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Special Events

MONTHLY ANIME open_in_new

『となりのトトロ』
In-Person Screening

Friday, September 16 at 7 pm

A seminal work from Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki’s 1988 animated feature follows the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei who move with their father to an old, empty countryside home to live nearer to their ill mother. Discovering a plethora of forest spirits residing near the home’s supposedly haunted grounds, the sisters befriend the gentle giant Totoro who lives within the depths of a giant camphor tree. Lovingly crafted and beloved by all—with even Akira Kurosawa citing the film as one of his favorites—Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro is recognized as one of the greatest animated features of all time.

Dir. Hayao Miyazaki, 1988, 86 min., 35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Noriko Hidaka, Hitoshi Takagi, Chika Sakamoto.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members

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For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

Buy Tickets

My Neighbor Totoro

MONTHLY ANIME open_in_new

『天使のたまご』
In-Person Screening

Friday, October 14 at 7 pm

A groundbreaking collaboration between two anime legends that intertwines Mamoru Oshii’s personal reflections on theology, existentialism and evolution with Yoshitaka Amano’s fantastical ink art style, Angel’s Egg remains a rarely screened and hard-to-find cult classic. Taking place in a seemingly quiescent time, two nameless strangers—a girl bearing a mystical egg and a man with a cruciate cane—journey across a primordial realm of decadent ruins, primitive fish and fossilized relics. An allegorical fantasy enriched by symbolism and biblical allusion, Oshii’s beautifully melancholic OVA ruminates on the tragic underpinnings of existence in a world untouched by God.

Dir. Mamoru Oshii, 1985, 71 min., Digital, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Mako Hyoudou, Jinpachi Nezu.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members

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Angel’s Egg

MONTHLY CLASSICS open_in_new

『リング』
In-Person Screening

Friday, October 7 at 7 pm

Investigating an urban myth of a cursed videotape that kills its watchers within seven days of viewing, journalist Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) discovers a series of unnatural teenage deaths tied to a tangible, real-life tape when her niece falls victim to the curse. While tracking it down, Reiko unwittingly exposes her son to the tape, pitting her in a race against the clock to discover the secrets behind its origin. A dirgelike procession of contorted corpses, grainy video footage and disturbing imagery, Nakata’s brooding J-horror classic unleashes a barrage of nightmare fuel that feeds off of the technological anxieties of our modern era.

Dir. Hideo Nakata, 1998, 96 min, DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Miki Nakatani.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

Ringu

MONTHLY ANIME open_in_new

『鉄コン筋クリート』
In-Person Screening

Friday, September 16 at 7 pm

Screening followed by a Q&A with screenwriter Anthony Weintraub. Deep in the urban sprawl of a dilapidated pan-Asian cityscape named Treasure Town, streetwise orphans Black and White spend their days pickpocketing, soaring across rooftops and fighting petty turf wars. The arrival of a yakuza faction, however, brings a new set of challenges when plans to raze the metropolis and build an amusement to replace it take hold. Widely energetic in its direction and innovative art style, Tekkonkinkreet adapts Taiyo Matsumoto’s celebrated manga into a startling vision—as well as the first major anime production to be helmed and written by non-Japanese talent.

Dir. Michael Arias, 2006, 111 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Kazunari Ninomiya, Yusuke Iseya, Yu Aoi.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members

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Tekkonkinkreet

MONTHLY CLASSICS open_in_new

『斬る』
In-Person Screening

Friday, September 2 at 7 pm

Kihachi Okamoto’s darkly satirical chambara opens in the midst of a pummeling windstorm on the outskirts of a ravaged village where two swordsmen—a farmer hoping to reputable samurai and a former samurai who has taken on the yakuza life—accidentally become embroiled in a plot to assassinate the local clan leader. Exaggerated and poking fun at the genre’s oft-repeated tropes, Okamoto’s Kill! is a wickedly entertaining take on the same novel that inspired Kurosawa’s Sanjuro.

Dir. Kihachi Okamoto, 1968, 114 min, 35mm, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Etsushi Takahashi, Yuriko Hoshi.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members



-->

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Kill! 

MONTHLY CLASSICS open_in_new

『ワンダフルライフ』
In-Person Screening
Friday, August 12 at 7 pm

In Kore-eda’s international breakthrough film, the recently deceased find themselves in a limbo-like realm where they must select a single cherished moment from their lives to be recreated on film for them to take into the next world. After Life’s high-concept premise is grounded in Kore‑eda’s documentary-like approach to the material, which he shaped through interviews with hundreds of Japanese citizens. What emerges is a panoramic vision of the human experience—its ephemeral joys and lingering regrets—and a quietly profound meditation on memory, our interconnectedness, and the amberlike power of cinema to freeze time. (Criterion Collection)

Dir. Hirokazu Koreeda, 1998, 119 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Arata, Erika Oda, Susumu Terajima, Sayaka Yoshino, Takashi Naito, Kei Tani.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

After Life

『犬王』
In-Person Special Screening

Friday, August 5 at 7 pm

From visionary director Masaaki Yuasa, hailed by IndieWire as “one of the most creatively unbridled minds in all of modern animation,” comes a revisionist rock opera about a 14th-century superstar whose dance moves take Japan by storm.

Born to an esteemed family, Inu-oh is afflicted with an ancient curse that has left him on the margins of society. When he meets the blind musician Tomona, a young biwa priest haunted by his past, Inu-oh discovers a captivating ability to dance. The pair quickly become business partners and inseparable friends as crowds flock to their electric, larger-than-life concerts. But when those in power threaten to break up the band, Inu-oh and Tomona must dance and sing to uncover the truth behind their creative gifts.

Featuring character creation by Taiyo Matsumoto (Tekkonkinkreet, “Ping Pong the Animation”) and awe-inspiring vocals by Avu-chan (Queen Bee) and Mirai Moriyama, INU-OH is a glam-rock ode to the power of music and a forceful statement on artistic freedom from one of animation’s singular talents.

Ticket holders receive a limited-edition poster of Inu-Oh.

Dir. Masaaki Yuasa, 2021, 98 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Avu-chan, Mirai Moriyama, Kenjiro Tsuda.

Tickets: $25 / $20 members





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

Inu-Oh – East Coast Premiere

MONTHLY ANIME open_in_new

『もののけ姫』
In-Person Screening

Friday, July 22 at 7 pm

25th Anniversary. The arrival of a diseased boar spirit, enraged and corrupted by an iron slug, leaves young warrior prince Ashitaka infected by its demon curse. With his days numbered, Ashitaka journeys westward to seek a cure for his affliction, tracing the boar’s path to the sacred forest of the Deer God, a forbidden realm belonging to an ancient forest spirit. Upon his arrival, Ashitaka stumbles into an elemental conflict between the forest’s protector San, a fearless warrior princess raised by wolves, and a neighboring iron town that has ravaged the earth. Released to universal acclaim, Hayao Miyazaki’s 14th-century tale is one of the director’s grandest achievements, a sweeping epic with breathtaking visuals and profound thematic ambitions that has captivated audiences ever since its release.

Dir. Hayao Miyazaki, 1997, 134 min., 35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Yoji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yuko Tanaka.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members

info This event is sold out. Click here to view more upcoming film screenings

Please review our safety protocols at the bottom of this page.





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. Masks with vents/bandanas are not permitted. Respirator-style masks (N95, KN95, KF94, etc.) are encouraged.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.



For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


Princess Mononoke

MONTHLY CLASSICS open_in_new

『モスラ』
In-Person Screening

Friday, July 8 at 7 pm

Screening on 35mm with introduction by Japanese sci-fi critic Kevin Derendorf! When a shipwrecked crew is rescued from a Pacific island previously used for nuclear testing, word quickly spreads of its newly discovered indigenous inhabitants. Driven by scientific curiosity, a joint expedition of Japanese and Rolisicans (a portmanteau for Russia and America) venture into the island's depths, discovering a paradise of mutated species and hidden glyphs—and, among them, a pair of tiny twin fairies (played by ’60s pop duo The Peanuts). When the expedition’s leader decides to secretly kidnap the fairies, the natives are forced to awaken their ancient deity, Mothra. A kaiju classic from Godzilla’s Ishiro Honda, Mothra established one of Toho’s most memorable kaiju and forever ingrained the Peanuts’ “Mothra’s Song” into popular culture.

Seismic Toys will host a Kaiju-themed pop-up and an exclusive limited-edition Mothra Mini-Print by Robo7 will be on-sale on-site in our lobby!

Dir. Ishiro Honda, 1961, 101 min., 35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Frankie Sakai, Hiroshi Koizumi, Kyoko Kagawa.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

Mothra

MONTHLY ANIME open_in_new

『夜は短し歩けよ乙女』

In-Person Screening

Friday, June 17 at 7 pm

Spunky college student Otome embarks on a booze-soaked romp through Kyoto in search of a book from her childhood. As the night stretches on for what seems like years, her quest takes on epic, hallucinatory proportions—starring a fanged god of used books, a guerilla theater troupe, a committee of crab-dancing philosophers, and love-inducing carp that fall from the sky. Meanwhile, an upperclassman at her university (voiced by pop star Gen Hoshino) undergoes a series of equally improbable misadventures in his attempts to win her heart. Adapted from the award-winning novel by Tomihiko Morimi, acclaimed animation director Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl is a delightful trip down the rabbit hole into questions of fate and interconnectedness, rendered in an astounding visual style.

