Sofia Coppola Says She’s Glad “Lost in Translation ”Cast and Crew“ ”Weren’t ‘Kicked Out of Tokyo’ for Filming Without Certain Permits

0Sofia Coppola.Credit: Jamie McCarthy/GettyNEED TO KNOWSofia Coppola recently revealed that parts of Lost in Translation were filmed in Tokyo without permits

The 55-year-old director recalled filming Scarlett Johansson on the subway and capturing Shibuya Crossing from a Starbucks

Coppola admitted she was surprised they weren’t “kicked out” of Japan

Sofia Coppola is looking back on the unconventional filming methods behind Lost in Translation, her acclaimed 2003 film starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.

In a recent Q&A interview with The Guardian, the filmmaker revealed that certain scenes in Tokyo were captured without the necessary filming permissions, creating the possibility of serious trouble for the production.

Reflecting on the experience, Coppola acknowledged that the team took a few risks to capture the city authentically. “We stole a few things in the spirit of guerrilla film-making,” the 55-year-old director admitted to the outlet. “And I’m glad we didn’t get kicked out.”

Lost in Translation follows Bob Harris (Murray), an aging American actor visiting Tokyo for work, and Charlotte (Johansson), a young woman accompanying her photographer husband. Both feeling disconnected from their surroundings, they form an unexpected bond amid the unfamiliar rhythms of the Japanese capital.

The film’s atmosphere depends heavily on Tokyo itself, with its crowded streets, neon-lit neighborhoods and everyday encounters providing an essential backdrop to the characters’ loneliness and connection.

When asked which scene posed the greatest risk of getting in trouble, and what might have happened if she had been forced to leave Japan, Coppola explained that some filming moments required a more spontaneous approach.

“We had permission for most of it, but we had to grab the scenes with Scarlett on the subway with real people around,” Coppola told the outlet.

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The director also recalled filming one of the movie’s memorable views of Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya Crossing. Rather than securing formal permission for the location, the crew took advantage of a nearby Starbucks with a striking vantage point, capturing the shot from above.

“We just went into Starbucks because it had this incredible view, but we would have never got permission to film there,” Coppola told The Guardian.