing about Mitsushima's performance as a quirky character working in a factory; the fellow even complimented the fact that Mitsushima would even allow the camera to film right up her nose. Must have been quite indie, that movie.

Since then, she's been gaining a fine reputation as a thespian over the years. Last year, she even portrayed one of the biggest celebrity icons in Japan, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi（黒柳徹子）, so it was kismet that the real Kuroyanagi interviewed the Mitsushima Kuroyanagi on "Tetsuko no Heya"（徹子の部屋）.

However, I'd had no idea that Mitsushima was one of the members of the teen idol group Folder and its descendant Folder 5 back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I remembered that unit mostly from their appearance on the Fuji-TV kids' show "Ponkikies"（ポンキッキーズ）, and they were pretty darn dynamic on the stage.

Initially when I discovered this YouTube video of Mondo Grosso's latest single "Labyrinth" from April, I was caught a bit off-guard when I realized who this was skipping through the labyrinthine streets of Hong Kong. Then, I remembered that Mitsushima was once a song-and-dance lass from years ago. And she still is.

Compared to some of the other Mondo Grosso collaborations in the past, "Labyrinth" with Mitsushima is pretty laid back...a nice urban groove. But I think it's the video that has gotten my attention as Mitsushima is traipsing through the area. I couldn't help but remember a few movies as I watching: the recent live-action "Ghost In The Shell", "Absolute Beginners" with David Bowie, and even "Singin' In The Rain". I was half-expecting Scarlett Johannson's Major to jump out to do some jigging of her own.

Not sure if it will be enough for me to start searching for Mondo Grosso's latest but "Labyrinth" may be pleasant to hear over stereo speakers with a glass of brandy or a cup of coffee.