Dir. Masaaki Yuasa, 2017, 93 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Gen Hoshino, Kana Hanazawa, Hiroshi Kamiya, Ryuji Akiyama.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members

Please review our safety protocols at the bottom of this page.





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. Masks with vents/bandanas are not permitted. Respirator-style masks (N95, KN95, KF94, etc.) are encouraged.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.



For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


The Night is Short, Walk on Girl

MONTHLY CLASSICS open_in_new

『影武者』
In-Person Screening

Friday, June 10 at 7 pm

Screening on 35mm! A majestic chronicle of a petty thief surreptitiously given another chance at life to serve as a kagemusha (double) for an aging warlord, Kurosawa’s late-period masterpiece erupts into a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions—relaying a fable of fealty, duty and power against a backdrop of feudal Japan. When the lord is mortally wounded, the kagemusha reluctantly impersonates the daimyo at the command of the clan’s inner circle. Fated to play a part in a life not his own, the kagemusha must deceive even the warlord’s closest kin, challenging his own commitment to the role even as the outbreak of war looms.

Dir. Akira Kurosawa, 1980, 160 min., 35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

Kagemusha

MONTHLY CLASSICS open_in_new

『お早よう』
In-Person Screening

Friday, June 3 at 7 pm

Screening on 35mm! Yasujiro Ozu’s late ’50s re-working of I was Born But… is a delightful comedy of manners, spurred on by an adolescent’s disdain for the pleasantries and proclivities of suburban Tokyo life. Taking an emphatic stance against their parents (and all adults, for that matter), Minoru and younger brother Isamu vow to remain silent until their parents purchase a television set. Poking fun at adult conversation—oftentimes buoyed by a meaningless sea of Konnichiwa’s, Ohayo’s and Konbanwa’s—Ozu’s gentle technicolor comedy takes aim at ’50s consumerism, small-town gossip and generational gaps while also offering some of cinema’s most memorable (and amusing) flatulence gags.

Dir. Yasujiro Ozu, 1959, 94 min., 35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Keiji Sada, Yoshiko Kuga, Chishu Ryu.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

Good Morning

MONTHLY ANIME open_in_new
In-Person Screening

Friday, May 27 at 7 pm

A straight-to-DVD classic, the anime companion to The Matrix series received a limited number of theatrical screenings in 2003 as part of a promotional push for Reloaded. Rarely screened since, this dazzling and visually inventive tie-in laid the groundwork for franchise anthology spinoffs with its nine imaginative stories—directed by some of anime’s greatest luminaries including Ninja Scroll’s Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe and Æon Flux’s Peter Chung. Expanding upon the series’ universe, this frenetic and imaginative addition to the Matrix franchise is anything but a lazy cash-grab and ranks as one of best Matrix films.

Dir. Peter Chung, Andy Jones, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Shinichiro Watanabe; 2003, 102 min., 35mm, color, in English. With Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Clayton Watson.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members

Please review our safety protocols at the bottom of this page.





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. Masks with vents/bandanas are not permitted. Respirator-style masks (N95, KN95, KF94, etc.) are encouraged.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.



For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


The Animatrix

OKINAWA IN FOCUS SERIES open_in_newGLOBUS FILM SERIES open_in_new

『ウンタマギルー』
In-Person Screening

Saturday, May 21 at 7 pm

Imported 35mm Print. Go Takamine’s celebrated adaptation of the famous Uchinaa Shibai play follows Giru, a day laborer, who flees his post after seducing his employer’s daughter. Escaping his boss’s wrath, Giru hides in the mythical Untama forest where he is bestowed with mystical powers, transforming himself into the Okinawan folk hero Untamagiru. Featuring the acting talents of Jun Togawa and John Sayles, Takamine’s essential opus of Okinawan cinema follows the film’s titular character as he attempts to create an independent Okinawa on the eve of the reversion.

Dir. Go Takamine, 1989, 120 min., 35mm, color, in Okinawan (Uchinaaguchi) and Japanese with English subtitles. With Kaoru Kobayashi, Jun Togawa, John Sayles.

Tickets: $15 / $10 members

For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


  Director's Note
  “Is Okinawa Japan?” I once said that Okinawa would be Japan if it lost its characteristic languor, or chirudai.

I would venture to say that what all of the films in this series have in common is that they present the confusion, verification, conflict, and struggle surrounding Okinawa being declared part of Japan as of May 15, 1972. They take a very cautious and careful approach to the question of whether or not Okinawa is Japan, a question that belongs to the realm of the “negative memory” of the reversion.

In my case, what I wanted to capture in my films is the repose of spirits, or mabui, of the deceased, who are perhaps still drifting through the daily landscape of Okinawa, the only part of Japan to experience ground warfare. However, it is the living who have “memory gaps,” and since the living are unreliable, those gaps cannot be completely reconciled. These memory gaps are endless. And so too are the “record gaps.” “Recording the air,” whether that is a documentary or narrative work, is a particularly important element in identifying a place. I think that is one of the most exciting aspects of cinema.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Japan Society, for planning and programming this series, as well as to all of the audience members.

  -	Go TakamineDirector of Paradise View and Untamagiru4/30/22


Untamagiru

OKINAWA IN FOCUS SERIES open_in_newGLOBUS FILM SERIES open_in_new

『沖縄やくざ戦争』
In-Person Screening

Friday, May 20 at 7 pm

A fictionalized depiction of the fourth Okinawa War (still ongoing at the time of the film’s release), Terror of Yakuza situates the yakuza conflict in the days following Okinawa’s reversion, when encroaching mainland gangs wanted in on a piece of the action. Banned from release in Okinawa, director Sadao Nakajima’s Terror of Yakuza features a psychotically unhinged performance from the late Sonny Chiba and would trigger a string of Okinawan-shot productions in the years to come. Cultural critic Isao Nakazato would later write that, “the struggle of Okinawa is represented in the blood feud” of Nakajima’s ripped-from-the-headlines classic.

Dir. Sadao Nakajima, 1976, 96 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with live English subtitles. With Sonny Chiba, Hiroki Matsukata, Tsunehiko Watase.

Tickets: $15 / $10 members

For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

Terror of Yakuza

OKINAWA IN FOCUS SERIES open_in_newGLOBUS FILM SERIES open_in_new

『夏の妹』
In-Person Screening

Saturday, May 14 at 7 pm

Released the year of the reversion, Oshima’s final ATG production presents an uncharacteristically cheerful exterior with its faraway passages to tropical vistas and cinema-verité naturalism. Teenage Sunaoko receives a letter from her stepbrother, inviting her to visit him on Okinawa, and together with her guardian Momoko, she travels to the prefecture under the guise of a tourist. Their guide, a beer-guzzling ex-soldier, takes them to the locale’s tourist attractions, quickly delving into the underlying scars of the island’s wartime history. With its contradictory, light-hearted tone, Oshima’s disruptive politics reveal entanglements of identity, generational disputes on Okinawa’s future, and the complicated nature of the islands’ history with Japan, all accompanied by the breezy, sundrenched bliss of Toru Takemitsu’s breezy score.

Dir. Nagisa Oshima, 1972, 97 min., 35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Hiromi Kurita, Lily, Shoji Ishibashi.

Tickets: $15 / $10 members

For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


Dear Summer Sister

OKINAWA IN FOCUS SERIES open_in_newGLOBUS FILM SERIES open_in_new

In-Person Screening

Saturday, May 14 at 4:30 pm

A lo-fi PC game becomes the impetus for a mnemonic exploration of the past when a computer programmer (Catherine Belkhodja) is tasked with recreating the Battle of Okinawa. In dialogue with her deceased lover, she embarks on a haunting exploration of Okinawa’s history, navigating information networks populated with testimonies, interviews (including one with director Nagisa Oshima), eye-witness accounts and archival footage—prompting a cathartic convergence of thought, image and memory interwoven within Marker’s uniquely digital framework. The final feature by Chris Marker, Level Five examines the forgotten tracts of history that still reverberate throughout Okinawa—a locale that, as Marker puts it, has not forgotten the war.

Dir. Chris Marker, 1996, 106 min., DCP, color, in French with English Subtitles. With Catherine Belkhodja, Nagisa Oshima, Chris Marker.

Tickets: $15 / $10 members

For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


Level Five

OKINAWA IN FOCUS SERIES open_in_newGLOBUS FILM SERIES open_in_new
『パラダイスビュー』
In-Person Screening

Friday, May 13 at 7 pm

			Screening followed by opening night reception featuring a live musical performance by Okinawan duo Sonny Ochiai (Uta-Sanshin) and Naomi Mizoguchi (Fue, Uta-Sanshin).
	

North American Premiere of 2021 Edit. Go Takamine’s rarely screened first theatrical feature is a pioneering work of Okinawan cinema. Taking place shortly before the resumption of Japanese sovereignty over Okinawa, this leisurely-paced film tacitly addresses the island prefecture’s complicated history of occupation through the story of a community’s preparations for a wedding between a local girl and a Japanese teacher. On the periphery of these events is Reishu, who quits his job on a U.S. military base and uses the extra time to catch snakes and play with ants—and get the bride-to-be pregnant.

Dir. Go Takamine, 1985, 117 min., DCP, color, in Okinawan (Uchinaaguchi) and Japanese with English subtitles. With Kaoru Kobayashi, Jun Togawa, Haruomi Hosono.

Tickets: $15 / $10 members

For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


  Director's Note
  “Is Okinawa Japan?” I once said that Okinawa would be Japan if it lost its characteristic languor, or chirudai.

I would venture to say that what all of the films in this series have in common is that they present the confusion, verification, conflict, and struggle surrounding Okinawa being declared part of Japan as of May 15, 1972. They take a very cautious and careful approach to the question of whether or not Okinawa is Japan, a question that belongs to the realm of the “negative memory” of the reversion.

In my case, what I wanted to capture in my films is the repose of spirits, or mabui, of the deceased, who are perhaps still drifting through the daily landscape of Okinawa, the only part of Japan to experience ground warfare. However, it is the living who have “memory gaps,” and since the living are unreliable, those gaps cannot be completely reconciled. These memory gaps are endless. And so too are the “record gaps.” “Recording the air,” whether that is a documentary or narrative work, is a particularly important element in identifying a place. I think that is one of the most exciting aspects of cinema.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Japan Society, for planning and programming this series, as well as to all of the audience members.

  -	Go TakamineDirector of Paradise View and Untamagiru4/30/22


Paradise View



OKINAWA IN FOCUS SERIES open_in_new
Globus Film Series
Visions of Okinawa: Cinematic Reflections
May 13&#8212;June 3



Marking 50 years since Okinawa’s reversion from American sovereignty back to Japan, Visions of Okinawa documents the dynamic historical, political and cultural spaces of Okinawa around this pivotal point in history through in-person screenings and streamed films exploring the legacies of the Occupation, WWII and imperialism. Primarily focusing on films made around the time of or dealing with the 1972 reversion, Visions of Okinawa addresses issues of identity, race and borders by presenting diverse and complicated reflections on the prefecture from mainland filmmakers, native Okinawans and documentarians.

       IN-PERSON SCREENINGS:
        Tickets: $15 / $10 members



Buy Tickets

      &nbsp;
      ONLINE SCREENINGS:
      Rentals: $10

      Virtual 3-Film Pass: $24 for all online films

Buy Now
Members: 20% off via promo code
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  Director's Note
 “Is Okinawa Japan?” I once said that Okinawa would be Japan if it lost its characteristic languor, or chirudai.

I would venture to say that what all of the films in this series have in common is that they present the confusion, verification, conflict, and struggle surrounding Okinawa being declared part of Japan as of May 15, 1972. They take a very cautious and careful approach to the question of whether or not Okinawa is Japan, a question that belongs to the realm of the “negative memory” of the reversion.

In my case, what I wanted to capture in my films is the repose of spirits, or mabui, of the deceased, who are perhaps still drifting through the daily landscape of Okinawa, the only part of Japan to experience ground warfare. However, it is the living who have “memory gaps,” and since the living are unreliable, those gaps cannot be completely reconciled. These memory gaps are endless. And so too are the “record gaps.” “Recording the air,” whether that is a documentary or narrative work, is a particularly important element in identifying a place. I think that is one of the most exciting aspects of cinema.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Japan Society, for planning and programming this series, as well as to all of the audience members.

  -	Go TakamineDirector of Paradise View and Untamagiru4/30/22


  In-Theater Screenings

  All in-person screenings will take place in Japan Society’s auditorium, located at 333 E. 47th Street in New York, NY. Please note: Visitor safety is our top priority. All attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination and wear a proper mask at all times while inside our building. Please be sure to review the Japan Society safety and health policies here.

			Paradise View

				1985. 117 min. Directed by Go Takamine.
              N.A. Premiere of New 2021 Edit. Okinawan director Go Takamine’s pioneering debut takes place shortly before the reversion, tacitly addressing the islands’ history of occupation through the story of a wedding between a local girl and a Japanese teacher.
				  Screening followed by reception.


            Friday, May 13 at 7 pm
			DRAMA
	Learn MoreBuy Ticketsschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 4/15-->

			Level Five

				1996. 106 min. Directed by Chris Marker.
              A lo-fi PC game becomes the impetus for a mnemonic exploration of the past when a computer programmer is tasked with recreating the Battle of Okinawa.

            Saturday, May 14 at 4:30 pm
			DOCUMENTARY
	Learn MoreBuy Tickets

    schedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 4/15-->

			Dear Summer Sister

				1972. 95 min. Directed by Nagisa Oshima.
			Archival 35mm Presentation. Teenage Sunaoko travels to Okinawa in the hope of visiting her stepbrother, setting the stage for Oshima’s disruptive politics to reveal the entanglements and contradictions of the island’s history with Japan.


            Saturday, May 14 at 7 pm
			DRAMA
	Learn MoreBuy Tickets

      schedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 4/15--->

			Terror of Yakuza

				1976. 96 min. Directed by Sadao Nakajima.
              A ripped-from-the-headlines Toei production, shot and filmed in Okinawa, Terror of Yakuza took inspiration from the then ongoing yakuza conflicts in Okinawa and was banned from screening in the prefecture.


            Friday, May 20 at 7 pm
			ACTION, DRAMA
	Learn More
    Buy Tickets

    schedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 4/15--->

			Untamagiru

				1989. 120 min. Directed by Go Takamine.
			Imported 35mm Print! Go Takamine’s celebrated adaptation of the famous Uchinaa Shibai play follows Okinawan folk hero Untamagiru as he seeks to create an independent Okinawa on the eve of the reversion.


            Saturday, May 21 at 7 pm
			DRAMA
	Learn MoreBuy Tickets

    schedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 4/15--->

	Online Screenings

  Films listed below stream online May 14-June 3 at film.japansociety.org.

			Paradise View

				1985. 117 min. Directed by Go Takamine.
              New 2021 Edit. Okinawan director Go Takamine’s pioneering debut takes place shortly before the reversion, tacitly addressing the islands’ history of occupation through the story of a wedding between a local girl and a Japanese teacher.


			Streaming in North America.
			DRAMA
	Rent

    schedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Streaming Begins 5/14--->


	Focus on the Nihon Documentarist Union (NDU)

	Formed in 1968 at Waseda University, the Nihon Documentarist Union (NDU) was once one of the most influential collectives of Japanese nonfiction filmmaking. Emerging from the student movements of the late 1960s, the politically active NDU produced guerilla-style 16mm documentaries shot with asynchronous sound, and wrote extensively in leftist film journals, magazines and other publications. The group posited an activist cinema of anonymity—rejecting auteurism and opting to exclude individual names from their credits. But while contemporaries like Ogawa Productions have since gone on to international recognition, the groundbreaking work of the NDU has remained in relative obscurity both in Japan and abroad.

In 1969, with negotiations for Okinawa’s return to Japan reaching their final stages, the NDU took to Okinawa, illegally entering the prefecture to document the lives of those marginalized by the region’s history of occupation, exposing the contradictions and systematic issues present within Okinawa’s relationship with Japan and America. Japan Society is proud to present two essential NDU productions shot during their time in Okinawa: Motoshinkakarannu and Asia is One, screening for the first time outside of Japan with new English subtitles.
	Streaming Worldwide except Japan &amp; Taiwan.

			Motoshinkakarannu

				1971. 87 min. Directed by the NDU.
              Shot over a period of 15 months from April 1969 to July 1970, Motoshinkakarannu captures a tumultuous time in Okinawa’s occupation, offering an unflinching snapshot of Okinawan society that captures the daily lives of sex workers, yakuza, tourists and G.I.s in Koza City.

            DOCUMENTARY
Rentschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Streaming Begins 5/14--->

			Asia is One

				1973. 96 min. Directed by the NDU.
			Tracing the lives of former Okinawan coal miners, Asia is One confronts the legacy of imperialism alongside the concept of border and identity on the vast stretches of Okinawan islands that lead down to Taiwan.

            DOCUMENTARY
	Rentschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Streaming Begins 5/14--->


Visions of Okinawa: Cinematic Reflections

In-Person Screening
Saturday, May 7 at 7 pm

In Ainu Mosir, a sensitive Ainu teen searches for a spiritual connection with his recently deceased father while navigating his indigenous identity in a changing world. Takeshi Fukunaga’s second narrative feature film was created in 2020 as a Japan/U.S./China co-production with non-actor Ainu cast in the lead roles, after being developed at Cannes Film Festival’s Cinéfondation Residence and Sam Spiegel International Film Lab. Ainu Mosir won Special Jury Mention in International Narrative Competition at Tribeca Film Festival and Best Film at Guanajuato International Film Festival. The New York Times wrote, “Rather than relying on dialogue, Fukunaga allows emotion to shine through musical performances. These scenes speak for themselves, and they build upon the story with quiet power.”

