HOW INTRIGUING! →A Company that shapes fascinating concepts to life.
Mr. Kazumichi Karasawa, the CEO of KASSY Inc., is actively engaged in various aspects in the production of films and videos, including art direction, production management, public relations, promotion, and distribution. He even does some acting. We had the honor to talk to Mr. Karasawa about his passion and dedication for craftsmanship and his visions for the future.
GOODWORK STAFF INOMATA (Ms.) (hereinafter Inomata):
Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with us today. Since we don’t often get the chance to meet, I’m very excited to have the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with you.
Mr. Karasawa:
Thank you very much. I look forward to speaking with you.
Inomata:
To start off with, could you tell us what led you to become a member of GOODWORK?
Mr. Karasawa:
During the process of establishing KASSY Inc., we were looking for a location to register the company. An acquaintance who had given us a lot of support referred to and recommended GOODWORK. That was over four years ago.
Inomata:
Since GOODWORK has been open for five years, you’ve been a member from our early days! Thank you very much! Could you kindly provide us with your profile?
Mr. Karasawa:
It’s a bit difficult to summarize it in a single sentence, but basically, I work on both the production and acting sides of films and televisions. For example, if there’s a film premiere, I would do both planning and managing the event. Additionally, I also create websites for promotional purposes.
Inomata:
It seems like you have a broad range of tasks and responsibilities?
Mr. Karasawa:
I manage the entire process from the very beginning of a film project, from shooting to completion, releasing it in theaters and making it available online, as well as handling all the promotional activities.
Inomata:
That must be a lengthy process. Does it take around six months or a year?
Mr. Karasawa:
It can sometimes take as long as three to four years. With films, it takes time to evaluate numerous ideas and decide which ones to develop, all while keeping an eye on the budget.
Inomata:
Are you involved in writing and developing the scripts and concepts as well?
Mr. Karasawa:
I sometimes start from the very beginning, but if there’s an existing and/or a developed concept or project, I work with screenwriters and producers to refine and build on it to make it more compelling.
Inomata:
WOW that’s quite impressive…! Do you find it difficult to take time off when you have ongoing projects?
Mr. Karasawa:
I work around the clock, regardless of time, day of the week, or holidays. During Christmas and Year-end there are not too many people working and during those times I often come across unexpected job opportunities. If I receive an urgent call in the middle of the night, I’m more than happy to respond and go to the site. For instance, I might have to start a project three days from now and then immediately head to a location away from Tokyo, as schedules can change suddenly.
Inomata:
Is that related to your role on the production side?
Mr. Karasawa:
Sometimes it’s related to production, and other times it may involve acting. There are times when I need to manage expenses on the production site.
Inomata:
You really are capable of handling everything, aren’t you?
Mr. Karasawa:
When I’m on-site, there is a tendency for producers and production company staffs to remember me. This often results in them contacting myself resulting in more job opportunities.
Inomata:
Could you kindly share with us what your typical workday looks like?
Mr. Karasawa:
Depending on the schedule, there are times when I leave home before 5 a.m., and sometimes I don’t return home for nearly a month due to filming. There are moments when I get so exhausted that I think, “I’m never going to do this again!” but strangely, I keep going on. Once I’ve accomplished something I thought was impossible, I forget about the hardships and pains that I endured. On the other hand, I may spend entire days at home editing videos or writing proposals. When I’m deeply focused, I lose track of time and sometimes fall asleep as if I’ve passed out. I mainly visit GOODWORK to collect mail. When there’s no urgent work, I want to know what entertainment is trending in the world and what’s popular, so I watch movies, videos, or visit new theme parks. Amongst them, I particularly enjoy immersive experiences like mystery-solving games, horror events, and haunted houses. It’s difficult not being able to completely separate work from leisure, but I want to keep creating things that people find interesting, even if they’re similar to existing popular entertainment.
Inomata:
As you have a very busy schedule working around the clock, do you do anything specific to maintain your physical strength and stamina?
Mr. Karasawa:
I participate in the Fuji Mountain Marathon which is a full marathon held every November. I train and prepare accordingly to take part in this marathon.
Inomata:
I understand it’s been more than four years since you founded KASSY Inc., how long have you been in this line of work?
Mr. Karasawa:
The beginning of my career in this field was in 2008 when I had a role as an extra in the film ““Nijyu seiki Shonen: Saishusho-Bokura no Hata” (“20th Century Boys: Final Chapter – Our Flag.”). That was the start of my journey.
Inomata:
Oh, really!? I saw that film!
Mr. Karasawa:
At that shoot, there were about 300 extras. We were running between buildings with a setting where a UFO was flying overhead. The staff, riding bicycles, instructed us to pretend as if we had been poisoned by the UFO when they overtook us on their bicycles. Until then, I had always viewed movies as something you watch from the outside, like peeking into a dream world. However, I discovered that it was so easy to become part of that world myself. For better or worse, I got hooked on it (LOL).
Inomata:
Could you kindly share with us your future plans and developments for your work?
Mr. Karasawa:
I’m working on both in-house projects and contracted projects, and I hope to be involved in various types of works, regardless of genre. Of course, I’m very grateful for the work I receive, but I also want to leave behind my own works and creations, which is why I pursue in-house projects as well. For example, “Occult Jizo“(Jizo is a Japanese deity) is the first film I’ve handled from the initial concept through production, promotion, and distribution. We’re currently working on a sequel. With in-house projects, it’s more about capturing and expressing a certain worldview through the medium of film rather than just making a movie. In “Occult Jizo,” for example, we made sure to place the Jizo statue in the theater’s audience seats and incorporated a ritualistic element by infusing it with a “spirit” (or “thought”). At the film’s end, we included a real-life exorcist ritual (purification ritual) filmed at a temple, where a monk actually performed the ritual and included it in the footage of the film.
Inomata:
So, it means that people who come to watch the film are completely immersed in that world, if I am correct?
Mr. Karasawa:
Once a customer purchases the film ticket, they become accomplices by becoming part of the experience. We had customers register their names via a QR code in the lobby before the screening, agreeing to be part of this occult experiment. During the exorcism scene, we displayed the registered names on the screen, indicating that they were “woven” into the film’ world too!
(A little insider story: it was quite a job to input all those names into the credits each time!)
Inomata:
I would imagine after experiencing something like that, you’d definitely want to see the sequel! Creating a sense of unity and immersion within the world of the occult is truly an innovative form of entertainment, isn’t it?
Mr. Karasawa:
I believe this is the first time in the world for a film to go to such lengths at every screening in a regular cinema. When I initially proposed the idea, the reaction was “What on earth are you talking about!?”
Inomata:
Just listening to your story made me incredibly captivated. Also, I have noticed that all the distribution/streaming companies listed in this flyer are all well-known. How did you go about approaching them?
Mr. Karasawa:
A representative from a streaming service company just happened to come to watch the film, and then acted as an intermediary to present the film to the streaming platform.
1.“Occult Jizo”
(Occult Japanese Deity)
https://occult-jizou.kassy-tv.com/
Producer/Director/Cast: Kazumichi Karasawa
Production/Promotion/Distribution: KASSY Inc.
2.“Jyusokidan Zogugu”
(Cursed Mysterious Stories)
https://www.jyusokidan-project.com/
Producer/Cast: Kazumichi Karasawa
Production/Promotion/Distribution: KASSY Inc.
3.“Ore wa Zensei ni Koi o suru”
(I will love my Previous Life)
Producer/Production Design/Production Management/Public Relations/Promotions:
Kazumichi Karasawa
Promotion/Distribution: KASSY Inc.
Inomata:
Finally, could you kindly share what are some things you are recently interested in and/or your future goals?
Mr. Karasawa:
AI is beginning to make its way into the film industry, and its technology is advancing rapidly. There are differing opinions on the use of AI, with some supporting it and others opposing it. I’m focused on how to effectively harness AI’s potential. AI can generate images and even write scripts, but whether it produces something interesting is still a work in progress. What fascinates me now is finding ways to teach AI what makes something captivating. For example, even though Walt Disney passed away many years ago, new Disney films continue to be made because his core ideas have been preserved, allowing others to create new works based on those ideas. I think AI could potentially achieve similar opportunities for individual creators. If AI learns from my work, it might continue to generate new projects even after I’m no longer around. Additionally, I hope that my work will connect people who will inspire each other and bring new ideas to life, even in my absence.
Inomata:
Thank you for the fascinating discussion today. Once the sequel to “Occult Jizo” is completed, we’ll make sure to place flyers at GOODWORK again! We are excited to see your future accomplishments.
Mr. Karasawa’s Performances and Works:
Netflix Series “Sanctuary” / Appeared as a Sumo Referee
Disney+ “House of the Owl” / Hygiene Supervisor
Fuji TV “Murakami Mayonnaise no tsukomasasete itadakimasu!” (Roughly translated as “Murakami Mayonnaise’s Let me Comment!”/
Featuring Kazumichi Karasawa, known as the “Super Negative Guy,” and documenting the ntensive training he receives to become a “Popular Guy” at a seaside house in Enoshima.
https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2076738/full/