Fan CastingThe Milky Way Poet

In the serene yet harsh landscapes of rural Japan, during the late Taishō and early Shōwa periods, a man of boundless imagination and compassion emerges—Kenji Miyazawa, a visionary poet, educator, and idealist. "The Milky Way Poet" is a sweeping, heartfelt biopic that traces Miyazawa’s life journey, from his idyllic yet challenging childhood in Hanamaki to his transformative years as a writer and social activist, culminating in his quiet but profound legacy. The film opens with a young Kenji, captivated by the mysteries of the natural world and inspired by the shimmering stars above the rugged Iwate countryside. Guided by his devout Buddhist faith and his father’s call to carry on the family business, Kenji struggles to balance tradition with his restless pursuit of artistic and spiritual truth. When tragedy strikes, he turns to literature and science as a means of healing and hope. We witness his passion for teaching farmers modern agricultural techniques, his advocacy for social equity, and his deep empathy for both people and the planet. His poetry—vivid, otherworldly, and suffused with cosmic wonder—becomes a mirror of his inner conflicts, loneliness, and yearning for a utopian society. Interspersed with dreamlike sequences, the film draws from Kenji’s poetic imagination, including animated depictions of his iconic works like Night on the Galactic Railroad and Ginga Tetsudō no Yoru (Night of the Milky Way Railway).