Love Letter to a Place Called Slaughterhouse
(Tojo o meguru koibumi)
JAPAN / 2013 / Japanese / Color / Blu-ray / 33 min
Director, Photography, Editing: Kubota Chisaki
Supported by Musashino Art University Department of Imaging Arts & Sciences, Zenshibaura Slaughterhouse Workers’ Union, Chiba Prefecture Meat Public, Co., Ltd.
Source: Kubota Chisaki
Just a 3-minute walk from Shinagawa Station in Tokyo, there is one of Japan’s largest slaughterhouses. In a corner of the city surrounded by high-rise buildings where people busily come and go, the blood of hundreds of cattle and pigs flows as they become meat. This is a place that deals in the death of animals. There, smeared with feces, urine and blood are the workers who face history and discrimination. What does it mean to work in a slaughterhouse? We carefully look at the workers and their thoughts.
[Director’s Statement] There are people who must face history and discrimination while surrounded by excrement, blood, and meat. These slaughterhouse workers have a wide range of thoughts. But I am aware of the existence of these unknown workers and their families, who shoulder pain and joy, and are guided by love. This film is supported by their community. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the many people who collaborated with me on this film.
Kubota Chisaki
Born in Nagano Prefecture. Graduate of the Musashino Art University Department of Imaging Arts & Sciences. While a student, she created documentaries on the themes of animal welfare and the homeless. Currently employed by Creative Nexus, Inc., where she works in television production. This film was screened at the Fuji Television Student Films 7 in Odaiba film festival, and won the Award of Excellence at the director’s graduation exhibition.
Interview