The Japan Foundation UK Touring Film Programme 2021 Line-up Announcement

Date: 2021 January 16 20:07

Posted by Joe

We've just received details from the good folks at The Japan Foundation in the UK. They've just revealed the line up for The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021. The yearly film festival has always been a great way of seeing a wide range of Japanese films. This year around for the first time ever the festival is going online. It's set to run from 19th February to 10th March 2021.

Screening dates will be announced on Friday January 22nd 2021.

They've curated 18 Japanese titles under the theme of This is My Place - Carving out a sense of existence and belonging in Japanese Cinema.

Anime wise they'll be showing HELLO WORLD, a romantic story with a sci-fi twist.

They've also got the live action adaptation of Little Miss Period. The movie is based on the manga about personified visitations of that time of the month.

As always they've got a lot of good stuff showing and we're spoilt for choice. This time around you'll be able to watch it from the comfort of your own home.

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The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021 Line-up Announcement

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021
19 Feb - 10 Mar 2021
Nationwide Online Special (UK)

This is My Place
Carving out a sense of existence and belonging in Japanese Cinema

For the first time ever, UK's largest festival dedicated to Japanese cinema - The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme - goes online in this special edition, offering screenings nationwide which will be free for this season.

The sense of acceptance and connection is a powerful emotion felt by humankind which can provide security as well as comfort, yet in the modern world where our way of living has become diverse and more complicated than ever, establishing a solid grounding and a sense of belonging can be difficult to attain. With this in mind, the programme's 2021 edition has curated 18 Japanese titles which attempt to tackle these topics in different landscapes.

From comedies to crime themes, period dramas to films centring on LGBT issues, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021 will explore the universal and perpetual issues existing in society, with an assortment of narratives shedding light on people from different walks of life. The programme showcases voices belonging to a diverse group of filmmakers, including internationally recognised directors as well as emerging talent, all representing different styles and forms.

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme will offer something for everyone, wherever you may be in the UK.

Please note that screening dates will be announced on January 22!


One Night ひとよ

Fifteen years after a battered wife (TANAKA Yuko) murders her abusive alcoholic husband, she returns home having served her time. But will the now-adult children she sought to protect with her crime welcome the reunion?

Directed by SHIRAISHI Kazuya, 2019, 123 min, English Subtitles

© 2019「ひとよ」製作委員会


Our 30-Minute Sessions サヨナラまでの30分

The life of introverted college student Sota (KITAMURA Takumi) takes an unusual direction when he discovers a cassette tape of music made by Aki (ARATA Mackenyu), a musician who had tragically died the year before.

Directed by HAGIWARA Kentaro, 2020, 114 min, English Subtitles

© 2020 『サヨナラまでの30分』製作委員会


Shape of Red Red

At first glance, Toko (Kaho) leads an enviable life. But beneath the veneer of her picture-perfect life, Toko harbours a feeling of emptiness. Then, a chance encounter with a former lover, Kurata (TSUMABUKI Satoshi), awakens a deep longing in her.

Directed by MISHIMA Yukiko, 2020, 123 min, English Subtitles

© 2020 『Ｒｅｄ』 製作委員会


Miyamoto 宮本から君へ

A quirky tale of high-octane love is told through the eyes of a hot-blooded stationary salesman, Miyamoto (IKEMATSU Sosuke), as he falls hard for Yasuko (AOI Yu) upon their introduction. Soon, however, his devotion is put to the test.

Directed by MARIKO Tetsuya, 2019, 129 min, English Subtitles

© 2019 "Miyamoto" Film Partners


Little Miss Period 生理ちゃん

The bemoaned struggle of periods is personified in an obnoxiously large and blissfully unaware heart-shaped plush presence which pesters several women from different walks of life as they try to navigate their day-to-day trials in this light comedy.

Directed by SHINADA Shunsuke, 2019, 75 min, English Subtitles

© YOSHIMOTO KOGYO ©Ken Koyama/KADOKAWA

Haruka's Pottery ハルカの陶

Stagnating in an unfulfilling office job and unsure of what direction to take in life, Haruka (Nao) stumbles across an exhibition of traditional Bizen pottery. Mesmerised by its beauty, she travels to Japan's Okayama Prefecture to become an apprentice at the kiln.

Directed by SUETSUGU Naruhito, 2019, 119 min, English Subtitles

© 2019 Haruka's Pottery Film Partners©2019「ハルカの陶」製作委員会


Not Quite Dead Yet 一度死んでみた

Nanase (HIROSE Suzu) has a tumultuous relationship with her father (TSUTSUMI Shinichi), the president of a major pharmaceutical company. One day, while testing a drug which causes temporary death, her father becomes a ghost. Nanase must race against time to save his life and his company.

