If Ms. Nishizaki of the Hiroshima Film Commission were to guide movie lovers on a tour of filming locations in Hiroshima, it would be...
Recommended for the following people
- People who like movies.
- People who want to immerse themselves in the world of the film.
- People who want to see the city of Hiroshima from a different perspective.
Tomoko Nishizaki
Hiroshima Film Commission
In 2005, she was certified by the International Film Commissioners Association. Her first supported film was The Face of Jizo. Other films include In This Corner of the World, The Blood of Wolves, and Drive My Car.
Many places in Hiroshima have become famous filming locations. Ms. Tomoko Nishizaki is a film commissioner who connects filmmakers and the local community by proposing locations and recruiting extra, and it can be said that she is the driving force behind this trend. She has been involved in numerous films, including "Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms", "Dog x Police: Junpaku no kizuna", and "In This Corner of the World".
In this edition, we will introduce selected spots from the locations of the powerful Japanese gangster films like "Last of the Wolves" (孤狼の血) and "Last of the Wolves LEVEL2" (孤狼の血 LEVEL2), as well as "Drive My Car", which won the 79th Golden Globe Award and became the first Japanese film to be nominated for the 94th Academy Awards. The film's memorable scenes and the actors' realistic performances will surely come to your mind!
Immerse yourself fully in the world of film.
“If Ms. Nishizaki of the Hiroshima Film Commission were to guide movie lovers on a tour of filming locations in Hiroshima, it would be...”
Hiroshima City Nishi Ward Office
Travel time : 30 minutes
1/6
Appeared as a place of work for a local newspaper reporter
Focus on the smallest details that make everything natural.
2-2-1, Fukushima-machi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, 733-8530
The architecture of the building and the reporter's appearance, that make you feel the times.
Let's start with the location of Last of the Wolves (孤狼の血 LEVEL2). In the film, the building is used as the office of Aki Shimbun (newspaper) where reporter Kosaka, played by Nakamura Shidou, works. The red-brick Nishi Ward Office is a familiar building to Hiroshima residents, and can be seen when passing by the Fukushima-machi streetcar stop. To make the building look like a newspaper company, a newspaper was pasted on the bulletin board and a telephone booth was set up during filming. The maverick reporter Kosaka, wearing a hunting cap and sunglasses, matches the building.
- Tomoko NishizakiHiroshima Film Commission
The key point is that even government-related buildings can be transformed. You will be amazed at what the professional work of artists can do.
2-2-1, Fukushima-machi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, 733-8530
15 minutes by tram
Hiroshima Prefectural Government East Wing
Travel time : 30 minutes
2/6
You can find the police station in Last of the Wolves (孤狼の血 LEVEL2) here. The ghoulish appearance of Hioka comes to mind!
9-42 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-8511
The key factor is the difference between the period of the building's completion and the historical background of the work.
The East Wing of the Hiroshima Prefectural Government Building appears as the fictional Hiroshima Prefectural Police Station in Last of the Wolves (孤狼の血 LEVEL2). In the previous film, The Blood of Wolves, the main building of the Hiroshima Prefectural Government was used, but since the main building of the Prefectural Government was cleaned up after renovation work, it was decided to use the East Wing. Since the film is set in the period from the end of the Showa Period to the beginning of the Heisei Period, the fact that it was built around the same time was also a reason for its selection. In the film, the scene where Shuichi Hioka, a detective played by Tori Matsuzaka, gets into a Mercedes Benz is iconic.
- Tomoko NishizakiHiroshima Film Commission
In the film, a number of period vehicles are displayed, and the company car of the Hiroshima Film Commission is also displayed as a forensic vehicle and quietly depicted in the film. ☺
9-42 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-8511
3-minute walk
Hiroshima Prefectural Government Main Building
Travel time : 30 minutes
3/6
Gang warfare and outlaw detectives.
Picture the police station where the scene takes place.
10-52 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-8511
Meticulous preliminary research and careful set construction to recreate the era.
In The Blood of Wolves, the building used as the room and police station of Daisuke Saga, the inspector of Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, played by Kenichi Takito, was the main building of the Hiroshima Prefectural Government before renovation work. The building was famous as one of the best filming locations in the prefecture before the construction. It was intricate, down to the details of the doors, and blended seamlessly into the filming. Incidentally, many vintage police cars appear in the film, which were reproduced by actually visiting the Hiroshima Prefectural Police Department to find out what kind of police cars were used in those days.
- Tomoko NishizakiHiroshima Film Commission
You may remember what the main building of the prefectural government looked like a while ago. People are working during the daytime, so you should only view it from the outside!
10-52 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-8511
10-minutes walk
The Peace Memorial Park
Travel time : 60 minutes
4/6
Appreciate the Peace Memorial Park's solemn atmosphere.
Realize the influence of the location on the production.
〒730-0811 1 Nakajima-cho and 1-10 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
082-504-2390
We want to continue to cherish places that can only exist in Hiroshima.
Next up is the location for the scene in Drive My Car where the actors rehearsed outdoors. It was filmed at the Peace Memorial Park, which you have probably heard of.
The park is a solemn place to visit. It has been used for filming several movies in the past because of its unique atmosphere, river, and greenery. The soft autumn sunlight was impressive at the time of filming and suited the mood of the movie very well. The fallen leaves laid out on the stage at the climax of the film were hastily collected at the time of filming. Cleanup crews also helped with this project.
