Extremely Short

A man wanders through Tokyo, driven by an obsessive quest to find the shortest thing in the city. His search leads him through crowded streets and quiet corners, past neon signs and ancient temples, as he contemplates the nature of brevity and meaning. At the very last moment of his life, he utters a single syllable: "da." This word, a breath that could be either a beginning or an end, becomes the center of a convulsive poem that blurs the lines between existence and nothingness.

The film is a recitation of an original work by contemporary Japanese author Hideo Furukawa, performed by the author himself. Acclaimed animator Koji Yamamura brings the text to life, weaving together elements of calligraphy, embryology, and words from beyond the grave. The animation transforms the spoken syllable into a visual journey, exploring how a single sound can contain infinite possibilities. As the poem unfolds, it questions the boundaries of language, the weight of a final word, and what it means to leave behind only a breath.