IA middle-age actor out of paper, Bob Harris (BILL MURRAY) comes to Tokyo for shooting of advertisement. A young wife, Charlotte (SCARLETT JOHANSSON) follows her husband, a photographer, and comes to Tokyo, too. The two who don't have any clear purpose to be in Japan, the ethnic country, feel lonely staying a modern hotel in Shinjuku. And then they meet to each other at a bar in the hotel......

Sofia Coppola's sophomore film, who made her debut with "The Virgin Suicides", is this movie "Lost In Translation". As I love the first one and had already heard that the movie was about Tokyo, saw it expecting something. In my ingenuous opinion, her movie is so slow and makes no sense sometimes. However, the original atmosphere and beautiful graphic make me relax just like listening the music.

I agree. Actually, the movie includes real Tokyo and Japan. That is cool, and besides, funny for foreigners. Most of parts in Japanese don't have subtitles. So, you don't know the meaning if you don't speak Japanese. That is same of the two, Bob and Charlotte. There are full of oddities around the two since ignorance on Japanese language and culture, and that makes us laugh. It is just "Lost In Translation". Unfortunately, I am from Japan and understand everything obviously. If I were not the Japanese, might enjoy myself more and more. Too polite Japanese greeting, a Karaoke box, stupid TV programs, excellent melody of cell phones, shabu-shabu, and announcement by loudspeaker everywhere. All of these are normal for me, but different for foreigners.

I saw a photograph at an art museum in the U.S. recently. That was the street around the Shibuya Station, 10 years old. Frankly speaking, I had no idea if that was "art". Because I know the sight very well and could take photos like that anytime. "Lost In Translation" was just like that.

Anyway, I think it is a good tool as "advertisement of Tokyo (and Kyoto)". If you travel to Tokyo since seeing the movie, you must be satisfied as another "Bob" or "Charlotte". Of course, don't forget to stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo!


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