Followed by a Q&A session with Ainu musician and performer OKI, featured in the film.

Written and directed by Takeshi Fukunaga
Starring: Kanto Shimokura, Debo Akibe, Emi Shimokura


Tickets: $15 / $5 members
Ticketholders enjoy free admission to our exhibition Kazuko Miyamoto: To perform a line between 6-7 pm on the day of the screening.






Related Events

			OKI: Music of the Ainu

				Traditional & Contemporary Music
          Oki Kano, known professionally as OKI, is a leading musician of Ainu music—the music of Japan’s northernmost indigenous people. Born to a Japanese mother and an Ainu father, OKI has recovered and recreated traditional music on the tonkori, a stringed instrument of the Ainu people of Karafuto (a region also known as Sakhalin). The rich, reverberating twang of the tonkori strings, which are traditionally made from deer tendons, allowed Ainu shamans to communicate with spirits that control the wind, rain and other natural phenomena called kamuy. In this program, OKI performs solo pieces as well as contemporary works with his band members from their new album, Tonkori in the Moonlight, released in January 2022. OKI is also featured in the film Ainu Mosir (2020).


            Friday, May 6 at 7:30 pm

Learn MoreBuy Tickets



 For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. Masks with vents/bandanas are not permitted. Respirator-style masks (N95, KN95, KF94, etc.) are encouraged.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.


For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.

Ainu Mosir

『攻殻機動隊』

In-Person Screening

Friday, April 15 at 7 pm

Mamoru Oshii’s groundbreaking cyberpunk classic conjures a startling vision of the future—a new age of global interconnectedness wherein neural pathways and information networks have become inextricably linked. Surveilling the sprawling technopolis of New Port City, Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg officer specializing in cybercrime, hunts down a mysterious entity responsible for a series of ‘ghost-hackings’ that have infiltrated human hosts. Known only as the Puppet Master, the newly-surfaced threat leads Major to uncover a vast conspiracy—prompting her to question her own humanity and purpose of existence.
Dir. Mamoru Oshii, 1995, 83 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English Subtitles. With Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Otsuka, Iemasa Kayumi.


Dir. Mamoru Oshii, 1995, 83 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English Subtitles. With Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Otsuka, Iemasa Kayumi.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members

And the first 10 people who take photos in costume with the banner and tag Japan Society on social media will receive a dual membership to Japan Society!
Join us at 6 pm for a pre-screening party with Japanese foods and snacks provided by Kikkoman.


Please review our safety protocols at the bottom of this page.





For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a KN95 or N95 mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. KN95 masks will be provided upon request if you do not have one.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.



Attendance is limited to 50% capacity to allow attendees to maintain space between parties. Please note, however, that 6-foot distancing will not be possible. For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


Ghost in the Shell2




    Angel’s Egg © 1985 Mamoru Oshii/Yoshitaka Amano Office/Tokuma Shoten/Tokuma Japan


Monthly Anime

Offering an eclectic range of classic, underseen, and contemporary visions from Japanese animation, Monthly Anime explores the widely influential legacy of anime. Tracing the lineage of anime from modern-day digital animation back to the days of hand-drawn cel animation, this program aims to uncover the multifaceted and remarkable variety of stylistic, technological, and generic possibilities that have kept the medium at the forefront of popularity not just in Japan, but worldwide.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members


Upcoming Screenings

           Tekkonkinkreet
2006. 111 min. Directed by Michael Arias.
A visually arresting and endlessly imaginative adaptation of the celebrated Taiyo Matsumoto manga.
Screening followed by Q&A with Screenwriter Anthony Weintraub.


Friday, September 16 at 7 pmDRAMA
Learn MoreBuy Ticketsschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 8/22-->

           Angel’s Egg1985. 71 min. Directed by Mamoru Oshii.A rarely screened classic animation from legends Mamoru Oshii and Yoshitaka Amano, Angel’s Egg poses a riddle of salvation and hope within the depths of an apocalyptic maze.


Friday, October 14 at 7 pmDRAMA, SCI-FI
Learn MoreBuy Ticketsschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 8/22-->



   My Neighbor Totoro1988. 96 min. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.35mm Presentation. Studio Ghibli’s seminal classic follows two young girls who discover the presence of gentle forest spirits near their countryside home.Friday, November 4 at 7 pmDRAMA, FANTASY
Learn MoreBuy Ticketsschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 8/22-->

Past Screenings
 Ghost in the Shell1995. 83 min. Directed by Mamoru Oshii.A cyborg agent tracks down a mysterious hacking entity,
 known as the Puppet Master, in Mamoru Oshii’s seminal cyberpunk
classic. Join us before the film for a 6PM Pre-screening Party with Japanese foods and snacks. In Japanese with English Subtitles.Friday, April 15 at 7 pmSCI-FILearn MoreSold Out

The Animatrix2003. 102 min. Directed by Peter Chung, Andy Jones,
Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Kōji Morimoto,
Shinichirō Watanabe.35mm Presentation. A straight-to-DVD cult
favorite, the rarely-screened anime companion to the Matrix series laid
the groundwork for franchise anthology spinoffs with its nine
imaginative stories directed by leading anime directors of the time. In English.

           Friday, May 27 at 7 pm
			SCI-FI
	Learn MorePast

              The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl

             2017. 93 min. Directed by Masaaki Yuasa.
             Adapted from the award-winning novel by Tomihiko Morimi, Masaaki Yuasa’s acclaimed animation is a delightful trip down the rabbit hole rendered in an astounding visual style. In Japanese with English Subtitles.

           Friday, June 17 at 7 pm
			DRAMA
	Learn MorePast

              Princess Mononoke

             1997. 134 min. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
          25th Anniversary—35mm Presentation. Hayao Miyazaki’s epic 14th century tale follows the journey of a young warrior prince who finds himself caught in an elemental war between primordial spirits and an iron town that has ravaged the earth. In Japanese with English Subtitles.

           Friday, July 22 at 7 pm
			DRAMA
	Learn MoreSold Out



Monthly Anime


  This event is sold out. View more upcoming films here.


In-Person Screening

Saturday, April 2 at 7 pm

Doors open at 6 pm for Premium ticket holders and 6:30 pm for General Admission ticket holders.

  Japan's favorite ultraromantic rom-com hits the Big Apple with the U.S. premiere of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic-! Be the first to watch the highly anticipated Season 3 of this hit anime, where love makes fools out of geniuses as Shuchiin Academy student council members Kaguya Shomiya and Miyuki Shirogane continue their highly cerebral warfare in which the first to confess their love loses!

This special event features an advance screening of Episode 1 (in Japanese with English subtitles), plus an exclusive prerecorded talk featuring the main cast—Aoi Koga (Kaguya Shinomiya), Makoto Furukawa (Miyuki Shirogane), Konomi Konohara (Chika Fujiwara), Ryota Suzuki (Yu Ishigami) and Miyu Tomita (Miko Iino). Premium ticket holders receive early admission in addition to a poster and a limited-edition tote bag featuring Kaguya and her iconic phrase—“How cute.”

Tickets:  $35 (Premium Ticket – Early Admission + Tote Bag & Poster)* SOLD OUT / $15 (General Admission) / $10 (Member Price)

*Limited to 50 Premium Tickets





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About Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic-
Shuchiin Academy—an elite school where the most gifted students flock to. It is also where its Student Council brought together Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya and President Miyuki Shirogane. While everyone expected a speedy courtship and agreed that the two geniuses would make the perfect couple, the pair, it seems, has too much pride to confess their true feelings for one another!

“By what means shall I make the other confess?” The two remain fully committed in devising a highly cerebral strategy in this cunning war of love...

Will they take their relationship to the next level by the final day of Shuchiin Academy’s culture festival!?

For more information on the series: kaguyasama-anime.com


For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. Masks with vents/bandanas are not permitted. Respirator-style masks (N95, KN95, KF94, etc.) are encouraged.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.



For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic- U.S. Premiere in New York



『はなび』

In-Person Screening

Friday, April 1 at 7pm

  25th Anniversary — Archival 35mm Presentation! Crippled by tragedies at home and work, a depressed police detective (Takeshi Kitano) resolves to rectify his situation and the lives of those around him through illicit means. Told through elliptical editing and interspersed with flora-inspired canvases painted by Kitano himself, Hana-bi oscillates between tender moments and temperamental bouts of violence, delicately constructing an affecting and melancholic meditation on mortality. Following its Golden Lion win at Venice, Hana-bi served as Kitano’s directorial breakthrough in Japan, cementing his position as a serious filmmaker after years of eluding critical stature and recognition at home.

