A 172-minute love letter to a band that barely existed outside Tokyo—and became legend anyway.
The words I promised to Kin-ichi Motegi, 'This is the first and last. I tell you everything about Fishmans without telling a lie.' The friends who made the sound of Fishmans devoted their lives to music. Shinji Sato's way of life is packed in this movie for nearly three hours.
Direction
Teshima's restraint lets the band's silence speak louder than any talking head could.
Editing
Archival footage woven like memory itself—fragmented, luminous, achingly present.
Director
Yuki Teshima
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title 'Fishmans' was originally a joke—Sato thought fish were the ultimate 'ordinary' creatures, making them perfect mascots for unremarkable guys.
The film's release coincided with a pandemic-era rediscovery of Fishmans by international listeners, turning this into both elegy and unexpected introduction.
JP
