Wim Wenders Elevates Tokyo Toilets into a Movie Masterpiece in ‘Perfect Days‘“

Not only do toilet fans think that Japanese toilets are the eighth wonder of the world, but renowned German director Wim Wenders also feels this way. His most recent film, “Perfect Days,” offers a distinctive cinematic experience by showcasing the aesthetic elegance of Japanese public restrooms and their attendants. The movie, which starred Koji Yakusho, the Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actor winner, has been chosen as Japan’s submission for the 96th Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category, which will be presented in March 2024..

“In Japan, “Perfect Days” has generated a lot of hype, indicating that it has a good chance of taking home the coveted Oscar. However, what is it about a narrative that centers on a character like Hirayama—who spends a lot of his time cleaning restrooms in public parks—that makes it so compelling? The film presents an enigmatic charm, akin to a conversation with a Zen Buddhist priest that leaves one pondering life’s mysteries while feeling a deep sense of tranquility.

If you’ve never seen Japanese public restrooms before, “Perfect Days” is enlightening. These establishments offer a haven of cleanliness and tranquility, complete with automated basins, heated seats, cosmetics nooks, electronic bidets, and diaper-changing tables. Ground floor restrooms in many business buildings were accessible to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating a special degree of accessibility..

The main character of the movie, Hirayama, gets up early and gets ready carefully for his job of cleaning toilets. In addition to his work, he shows devotion to the plants he looks after, which he gets from a nearby shrine where he also eats lunch. He has his old cell phone, keys, and vending machine change all neatly lined up on a shelf near the door.

Throughout the entire film, it is clear that Wenders was fascinated by Hirayama and his toilets, as well as by the architectural wonder and the painstaking upkeep of them. Although many Japanese people may take Hirayama’s everyday job for granted, the film emphasizes the value of work from a distinctive angle.

Hygiene and cleanliness are profoundly embedded in Japanese society, even at a young age. A person’s toilet habits can define them as a person and even have an impact on interpersonal interactions. Like they say, “You are how you clean your toilet.”

Hirayama takes toilet cleaning to a spiritual level, and his identity is closely linked to the occupation he has chosen. He stays silent and waits outside the door while guests use the facilities. He uses these times for meditation and finds comfort in the park’s soft sunlight..

Wenders’ inspiration for “Perfect Days” stems from his deep love for Japan, especially for its creatives, including fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto and filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu. “Perfect Days” demonstrates his strong bond with Japan and his attraction to its nuances, which are reminiscent of Yohji Yamamoto’s designs.

The movie began as a part of “The Tokyo Toilet Art Project” in 2020, a joint effort between renowned architects and filmmakers to redesign public restrooms in Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood. The goal of this project was to add flair and elegance to these facilities’ architecture. “Perfect Days” is a film that chronicles this exceptional endeavor..

The interaction between Hirayama and the foreign woman, who is initially perplexed by the transparent walls of a public park restroom, is portrayed in the movie. His nonverbal gesture showcasing its application highlights the movie’s subject of peaceful devotion and the capacity to find happiness in the little things in life.

In summary, the film “Perfect Days” is a masterwork of cinema that transforms the apparently unremarkable act of cleaning the toilet into a poetic and contemplative encounter. Through the eyes of a modest and devoted protagonist, Wim Wenders transforms Japanese public restrooms into a source of inspiration and a monument to the beauty found in life’s routines..

For mpre read plz click here

Celebrating Women and Black Artists at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony