“Raise Your Arms and Twist – Documentary of NMB48”

The latest in a string of documentaries on Japan’s all-girl idol supergroups, “Raise Your Arms and Twist – Documentary of NMB48” startles in its appeal to a viewer who knows nothing about the music, the culture or the politics. It helped that its director, Atsushi Funahashi, came into the project with an equally blank slate, having created comparatively serious works such as “Nuclear Nation” and “Cold Bloom.”

Sayaka Yamamoto poses next to her signature at the 2016 Hong Kong International Film Festival. A couple of months after the press conference, she attained her highest-ever ranking in the Senbatsu Election, placing No. 4. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

“When this offer came to me, I was like, ‘What?!,’” Funahashi said at a panel held at Hong Kong University. “I didn’t know anyone in AKB48 and I didn’t know anyone in NMB48.”

“This is not for the idol geeks,” Funahashi emphasized. “It’s for the first-timers, for the outsiders. So that’s the approach I chose.”

The result is an almost clinical dissection of a complicated hierarchy in which the professional fates of young female singer-dancer-actresses are left to mercy of popularity votes and, at times, subjective senior management decisions. No detail is seemingly spared in describing the system to the viewer; it may not be obvious in a theater, but the narrator is speaking into the listener’s right ear, as if in confidence so as not to distract too much from the visual spectacle on screen, whether it is the surrounding kitsch Dotonbori district of Osaka or a concert at a monster sports stadium with sparkly outfits.

Contrasting with this approach are some very personal stories interspersed throughout, including those of NMB48 captain Sayaka Yamamoto (山本彩) and rising star Fuuko Yagara (矢倉楓子), who both appeared with Funahashi at a 2016 Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) press conference promoting the world premiere of the documentary. As expected, the relationships of the members zigzag between camaraderie and competition, showing a human side behind the robotic onstage synchronized dance moves. In a statement issued by the HKIFF, Yamamoto said that the film is ultimately about life aspirations playing out in parallel with everyone else.

“I hope everyone [can learn more] about us through this documentary,” she said. “We are dreamers who are trying very hard to make our dreams come true.”

Director Atsushi Funahashi (left), and NMB48 members Sayaka Yamamoto (center) and Fuuko Yagara (right) at the April 3 press conference for “Raise Your Arms and Twist – Documentary of NMB48.” The film shows the triumphs and struggles of the all-girl supergroup based in Osaka. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

Atsushi Funahashi alongside his signature on a promotional poster for “Raise Your Arms and Twist – Documentary of NMB48.” The director was approached by Akimoto Yasushi, the producer of the more well-known sister group AKB48, to make the film because he would be able to make “a documentary from an outsider’s point of view.” (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

Sayaka Yamamoto acknowledges reporters at the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong. The self-possessed NMB48 captain, who is 21 in the film, was briefly promoted to join AKB48 in select appearances. However, she knows that her fate – and that of the group – is at a disadvantage in fan votes, which resemble national general elections or NBA Drafts, due to NMB48’s geographical distance from Tokyo. Her determination to promote the group was evident in her speech at the 2015 7th Senbatsu, of which portions were shown in the film. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

For Fuuko Yagara, part of the “next generation” group in the film, working as an NMB48 member is a means to support her younger brother and single mother. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

Photos: Video: Director Atsushi Funahashi, NMB48 members Sayaka Yamamoto and Fūko Yagura – Hong Kong International Film Festival press conference, Apr. 3, 2016
all photos by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine

Video: Director Atsushi Funahashi – Hong Kong Documentary Initiative, Mar. 31, 2016, Hong Kong University
video by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine

Video: Director Atsushi Funahashi, NMB48 members Sayaka Yamamoto and Fūko Yagura – Hong Kong International Film Festival press conference, Apr. 3, 2016
video by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine