- Aichi Expo Japan (Documentary Film about the sister city relationship between Neuchatel, Switzerland, and Shinshiro, Japan. Aired on Tokai TV, Japan and TVO, Switzerland)
- City of Shinshiro, Japan (Educational Video)
- REC production audiovisuel, Geneva (Documentary about Japanese horse archery. Aired on FR3, France)
- bb Film Berlin, Germany (Concert Video / Footage for the DVD “IZU - Tangerine Dream live in Japan 2009″)
- Super Station Inc., Osaka (TV Commercial for Hotel Granvia Kyoto)
- Workaholic Productions, Inc., USA (Footage for a documentary on Discovery Channel about the Japanese island “Gunkanjima”)
- ELCRIC Inc, Tokyo (Educational Video for Disaster Prevention Center)
- Monkey Music, Switzerland (Music Video for band “Mizan”)
- Kodai-ji and Kennin-ji Temple, Kyoto (Promotional Video)
The screening of TENGU in Kyoto was featured in a scoop on KBS TV and aired on June 9 (in Japanese).
Short documentary about a Sword Drawing Ceremony at Daizenji Temple in Shinshiro (Japan) to commemorate the fallen in the Battle of Nagashino (1575). Iai by Naohiko Hayakawa. Sword and armour are original items from the Kamakura and Muromachi period. The sword (tachi) is more than 700 years old. The ceremony took place on May 23, 2009 in Shinshiro (Aichi Prefecture). Filmed and edited by Roger Walch.
スイス、サンクト・ガレン生まれ（1965）、チューリッヒ大学で日本学、民俗学を専攻、修士取得。民俗学研究の際にH.U. Schlumpf監督（チューリッヒ）から記録映画制作を学び、日本でも金井勝監督（イメージフォーラム映像研究所、東京）のもとで16ミリ映画制作を学ぶ。スイスで２年間、館長としてスイスのインディーズ映画館を経営する。1998年来日以来、同志社大学で講師をしながら、映画監督として活動しており、自作映画はスイスと日本の映画祭で上映される。2000年京都グランビアホテルのCM制作、2001年、スイステレビ局の記録映画「Nippons Wunderdosen」に参加。短編劇映画「誘惑２」は2005年2月、大阪CO2映画祭でノミネート作品になる。2005年9月、スイス代表として制作した記録映画「一滴の水、やがて大河をなす」は愛知万博のフレンドシップ・フィルム・フェスティバルで奨励賞を受賞、後にスイスのテレビでも放送される。2006年「誘惑３」を仕上げ、誘惑３部作を完成させる。2007年、愛知県の写真家・岩城忠雄の記録映画を完成。2009年、長編映画「天狗」を完成。現在、フォークシンガー・俳優三上寛の記録映画を撮影中。
Roger Walch speaks about his new movie “Tengu” (in Japanese)
Written and directed by Roger Walch
Starring: Ted Taylor, Mimori Sento (Firefly Dreams), Sakiko Ikegami, Kan Mikami (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Tokyo Decadence)
Music: Kan Mikami (Guitar/Vocals), Takatora Kawamoto (Shamisen), Silvain Kyokusai Guignard (Biwa), Shino Nagasaka/Kumiko Itoyama (Double Bass), Taro Matsumoto (Shakuhachi), Roger Walch (piano)
Timetunnel of the Heart (J 2007, 30 min, DV)
A documentary about the photographer and pro skier Tadao Iwaki (1945 - 2004).
watch the Trailer here
- December 26, 2009 (Sat): Screening of Tengu at Tengeki Cinematron in Osaka. There will be two shows, The early show starts at 4 pm and the late show starts at 8 pm. Access to Tengeki Cinematron: Take the subway (Tanimachi line) and get off at Nakazaki-cho. Take Exit 4, walk 1 block North and then turn right. The movie-theatre is opposite the school.
Roger admires Japanese filmmakers Seijun Suzuki, Shuji Terayama and Shohei Imamura for their esthetic vision and their imaginative movies.
