WELCOME TO THE JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2016 The continued collaboration between the Embassy of Japan and access>cinema has now reached its eighth year. Without the support of the Ireland Japan Association and the Japan Foundation, it wouldn’t have been possible. This year we will have 22 different films showing in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Dundalk, Waterford, Sligo and of course, Dublin. We are delighted so many people throughout Ireland will get to experience these fantastic films. This year’s programme is one of the best yet, including films such as 100 Yen Love, a multi- award winning drama about how one argument can help transform your life. Nominated as Japan’s selection for Best Foreign Film at the 2016 Academy Awards, this film will surely warm your heart. When Marnie Was There, nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2016 Academy Awards, is a Studio Ghibli produced animation telling the story of Anna, and her friendship with Marnie, who promises to keep her secrets from everyone. If you’re a fan of superstar idol Atsuko Maeda, we have two of her films: Initiation Love, a romance with a dark twist, and Tamako in Moratorium about an unemployed university graduate living with her father. 2016 is the 5th anniversary of the Great East Japan earthquake. Joy of Man’s Desiring is a film that explores the impact an unnamed earthquake has on children who lost their parents in the disaster. Informed by the director’s own childhood experience after the 1995 Kobe earthquake this film won a special mention at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival. We are always looking for more ways to introduce Japanese culture to Irish people, especially as we approach 2017 when Ireland and Japan celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. If you have any suggestions or comments, they are always welcome. Enjoy & Arigato! Embassy of Japan & access>CINEMA ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM THE BOY AND THE BEAST 暗殺教室 バケモノの 子 DIRECTOR: Eiichiro Hasumi | 2015 | 110 minutes | Cert: CLUB DIRECTOR: Mamoru Hosoda | 2015 | 119 minutes | Cert: CLUB STARRING: Ryosuke Yamada, Masaki Suda, Maika Yamamoto, Kanna Hashimoto WITH THE VOICES OF: Aoi Miyazaki, Koji Yakusho, Masahiko Tsugawa The smash-hit manga adaptation where everyone’s Mamoru Hosada's recent Japanese Academy Award favourite teacher is also everyone’s favourite target! prize-winner is a glorious animation about friendship. Having already destroyed the the violent blood-bath tale its name Orphaned nine-year-old Ren escapes old-school kendo showdowns and moon, a mysterious visitor from would lead those unfamiliar with the streets of contemporary Tokyo irresistible echoes of The Karate Kid outer space, named Koro-sensei, the source material to expect. into Jutengai, the kingdom of the and The Jungle Book as Kumatetsu announces that he intends to do Instead this is a fun, irreverent and beasts. There he becomes disciple and Kyûta improve one another: the same to Earth. But this alien – a surprisingly smart film. The young to the boorish, ursine Kumatetsu, there are even nods to Digimon, cross between an emoticon and a cast are impressive, but the star of one of two anthropomorphic animal the show that marked Hosoda’s giant yellow octopus – seems to the show is undoubtedly Koro-sensei candidates poised to inherit the breakthrough. The residents of like a challenge, and so offers the (voiced by Kazunari Ninomiya realm's throne when the current Jutengai warm to the interloper- government a puzzling deal. He of Japanese boy-band Arashi), an Lord reincarnates as a deity. Ren hero, despite their collective fear of will train Class 3-E, the worst class entertaining and enigmatic presence – renamed Kyûta by his master – the ‘darkness of the human heart’. in the prestigious Kunugigaoka throughout. By the film’s end this becomes a promising martial artist That darkness – and a riff borrowed Junior High School, to defeat him; fantasy creation has become a fully and young man but complications from Moby Dick – powers along but if they fail to take him out by developed character for the viewer arise when he discovers the route a surprising third act as Kyûta graduation day, humankind will