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Always Evolving

Japanese Cinema Then, Now, and for the Future

3 February to 31 March 2023

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, the UK’s ever-evolving largest festival of Japanese cinema celebrates its 20^th anniversary!

With an exciting line up, most of which have only recently been released, but also some masterpieces from the distant past, and all of which share connections to the themes taken up in the past, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023 explores the theme of “the evolution of Japanese cinema”. Audiences will be provided with food for  thought: Where has Japanese cinema come from? What is its current position in the world of cinema? And where is it heading next?

Come and see some of Japan’s finest cinematic works, showcasing varied tones and styles, as well as the diverse skills of both experienced and emerging film talents.

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023 is programmed and produced by Junko Takekawa (London) with assistance of Emi Iida (London), and Takeshi Yoshida (Tokyo).

Special thanks to Kiyomi Nakazaki and Eiko Meredith.

• What a Wonderful Family! (Kazoku wa tsuraiyo, 家族はつらいよ)

  Director: YAMADA Yoji, 2016

• Wandering (Rurou no tsuki, 流浪の月)

  Director: LEE Sang-il, 2022

• Under the Open Sky (Subarashiki sekai, すばらしき世界)

  Director: NISHIKAWA Miwa, 2021

• Tsuyukusa (Tsuyukusa, ツユクサ)

  Director: HIRAYAMA Hideyuki, 2022

• Till We Meet Again (Mata au hi made, また逢う日まで)

  Director: IMAI Tadashi, 1950

• The Tokyo Night Sky Is Always the Densest Shade of Blue (Eiga Yozora wa itsudemo saikomitsudo no aoiro da, 映画　夜空はいつでも最高密度の青色だ)

  Director: ISHII Yuya, 2017

• The Past is Always New, the Future is Always Nostalgic: Photographer Daido Moriyama (Kako wa itsumo atarashiku, mirai wa tsuneni natsukashii: Shashinka Moriyama Daido, 過去はいつも新しく、未来はつねに懐かしい　写真家　森山大道)

  Director: IWAMA Gen, 2021

• The Million Ryo Pot (Tange Sazen yowa: Hyakuman ryo no tsubo 丹下左膳余話 百萬両の壺)

  Director: YAMANAKA Sadao, 1935

• Sensei, Would You Sit Beside Me? (Sensei, watashi no tonari ni suwatte itadakemasenka?, 先生、私の隣に座っていただけませんか？)

  Director: HORIE Takahiro, 2021

• SAMURAI HUSTLE (Chokosoku! Sankin kotai, 超高速!参勤交代)

  Director: MOTOKI Katsuhide, 2014

• My Broken Mariko (My Broken Mariko, マイ・ブロークン・マリコ)

  Director: TANADA Yuki, 2022

• Lesson in Murder (Shikei ni itaru yamai, 死刑にいたる病)

  Director: SHIRAISHI Kazuya, 2022

• Joint (JOINT, JOINT)

  Director: KOJIMA Oudai, 2021

• Ito (Itomichi, いとみち)

  Director: YOKOHAMA Satoko, 2021

• It Comes (Kuru, 来る)

  Director: NAKASHIMA Tetsuya, 2018

• Intolerance (Kuhaku, 空白)

  Director: YOSHIDA Keisuke, 2021

• Hold Me Back (Watashi wo kuitomete, 私をくいとめて)

  Director: OHKU Akiko, 2020

• Goodbye Cruel World (Goodbye Cruel World, グッバイ・クルエル・ワールド)

  Director: OMORI Tatsushi, 2022

• Blue Thermal (Blue Thermal, ブルーサーマル)

  Director: TACHIBANA Masaki, 2022

• BL Metamorphosis (Metamorufoze no engawa, メタモルフォーゼの縁側)

  Director: KARIYAMA Shunsuke

• Angry Son (Sekai wa bokura ni kizukanai, 世界は僕らに気づかない)

  Director: IIZUKA Kasho, 2022