Editor’s Note
This article describes a special screening event for director Isao Yukisada’s film “Kaede,” hosted by the bridal jewelry brand Ginza Diamond Shiraishi. It highlights an after-talk session with the director for selected attendees.
A special screening of the film “Kaede,” the latest work by director Isao Yukisada who handles the brand movies and commercials for bridal jewelry specialist “Ginza Diamond Shiraishi” (operated by: NEW ART Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Eri Hamano), was held on December 12.
Approximately 60 audience members, selected through a lottery on Ginza Diamond Shiraishi’s official Instagram, attended an after-talk session with Director Yukisada. He discussed the film “Kaede” and the creation of Ginza Diamond Shiraishi’s brand movies.
The lyrics written by Masamune Kusano are never about suggesting a story or giving a theme. There are various scattered pieces; they are lyrics with room for interpretation. But when you receive that song, a certain worldview floats up for each person. I think that’s a tremendous power.
Another thing is that Kusano’s lyrics repeat abstraction and concreteness, and I think that aspect is cinematic. The “hole we took turns peeking into” (in the lyrics) isn’t necessarily a telescope, and it’s fine if it ends up looking like one. It differs depending on the receiver. So, the producers and screenwriters imagined various images while depicting the process of recovering from loss. I believe that because the song “Kaede” ultimately exists, it’s never just dark; it connects to a positive message about walking the path again. So, I made it hoping it would become that kind of story.
While Ryo, pretending to be his deceased twin brother Kei, devotedly tries to help Ako recover, it inevitably seems like Ako’s story. However, Ryo himself carries the grief of losing his twin brother. I think the psychology looks different when viewed from Ryo’s perspective.
What I thought was really good was hearing from Ms. Fukuhara (Ako) and Mr. Fukushi (Ryo) that they were acting with the emotion of “trying to find a way to recover by keeping him (Kei), who is gone, alive between the two of them.” A sense of earnestness, or single-mindedness. I thought it was excellent that the actors themselves became aware of such aspects through their conversations with each other.
I intend to propose that it’s okay for proposals to change with the times. What is depicted, same as in movies, is “emotion.” The figure of Mr. Miura running drenched in sweat wanting to deliver it even a second sooner (“He is Running” 2018), the handwritten letter Mr. Wakaba left because he thought ‘now is the time’ upon seeing her sleeping face (“Your Sleeping Face” 2023), and Mr. Kaneko who, facing a woman not asking for anything special, decided as a man that this is what he must give her (“This is all” 2024) — what is depicted is emotion, and the diamond is simply added to it, making it an approach with enhanced brilliance.
This couple in “Kaede” hasn’t reached a proposal yet, and we don’t know what will happen, but I want to leave that to the audience’s imagination without depicting it directly. It’s the same with what we depict for Ginza Diamond Shiraishi; I create the works thinking that what happened to these two, the love that exists there, will look different depending on each person’s interpretation.
(C)2025 “Kaede” Film Production Committee
Ginza Diamond Shiraishi, the “pioneer” in bridal jewelry, celebrates its 31st anniversary. It is Japan’s first bridal jewelry specialty store.
Established its flagship store on Ginza Chuo-dori in 1994, as of December 2025, it operates 68 stores in Japan, making it one of Japan’s largest bridal jewelry brands. With the sentiment of “diamonds for every bride,” it delivers high-quality diamonds.
The meticulously selected diamonds are not only evaluated by the “4Cs,” known as diamond quality standards, but also consider “brilliance,” essential for feeling beauty, as the most important value, offering diamonds that emit more beautiful brilliance. Only Ginza Diamond Shiraishi allows you to combine a diamond with your favorite ring design.
With over 18,000 diamonds and more than 700 ring designs always available, it responds to the voices of many brides who say, “I want a one-of-a-kind ring just for me.”
It also pioneered the “set ring” industry trend of wearing engagement rings and wedding rings together. Smooth wearability and beauty from the side view are further features achieved through meticulous handiwork.
Furthermore, permanent after-service is provided precisely because the rings are meant to last a lifetime. All of these are the crystallization of our desire to “stay close to couples and give shape to their happiness,” and the wish itself. Always have been, and always will be.
Ginza Diamond Shiraishi will continue to be a brand that walks alongside couples’ lives.