Have you heard of Kaneto Shindo<\/a>, a truly unique and brilliant Japanese film director? His recent passing, just as I was preparing to introduce his film \u201cOnibaba<\/a>\u201d on this blog, is a great loss. This legendary work was not only a masterpiece as a movie but also remarkable in terms of effective use of music, which was composed by Hikaru Hayashi<\/a> (he also died this year, unfortunately). <\/p>\n Mr. Hayashi was famous for his prolific and versatile work, in addition to collaboration with Mr. Shindo. His roots were classical music, and he left many excellent orchestral, choral, and even opera pieces in that area. But also he was very keen in scoring music for films, especially in his elements in human-dramatic soundtracks, as heard in “Koi no Natsu,” “Akitsu Onsen,” “Hadaka No Shima,” etc. While these soundtracks may not be readily available in your country, you can find several masterpieces on YouTube.<\/p>\n In my view, the music of \u201cOnibaba\u201d represents Hikaru Hayashi\u2019s most daring and experimental work. The film itself is equally bold, with a shockingly creepy narrative that delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of jealousy, desire, and covetousness. It’s not just a horror flick or a hideous folk tale of old Japanese taboos, but a psychological drama that suggests the damaging aspects and feelings that human beings have always grappled with.<\/p>\nThe Musical Genius: Hikaru Hayashi<\/h4>\n
“Onibaba”: A Daring Exploration of Human Psyche<\/h4>\n