Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541592
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S 47 asaru Okawara is known as a sound designer and sound editor. Some of his work includes the Bayside Shakedown series (2003- 2012), Suspect X (2008), Brain Man (2013), Persona Non Grata (2015), the Chihayafuru series (2016-2018), Sadako vs. Kayako (2016), Ajin: Demi-Human (2017), Sadako (2019), Stigmatized Properties (2020), Brave: Gunj ō Senki (2021), The Mysterious Candy Store Zenitendō (2024), My Father and Our Unfinished Song (2025), The Naked Director (Netflix, 2019), Yu Yu Hakusho (Netflix, 2023), Glass Heart (Netflix, 2025). I heard the news of Mr. Okase's passing while recording sound effects on a set at Toho Studios. Just a few days prior, I had chatted with him during Foley work for Asura (2025, Dir: Hirokazu Kore-eda) at Kadokawa Daiei Studios. I couldn't process the reality, and I recall yelling out, "How can something like this happen?!" when I ran into a familiar crew member. There are several mentors who have influenced my life, but Mr. Okase was undoubtedly one of the most significant. In fact, he might be the most influential person who changed the course of my life. I first met Mr. Okase while working on the film Bayside Shakedown 2: Close the Rainbow Bridge (2003, Dir: Katsuyuki Motohiro). Although we belonged to different companies—Mr. Okase was - M Masaru Okawara "Mr. Okase was truly a magician. Every sound he created was astonishing, but what left the greatest impact was the sound of the protagonist's flapping mod coat. That sound alone transformed the TV drama into a cinematic experience. For me, that sound symbolised the power of sound itself." a freelancer and I was with SPOT Inc.—from that moment, I considered myself his disciple. On this project, Mr. Okase served as Foley artist, Foley editor, and re- recording mixer for the Foley, as well as our advisor and instructor. At the time, our company primarily handled television programming, and we had virtually no experience with film, let alone Foley. (Sound in Japanese TV at the time was quite poor.) Concerned about the lack of expertise, mixer Kunio Ashihara invited Mr. Okase, whom he had worked with in the past, onto the project. Although I had a few years of experience in television, it was my first time seeing a professional Foley session, and even more humbling, participating in one. That experience left a deep impression on me. Mr. Okase was truly a magician. Every sound he created was astonishing, but what left the greatest impact was the sound of the protagonist's flapping mod coat. That sound alone transformed the TV drama into a cinematic experience. For me, that sound symbolised the power of sound itself. Looking back, it was probably this experience that made me believe in the transformative power of sound. It taught me that sound can change a work, and on a broader level, even the world. A few years later, after continuing to learn from him, he said to me, "You want to work in film, right? I've already spoken to Mr. Shibasaki for you." With that, I left my former company and started working under Kenji Shibasaki. It was a dream come true, though it happened rather abruptly, I must admit with a laugh. That change in direction became one of the most important steps in my career, as it led me to my second great mentor, Mr. Shibasaki. Among the projects I worked on with Mr. Okase, the most memorable is the Bayside Shakedown series, which is where we first met. One specific sound that comes to mind is from one of the characters, Inspector Masayoshi Mashita—the sound of a ring. In a scene where the protagonist drops a proposal ring, Mr. Okase attached a thin rubber band to a long nail. He used the nail to mimic the sound of a ring hitting the floor, and the rubber band extended the reverb. At the time, I was shocked, but now I know you can't get a good sound just by dropping a real ring. The clear metallic sound he captured with that trick is something I'll never forget. Mr. Okase used to say, "No one but me can do Yuji Oda's footsteps justice." (Oda was the lead actor in the Bayside Shakedown series.) Yuji Oda's running style was unique, and Mr. Okase was incredibly skilled at matching that exact movement. After he performed footsteps for several films in the series, I believe audiences came to associate Oda's footsteps with Mr. Okase's sound. Mr. Okase taught me Foley, taught me the power of sound, and showed me the path I should follow. In every way, he was the greatest mentor of my life.