Enjoy the Japanese Film Festival during December 1 - December 3 in these 3 cities
SPECIAL GUEST
Yoshida Daihachi
Born in 1963. As a commercial director, Yoshida won numerous awards domestically and internationally. In 2007, he made his film directorial debut with “Funuke Show Some Love, You Losers!” which was world premiered at Cannes Critics Week and attracted attention. After directing “The Wonderful World of Captain Kuhio”(2009) and “Permanent Nobara” (2010), he released his fourth film “The Kirishima Thing”(2012) which was received the 36th Japan Academy Prize for Best Picture and Best Director. In 2014, his fifth film “Pale Moon” won the 38th Japan Academy Prize for Best Actress and Yoshida became one of leading directors of Japanese Cinema. His upcoming film “The Scythian Lamb”(release in February 2018) won the 1st Kim Ji-seok Award at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival.

Masahiro Kobayashi
Born 1954 in Tokyo. Masahiro Kobayashi was stunned by The 400 Blows (1959) by François Truffaut and decided to be a film director when he was 15 years old. Triggered by winning the Kido Prize, an award for writing the best original screenplay, he has been worked as a screenwriter of films and TV shows for about 15 years.
In 1996, when he was 42 years old, he released Closing Time, his first independent film, and founded a production company, Monkey Town Productions.
His films were screened at the Director's Fortnight at Cannes, as well as official selections at the Cannes Film Festival.
He has also received four awards at the same time including Golden Leopard at the 60th Locarno International Film Festival. Filmmaker Masahiro Kobayashi has been attracted attention in Europe, including having his retrospective at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Lear on the Shore is his 16th feature film. In most films, Kobayashi has released his original productions, and he has also written and directed them.
Koji Shiraishi
Born in 1973 in Fukuoka. He is known for “OCCULT” (2008), “GROTESQUE” (2009), “Hyper villain” (2011), “Senritsu kaiki file kowasugi sijo saikyo no gekijoban ”(2014), “A Record of Sweet Murder” (2014), “Murder Workshop”(2014), “Kidan Hyakkei”(2015), “Museum: Prelude”(2016/WOWOW), “Sadako vs Kayako”(2016).
Naoto Kumazawa
Born 1967 in Aichi. Naoto Kumazawa’s notable film credits include: “Kin Kyori Ren Ai” (2014) starring Tomohisa Yamashita and Nana Komatsu, “Kimi ni Todoke” (2010) starring Mikako Tabe and Haruma Miura, “Oyayubi Sagashi” (2006) starring Ken Miyake and Kenichi Matsuyama and “Niji no Megami” (2006) starring Hayato Ichihara and Juri Ueno.
Tomoyuki Miyagawa
Nihon Eiga Broadcasting Corp Operating officer, in charge of Organization Production Department, organized the Jidaigeki Film Channel and Japanese Film Channel from the opening. As a film and drama producer, his major works include: <Onihei Gaiden series> <Shin Oyadokawase> (2013),< Ikenami Shotaro special series Kao>(2016),< Fujisawa Shūhei new drama series>. Film works include <Bride wedding scores for rip van winkle>(2016), < Saigo no Chushingura >(2010), < LIAR GAME The Final Stage >(2010) and latest work is < LEAR ON THE SHORE>(2017).
Guest information
Guest |
Event information |
Time table |
Theater |
Yoshida Daihachi
Koji Shiraishi
Naoto Kumazawa |
Red Carpet&Opening Ceremony |
December 1 17:30 |
Grand Theatre |
Yoshida Daihachi
|
「A Beautiful Star」Talk Show |
December 1 20:40 |
Grand Theatre |
Koji Shiraishi |
「Impossibility Defense」Talk Show |
December 1 22:50 |
Grand Theatre |
Naoto Kumazawa |
「The Anthem of the Heart」Talk Show |
December 2 13:30 |
UME XTD International Cineplex |
Naoto Kumazawa |
「Yurigokoro」Talk Show |
December 2 15:40 |
UME XTD International Cineplex |
Naoto Kumazawa |
「The Anthem of the Heart」Talk Show |
December 3 16:00 |
Shenzhen Broadway Cinematheque |
Masahiro Kobayashi
Naoto Kumazawa
Tomoyuki Mitagawa
|
Closing Ceremony |
December 3 19:00 |
Shenzhen Broadway Cinematheque |
Masahiro Kobayashi
Tomoyuki Mitagawa |
「LEAR ON THE SHORE」Talk Show |
December 3 21:15 |
Shenzhen Broadway Cinematheque |
Koji Shiraishi |
「Impossibility Defense」Talk Show |
December 3 16:30 |
Kunming Broadway Cinema (Shuncheng) |
Japanese Film Festival In China Screening Title List
JFF In China
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Kunming
Guest
A Beautiful Star
Unique science fiction film based on Mishima Yukio's 1963 novel. With the substitution of the social issues from that era like the Cold War and nuclear weapons to the contemporary themes of energy and climate change, it is an epic tragicomedy directed by Pale Moon's Yoshida Daihachi.
