Interview - Shinnosuke Yakuwa Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window

Scotland Loves Anime is undeniably my favorite film festival of the year. Spanning a whole week, it offers an anime lover’s dream—ranging from timeless classics to the latest releases, showcasing a diverse array of titles. Among this year’s highlights was Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window, a highly anticipated film that competed in the festival’s competition and stood out as a truly remarkable entry in the program.

Director Shinnosuke Yakuwa was the guest of honor at the inaugural London edition of the festival, and I was immensely privileged to sit down with him to discuss this wonderful film ahead of its London screening. Known primarily for his work on the Doraemon franchise, Totto-chan marks Yakuwa’s first feature film unconnected to the beloved series.

In our conversation, we delved into topics such as neurodivergent representation in Totto-chan and Japanese cinema as a whole, the challenges of directing young voice actors, and whether there was a teacher who had a profound impact on his own life. Yakuwa also shared insights into the team’s approach to adapting the novel upon which the film is based, as well as the childlike innocence that the film beautifully captures.