[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I interviewed Kore-eda Hirokazu on April 5, 2010 in a meeting room in the gleaming modern office of TV Man Union, the TV production company where he has worked since the start of his career. Unlike some directors who rattle off anecdotes and opinions, sounding like pre-recorded tapes, Kore-eda tends to mull over questions, even one he has doubtless heard dozens of times before. He speaks in rapid-fire bursts, as though releasing the pressure of pent-up thought.
