関西公園・Public Blue

By [AHA]
70 min. 2006
Video Documentary

Public Blue trailer available at right! Click and load.

Everywhere in parks and on the river banks of Osaka rivers, one sees blue tents or barracks covered with blue plastic tarps, at times scattered throughout park areas, sometimes lined up in rows, or united to form small communities. The term homelessness only insufficiently describes the situation of these 「nojyukusha」, the campers in the rough. These squatters are the daily inhabitants of public space. But just as Japanese society has traditionally little known nor appreciated public space as a public forum, likewise are squatters and homeless people, who live in these spaces, disrespected.

The video essay Public Blue was produced in collaboration with No-juku-sha and supporters in Osaka. Public Blue follows their political action and sketches impressions of the Japanese understanding of the public and the political. Used now as a tool during the struggle against evictions of tents in Osaka, the documentary also becomes a vehicle of articulation for those who are living on the outside of Japanese society.
The official debut of 関西公園・Public Blue is being held at the Yamagata Film Festival on October 7th and 8th.
DVDs and VHS will shortly be available for sale and showing at low prices. Contact kansaikouen@hotmail.com for further information.