“This is the story of my solitude, if my solitude were a fish…”
So begins the greatest song in the world, destined to save the human race – proto-punk burst of energy ‘Fish Story’. We first hear it played in a record store by an enthusiastic owner to his two remaining customers, everyone else having fled the city for higher ground, in light of a comet’s impending collision and resulting 100 metre tidal wave of destruction. The end of the world is just five hours nigh, but there is always music and hope.
So begins ‘Fish Story’, the film of the song of the book – a proto-insane blend of nonsense, true belief and the enduring power of artistic inspiration. We all play our part in the tapestry of life is the heartfelt message of a hilarious, beautiful and profoundly moving slice of bonkers brilliance.
Hip-hopping across four decades, this underseen Japanese masterpiece explains how five champions of justice play their parts in saving the world, bonded over time by one bizzaro, beautiful, manic song. A song so good, even non-Japanese speakers will be singing along by the end, even if most likely on their own.
In 1984, a timid college student is the designated driver to bullying friends. The ‘Fish Story’ song is on an old bootleg tape in the car. When the music mysteriously mutes half way, it is said you can hear a woman’s scream, as per generic Asian horror myth. Driving back alone, the music cuts, but the scream he hears is real – a girl’s bike lies on the road, an assault is taking place in the dark. This is his hero moment…
In 1999, a schoolgirl falls asleep and is left behind by her party on a ferry. A kindly young waiter offers her a free fruit tart to salve her tears. He tells her he has been trained by his father to be a champion of justice, calm of mind and body. When the ship is hijacked by a gun-toting cult, this is his moment to save the passengers or die trying…
In 1974, before the Sex Pistols formed, pre-punk band Gakirin are ahead of their time, playing to disinterested audiences and about to be dumped by their record label, reviled as talentless losers. Before their final recording session, the bassist takes the book ‘Fish Story’ from their manager. He discovers meaning within the nonsense pages and crafts the lyrics to their final ever song…
This is a film about connection, integrity and the nature of heroism. Over decades, small mistakes build a butterfly effect of beautiful ripples. Everything counts in increasing amounts.
The book ‘Fish Story’ is the only remaining copy in existence. In the post-war chaos of Japan a struggling publishing company are desperate to translate the manuscript they have bought and hire an unemployed salesman for the taks, believing he looks American. Unfortunately, he speaks no English and uses a dictionary to translate the tome word by word, resulting in a crazed collage of incoherent phrases. All copies are destroyed, save one, handed down from a company secretary to her nephew, who will one day see potential in a raw pre-punk rock band…
The crazed song lyrics are based on a mistake, but there is also beauty and meaning in their very meaninglessness. Inspiration can come from anywhere, never belittle the source, be grateful it is there. Planted seeds will grow into something, no matter what.
During the (absolutely electrifying) one and only take of their final hoorah, the singer breaks down to perform a “naive soliloquy”. The decision is made to mute the passage rather than overdub, preserving the purity of the moment. The resulting mysterious minute of silence allows a timid student to hear a girl’s frantic scream one dark, lonely night. Everything has a reason. Their offspring is trained to be a champion of justice who will one day save a schoolgirl on a ferry. A mathematical genius schoolgirl, whose calculations earn her a place on a rocket ship mission to fire nuclear missles into a comet, to save the world.…
Phew.
The band bemoans their hard work will go to waste (“does this mean everything we’ve done is meaningless?”). However, there is also that sliver of hope their song “has to reach somebody, someday.”
And so it does. Even if they don’t see it.
‘Fish Story’, the real novel on which the movie is based, is by successful Japanese mystery writer Kōtarō Isaka. His other movie adapations include Bullet Train (2022) and Grasshopper (2015), both more commercially successful than this offbeat gem. Somewhat fittingly, the novel is not available in an English translation.
It is almost as though this adaptation has merged with the story it tells – the movie has become the band, to be rewarded only indirectly further down the line. Those that have seen it, love it deeply, but are too rare and far between, like music buffs priding their vinyl collection for its obscurity. The message and exhilarating, air-punching execution are one for all ages however.
We are all cogs in the grand machine of life, we all have our part to play, even if we don’t understand what it may be. Everyone is connected and our minor acts have repercussions beyond our understanding. Therefore, this movie should be sought out, enjoyed and devoured. Who knows what it may inspire?
If nothing else, it has a hell of a catchy tune…
Fish Story (2009) (r/t 112 mins)
(Mirai Moriyama) (d. Yoshihiro Nakamura) (w/novel. Kotaro Isaka)
“Can punk save the world? 4 Decades, 4 Events, 1 Song.”
Hove Press 