PROGRAM

• Japan Cultural Expo Special Program
• Couple & Family
• Kids program
• Animation program
• Sports program
• Save the Earth!
• Have fun with a couple
• Family fun
• Awards program 1
• Awards program 2

Japan Cultural Expo Special Program

• People of Prayer

  Japan / Dance movie / 29:00

  In ancient Japan, dolls were made as a token for people to bring happiness. The etymology of “inori” comes from “i” for breathing, and “nori” for life. In other words, prayer is about breathing and living. Breath that pumps the heart, to breathe, to struggle with oneself, and to proclaim your conduct to heaven. Beautiful dolls materialize from the repugnant side of human beings. This doll is both a symbol of God and of one’s wishes. Dolls dance fervently in the beauty of nature in the four seasons, and through the life of flowers in the breeze, the life in water, the life in fire, and in payer, expresses the ancient Japanese people who dedicate themselves to traditional festivals.

  

  Profile

  

  Miyuki Matsuda

  Debuted in 1979 in the film “The Adventures of Kōsuke Kindaichi ” directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi. She has appeared in TV drama “The Detective Story” (NTV – 1979), & “From the Northern Countr” (cx – 1981) among her work in film & TV. Her performance was highly praised in director Naomi kawase’s “Still the Water,” an official competitono selection at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. After working 4 years as art director, she published a book on the lifework of her actor husband, “The Complete Works of Yusaku Matsuda.” She served as eidtor for the free paper “R” for 5 years. As photographer, she published a photo book titled “My Favorite Solitude Travels” & was the director of the gravure page for the magazine “GENROQ” for seven years. Recently as director, she filmed “Inorijin” (2021/ worldwide Vimeo release) starring Taichi Saotome. She has also recently started performing as a singer & live readings.

  Profile

  

  Taichi Saotome

  Born on September 24, 1991, Fukuoka Prefecture.
  Taichi has performed throughout Japan since he was 4-yrs-old as the second generation of the popular “light theater” troupe Gekidan Suzaku.
  In 2003, he appeared in Takeshi Kitano’s film Zatoichi and became known as a “1 in a 100 years” genius “onnagata” actor playing roles of women.
  In 2019, as the 2nd head of the Gekidan Suzaku Troupe, held a revival performance. He produces, writes, choreographs, and directs for the stage. He remains busy producing and in December last year, he performed a “buyō geki” (traditional Japanese dance) at Nijō Castle, a World Heritage Site, at artKYOTO 2020. He is expanding his work under the banner, “Taichi Saotome Produce” and produced “Inorijin” for the Agency for Cultural Affairs. This year, the movie “The Blood of the Wolves II” will be released on August 20.

• The Old Woman Skin

  Japan / Drama / 19:56

  Synopsis “I don’t like to be told I’m beautiful.” Before going to Tokyo from her hometown of Mishima, Fukushima Prefecture, Kyoko stopped by at Tsuchiyu Onsen and was handed an “old woman’s skin.” This allowed her transform herself into an old woman, enabling her to find out what’s truly in the heart of the man she cares about …

  

  Profile

  

  Hiroki Inoue

  He made his directorial debut in 2009 with the film “Panic 4ROOMS.” In 2017, he directed and wrote for one story starring Mayu Hotta in the omnibus horror film “Mad Flower” which was screened at Shinjuku Cinema Qualite. The short film “痣” was screened at the Cannes Film Festival “SHORT FILMS FROM JAPAN 2018,” in addition to receiving the Japan Category Best Actress award at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2018.
  The film was acclaimed in Japan and abroad. In 2019, he wrote and directed “魔女に焦がれて” in the Third Cinema Fighters Project, “That Moment, My Heart Cried,” which had a special screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival. He wrote and directed the 2019 theatrical releases of “1 in 400,000” and the 2020 theatrical releases of “新卒ポモドーロ” and “LOVE STAGE.” In 2020, he wrote and directed the SSFF & ASIA Creators Support Project, “Scar” starring Ayame Gōriki.

• Wheels of Fate: The Story of the Rickshaw Man

  USA Japan / Documentary / 19:00

  An emotional journey into the fateful history of The Rickshaw Man, which despite being chopped down by two governments, remains an irreplaceable work of humanist cinema from Japan’s darkest period. Narrated by Lily Franky

  

  Profile

  

  Ema Ryan Yamazaki

  Raised in Osaka, Japan, by a Japanese mother and British father, Ema grew up navigating between Japanese and Western cultures.
  After graduating from New York University, she became the assistant to documentary mogul Sam Pollard. As an editor, her work has been shown on outlets such as HBO, PBS, CNN, and numerous festivals around the world. She also has directed TV documentaries for NHK and Al Jazeera English.
  In 2017, Ema’s first feature documentary, MONKEY BUSINESS: THE ADVENTURES OF CURIOUS GEORGE’S CREATORS was released worldwide by The Orchard, after raising over $186,000 on Kickstarter. It premiered at the LA Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the Nantucket Film Festival.
  In 2019, Ema’s second feature documentary about the phenomenon of high school baseball in Japan, KOSHIEN: JAPAN’S FIELD OF DREAMS, premiered at DOC NYC. In 2020, the film aired on ESPN, and was released theatrically in Japan.
  Ema edits her own work, and uses her unique storytelling perspective as an insider and outsider in Japan and in the US. She currently splits her base between Tokyo and New York.

• The Fox of Shichigorosawa

  Japan / Animation / 13:45

  Higashiyama, the home of the foxes, has become an illegal dumping ground. This results in the decrease of small animals, which the mother fox relied on as prey to feed her children. The fox comes down from the mountains in search of food to feed her children, and comes upon a human village.
  
  This story is told in the Ainu language, which has been deemed a critically endangered language by UNESCO.

  

  Profile

  

  Tune SUGIHARA

  Tune SUGIHARA was born in Yokosuka, Japan in 1973. She is an award winning short filmmaker, animation director, scriptwriter and audio guide commentator for Kabuki theatre.
  She studied graphic design in High School, and Media Art in college. She then went on to become a CG designer in 1994. After working for Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) as a program officer for the cultural exchange programme, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for five years, she went back to the video production industry. Today, she is part of programs about Japanese Folktales, as a director and writer.

• The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossoms

  USA / Documentary / 39:00

  Survivors in the areas hardest hit by Japan’s recent tsunami find the courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. This Academy Award-nominated short documentary explores the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and the cultural significance of Japan’s famous sakura, or cherry blossoms.

  

  Profile

  

  Lucy Walker

  Lucy Walker is an Emmy winning, two-time Oscar-nominated director renowned for creating riveting, character-driven nonfiction that delivers emotionally and narratively. Recognition includes nomination for seven Emmy (winning one), an Independent Spirit Award, a DGA Award, a PGA Award, and a Gotham Award. The Hollywood Reporter has called her “the new Errol Morris” and Variety has praised her unique ability to connect with audiences.