What Is the Independent Work from Director Mamoru Hosoda's Junior High School Years That Surprised Shota Sometani? "It's Incredibly Embarrassing!"

When asked about the appeal of Hosoda's works, Sometani said, "On the premise that they are thoroughly enjoyable as entertainment, the way changes in people and changes in the times are expressed together really resonates with my heart. When I appeared in 'Wolf Children,' I didn't have any children of my own, but watching it again after having my own family, I can view it with a completely different feeling. Various people across generations can interpret it in various ways. It's eye-opening, and every time I get to appear in a new work, I gain a fresh sensation, which I think is wonderful."

In response to Sometani's words, Director Hosoda stated, "I always think this when making a work, but there are definitely things that change with the times, and along with them, things that remain unchanged. Given that 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' has an original novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui and a history of numerous film adaptations, I thought about what changes with each era and what remains unchanged in common when I made it. I have been conscious of that in my subsequent works as well." The conversation also touched upon how the present year of 2026 has become a world where AI has risen to prominence, much like in "Summer Wars" released in 2009.

Director Hosoda concluded, "In that sense as well, movies are fascinating, aren't they? While it's natural to feel the era in which it was made, I believe the fun of movies also lies in the fact that even as time passes, the eras cycle around, allowing you to discover new things within the film."

The conversation shifted to "one sided war," a one-minute independent paper animation from his junior high school years that Director Hosoda squirmed over, calling it "incredibly embarrassing!" Regarding the work, which he felt compelled to exhibit precisely because of the exhibition title "Mamoru Hosoda’s Roots Exhibition," Sometani expressed his candid impressions: "It was amazing. Not only because he was able to make this as a junior high school student, but the motifs that appear also connect to the director today, which gave me goosebumps."

Director Hosoda re-examined himself, saying, "Looking back on it myself, I realized there are many things that haven't really changed. I've always tried to work on new titles as if forgetting my previous ones, but looking back for the first time on this occasion, someone pointed out to me that a dragon appears (in 'one sided war') too. In the end, there might be things that remain unchanged from the old days."

"The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" 20th Anniversary: Mamoru Hosoda’s Roots Exhibition
Venue: CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO (TODA BUILDING 6F, 1-7-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
Period: Saturday, June 20, 2026 – Monday, August 31, 2026

Reporting, Photography, and Text by kato
(C)「時をかける少女」製作委員会2006
(C)2009 SUMMERWARS FILM PARTNERS
(C)2012「おおかみこどもの雨と雪」製作委員会