How Long Is “Hunting Tigers”?

The film begins with Kenzaburo Oe, one of Japan's most important writers and political activists, who laments that the country's young people, in particular, its new writers and artists, are "spoiled, un-original and too influenced by Western culture." The filmmaker sets out on a whimsical journey through the wilds of Tokyo to prove or disprove Mr. Oe's statement. He meets four memorable artists: pop singer Jun Togawa, performance artist Rosa Tsukinoyo, collage maker Genqui Numata (who also calls himself "The Bonsai Kid" and "The World's Greatest Artist"), and dancer Saburo Teshigawara, the most exciting modern dancer/choreographer to emerge from Japan. The film explores a world populated not by soulless salarymen but by unique and brilliant creative spirits.