Weather forecaster Juichiro (Lily Franky) one day suddenly realizes he's from Mars. Then, his daughter, son and wife have their own similar realizations. They try so hard to save the endangered planet Earth but things get crazy on the way…

JFF In China
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Kunming
Guest
LEAR ON THE SHORE
“And who might you be?”
Chokitsu Kuwabatake (Tatsuya Nakadai) is a major star actor with a career spanning over half a century both on stage and on screen, in addition to presiding over an acting school. But this once-glorious star with an indomitable love of acting now appears to be suffering from dementia, leading his eldest daughter Yukiko (Mieko Harada) and her husband Yukio (Hiroshi Abe), who was also Chokitsu’s apprentice, to throw him into a high-end senior home—and only after making him write a will.
But one day, Chokitsu runs away from the senior home. As if pulled by some force, he walks aimlessly along the beach, wearing silk pajamas and a coat, dragging his suitcase along. As he wanders along, he suddenly meets Nobuko (Haru Kuroki), his daughter with another woman other than his wife. He had kicked Nobuko out of the house in rage after she herself had a baby out of wedlock. He sees in Nobuko the mirage of King Lear’s beloved daughter Cordelia. The madness of Lear possesses Chokitsu, and when his memories come swelling up, his heart begins to shine for the last time in his life.
JFF In China
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Kunming
Pumpkin and Mayonnaise
Tsuchida lives with her boyfriend Seichi, an aspiring musician who dreams of making it big. To support his goal, Tsuchida secretly works at nightclubs. Seichi, on the other hand, has fallen into a slump and is unable to write new songs. The unemployed Seichi idles about without putting much effort into earning a living. However, when learning how Tsuchida earns money and that she has slept with customers, he decides to get a job. By chance, Tsuchida runs into Hagio, an ex-boyfriend she has been unable to forget. Clinging to memories of the past, Tsuchida finds herself falling for Hagio once again…
JFF In China
Shenzhen
Close-Knit
Rinko is a transgender woman with a heart of gold.
Her boyfriend Makio was captivated by her heart and accepts her for who she is.
And a lonely girl named Tomo suddenly appeared in their life.
This is the story of sixty heartwarming days in the life of these three individuals who each find their own happiness amid the blooming cherry blossoms of spring.
JFF In China
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Kunming
Guest
The Anthem of the Heart
Takumi Sakagami, a high school student, is assigned to his class’s Community Outreach Committee one day.
His homeroom teacher also assigns his classmates Jun Naruse, a girl who is unable to speak because of a past trauma, Daiki Tasaki, a former ace player on the baseball team, and Natsuki Nitoh, a cheerleader and straight-A student, to the Committee.
Each one of them harbors feelings that they "long to shout" in their hearts.
Because of their homeroom teacher's foresight, their class ends up having to perform a musical at the exchange party, but nobody in the class seems willing.
But as they see Jun courageously making an effort to communicate her feelings by singing, Takumi and the other classmates who were reluctant begin to participate in a positive way.
The day of the performance arrives.
Will they be able to convey their true feelings they have locked away in their hearts?
JFF In China
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Kunming
Radiance
Passionate writer of film versions for the visually impaired. At a screening,she meets Nakamori, an older photographer who is slowly losing his eyesight. Misako soon discovers Nakamori’s photographs, who will strangely bring her back to her past. Together,they will learn to see the radiant world that was invisible to her eyes.

JFF In China
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Kunming
Anonymous Noise
Childhood friends Nino (Ayami Nakajo), Momo (Yuta Koseki) and Yuzu (Jun Shison) share a special bond in music. Nino loves to sing with Momo (her first love) while Yuzu composes songs. When they part ways, Nino experiences a profound sense of loss. Momo and Yuzu promise they will find her, as long as she keeps singing. Six years later, Nino is reunited with Yuzu in high school and discovers that he is a member of a popular “anonymous” band called “in No hurry to shout” (a.k.a. Ino-hari).
When Nino appears on the scene, Ino-Hari’s vocalist Miou (Erina Mano) , drops out of the band. She has a secret crush on Yuzu.
