This is Yasushi Fukuda’s process for writing screenplay scripts using dictation, in which he orally expresses the characters’ lines and explains their movements, and this information is recorded by his assistant. A limited amount of time is spent in front of a computer. While at times walking and other times viewing scenery, Fukuda orally creates dialogue-driven stories. Creating lines by speaking them gives rise to dialogue with more natural wording and tempo. The inclusion of a third-party objective perspective makes is possible to write extremely accurate screenplays in a short time.

Rather than using a written draft version of a story, when Fukuda creates, he is encountering characters who were “standing by” in the back of his mind. He orally creates scenes by selecting movements and lines that are appropriate for the particular character. When he was a member of a theatrical troupe, he had to be able to quickly create new scenes. Therefore, he would provide performers at rehearsals with lines and movements that he thought up on the spur of the moment and orally created the script. This intuitive approach to creating plays has carried over to his current writing style.

Leaving the typing to his assistant, Fukuda focuses on animating characters and moving the story forward. Because of the more intuitive thinking process, he is able to create scripts that vividly describe characters and bring scenes to life. Viewers enjoy his dramas by vividly “seeing” and “hearing” them. Dictation also dramatically reduces the awkwardness that results when written scripts are used in filming.

Writing is typically a time-consuming endeavor not confined by the boundaries of day and night. On the other hand, dictation helps Fukuda create a rhythm in his life because the work time is fixed out of consideration for his assistant. He primarily does writing from early morning until noon. The afternoon is then spent on private activities away from work. These include seeing off and picking up his children, exercising, gathering information, and soaking in hot springs. This orderly, yet lively, lifestyle increases the productivity of daytime work.