Enemies Within and Without: Yoshida’s ‘Teki Cometh’ Tackles Life’s Final Frontiers

In his latest film, Teki Cometh, premiering at the 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival, Japanese director Daihachi Yoshida delves into universal questions around aging, mortality and the “enemies” one encounters in life. The film, a monochromatic adaptation of Yasutaka Tsutsui’s novel, portrays a retired professor who contemplates his life’s end, exploring themes that feel especially resonant in the wake of recent global challenges.

“When I reread Teki during the pandemic, I realized people everywhere were forced into a lifestyle similar to the main character’s—isolated, reflecting on life,” Yoshida said, noting that the book struck him differently as he approached his sixties. “I was aware that I wouldn’t live another 40 or 50 years. It lit a spark in me.”

Teki Cometh follows Kyozo Nagatsuka as the aging professor, whose days are filled with quiet routines and rare excursions. A chance encounter with a young French literature student, portrayed by Yumi Kawai, adds layers to his journey, with Yoshida’s use of monochrome cinematography blurring lines between reality and imagination. 

“Monochrome has a restrained quality that suits the quiet, stoic life of the main character,” Yoshida explained. “I felt it maximized the viewer’s imagination.”

Food preparation scenes, a frequent element in the film, enhance the rhythm of the professor’s isolated life. 

“I worried the food wouldn’t look as appetizing in black and white,” Yoshida laughed, “but the team’s cooking made it look delicious, even without color.”

Yoshida’s adaptation has the author’s approval, with Tsutsui emphasizing that the story avoids themes of dementia, instead focusing on active escapism. The titular “enemy” remains open to interpretation, symbolizing different forms of struggle. 

“It’s an enemy from the north—historically, that could mean Russia to the Japanese. But as I worked on the film, I realized everyone has their own ‘enemy’ to face. It could mean death, old age, or simply a reason to live,” Yoshida reflected.

Teki Cometh marks Yoshida’s return to literary adaptations, continuing a cinematic journey rooted in deep, introspective storytelling.