Roger directed his first short-film Yuwaku 1 in 2002. Yuwaku 2 (21 min) was nominated for the Best Picture Award at the CO2 Short-Film Festival 2005 in Osaka. The documentary film Even a large River starts with a Drop of Water won the Friendship Prize at the International Documentary Film Festival of the Aichi Expo 2005 in Japan and was broadcasted by Japanese and Swiss TVstations.
In 2006 Roger was invited to show his art video Teahouse of a Homeless Prince at the Festival du The (Tea Festival) in Paris, France. In 2007 he was commissioned to make a documentary about Japanese photographer Iwaki Tadao. Roger finished a 63 minute long narrative feature film called Tengu (starring Ted Taylor, Mimori Sento and legendary Japanese actor/singer Kan Mikami) in early 2009.
Apart from being a filmmaker and film producer, Roger is a well-versed teacher of Japanese culture and a Jazz pianist. Speaking fluent Japanese, he was a part-time commentator for the Fuji TV show Nippon@World.
Roger obtained his MA degree in Japanese Studies and Social Anthropology from the University of Zurich (Switzerland) in 1997. He studied documentary filmmaking with Swiss director H.U. Schlumpf in Zurich and 16 mm filmmaking with Japanese director Katsu Kanai at the Image Forum Institute in Tokyo.
Before coming to Japan, Roger worked as a movie theatre manager for an arthouse cinema in St.Gallen, Switzerland, and wrote film-related articles for a cultural magazine.
Two documentaries and a short feature film are in the pipeline for 2010:
On the Road with Mikami Kan - a concert and road movie with and about well-known singer/songwriter/actor Kan Mikami.
Japan’s Last Samurais - a documentary about contemporary Japanese swordsmen. What does it mean to be a samurai in the 21st century? Do the Samurai spirit and the soul of the Samurai sword still fit into modern day Japan? A film about lost values and the struggle of traditional sword schools to find worthy successors.
Children of Water - a short film. After one year in an ESL-course in the US a Japanese graphic designer returns to Japan and discovers that she is pregnant. She contemplates abortion, but her American boyfriend strongly opposes and flies to Japan to convince her to keep the baby. During his stay he not only gets to know life and customs in Japan but also different moral and religious values.
2002
- YUWAKU 1 (16′30”). Short Film, DV.
- Am I Nervous? (11′). Music Video, DV.
2004
- Yuwaku 2 (21′). Short Film, DV 24p.
2005
- Lost Island (20′). Short Narrative, DV.
- Even a large River starts with a Drop of Water - The Friendship between Shinshiro City and Switzerland (30′). Documentary Film, DV Cam.
- OLD-NEW-EAST-WEST (90′). Concert Film, DV.
2006
- Yuwaku 3 (35′). Short Film, DV 24p.
- Teahouse of a Homeless Prince (7′35”). Art Video, DV.
2007
- Time Tunnel of the Heart (30′). Documentary Film, DV.
2009
- Tengu (63′). Narrative, HD.
We produce, shoot and edit feature films, documentaries and music/concert videos.
Roger Walch (*1965) is a Swiss born filmmaker and musician who has been living in Kyoto (Japan) for more than 12 years. He is the head of the film and video production company Rowmuse Films.
We offer Hands-on Workshops and Seminars on:
- Camera Handling, Lighting Techniques, Audio and Sound
- Postproduction/Editing/DVD Mastering
(Individual or Group lessons available)
Get in touch if you need high quality video footage of Japan (especially from Kyoto, Nara, Osaka or Aichi).
We can deliver Full HD Digital Video Footage (1920 x 1080) in Pal or NTSC (using Sony XD Cam).
We can help you find and give advice on:
Beautiful shooting locations in and around Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Nagoya.
Typical and traditional Japanese indoor and outdoor settings, e.g. rural landscapes, zen temples, shrines, gardens, samurai houses, geisha theatres, unspoilt beaches, empty old schools and/or hospitals.
Kimonos, traditional clothing and armor.
Traditional Japanese musicians and music.
We are able to translate and interpret in any given situation, especially for film productions.
We have travelled all of Japan and we are skilled guides.
We are fluent in English, German, French and Japanese.
