Kei Fujiwara facts for kids

Kei Fujiwara (不二稿 京, Fujiwara Kei, born March 12, 1957) is a Japanese artist. She is an actress, a cinematographer (someone who films movies), a director, and a writer. Her first acting role was in an American movie called The Neptune Factor. She is well-known for her part in the Japanese Tetsuo: The Iron Man. This film is a "cyberpunk" movie, which means it mixes futuristic technology with a gritty, often dark, world.

More recently, Kei Fujiwara spends her time writing and directing. She is known for her unique and sometimes intense experimental films. These films often show unusual or dream-like scenes, which is called "surrealism." She also runs an experimental theater company named Organ Vital.

About Kei Fujiwara

Kei Fujiwara was born in 1957 in a rural area of Kumamoto, Japan. Her family was not wealthy. In her early twenties, she moved to Tokyo to work in theater. A famous writer named Jūrō Kara helped her by writing roles for her to act in his plays. He became her teacher and guide.

She spent many years creating small, independent theater groups. In the 1980s, she worked with Shinya Tsukamoto. They made plays and short films together. She became very important to Tsukamoto's theater group, Kaijyu Theater. She helped him with his films like The Phantom of Regular Size (1986) and The Adventure of Denchu Kozo (1987).

Working on Tetsuo: The Iron Man

Kei Fujiwara played a big part in Tsukamoto's film Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989). She acted in the movie as the Girlfriend character. She also worked behind the scenes. She created props and was one of the cinematographers. Her own apartment was used as a main set for the film. Even her cats appeared in some scenes! She also helped create the famous drill seen in the movie.

After Tetsuo, she went back to working in independent theater with Jūrō Kara. She also started her own company, Organ Vital. This company produced a play called Organ. Later, the play was made into a movie with the same name.

Organ Vital and Later Work

Kei Fujiwara explained that the name "Organ Vital" comes from a French term. It means "the vessels of life." To her, it represents the human body and how we experience the world. She returned to acting in the film Organ. She played Yoko, a character with an eye-patch.

Her films Organ and Ido (2005) did not become very popular at first. However, they are now seen as important examples of the Japanese horror genre. This genre often includes scary or suspenseful stories. She continues to create theater work with Organ Vital. Her new project, Ibunkitan, started in 2019. It is a "nomadic" project, meaning it is performed in different places like shops, salons, and temples.

Today, Kei Fujiwara lives in a quiet part of the Nagano mountains. She also runs a shelter for cats in her free time.

Creative Style and Ideas

Kei Fujiwara's work explores important ideas. These include what is right and wrong, spiritual beliefs, fear, and how our bodies change. Her films are known for their intense and experimental style. They often show unusual or dream-like scenes.

She believes that humans cannot avoid certain feelings like desire and sorrow. She tries to show these complex feelings in her art.

She has been influenced by many artists. These include the Buddhist writer Kenji Miyazawa. She also looks up to manga artists like Osamu Tezuka, Sanpei Shirato, and Daijiro Morohoshi.

Filmography

As an Actress

• The Neptune Factor (1973)
• Denchu Kozo No Boken (The Adventure of Denchu Kozo) (1987)
• Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
• Organ (1996)
• Ido (2005)
• Hana-Dama: The Origin (2014)

As a Director

• Organ (1996)
• Ido (2005)

As a Cinematographer

• Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
• Organ (1996)
• Ido (2005)

As a Writer

• Organ (1996)
• Ido (2005)

As a Costume Designer

• Denchu Kozo No Boken (The Adventure of Denchu Kozo) (1987)
• Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)