Directed by HAMAZAKI Shinji, 2020, 93 min, English Subtitles


Soiree ソワレ

Brought together by an accidental crime they commit, an aspiring actor moonlighting as a con artist (MURAKAMI Nijiro) and an emotionally destitute woman (IMOU Haruko) mount an impromptu escape, running from their deed and their bleak lives. Will they find what they're looking for?

Directed by SOTOYAMA Bunji, 2020, 111 min, English Subtitles


A Girl Missing よこがお

The career and reputation Ichiko (TSUTSUI Mariko) has forged for herself while working long-term as a private nurse for the elderly matriarch of the Ohishi family hangs in the balance when one of the adolescent Ohishi daughters disappears and Ichiko is indirectly implicated...

Directed by FUKADA Koji, 2019, 111 min, English Subtitles

© 2019 YOKOGAO FILM PARTNERS & COMME DES CINEMAS


Samurai Shifters 引っ越し大名！

When a fiefdom is ordered to relocate its entire population by the shogunate, the unenviable task of administrating the move falls with Katagiri Harunosuke (HOSHINO Gen). Together with some friends, he must undertake the impossible task with no experience, little manpower, and even less funding.

Directed by INUDO Isshin, 2019, 120 min, English Subtitles


Me & My Brother's Mistress おろかもの

After witnessing her brother (IWAGO Satoshi) having an affair, Yoko (KASAMATSU Nanami) tails and confronts the mistress, Misa (MURATA Yu). Paradoxically, she becomes convinced that Misa might be a better match for her brother. An unlikely alliance forms between the two women...

Directed by HAGA Takashi, SUZUKI Sho, 2019, 96 min, English Subtitles


A Beloved Wife 喜劇　愛妻物語

Gota (HAMADA Gaku) is an unsuccessful screenwriter struggling to catch his big break. One day, despite strong resistance from his wife (MIZUKAWA Asami), Gota drags his family on an impromptu research trip in the hope that it will kick start his career and improve his ailing marriage.

Directed by ADACHI Shin, 2019, 115 min, English Subtitles


Farewell: Comedy of Life Begins with a Lie グッドバイ　嘘からはじまる人生喜劇

Against the background of post-war era Japan, Shuji (OIZUMI Yo) is an editor-in-chief of a magazine who is a raging womaniser, juggling several girlfriends at a time. Resolving to break things off with all of them but unable to do so himself, he hires a fake wife to scare off the gaggle of women.

Directed by NARUSHIMA Izuru, 2019, 106 min, English Subtitles

© 2019 GOODBYE Film Partners


his his

Shun (MIYAZAWA Hio) leads a solitary life in the Japanese countryside, living in fear of being outed and shunned for being gay. That is until a former boyfriend (FUJIWARA Kisetsu) shows up at his doorstep out of the blue with a 6-year-old daughter in tow.

Directed by IMAIZUMI Rikiya, 2020, 127 min, English Subtitles

© 2020 映画 「 his 」 製作委員会


Extro エキストロ

A mockumentary focusing on aged extra HAGINOYA Kozo (himself), as he reveals his aspirations to follow in the footsteps of his idol Steve McQueen and unintentionally causes mischief on set. An assortment of celebrity cameos includes the late OBAYASHI Nobuhiko.

Directed by MURAHASHI Naoki, 2019, 89 min, English Subtitles

© 2019 Yoshimoto Kogyo


Mrs Noisy ミセス・ノイズィ

Novelist Maki (SHINOHARA Yukiko) moves into a new apartment hoping it's the change she needs to get herself out of her writing slump. However, her neighbour's incessant beating of the futons keeps breaking her focus. A confrontation ensues that snowballs into a fight which gets caught on camera.

Directed by AMANO Chihiro, 2019, 106 min, English Subtitles


Labyrinth of Cinema 海辺の映画館 -キネマの玉手箱-

A group of youngsters gathered at a cinema marathon find themselves transported into the worlds beyond the silver screen. As they tumble into the realms of film after film, they are forced into an oppressively colourful journey through Japan's social and cinematic history of war.

Directed by OBAYASHI Nobuhiko, 2019, 179 min, English Subtitles


HELLO WORLD HELLO WORLD

Kyoto, 2027. Bookish high-schooler Naomi Naomi (voiced by KITAMURA Takumi) meets a mysterious man who claims to be his future self. The visitor also delivers a world-shattering revelation - young Naomi's reality is nothing more than a virtual simulation of the past and he has come to alter it.

Directed by ITO Tomohiko, 2019, 98 min, English Subtitles


We've temporarily moved online this year - but this isn't goodbye to theatrical venues.

For detailed information on the programme: www.jpf-film.org.uk