The director said he was approached by the organisers of the renovation project, called “The Tokyo Toilet”, who inspired him to make the film featuring four short stories and starring actor Koji Yakusho as a cleaner.He said he is particularly happy to be working with renowned architect Tadao Ando, 80, whose gleaming circular toilet has thin slats that let in fresh air as people wash their hands.
“I was so glad when I saw his toilet the other day, and saw how he worked with the light... I thought, ‘this is a precious place.’”is a homage to the city of cinematic master Yasujiro Ozu, and he made a documentary in the late 1980s about fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto. So far, 12 of Tokyo’s 17 new toilets have been finished and are in use, mostly in parks and next to stations.“So, I thought that these magnificent toilets could convey a sense of Japan’s beauty to people from around the world.” — AFP