  35mm print courtesy of the Chicago Film Society.

Dir. Takeshi Kitano, 1997, 103 min., 35mm. With Takeshi Kitano, Kayoko Kishimoto, Ren Osugi, Susumu Terajima.

Tickets:  $15 / $5 members

Please review our safety protocols at the bottom of this page.












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For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. Masks with vents/bandanas are not permitted. Respirator-style masks (N95, KN95, KF94, etc.) are encouraged.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.




For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


Hana-bi



『女囚さそり/第41雑居房』

In-Person Screening

Friday, March 4 at 7pm

  50th Anniversary — Rare 35mm Presentation. Best recognized outside of Japan for her role as the mesmerizing, katana-wielding Lady Snowblood, Meiko Kaji’s equally definitive portrayal of the fearless convict Sasori (Scorpion) initially cemented her status as an icon of 70s exploitation. After a year in solitary confinement in a vicious women’s prison, Sasori has taken on a mythic stature among the prisoners. Escaping with an uncouth band of inmates, she leads the group while the prison’s sadistic guards follow in hot pursuit. The second film in Toei’s Female Prisoner Scorpion series, Shunya Ito’s fever dream sequel is recognized as the series’ best entry, bolstered by avant-garde tinged visuals, delirious violence, a fuzzy guitar score and, of course, Meiko Kaji’s fierce, steely-eyed performance of rage and vengeance.

Dir. Shunya Ito, 1972, 90 min., 35mm. With Meiko Kaji, Fumio Watanabe, Kayoko Shiraishi.

Tickets:  $15 / $5 members

Please review our safety protocols at the bottom of this page.








For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. Masks with vents/bandanas are not permitted. Respirator-style masks (N95, KN95, KF94, etc.) are encouraged.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.




For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41


This event is sold out. To view more upcoming Monthly Classics screenings, click here.


『切腹』

In-Person Screening

Friday, February 4 at 7pm

  60th Anniversary Screening — 35mm Presentation! In 18th-century Edo, a masterless samurai (Tatsuya Nakadai) wanders into the virtuous House of Iyi, asking to commit ritual seppuku (suicide). He is met with skepticism by the clan’s retainers, who have learned of drifting ronin making similar requests as a means of extortion. Nevertheless, the samurai promises to disembowel himself, but not before imparting the tragic circumstances that have led him to this final act. Adorned by stunning chiaroscuro compositions, an unnerving Toru Takemitsu score, and a bitingly acerbic script by Kurosawa scribe Shinobu Hashimoto, director Masaki Kobayashi’s slow-burn rebuke of authority culminates in a scathing takedown of the bushido code and the shallow valor it vowed to uphold.

Dir. Masaki Kobayashi, 1962, 134 min., 35mm. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Rentaro Mikuni, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita.

Tickets:  $15 / $5 members





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For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a KN95 or N95 mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. KN95 masks will be provided upon request if you do not have one.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. As of February 1, proof of a booster shot is required for anyone who is eligible, with a 4-week grace period after eligibility.



Attendance is limited to 50% capacity to allow attendees to maintain space between parties. Please note, however, that 6-foot distancing will not be possible. For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.


Harakiri


This event is sold out. To view more upcoming Monthly Classics screenings, click here.


『影武者』

In-Person Screening

Friday, January 21 at 7pm

  Screening in 35mm! A majestic chronicle of a petty thief surreptitiously given another chance at life to serve as a kagemusha (double) for an aging warlord, Kurosawa’s late-period masterpiece erupts into a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions—relaying a fable of fealty, duty and power against a backdrop of feudal Japan. When the lord is mortally wounded, the kagemusha reluctantly impersonates the daimyo at the command of the clan’s inner circle. Fated to play a part in a life not his own, the kagemusha must deceive even the warlord’s closest kin, challenging his own commitment to the role even as the outbreak of war looms.

Dir. Akira Kurosawa, 1980, 160 min., 35mm. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara.

Tickets:  $15 / $5 members

Please review our safety protocols at the bottom of this page.








For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, we kindly ask that you:

- Wear a KN95 or N95 mask that covers your nose and mouth at all times. KN95 masks will be provided upon request if you do not have one.

- Bring proof of vaccination and photo ID with you. We strongly encourage all attendees to get a booster shot as well, if eligible.


Attendance is limited to 40% capacity to allow attendees to maintain space between parties. Please note, however, that 6-foot distancing will not be possible. For more information, please review our Visitor Policies and Safety Protocols.




    Ringu © 1998 Toho Co. Ltd.


Monthly Classics
January 21 - October 7

Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema, presented in-theater at Japan Society.

Tickets: $15 / $5 members


Upcoming Screenings

           Kill!
1968. 114 min. Directed by Kihachi Okamoto.
  35mm Presentation. Kihachi Okamoto’s darkly satirical chambara follow two swordsmen who find themselves embroiled in a local assassination plot.


Friday, September 2 at 7 pmPERIOD FILM, BLACK COMEDY
Learn MoreBuy Ticketsschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 8/22-->

           Ringu
1998. 96 min. Directed by Hideo Nakata.
  Hideo Nakata’s J-Horror classic follows a reporter as she investigates a cursed videotape that kills anyone seven days after viewing it.

Friday, October 7 at 7 pmHORROR
Learn MoreBuy Ticketsschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 8/22-->
  Past Screenings

			Kagemusha

				1980. 160 min. Directed by Akira Kurosawa.
              35mm Presentation. A majestic chronicle of a petty thief given another chance at life to serve as a double for an aging warlord, Kurosawa’s late-period masterpiece erupts into a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions—relaying a fable of fealty, duty and power against a backdrop of feudal Japan.

            Friday, June 10 at 7 pm
			PERIOD FILM, DRAMA
	Learn Moreschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 4/15-->

			Mothra

				1961. 101 min. Directed by Ishiro Honda.
              35mm Presentation. A scientific expedition ventures into a radiation-laden island in Ishiro Honda’s 1961 tokusatsu classic featuring Toho’s most popular kaiju monster after Godzilla.

            Friday, July 8 at 7 pm
			SCI-FI, DRAMA
	Learn Moreschedule&nbsp;&nbsp;Tickets On Sale 4/15-->

              Kagemusha
             1980. 160 min. Directed by Akira Kurosawa.
              35mm Presentation. A majestic chronicle of a petty thief given another chance at life to serve as a double for an aging warlord, Kurosawa’s late-period masterpiece erupts into a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions—relaying a fable of fealty, duty and power against a backdrop of feudal Japan.

            Friday, January 21 at 7 pm
          PERIOD FILM, DRAMA

              Harakiri
              1962. 134 min. Directed by Masaki Kobayashi.
              60th Anniversary—35mm Presentation.  In 18th century Edo, a masterless samurai wanders into the virtuous House of Iyi, asking to commit ritual seppuku (suicide) in Masaki Kobayashi’s slow-burn rebuke of authority and the bushido code.

            Friday, February 4 at 7 pm

          PERIOD FILM, DRAMA

              Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
              1972. 90 min. Directed by Shunya Ito.
              50th Anniversary—Rare 35mm Presentation. 70s icon Meiko Kaji (Lady Snowblood) stars as the fierce Sasori (Scorpion), a fearless convict that embarks on a daring prison escape with an uncouth band of female inmates.

            Friday, March 4 at 7 pm

          DRAMA, CULT FILM

              Hana-bi
              1997. 103 min. Directed by Takeshi Kitano.
          25th Anniversary—Rare 35mm Presentation. Beset by crippling tragedies at home and work, a depressed and retired police detective (Takeshi Kitano) resolves to rectify his situation and the lives of those around him by resorting to illicit means.


            Friday, April 1 at 7 pm

          DRAMA, CULT FILM


Monthly Classics



『河内山宗俊』

In-Person Screening

Friday, December 17 at 7 pm

Part of the Flash Forward series

New 4K Restoration—North American Premiere!. Based on the classic kabuki play Kochiyama & Naozamurai, Yamanaka’s Priest of Darkness is an intricately-plotted jidaigeki set in the streets of an impoverished Tokyo district. Troublemaker Hiro frequently gambles and finds himself embroiled in a prickly ordeal when he steals a samurai’s knife—setting in motion a domino-effect of bad fortune. The quick-witted Hiro hides out under the name of Nao at the tavern of good-willed Kochiyama Soshun, the titular “priest”—a man who dresses in monastic garb and runs the local gambling den. All the while, Hiro’s sister, the beautiful Onami (played by a young Setsuko Hara in one of her earliest roles), desperately searches for him and finds favor with Kochiyama, who promises to find her brother for her.

Dir. Sadao Yamanaka, 1936, 82 min. With Chojuro Kawarasaki, Kan'emon Nakamura, Setsuko Hara.

