This program presents two films directed by Fukuda Katsuhiko (1943-1998). Produced between 1979 and 1985, they are part of a series of four film ‘notes’ shot in 8mm. Fukuda was a member of the filmmaking collective Ogawa Productions, working with the group from 1968 to 1978 on a series of films shot in Sanrizuka, documenting the farmers’ opposition movement against the construction of Narita International Airport. Soon after moving with Ogawa Pro to the northern region of Yamagata, Fukuda left the collective and returned to Sanrizuka, where he continued documenting the next phase of the conflict, the farmers’ daily lives, and their agricultural practices.

Among Ogawa Pro’s members, Fukuda had some of the closest ties to the local farmer community. This connection profoundly shaped his approach to filmmaking. He worked directly with individuals in the community and formed strong relationships. His films offer close and nuanced portraits of the community, reflecting his deep commitment to their struggles and way of life.

Acquiring an 8mm camera, he began working independently, producing a diverse range of films. His Sanrizuka Notes series consists of four 8mm works: Sanrizuka Notes 1: Sanrizuka Has Its Own Agriculture, In Kinone the Wind Blows from the Roots (1979), Sanrizuka Notes 2: The Sky is Under a Violent Attack (1979), Sanrizuka Notes 3: The March of the Earth (1981), and Sanrizuka Notes 4: A Grasscutter’s Tale (1985).

Fukuda experimented with new filming approaches, critically reassessing some of the methods he had learned while working with Ogawa Pro and shifting to a more personal way of making cinema, deeply engaged with the people and their stories. His works provide an alternative perspective on people’s ideas about the struggle and their relationship with the land, emphasising farming and sustainability as central to defending a common way of life. Beyond filmmaking, Fukuda remained deeply involved in Sanrizuka, documenting its agricultural practices and participating actively in political and legal resistance. He also directed PR films and videos and authored a book on Sanrizuka, its people, and soil politics. His efforts were instrumental in preserving the materials produced by Ogawa Productions during their time in Sanrizuka.

Special thanks to Hatano Yukie, Emma Tsuji Harrison