KUALA LUMPUR - 'A Mother’s Touch', a Japanese film based on the life of the esteemed deafblind university professor Satoshi Fukushima and his mother, was released in Japan in 2022.
Though it wasn't a commercial hit, it captivated audiences, leaving them eager to learn more about the remarkable man who overcame a world of darkness and isolation to forge a new path for himself.
A handful of Malaysians got to watch the inspirational movie, directed by Jumpei Matsumoto, on May 11 this year during a special screening of ‘A Mother’s Touch’ at GSC Mid Valley Megamall here, organised by the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with GSC and Media Prima Bhd in conjunction with Mother’s Day.
The film’s award-winning producer Takafumi Yuki and screenwriter Tomohiro Yokomaku were also present at the screening.
The two-hour film is now available on Tonton, Malaysia’s video streaming service.
‘A Mother’s Touch’ depicts Fukushima’s journey of discovering the true meaning of his life despite his disabilities as well as his mother’s resilience in fighting for her son to break through barriers in accomplishing his goals.
Fukushima’s character was played by Taketo Tanaka while his mother Reiko was portrayed by Koyuki Kato, who also starred in the Hollywood film ‘The Last Samurai’.
According to Yokomaku, the film describes the trials of Fukushima’ life. Fukushima lost his eyesight in his childhood due to an eye infection and lost his hearing when he was 18 years old.
"The movie is based on actual events and people even if some parts are fictionalised to incorporate some storytelling,” he told Bernama, adding that Matsumoto, who directed ‘A Mother’s Touch’, was an acquaintance of Fukushima and wanted to create a film about him.
"We went to one of the talks by the professor (Fukushima) and had a chance to meet him and his mother and that was how the idea of the film came about.”
Both Yokomaku and Yuki said Fukushima was happy with the movie’s content and he (Fukushima) was also sure his mother felt the same way as well.
Among the striking moments in the movie was the part featuring Fukushima and his mother developing 'Yubitenji' or Finger Braille, a breakthrough in communication for the deafblind.
By using fingers to imitate a Braille keyboard, Fukushima and his mother, in fact, became trailblazers in the creation of tactual communication.
In real life, Fukushima’s mission is to improve the welfare and lives of people with disabilities. He is the first deafblind person in the world to become a full-time university professor and is involved in deafblind and disability studies at the Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo.
He was also, incidentally, the first deafblind student to enter Tokyo Metropolitan University, a prestigious university in Japan.
Fukushima was also Asia’s regional representative for the World Federation of the Deafblind for five terms till October 2022. In 2003, his name appeared in Time Magazine’s list of Asian Heroes.
Meanwhile, Yuki said he is now working on an animation production in collaboration with a Malaysian company Inspidea and other parties from Singapore and Spain.
Their film titled ‘The Violinist’, according to Yuki, will depict a historical drama set in Singapore and Malaya during World War II.
The film is expected to be released in Singapore sometime next year. - BERNAMA