Japanese film crew in call for guernsey wearers
A JAPANESE film crew is calling on the island’s guernsey wearers to appear in a documentary on knitting.
The crew from NHK – Japan's publicly-funded broadcaster, similar to the BBC – has been in Guernsey filming scenes for a new TV show to be broadcast in Japan later this year.
The team of four were only in the island for two days, but plan to return for a longer shoot in the next couple of weeks.
Co-ordinator and researcher Mayumi Oxborrow said they had come to the island to uncover the story of iconic guernsey knitwear.
‘We would like to film Guernsey’s people wearing guernseys,’ she said.
‘So we would like anyone who has their own guernsey to come around Victor Hugo’s bench in front of the Town Church, wearing a Guernsey on Sunday 26 January at 4pm.
‘The crew will be coming just before 4pm, so please do not worry if you don’t see anyone prior to this time.’
Director Suzuki Kimitaka said the programme would explore the mentality, the national identity and the mental health benefits of knitting, especially the explosion of interest in knitting that came with Covid.
When the four return they will be accompanied by the programme’s host, whose identity is being kept under wraps.
‘At the moment we can’t say who this is for contractual reasons but they are a household name in Japan,’ said Ms Oxborrow.
They will then visit some of the Bailwick’s manufacturers and interview some of the island’s regular guernsey wearers.
In the meantime, the team will return to the UK and travel to Shetland to film a feature on the Scottish isles famous contribution to knitwear.
‘We are hoping for weather as good as we have enjoyed here,’ said Ms Oxborrow.
