The title MASAYUME is a Japanese word meaning what we see in a dream happens in real life. In Zen, there is no narrative promising salvation through belief; instead, true power arises from the tangible reality felt by the mind and body through practical training. One vital lesson I learned was to value direct practice rather than depending on stories. Yet in filmmaking – even documentaries – we cannot fully avoid shaping a narrative from the creator’s perspective. By editing and reconstructing past footage as a story, I clearly realized that film is a kind of dream. At the same time, within that dream, I was able to observe what had happened to me exactly as it was, free from judgment. Living and making this film, together with that year’s weather, converged in an unexpected way – like “masayume”. I hope this film is a form of healing for someone beyond myself, and that in the end it will heal the earth even just a little.
Nao Yoshigai
