The Music in Ashita

In this film, ” Ashita”, same melody is repeated several times. Most parts which this music is played are very ordinary, daily and happy scenes of the family. However, it is also used at the end of the film, the front and the back of the very scene, exploding atomic bomb. In my opinion, it is used to heighten the emotion of audience. Since all the family members has gone, while their theme music is still left. Music has a power for people to remind something emotional of the past. In the same context, audiences come to flash back to the life of the family with this melody. Also, continuous music after end of the film implies our-audiences- usual days having possibility about sudden attack of nuclear weapon.

Above this, there are some scenes that music is used effectively.

In the wedding ceremony scenes, woman sings a song about Japanese pronunciation on number. This song means nothing. It doesn't include social, political problem and worry about the war. Thus, I thought this song can be interpreted their ordinary days: they don't have to feel anxious and consider deeply.

A solider plays the harmonica in the room which his collegue is not long for this world. The melody he plays make us feel lonely, sorrowful, and mournful, because it allude the death of one soldier in no distant future.