Nino joins Ino-hari as their lead vocalist and continues to cultivate her singing voice, hoping that it will someday reach her first, lost love, Momo.
Yuzu harbors secret feelings for Nino, Miou cannot forget her feelings for Yuzu, band member Haruyoshi (Yosuke Sugino) has a crush on Miou, and mood-maker Kuro (Hayato Isomura) holds the band together. One day, Nino hears of a music studio-sponsored vocal audition produced by someone who might be Momo! Could it really be him…? Nino’s reunion with Yuzu sets everyone’s repressed feelings in motion…!
JFF In China
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Kunming
Guest
World premiere
Impossibility Defense
The protagonist, Tadashi Usobuki (Tori Matsuzaka): He manipulates his target with glowing, red eyes that exert a mysterious, mind-controlling power. His “perfect crimes” are impossible to prove.
The heroine, Tomoko Tada (Erika Sawajiri): A female detective committed to justice. She is the only person immune to Usobuki‘s control.
JFF In China
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Kunming
MUKOKU
The live-action adaptation of Akutagawa Prize-winning author, Fujisawa Shu's novel 'Mukoku' which depicts the battles between handsome men burdened by unfortunate fates and tempestuously fiery spirits. Kumakiri Kazuyoshi, whose My Man won the award for best film at the 36th Moscow International Film Festival, directs.
Kengo (Ayano Go) was raised by his swordmaster father, Shozo (Kobayashi Kaoru), but since a certain incident has discarded the sword and lost sight of the path he should be on. Meanwhile, another master, (Emoto Akira) dispatches Toru (Murakami Nijiro), a traumatized young man, to Kengo.

JFF In China
Shanghai
Kunming
Guest
Yurigokoro
A series of unfortunate events plagues the protagonist Ryosuke. His peaceful world comes crashing down when his fiancée, Chie, disappears without a trace, and the man who raised him as a single father is told he has terminal cancer. While his father is out, Ryosuke finds an unfamiliar “white bag” in his study. Inside it is a lock of hair and four notebooks with the word “Yurigokoro” written on them.
The journals are written in first person.
“I take lives without remorse.”
What is this? A novel written by my father? Is the “I” in these journals my mother who supposedly died in an accident? If so, is the man that “I” met my father? The lock of hair comes with a name: Misako. Who is Misako and what does the lock of hair mean? Ryosuke is utterly confused and disturbed when he finishes reading the journals. Meanwhile, he finds the whereabouts of his missing fiancée. She is actually married to a gangster and was trying to escape an abusive relationship when she met Ryosuke, but now he has taken her back and is asking for money. A kindly middle-aged female employee named Hosoya offers to intermediate and deliver the cash, but Ryosuke declines because he wants to kill this man himself. If the “I” in the journal is Ryosuke’s mother, a murderer’s blood runs in his veins. After making meticulous preparations, Ryosuke arrives at the pre-arranged location, only to find…?!
Was “Yurigokoro” a work of fiction?
Or a confession written by his mother who died when he was still young?
While unraveling the mysterious contents of the notebooks, the story plunges towards a new, and even more shocking truth…
SCHEDULE
City |
Theater |
Address |
Shanghai |
Grand Theatre |
216 Nanjing W Rd, NanJing XiLu, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai |
UME XTD International Cineplex |
5F, Xintiandi South Block, 123 Xingye Road, Shanghai |
Shenzhen |
Shenzhen Broadway Cinema(Cocopark) |
2F, Coco Park Mall, FuHua 3rd Road, Futian District, Shen Zhen |
Shenzhen Broadway Cinematheque |
No.SL562, L5, CRC WanXiang Tiandi, YueHai Road, Nanshan District,Shen Zhen |
Kunming |
Kunming Broadway Cinema (Shuncheng) |
2F, F Area, Shuncheng Shopping Center, Wuhua District, Kunming |
Shanghai
December 1(DAY1)
December 2(DAY2)
December 3(DAY3)
Shenzhen
December 1(DAY1)
December 2(DAY2)
December 3(DAY3)
Kunming
December 1(DAY1)
December 2(DAY2)
December 3(DAY3)
About Japanese Film Festival In China
The three Chinese cities of Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Kunming will be hosting extensive Japanese film screenings organized by The Japan Foundation, UNIJAPAN (Tokyo International Film Festival Secretariat) and Shanghai International Film &TV Festival Co., Ltd. (Shanghai International Film Festival Secretariat) . Nine titles including new releases from Japan will be shown at each venue, while glamorous guests will visit China, to take part in the exchange program’s talk shows and events. The films will be shown in China for the first time ever, and include titles slated for release in 2018 that have yet to be shown in Japan.