Biography
Born in Nagasaki, Japan, Naoya Kusaba graduated from Oita University then studied screenwriting at the Film School of Tokyo under filmmaker Izumi Takahashi. He subsequently worked in video production, including as an assistant director on television programs, dramas, and commercial films. His first feature, “Super Mikincorinista” (2019), was made independently while he was working in the industry and won both the Nikkatsu Award and Horipro Award at the PFF Award 2019. He went on to direct the short film “Blue Feelings” (2020) and his second feature, “Yukiko a.k.a.” (2024), which received the Nippon Visions Jury Award at Nippon Connection 2025.
Filmography
“Yukiko a.k.a.” (2024)
“Blue na Kimochi (Blue Feelings)” (2020, Short)
“Super Mikincorinista” (2019)
Find them on social media
Instagram @naoyakusaba
X @g708fuji9
Questions for Naoya Kusaba
1. What is the first film in your memory?
“Doraemon: Nobita and the Galaxy Super-express”
I think I was about 5 years old.
2. What are some of your favorite films?
“Laurence Anyways” (dir. Xavier Dolan)
“Peppermint Candy” (dir. Lee Chang-dong)
“Paris, Texas” (dir. Wim Wenders)
“Antoine and Antoinette” (dir. Jacques Becker)
“All of a Sudden” (dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi)
3. Which creators have you been inspired by or influenced by?
Xavier Dolan (filmmaker)
Masahiko Shimura (Artist: Fujifabric)
JJJ (Rapper, DJ, Trackmaker)
4. What are the films that shook your world or changed your life?
“The Kirishima Thing”
After watching this film, I made up my mind to pursue career as a film director and moved to Tokyo.
5. Are there any Japanese directors of your generation you are inspired by?
Director Yuki Yamato. Her film “Like a Fairy Tale”, which centers on monologues, is a film exploding with unparalleled originality that’s truly one-of-a-kind, and I was deeply inspired by its intensity.
6. Your 10 best Japanese films?
“Tokyo Story” (dir. Yasujiro Ozu)
“Rashomon” (dir. Akira Kurosawa)
“Sansho the Bailiff” (dir. Kenji Mizoguchi)
“The Human Condition” (dir. Masaki Kobayashi)
“Twenty-Four Eyes” (dir. Keisuke Kinoshita)
“Repast” (dir. Mikio Naruse)
“The Murdered of Youth” (dir. Kazuhiko Hasegawa)
“Sandakan No. 8” (dir. Kei Kumai)
“Eureka” (dir. Shinji Aoyama)
“Happy Hour” (dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi)
7. Where do you think your passion for filmmaking comes from?
It comes from a moral commitment to be a better person and a thirst for discovery that makes me want to watch better films.
8. What are you interested in outside of films and filmmaking?
Listening to music. I’m particularly drawn to hip-hop, but I will listen to anything that resonates with me. I also enjoy searching for those discoveries.
9. Where’s your happy place? When do you feel most relaxed?
Sento (public bathhouses), saunas, and hot springs. I love refreshing myself by switching between hot and cold baths.
10. What are the customs or phenomena that are unique to Japan that you want other people to know?
Japan has hot springs all over the country, each with its own unique characteristics. What sets them apart from those overseas is the Japanese tradition of “quietly soaking in the bath with your body bare, gently allowing your mind and body to realign.” Listening intently to the sound of the water is the most soothing experience of all.
11. Where would you be in 10 years?
I want to be someone who thinks more deeply about society than I do now.
In terms of filmmaking, I’d like to direct a film exploring the theme of peace.
ABOUT YOUR FILM “YUKIKO A.K.A.“
1. What is your favorite moment in the film? (without spoilers)
It’s the final rap scene of Yukiko, the film’s protagonist. I believe that moment captured the very essence of art, that even if one’s skills are imperfect, genuine emotion can still resonate with others. You could also say it was the moment when everything she’d been through in her life was finally rewarded.
2. Why did you decide to write/make this film?
This film stems from confronting my own personal struggles as a filmmaker. I’ve long struggled with low self-esteem and anxiety about not being able to accept myself for who I was. The initial spark for this project came from my desire to confront this anxiety alongside the film’s protagonist. I also drew on my own experience of having a teaching license for elementary school to shape the protagonist’s character.
3. Were there any films that you watched as a reference or a source of inspiration?
I watched “Wanda” (dir. Barbara Loden) and “Vagabond” (dir. Agnès Varda) while working on the screenplay, and found them deeply inspiring. They reaffirmed my desire to convey honest, genuine emotions, just like the protagonists in those films. As for hip-hop films, “8 Mile” (dir. Curtis Hanson) is also a must-mention. I thought long and hard about how to approach rap scenes differently from “8 Mile”.
4. Was there any music you were listening to or book you were reading while you were making this film?
I went back to listening to old-school hip-hop. I wanted to carry on the spirit of the pioneers. I also studied books on the issue of children refusing to go to school.
5. Any behind-the-scenes anecdotes or episodes you’d like to share?
I had no experience with rapping myself, so while I was preparing for this film, I joined a cypher and tried freestyle rapping for the first time. I’m not good at improvising, so it was really difficult, but the act of letting the words flow while being carried by the rhythm was incredibly stimulating. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend giving it a try! Lol.
Message to our audience about “Yukiko a.k.a.”
Through the character of Yukiko who is about to enter her 30s, this film explores the themes of self-acceptance and self-liberation. As we go through life, we constantly harbor a vague sense of anxiety. Anxiety is a very troubling emotion, and it never truly goes away. There are no easy answers to how we should cope with these anxieties or what to do when we’re lost in our emotions.
But I believe that the truth lies precisely within that anxiety and confusion. Perhaps the moment we accept both our negative selves and the anxiety we cannot silence, the moment we acknowledge this is who we truly are, we might feel our repressed emotions set free. I have instilled in this film a quiet affirmation and gentle reassurance that we can carry on living even while feeling anxious. To become a better version of myself, I will continue to face my anxiety head-on.
I sincerely hope this film will gently comfort the hearts of everyone who feels lost in life and serve as a catalyst to set their burdened souls free.