Let's Make a Mug Too:First movie screening in "holy land" Tajimi City Yuki Wakai:"If there's a third season, I'd love to do it!"

A screening event for the movie version of "Let's Make a Mug Too," a TV anime based on a free comic with the theme of the traditional craft of Mino ware and set in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, entitled "Let's Make a Mug Too the Movie - Anime Compilation - Welcome Home," was held on March 22nd at the Barrow Cultural Hall in the city. This is the first time that a movie version of the series has been produced. A talk show was also held at the compilation of the first season of the TV anime, with Yuki Wakai Yuki, who plays Naruse Naoko, director Kamiya Jun, series composition and scriptwriter Arakawa Toshihisa, and original author Kajiwara Osamu taking to the stage. Wakai and others looked back on the TV anime and spoke of their expectations for the new work.

When asked about her memories of the first season of the TV anime, Wakai said, "The scene in episode 10 where we see Himena's (Himenoka's) monument is memorable. When I was acting, I wanted to make sure to incorporate the feeling of touching pottery and other things into my acting." Director Kamiya commented, "This time, the voice actors also filmed on location, so we had Wakai and the others actually make pottery before recording the scenes. I think Wakai and the others were able to convey that kind of texture."

Wakai revealed the difficulties she faced in playing Naruse Naoko and the similarities she had with her character, saying, "She's the complete opposite of me, so it took me a long time to understand her. The similarity is that we both like to play alone." Kajiwara confessed, "I found it difficult to portray Naoko, but on the other hand, it was easy to portray Mika." Director Kamiya responded, "Really? Naoko was easy for me to portray, but Mika was difficult."

When the topic of a "third season" came up, Wakai said, "Will there be a third season...?! But the original story is still ongoing, so there are still many episodes left! Until season two, we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and couldn't film on location freely...I would love to do a third season if there is one! Adults, please!" Director Kamiya also showed his enthusiasm, saying, "There are still many episodes in the original story."

"Yakumo" was launched as a project by a group of volunteers and companies in Tajimi City in 2010. Since 2012, local IT company Planet has been publishing the free comics.

Kajiwara said with emotion, "We've come so far from the original work from 10 years ago," and Director Kamiya said, "A company called Planet has been publishing a free paper since 2012. Any way you look at it, it's in the red. I felt that we had to respond to this feeling, so I made this anime. And... I want to show everyone a full new work, not a compilation! Let's do a movie version!" Arakawa also nodded strongly and said, "The talk has been going on since the second season ended! And there is an episode that could be made into a movie version. We'd like to do it."

Finally, Wakai said, "After hearing about today's event, I once again realized that Gifu is an important hometown to me. I want more and more people to know about the charms of Yakumo, and of Gifu and Tajimi!", Director Kamiya said, "In the first season, we carefully depicted the daily lives of first-year high school girls in Tajimi from spring to autumn. But I would like to depict the second and third years as well! Thank you everyone!", Arakawa said, "I am really looking forward to writing Yakumo! I would like to write a third and fourth season," and Kajiwara expressed his delight, saying, "It is rare to be blessed with such a wonderful connection with a work."

"Yakumo" tells the story of Toyokawa Himeno, who moves to her mother's hometown of Tajimi City, and finds out that her mother was a legendary potter, becoming drawn into the world of pottery. The first season of the TV anime aired from April to June 2021, and the second season from October to December of the same year. The first 15 minutes were anime, and the second 15 minutes were live-action. Voice actor Minami Tanaka and others appeared in the live-action part, visiting various spots in Tajimi and introducing their charms.

It was also a hot topic that it was selected as one of the "88 Anime Holy Lands in Japan You Want to Visit," a selection of "holy places" that were the setting for the anime. The theatrical version will be screened at Aeon Cinema Toki (Toki City, Gifu Prefecture) from April 18th.