Tickets:  $15 / $10 members

  ON-SALE DATE
  Members: November 11
  General Public: November 15



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Priest of Darkness 



『丹下左膳余話 百萬両の壺』

In-Person Screening

Saturday, December 11 at 7pm

Part of the Flash Forward series

New 4K Restoration—North American Premiere!. Through a series of mishaps, an ugly pot containing a secret map to the prominent Yagyu family’s hidden million ryo fortune is gifted away, passed unwittingly from owner to owner as the lord scrambles to regain possession. As word spreads through the land, the sought-after pot unknowingly lands in the hands of a small child, Yasu, who uses it to keep his goldfish. But when Yasu’s father dies, he’s taken under the care of a local tavern guarded by the gruff, one-armed, one-eyed ronin, Tange Sazen. As luck would have it, the lord’s brother, Genzaburo, begins to frequent the very same tavern...

Dir. Sadao Yamanaka, 1935, 94 min. With Denjiro Okochi, Kiyozo, Kunitaro Sawamura.

Tickets:  $15 / $10 members

ON-SALE DATE
  Members: November 11
  General Public: November 15


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Tange Sazen and the Pot Worth a Million Ryo 



   Moonlight Whispers © 1999 Nikkatsu
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Flash Forward: Debut Works and Recent Films by Notable Japanese Directors
December 3&mdash;23, 2021

&mdash; The Wall Street Journal


 “Meticulously curated… An annual highlight of New York’s film calendar”
    &mdash; The New York Times

  “JAPAN CUTS has unambiguously become America’s best annual showcase of new Japanese film… a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s ever-vital national cinema.”
  &mdash; IndieWire
    -->



Highlighting the early efforts of now-established contemporary filmmakers, the second ACA Cinema Project series Flash Forward: Debut Works and Recent Films by Notable Japanese Directors takes an intimate look at six of Japan’s most well-known directors: Naomi Kawase, Miwa Nishikawa, Shuichi Okita, Junji Sakamoto, Akihiko Shiota and Masayuki Suo. Pairing each debut with a recent work, the series presents two distinct facets of each filmmaker’s career—encouraging dialogue and interplay as well as tracking the development of their signature voice. By drawing parallels and contrasts between past and present, Flash Forward illuminates the importance of these pivotal early works within each artist’s career. Co-presented by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, in collaboration with Visual Industry Promotion Organization.

       IN-PERSON SCREENINGS:
        Tickets: $15 / $10 members

2-Film Pass: Purchase tickets for both films in the same transaction and receive $2 off each ticket

ON-SALE DATE
Members: November 11
General Public: November 15

Buy Tickets-->

      &nbsp;
      ONLINE SCREENINGS:
      Rentals: $10 for 3-day rental
(Available for purchase starting December 3)

      All-Access Pass: $55 for all online films
(Available for purchase November 15-December 2 only)

Buy Now

Members: 20% off via promo code
Not a member? Join today!


Keep it reel-to-reel! Visit our JAPAN CUTS 2021 server on Discord to chat with other festivalgoers across the U.S. about your film viewing experiences. (A free account sign up is required.)-->

View the full lineup of our in-person and online screenings below.




  In-Person Screenings

  All in-person screenings will take place in Japan Society’s auditorium, located at 333 E. 47th Street in New York, NY. Please note: Visitor safety is our top priority. All attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination and wear a proper mask at all times while inside our building. Please be sure to review Japan Society's safety and health policies here.

 Focus on Sadao Yamanaka

Japan Society is proud to present a focus on two of the last three surviving works by master filmmaker Sadao Yamanaka, beautifully restored in 4K. A contemporary of Ozu and Naruse, Yamanaka died at the age of 28, leaving behind a small but acclaimed body of work. Imbued with an impassioned humanism, Yamanaka’s innate storytelling abilities—which shift effortlessly between comedy, drama and tragedy—helped modernize the jidaigeki, crafting entire living communities that laugh, drink and suffer in an everyman’s world.

In collaboration with the National Film Archive of Japan.

              Tange Sazen and the Pot Worth a Million Ryo (Longest Version)
             1935. 94 min. Directed by Sadao Yamanaka.
              N.A. Premiere of 4K Restoration. A sought-after pot purported to hold the secret to the whereabouts of a million ryo fortune is unwittingly given to a young boy who finds himself in the care of a gruff, one-armed, one-eyed ronin after tragedy strikes.

            Saturday, December 11 at 7 pm
          PERIOD FILM, COMEDY, DRAMA

              Priest of Darkness
              1936. 82 min. Directed by Sadao Yamanaka.
              Int’l Premiere of 4K Restoration. A troublemaker finds himself embroiled in a prickly ordeal when he steals a samurai’s knife—setting in motion a domino-effect of bad fortune.

            Friday, December 17 at 7 pm

          DRAMA, SOCIAL CRITIQUE, COMEDY

  Online Screenings

  Films listed below stream online December 3-23 at
film.japansociety.org.

  Debut Works and Recent Films (Online)

              The Chef of South Polar
              2009. 125 min. Directed by Shuichi Okita.
              A passionate cook joins a crew of scientists for a year and a half in a frigid Antarctic base. In this quirky and humorous tale of camaraderie, the crew must endure a series of major and minor setbacks as they make a home themselves in some of the most extreme and inhospitable regions of the polar south.

          COMEDY, BASED ON A TRUE STORY

              Fancy Dance
              1989. 101 min. Directed by Masayuki Suo.
              A punk rocker’s life turns upside down when, as per family tradition, he must join a monastic order for one year—leaving his city life and girlfriend behind for a remote, mountain temple in this farcical and humorous approach to the monastic lifestyle.

          COMEDY

              Farewell Song
              2019. 116 min. Directed by Akihiko Shiota.
              A popular folk duo, barely on speaking terms, embarks on one last turbulent tour  with their roadie before calling it quits for good.

          DRAMA

              Harmful Insect
              2002. 92 min. Directed by Akihiko Shiota.
          NEW! An alienated 13-year old tries to navigate the murky waters of adolescence amid the failure of adult guidance and increasingly traumatic circumstances of her life.

          COMING OF AGE

              Knockout
              1989. 110 min. Directed by Junji Sakamoto.
              A macho pro boxer puts his life on the line for another chance at boxing glory following a shattering setback from a traumatic brain injury.

          DRAMA, COMEDY, BASED ON A TRUE STORY

              The Long Excuse
              2016. 124 min. Directed by Miwa Nishikawa.
              Popular novelist Sachio loses his wife in an accident but feels a resounding apathy. After Sachio connects with the family of his wife’s best friend (another victim of the tragedy), he begins to absorb the intangible emotional turbulence that remains in the void of loss.

          DRAMA

              Moonlight Whispers
              1999. 97 min. Directed by Akihiko Shiota.
               Unfortunately, this film is no longer available.

          DRAMA, COMING OF AGE-->

              Ora, Ora Be Goin’ Alone
              2020. 137 min. Directed by Shuichi Okita.
              A whimsical and gentle meditation on a long-lived life, Ora Ora follows elderly Momoko as she deals with loneliness in the aftermath of her husband’s death—playfully dipping between past and present in director Shuichi Okita’s typical offbeat style.

         COMEDY-DRAMA

              The Projects
              2016. 103 min. Directed by Junji Sakamoto.
              An elderly couple move into a suburban housing project six months after closing their herbal medicine shop, but when one of them goes missing, fantastical rumors start to spread in this absurdist, multi-genre comedy.

          COMEDY

              Suzaku
              1997. 95 min. Directed by Naomi Kawase.
              In Naomi Kawase’s stunning Camera d’or-winning debut, a teenage girl and her family struggle to overcome tragedy in a depressed mountainside town.

          DRAMA

              Talking the Pictures
              2019. 126 min. Directed by Masayuki Suo.
              A charming and comedic love letter to Japan’s silent movie era that follows an aspiring benshi (silent film narrator) as he tries to save a movie house while also running from the law.

          COMEDY

              Wild Berries
              2003. 108 min. Directed by Miwa Nishikawa.
              The debut feature of Miwa Nishikawa, Wild Berries delivers a comically cynical portrait of a dysfunctional family at the precipice of disintegration.

          DRAMA, COMEDY

              Vision
              2018. 110 min. Directed by Naomi Kawase.
              A fabled herb powerful enough to cure all sufferings of the human spirit draws a French journalist to the fog-enshrouded forests of Nara Prefecture.

         DRAMA

  Free Talks (Online)
  Available Worldwide.

Flash Forward: Conversations with the Filmmakers
Directors Naomi Kawase, Miwa Nishikawa, Shuichi Okita, Junji Sakamoto, Akihiko Shiota and Masayuki Suo reflect on their filmmaking debuts and the changes in the filmmaking process and industry since their early careers.

Panel Discussion: Debut Works and Beyond
In this unique conversation moderated by Aaron Gerow (Yale University), panelists Takuya Tsunoda (Columbia University), Junko Yamazaki (UCLA) and Jasper Sharp (Arrow Films) discuss the six Flash Forward directors and their films while also delving into the cultural background and film industry at the time of each director's debut.

Filmmakers on the Rise (Online)

  All films are free to stream December 3-23 at
    film.japansociety.org.

