KINOBU TRAILER
Filmmaker’s note:
Just recently completed, “Kinobu - Food, Tradition, and Identity” has been and will be in a film festival circuit through the end of 2025.
The film will be shown at The Lark Theater (Larkspur, CA) for one week starting on November 14 and will become available to view on Vimeo and other platforms soon after.
“Kinobu - Food, Tradition, and Identity” takes you behind the scenes of a Michelin star restaurant in Kyoto, Japan. Kinobu fuses food, tradition, and Japanese aesthetics to serve its guests exquisite dishes in a beautiful and tranquil setting.
As you enter from the busy street of downtown Kyoto, you experience the serenity of Kinobu. You pass through a long narrow corridor to be greeted by staff, where you take off your shoes, and are led to a private room with a garden view.
The film revolves around Takuji Takahashi, a third-generation owner/chef, who is a forward-looking maverick with contrasting visions. While deeply respecting the cuisine that goes back hundreds of years, he is always exploring new ways to elevate this cuisine. Over 20 years, he has practiced Noh, the oldest form of Japanese theater. Studying Noh has taught him how to simultaneously be intense and calm. This is a mental skill he uses to create delicate and creative dishes while managing the high-pressure kitchen environment. He is also a sommelier working with a Japanese wine maker to produce wine that complements Japanese food.
Watching the film is an immersive experience. You experience a world of culinary art, craftsmanship, and community. You see how different traditional art forms are intertwined with each other. The film reveals how food embodies Japanese aesthetic sensibilities through its presentation, color, and connection to each season.
「木乃婦 - 食、伝統、アイデンティティ」は京都にあるミッシェラン星付きレストランの舞台裏に密着。京料理の老舗、木乃婦は食、伝統、日本の美的感覚を織り合わせ、美しい、静寂な空間と雅びやかな料理でお客様を魅了。
忙しい京都の中心街に居しながら、暖簾をくぐると心休まるゆとりの空間。細長い通路を抜け、靴を脱いで庭付きの個室へ。
本作品の主人公は木乃婦のオーナー・シェフ、高橋拓児さん。彼は数百年を誇る京料理の伝統を守りつつ、料理を向上させるために常に新しい可能性を追求。20年以上の能楽の修練から学んだのが、静寂と興奮を同居させた精神状態の持ち方。この精神状態により、ハイプレッシャーの厨房を指揮しながら、繊細でクリエイティブな料理を創作する。さらにソムリエの資格をもつ高橋さんは、日本食に合うワインを日本の大手ワインメーカーと共同開発。
本作品は観ている人を木乃婦の空間に溶け込ませ、京料理の芸術性、職人技、そして背景にある地元文化を肌で感じさせてくれる。京料理は様々な伝統芸能の折り詰めのようなもの。木乃婦の料理のプレゼンテーション、色彩、そして織り込まれた四季を通じて、日本人の美的感覚が見えてくる。
For more information on Kinobu restaurant, visit www.kinobu.co.jp/en