- Tomoko NishizakiHiroshima Film Commission
The crew proclaimed "we will remember that we are borrowing a very important location." I am always moved when the filming team (the director, crew, and actors) feel this way throughout the location shoots, and sometimes they offer to donate flowers or visit the shrine.
〒730-0811 1 Nakajima-cho and 1-10 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
082-504-2390
Hiroshima International Conference Center
Travel time : 15 minutes
5/6
First encounter scene at the International Conference Hall.
Remember the scene where the story starts.
1-5 Nakajimacho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-0811
Try picturing what it takes to shoot a work of art.
In Drive My Car, the scene where driver Misaki (played by Toruko Miura) is introduced to Iefuku (played by Hidetoshi Nishijima) was shot at the Hiroshima International Conference Center in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Since an international film festival was to be held there, a location with a hall was selected as a candidate for shooting. Aster Plaza was also a candidate, but the presence of a roundabout was a deciding factor because we needed to shoot scenes where the car was being driven. It was interesting to think about what was needed to shoot the scene.
- Tomoko NishizakiHiroshima Film Commission
The Hiroshima International Conference Center was rebuilt in 1989 from the Hiroshima City Public Hall designed by architect Kenzo Tange. It has been selected as one of the 100 best public buildings.
1-5 Nakajimacho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-0811
11 minutes by bus (from the Peace Memorial Park to the Kounan-cho stop)
12-minutes walk
Hiroshima City Environment Bureau Naka Factory
Travel time : 90 minutes
6/6
Hiroshima Naka Incineration Plant is Misaki's favorite.
The modern facilities and ocean views are a must-see.
1-5-1 Minami-Yoshijima, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-0826
You should know that Hiroshima is proud of its "Axis of Peace" initiative!
When asked for a recommendation when selecting a location for Drive My Car, I guided the crew to the Hiroshima Naka Incineration Plant. It is a well-known story that architect Kenzo Tange laid out a basic plan for the reconstruction of the city based on the "Axis of Peace," which consists of the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, and the Peace Memorial Museum all on the same line. I told the director that the Hiroshima Naka Incineration Plant, located on an extension of this axis, was designed to open to the sea so as not to block the "Axis of Peace”. So, I almost turned the script upside down when I read that it would appear in the film as Misaki’s favorite place. ☺ It is also where the movie poster was shot, so be sure to check it out!
- Tomoko NishizakiHiroshima Film Commission
Tours of the Naka Factory are usually available so the facility is easy to visit. On the deck overlooking the ocean, you can take pictures from the same angle of view as the poster.
1-5-1 Minami-Yoshijima, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-0826
“If Ms. Nishizaki of the Hiroshima Film Commission were to guide movie lovers on a tour of filming locations in Hiroshima, it would be...”
Kure Morisawa Hotel
Travel time : 30 minutes
1/2
An elegant hotel for powerful scene
And you can actually stay there!
Don't miss the professional Taiko drumming that accentuates the appeal of the production.
We return again to the locations for The Blood of Wolves. In Kure City, where many scenes of The Blood of Wolves and Last of the Wolves (孤狼の血 LEVEL2) were shot, the Yaccharekai party scene hosted by the Ninsei Association in The Blood of Wolves was shot at the Kure Morisawa Hotel. The powerful “taiko” drum performance was given by the "Taiko Honpo Kaburaya," a local taiko drumming company. The sound of the taiko enhances the tension of the scene. Both films are set in a fictional town named Kurehara City.
- Tomoko NishizakiHiroshima Film Commission
Kure Morisawa Hotel is a city hotel located a two-minute walk from the downtown area. You can actually stay overnight at the hotel, so please use it as a base for your location tours.
5minutes-walk
Miyabi Building
Travel time : 15 minutes
2/2
Two mama's bars in this building.
Immerse yourself in the magic of the artwork and enjoy a drink !
4-1-28, Nakadori, Kure-shi, Hiroshima 737-0046
The yellow exterior is a landmark. It is an easy location to visit without getting lost.
The Yellow Building is where the sets were built for "Club Riko", the restaurant of “Mama” (Bar's Lady Owner) Rikako Takagi, played by Yoko Maki in The Blood of Wolves. It was also where was set "Stand Hana", the hostess bar of Mama Mao Chikada, played by Nanao Nishino in Last of the Wolves (孤狼の血 LEVEL2). Filming took place in a vacant storefront. The building has a yellow exterior just like its name, so it is unlikely that you will get lost on your visit. Many restaurants are usually open for business as well. You can enjoy a drink at the restaurant while remembering the sexy Mama Rikako and the somewhat wholesome Mama Mao.
- Tomoko NishizakiHiroshima Film Commission
The river in front of the Yellow Building is where the summer festival was filmed in The Blood of Wolves. It is a short walk away, so please check it out as well.
4-1-28, Nakadori, Kure-shi, Hiroshima 737-0046
Editor's Note
A tour of filming locations is an irresistible experience for movie fans. Of course, it would be great if visitors could immerse themselves in the actual locations of the films. But it would also be great if they could take an interest in the "unseen things", such as the history of the area and the thoughts and feelings of the people who live there. Since these are places where people live ordinarily, please enjoy your visit while taking photos with due consideration.
In 2005, she was certified by the International Film Commissioners Association. Her first supported film was The Face of Jizo. Other films include In This Corner of the World, The Blood of Wolves, and Drive My Car.