  Note: Sixth film in Filmmakers on the Rise slate to be announced at a later date.

              The Albino’s Trees

              2016. 86 min. Directed by Masakazu Kaneko.
              An animal control hunter takes on a lucrative opportunity to kill a rare white deer, considered to be a god by the neighboring village. Free.

         DRAMA

              Blue Hour
              2019. 92 min. Directed by Yuko Hakota.
              In this impressive debut from writer/director Yuko Hakota, a personally and professionally frustrated Tokyo dweller travels to her rural hometown of Ibaraki with her best friend and unlocks repressed memories. Free.

          DRAMA

              A Boy Sato
              2017. 15 min. Directed by Omoi Sasaki.
              Sato returns one day to the home he once knew and meets up with an old friend in this sci-fi inflected short. Free.

          DRAMA, SCI-FI, SHORT

              Forgiven Children
              2020. 131 min. Directed by Eisuke Naito.
              A raw and unsettling account of teen bullying and delinquency, Forgiven Children takes inspiration from real-life juvenile cases in Japan, presenting an unfiltered view on a bullying incident gone awry. Free.

        DRAMA

              Jesus
             2019. 76 min. Directed by Hiroshi Okuyama.
              A highly original, oddball debut that focuses on a quiet boy who attends a Christian elementary school and begins to see a six-inch Jesus. Free.

         DRAMA

              My Atomic Aunt
              2013. 73 min. Directed by Kyoko Miyake.
              Director Kyoko Miyake returns home to Japan to visit Namie, the sleepy coastal town of her youth, in the wake of 3/11, documenting her Aunt Kyoko and her struggle to move on from the loss of her home, now in a forbidden zone. Free.

          DOCUMENTARY



Flash Forward: Debut Works and Recent Films by Notable Japanese Directors



   It’s a Summer Film! © 2020 “It’s a Summer Film!” Production Committee-->


JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film
August 20&mdash;September 2, 2021

 “It’s the best opportunity for American film lovers to get an unparalleled peek into the singular world of Japanese cinema.”
    &mdash; The Wall Street Journal


 “Meticulously curated… An annual highlight of New York’s film calendar”
    &mdash; The New York Times

  “JAPAN CUTS has unambiguously become America’s best annual showcase of new Japanese film… a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s ever-vital national cinema.”
  &mdash; IndieWire


North America’s largest festival of contemporary Japanese cinema returns for its 15th edition as an online and in-person hybrid event! Following last year's entirely online edition, this summer’s festival offers 14 days of unique access to the best new films from Japan for audiences across the United States—including studio films, independent gems, documentaries, shorts, avant-garde works and more—through Japan Society’s virtual cinema. Additionally, JAPAN CUTS is thrilled to welcome back New York City festival goers to Japan Society’s auditorium for an exciting and diverse selection of Japanese cinema on the big screen!

       IN-PERSON SCREENINGS:
        Tickets: $15 / $10 members

 3-Film Pass: Purchase tickets for at least 3 different films in the same transaction and receive $2 off each ticket-->

 IN-PERSON SCREENING ON-SALE DATES
Members: August 10
General public: August 16
Buy Tickets

      &nbsp;
      ONLINE SCREENINGS:
      Rentals: $1-$10

      All-Access Pass: SOLD OUT

 Buy Now-->

Members: 20% off via promo code
Not a member? Join today!


Keep it reel-to-reel! Visit our JAPAN CUTS 2021 server on Discord to chat with other festivalgoers across the U.S. about your film viewing experiences. (A free account sign up is required.)

View the full lineup of our in-person and online screenings below.




  In-Person Screenings

  All in-person screenings will take place in Japan Society’s auditorium, located at 333 E. 47th Street in New York, NY. Please note: Visitor safety is our top priority. All festival attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination and wear a proper mask at all times while inside our building. Please be sure to review the Japan Society safety and health policies here.

              Aristocrats
              2020. 124 min. Directed by Yukiko Sode.
              New York Premiere. Yukiko Sode’s commanding third feature explores relationships between women seeking pleasure and self-fulfillment amidst family expectations and class hierarchy, featuring outstanding lead performances.

            Saturday, August 21 at 7 PM
              Thursday, August 26 at 4 PM

          DRAMA, SOCIAL CRITIQUE, ROMANCE

              The Great Yokai War: Guardians
             2021. 118 min. Directed by Takashi Miike.
              U.S. Premiere.  Miike’s triumphant return to the phantasmagorical realm of mythical yokai introduces a whole new cast of faces in this adventure for all ages, including the long-awaited return of Daimajin!

            Saturday, August 28 at 7 PM
              Wednesday, September 1 at 4 PM

          FANTASY, HORROR, ADVENTURE

              It’s a Summer Film!
              2020. 97 min. Directed by Soushi Matsumoto.
          U.S. Premiere. A precocious chanbara-obsessed teen and her friends aspire to make a samurai film over the course of one summer in this endearing take on a coming-of-age story, replete with teen romance and a sci-fi twist.

            Friday, August 20 at 7 PM
              Saturday, August 21 at 1:30 PM

          COMEDY, SCI-FI, COMING OF AGE

              Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction
              2021. 113 min. Directed by Daihachi Yoshida.
              Int'l Premiere. In this whip-smart, all-star ensemble comedy, a cocky and manipulative chief editor at a major publishing company strives to save a failing magazine and enlists an earnest and innovative rookie to help.

            Thursday, August 26 at 7 PM
              Saturday, August 28 at 4 PM

          COMEDY, DRAMA

              Labyrinth of Cinema
              2019. 179 min. Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi.
              New York Premiere. The late Nobuhiko Obayashi’s swan song is a breathless journey through Japan’s war-torn past and an elegiac celebration of cinema—an awe-inspiring conclusion to a 60-year filmmaking career.

            Thursday, September 2 at 7 PM

          DRAMA, WAR, EXPERIMENTAL

              The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
              2020. 114 min. Directed by Takashi Koizumi.
              New York Premiere. In late 19th century Japan, a respected samurai (Koji Yakusho) tries to avoid war for his clan through negotiation, but when he is left with no other choice, he picks up his sword and heads into battle.

            Saturday, August 21 at 4 PM
        Wednesday, September 1 at 7 PM

         PERIOD FILM, DRAMA, WAR

              Talking the Pictures
              2019. 127 min. Directed by Masayuki Suo.
              New York Premiere. A charming and comedic love letter to Japan’s silent movie era that follows an aspiring benshi (silent film narrator) as he tries to save a movie house with his performances while also running from the law.

            Friday, August 20 at 4 PM
              Saturday, August 28 at 1 PM

          COMEDY, PERIOD FILM

              Wife of a Spy
            2020. 115 min. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
              Centerpiece Presentation. New York Premiere. Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s first historical drama is a dizzying tale of suspicion, betrayal, and love during WWII, featuring surprising metafilmic turns and condemnation of colonialism, with a brave performance by Yu Aoi. Featuring a video greeting from Yu Aoi, recipient of the CUT ABOVE Award for Outstanding Performance in Film.

            Friday, August 27 at 7 PM

          DRAMA, THRILLER, PERIOD FILM

  Online Screenings

  Films listed below stream online August 20-September 2 at
film.japansociety.org.

  Feature Slate (Online)

              Come and Go
              2020. 158 min. Directed by Kah Wai Lim.
              Tourists, foreigners and social outcasts converge on the streets of Osaka in this sprawling ensemble drama that weaves through multiple characters' lives to reveal a universal loneliness in the heart of the melting pot city.

          DRAMA, COMEDY

              Company Retreat
              2021. 135 min. Directed by Atsushi Funahashi.
              Following a workplace sexual harassment incident that leads to social media bullying, a group of co-workers gather for a seaside vacation that quickly turns ugly when they broach the #MeToo elephant in the room.

          DRAMA, BASED ON A TRUE STORY

              The Goldfish: Dreaming of the Sea
              2021. 76 min. Directed by Sara Ogawa.
              In this poignant coming-of-age tale, 18-year-old former foster child Hana reconciles trauma and chosen family. A stunning, naturalistic drama lensed by longtime Hirokazu Kore-eda DP Yutaka Yamazaki.

          DRAMA, COMING OF AGE

              It’s a Summer Film!
              2020. 97 min. Directed by Soushi Matsumoto.
              A precocious chanbara-obsessed teen and her friends aspire to make a samurai film over the course of one summer in this endearing take on a coming-of-age story, replete with teen romance and a sci-fi twist.

          COMEDY, SCI-FI, COMING OF AGE

              Ito
              2021. 116 min. Directed by Satoko Yokohama.
              Returning to her birthplace of Aomori, Satoko Yokohama introduces Ito, a painfully shy high schooler reconnecting with her matrilineal practice of Tsugaru-shamisen while learning the ropes part-time in a unique maid cafe.

