MR.YELLOW HIPHOP directed by Kenji Sonoda

When I first decided to make this film, the question that came to mind was: “Is he truly unknown?”

HAR-CO may be seen as an underground rapper, someone absent from mainstream media. Yet from my perspective, his words and presence have quietly shaken more people than most recognized figures. It’s as if he’s both invisible and unforgettable — and I wanted to capture that paradox on film.

The visual style avoids narration or overt explanation. Instead, it focuses on what lives in the pauses, the atmosphere, and the unspoken. This is not a performance; it is a record. And I believe that’s where the film’s strength lies.

We shot across various cities in Asia, and the voices gathered crossed borders. The testimonies from around the world created a resonance that transcended genre, culture, and language. Through the lens of HAR-CO, we glimpse a deeply personal story — but also a universal one, about voices that remain unheard.

To me, this film is not about self-empowerment or identity politics. It goes beyond that. It is a response to the pain of stories that are left untold, a personal sense of responsibility to speak them out — before they vanish.

If this film makes even one person revisit something they once believed in, then it has already fulfilled its purpose.