What I want to see is something "out of the ordinary." Hairi Katagiri talks about her carefree travel style

"I don't do any research because I don't want my trip to be a confirmation process."

JAL: Mr. Katagiri, do you do a lot of research before traveling?

Katagiri: I used to be pretty thorough. Especially when the internet first started to become popular, the more I researched, the more information I found, and it was fun. It was like I could find out everything, even the interior design of the store.

But recently, I go there without doing much research. Nowadays, if you have a smartphone, you can look things up on the spot. Also, when I was obsessed with researching, I eventually got stuck. "Aren't I just checking things I've looked up online when I go there?"

JAL: The journey has become a confirmation process.

Katagiri: I don't want to go to a restaurant I saw online, order the same thing, take the same photo... That's what I want to do. So I decided to stop looking things up. Instead, I sometimes miss out on famous local dishes (laughs). But, well, that's not a big deal, if you think about it.

JAL: So, is there anything in particular I need to prepare before traveling?

Katagiri: That's right. ...But in the past, when I traveled abroad, I wanted to be able to make decisions without wavering, so I trained my intuition (laughs). For example, when you wake up in the morning, you can instantly decide which towel to use today, or choose the chopsticks you'll use that day from among the many different colors and types, "this one!" It's a little funny, isn't it?

JAL: Did that training actually help you during your trip?

Katagiri: I don't know if it's useful, but I think judgment is important when traveling. When traveling, you have to be quick when deciding whether to get off at a train station or when giving directions to a taxi driver about whether to turn or not. To do that, you have to train your intuition (laughs).

Also, recently I've been practicing to be able to go back if I make a mistake (laughs). In the past, I hated going back, and even on mountain paths, if I decided to go "this way!" I would never go back. Well, I guess I was the type to get lost. But when I'm traveling, there can be dangers, so recently I've been training myself to "go back" immediately if I think I've made a mistake (laughs).

"Take me to the movies!" Having a clear purpose makes for a fulfilling trip

JAL: It seems like you're very good at communicating with the local people. Do you have any tips for doing so?

Katagiri: It's easier to talk to people if you have a specific purpose. It's hard to say, "Please be friends with me," but you can ask anyone, "Is there a movie theater around here?" Then, from there, you can ask, "Where did you watch movies when you were a child?"

It's the same with food. If you ask, "I want to eat this, which restaurant is the best?" or "What's your favorite food?", most people will tell you, and you can expand the conversation from there.

JAL: Do you communicate in the same way in Japan?

Katagiri: That's true... But overseas, not being able to communicate the same language is actually an advantage. In Japanese, it's complicated because you have to make excuses and convey even the smallest nuances, but in a foreign language, you can't speak that well, so you have no choice but to convey your requests directly. I think it's better to think of it as an easier option (laughs).

"What is that? I have no idea. But it's interesting!" That's the best part of traveling

JAL: Do you find that your travel experiences are useful in your work as an actor?

Katagiri: Hmm, I don't really think so. After all, isn't it the job of an actor to be anything? While we're talking, I can use every second of every second, like, "This person makes these gestures," so I don't think there's any need to have special experiences. So I don't feel like I'm going on a trip to study for my job.

JAL: So, what do you look for in a trip?

Katagiri: For example, if the road I usually walk on is under construction and I end up walking in the middle of a road that I can't normally walk on, I get so excited just seeing something different from usual. "Wow, I'm walking in the middle of the road!" (laughs).

It's the same with traveling. When you find yourself in an unfamiliar place, there are things you don't understand, right? But I think that unexpectedness is the best part of traveling. Like, "What is that? I have no idea. But it's interesting!" In other words, for me, traveling is about encountering extraordinary events. I think traveling is an extension of interesting and fun things.

Movie Information

Hairi Katagiri started working part-time as a ticket collector at movie theaters when she was a student, and recently occasionally does so at the nearby Kineka Omori. This time, as if drawn by her love of film, a short prelude film, "The Ticket Collector," was produced. The film depicts the love of film among movie theater staff and the everyday life at movie theaters, and is filled with the hope that "it will bring vitality to the small movie theaters in the town!" This film is a must-see not only for fans of Katagiri, but also for fans of art house theaters. Starting from Friday, July 13th, it will be shown before the film on a monthly basis, exclusively at Kineka Omori, so don't miss it every month.

On Saturday, July 14th, there will also be a screening of episodes 1 to 6 in one go plus a talk event.

Director: Akiko Okuda (Episodes 1-3), Takeo Kikuchi (Episodes 4-6)
Cast: Hairi Katagiri, Aimi Satsukawa, Yota Kawase, Tomoya Maeno, Sayu Kubota, Ise Shima

Kineka Omori
https://ttcg.jp/cineka_omori/