          COMEDY, DRAMA, COMING OF AGE

              Wife of a Spy
              2020. 115 min. Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
           SOLD OUT
              Centerpiece Presentation. Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s first historical drama is a dizzying tale of suspicion, betrayal, and love during WWII, featuring surprising metafilmic turns and condemnation of colonialism, with a brave performance by Yu Aoi.

          DRAMA, THRILLER, PERIOD FILM

              Wonderful Paradise
              2020. 95 min. Directed by Masashi Yamamoto.
              As a family moves out of their luxury home, a group of increasingly eccentric guests arrive for an impromptu farewell party that turns into a surreal carnival in this energetic comedy from indie auteur Masashi Yamamoto.

         COMEDY


    Next Generation (Online)

              B/B
              2020. 77 min. Directed by Kosuke Nakahama.
              In this highly imaginative and stylish debut, a pop culture-obsessed high school girl with dissociative identity disorder is questioned by a psychiatrist and police detective in connection to a murder case.

          DRAMA, FANTASY, COMEDY

              Mari and Mari
              2021. 91 min. Directed by Tatsuya Yamanishi.
              A casting agent’s life is turned upside down when his longtime girlfriend, Mari, suddenly disappears—only to be replaced (without explanation) by a complete stranger bearing the same name.

          DRAMA, MYSTERY

              My Sorry Life
              2021. 95 min. Directed by Kozue Nomoto.
              A driven TV producer, perturbed by her doting ex-comedian boyfriend’s desire to have children, finally takes the lead on a new series in which she works with a young trans man who changes her perspective.

          DRAMA, LGBTQ

              Sasaki in My Mind
              2020. 118 min. Directed by Takuya Uchiyama.
              In the midst of a quarter-life crisis, a frustrated actor’s memories of the immature antics of a class clown bring on renewed appreciation for youthful dreams and abandoned creative ambitions in this surprising debut.

          DRAMA

              Spaghetti Code Love
              2021. 96 min. Directed by Takeshi Maruyama.
              In this beautifully lensed and ambitious drama, a disparate group of young people connected by chance or circumstance struggle to find love and acceptance amidst the pressures of modern life in Tokyo.

         DRAMA

              Town Without Sea
              2020. 105 min. Directed by Elaiza Ikeda.
              A shy high schooler is at a crossroads wondering what happiness means—and if he’s ready to pursue it amongst attachment to friends, family, and taiko drumming in Tagawa, Fukuoka—in this debut by actress Elaiza Ikeda.

         DRAMA, COMING OF AGE


  Classics (Online)

              Hiruko the Goblin
              1991. 89 min. Directed by Shinya Tsukamoto.
              30th Anniversary—New 2K Restoration! Fresh off the success of his trailblazing cyberpunk debut, Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Tsukamoto’s foray into lighter genre convention relishes in over-the-top comedy and body horror effects.

          CULT, COMEDY, HORROR

              Robinson’s Garden
              1988. 119 min. Directed by Masashi Yamamoto.
              Newly Remastered! Late one night, free-spirited Kumi stumbles across a flourishing garden in a derelict industrial site and takes it upon herself to create a DIY haven for outcasts and punks from all walks of life.

          DRAMA, COMEDY

              To Sleep So as to Dream
              1986. 80 min. Directed by Kaizo Hayashi.
              35th Anniversary—New 2K Restoration! An aging silver-screen starlet seeks the aid of two steadfast detectives when her daughter is kidnapped for ransom in this unforgettable, dream-like ode to silent cinema.

        DRAMA, SILENT


    Documentary Focus (Online)

              No Smoking
             2019. 96 min. Directed by Taketoshi Sado.
              This intimate portrait documentary follows legendary musician and composer Haruomi Hosono—founding member of Yellow Magic Orchestra—as he candidly talks about his life and travels overseas to play concerts.

         DOCUMENTARY, MUSIC

              Ushiku
              2021. 87 min. Directed by Thomas Ash.
              Japan’s restrictive refugee policies materialize in Ushiku immigration detention center, where people languish for years under threat of deportation. Using hidden cameras, this brave work is an urgent call for human rights.

          DOCUMENTARY, HUMAN RIGHTS

              Why You Can’t Be Prime Minister
              2020. 119 min. Directed by Arata Oshima.
              What keeps popular policies of social welfare from the seat of power? Over nearly two decades, Arata Oshima follows a politician navigating splintered opposition parties in a landscape dominated by the rightwing.

          DOCUMENTARY, POLITICS


  Experimental Spotlight (Online)

              The Blue Danube
              2021. 105 min. Directed by Akira Ikeda.
              The absurdity of war and mindless bureaucracy is put on full display in this entrancing tale of a young man assigned to his unit’s marching band, approached with surprisingly profound and moving deadpan comedy.

         EXPERIMENTAL, WAR, COMEDY

              Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions
              2021. 81 min. Directed by Haruka Komori & Natsumi Seo.
              As the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear catastrophe of March 11, 2011 reaches its ten year anniversary, this deeply imaginative and empathetic film approaches the past and future of the city of Rikuzentakata.

         EXPERIMENTAL, DOCUMENTARY


  Shorts Showcase (Online)

              Experimental Shorts Program
              2021. 84 min. Yu Araki, Takuya Chisaka, Masami Kawai, Hakhyun Kim, Hirofumi Nakamoto, Onohana, Koki Tanaka, Nao Yoshigai, Yoko Yuki.
              In a range of boundary-breaking shorts from handmade animation to essay film, abstract nature doc, and lo-fi sci-fi, filmmakers reimagine past and future terrains.

          EXPERIMENTAL, DOCUMENTARY

              Narrative Shorts Program
              2021. 103 min. Anshul Chauhan, Mayu Nakamura, Toshiaki Toyoda, Yoko Yamanaka.
              A samurai condemns corruption on the eve of his death,  and friends and lovers reconnect and break apart during COVID-19 lockdown in this outstanding collection of shorts by established and up-and-coming directors.

        DRAMA



JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film



    Hanagatami. &copy; karatsu film partners/PSC2017.


Tragedies of Youth: Nobuhiko Obayashi's War Trilogy
Streaming July 9 - August 6

View Films &amp; Rent



In the last decade of his long and prolific career, Nobuhiko Obayashi (1938-2020)—best-known in the U.S. as the filmmaker behind the cult hit House (1977)—wrote and directed a trio of deeply personal and formally audacious films that confronted Japan’s wartime past. Made in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 2011 and informed by Obayashi’s firsthand experience as a child born on the eve of World War II in Hiroshima Prefecture, the staggering films in this trilogy—consisting of Casting Blossoms to the Sky (2012), Seven Weeks (2014) and Hanagatami (2017)—collectively consider the loss of innocence for an entire generation of Japanese youth raised in the shadow of war and national disaster. Scheduled as a lead-up to the 76th anniversary of the end of WWII, Japan Society is proud to present Obayashi’s monumental trilogy together online for the first time. Presented in partnership with KimStim.

Tickets: $10 / 20% off members

Series Bundle: $24 / 20% off members






Japan Society Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family, Masako H. Shinn, David Toberisky, Geoff and Fumi Matters, Akiko Koide and Shohei Koide, Laurel Gonsalves, David S. Howe, and Masu Hiroshi Masuyama. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the exclusive Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film.


Tragedies of Youth: Nobuhiko Obayashi's War Trilogy



  (L-R) Hiroshi Yokota, Sachiko Kobayashi, and Kazuo Hara during the production of Goodbye CP. Courtesy of Shisso Productions.


Cinema as Struggle: The Films of Kazuo Hara & Sachiko Kobayashi
Streaming June 4 - July 2

View Films &amp; Rent



This year marks the 50th anniversary of Shisso Productions, the independent film company founded by influential Japanese documentarian Kazuo Hara and his wife, producer and collaborator, Sachiko Kobayashi. Widely-recognized for their compelling, complicated and deeply personal portraits of iconoclastic individual—such as the ex-soldier Kenzo Okuzaki hellbent on exposing unspoken war crimes in their best-known film, The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On (1987)—Hara and Kobayashi have dedicated their lives to documenting the struggle between people and the powers that be.

In recognition of the pair’s milestone with Shisso Productions, Japan Society presents a career-spanning online retrospective of Hara and Kobayashi’s work—from the groundbreaking debut Goodbye CP (1972) to their latest epic documentary Minamata Mandala (2020)—including their rarely screened sole narrative feature, The Many Faces of Chika (2005). Presented in partnership with Janus Films and Shisso Productions.

Tickets: $10 / 20% off members

Bundle 1: $30 / 20% off members
  Includes: Goodbye CP, Extreme Private Eros: Love Song 1974, The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On, A Dedicated Life, and Sennan Asbestos Disaster - Available in the US and Canada.

Bundle 2: $20 / 20% off members
  Includes: The Many Faces of Chika, Reiwa Uprising, and Minamata Mandala.


Japan Society Film programs are generously supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family, Masako H. Shinn, David Toberisky, Geoff and Fumi Matters, Akiko Koide and Shohei Koide, Laurel Gonsalves, David S. Howe, and Masu Hiroshi Masuyama. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the exclusive Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film.