and so unexpectedly provides an back to the human world. seeks out the mysterious son of meet its fate. emotional heart to the film, in what Kumatetsu’s chief rival. An affecting is an otherwise insane and frantic Mamoru Hosoda explores loyalty, coming-of-age drama enlivened Based on the popular manga and setup. As you leave the cinema, familial bonds, prejudice and by elaborate plotting and playful TV series, this live action version you’ll find it hard not to smile – just depression through imaginatively folklore, the film has already grossed of Assassination Classroom is not like Koro-sensei! rendered parallel worlds. There are more than $50 million. EIICHIRO HASUMI (born 1967) made his debut with Sea Monkey (Umizaru, 04). Since MAMORU HOSODA (born 1967) first emerged as a key animator on Dragonball Z and then he has brought out a best-selling film almost every year in Japan, continuing the the director behind Digimon. Few could have guessed watching those smash-‘em-ups Umizaru series with Limit of Love (06), The Last Message (10), and Brave Hearts (12). that the filmmaker, who studied oil painting, would graduate onto such splendid looking For television he has directed such titles as Double Face (12), and seasons 1 and 2 of and emotionally involving science-fiction as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and the police drama MOZU (14). Assassination Classroom was one of the biggest hits of Summer Wars. Like Wolf Children (2012), The Boy and the Beast sees him reconfiguring 2015 in Japan. mythology. Many have come to regard him as the new Hayao Miyazaki. THE CASE OF HANA & ALICE CHIGASAKI STORY 花とアリス 殺 人事 件 ３ 泊 ４ 日 、５ 時 の 鐘 DIRECTOR: Shunji Iwai | 2015 | 110 minutes | Cert: CLUB DIRECTOR: Takuya Misawa | 2014 | 88 minutes | Cert: CLUB WITH THE VOICES OF: Yu Aoi, Anne Suzuki, Shoko Aida, Sei Hiraizumi STARRING: Ena Koshino, Kiki Sugino, Natsuko Hori, Haya Nakazaki Acclaimed director Shunji Iwai revisits two of his There’s plenty of romance and misunderstandings most memorable characters in this charming by the beach in a film that marks Takuya Misawa as animated prequel. a director to watch. When Alice (Yu Aoi) moves to a new Using rotoscoped animation to Tomoharu is a self-conscious Chigasaki Story is a charming and town, she discovers her classmates allow the cast to play younger student working in a beachside understated – not to mention very are obsessed with a bizarre mystery. versions of themselves, director inn. Conservative Maki and funny – film from first-time writer/ The ‘Judas murder’ apparently Shunji Iwai here revisits the main outgoing Karin arrive at the inn a director Takuya Misawa. Shot in saw one boy disappear, with the characters from his cult 2004 few days ahead of a wedding party the inn where Yasujiro Ozu spent other students believing there hit Hana & Alice. This charming for innkeeper Risa. While Karin months writing some of his most was a supernatural cause behind prequel recaptures the sense of fun attempts to woo Tomoharu, Maki beloved scripts, this is also a film everything. Unable to get straight and energy of the original, with Aoi reconnects with a college professor easily recommended to anyone who answers, Alice finds herself drawn and Suzuki’s chemistry as strong who has brought a group of enjoys the vintage comedy-dramas towards her reclusive neighbour as ever. The Case of Hana & Alice is students to the area for a field trip. of Woody Allen or Eric Rohmer. Hana (Anne Suzuki) who has a welcome opportunity for fans to In the run-up to the wedding day, With assured direction and its refused to return to school since the spend time with these two lovable old relationships are tested while empathetic approach to characters, incident. Together, Hana and Alice characters again, while also proving new ones are formed... the delightful Chigasaki Story marks start to uncover the truth behind to be a perfect introduction for Misawa out as a welcome new voice the mystery while forming a strong newcomers. in Japanese cinema. friendship in the process. SHUNJI IWAI (born 1963) started his directing career on TV dramas and music videos. TAKUYA MISAWA (born 1987) studied at the Japan Institute of the Moving Image, His breakthrough feature Love Letter (95) proved a critical and commercial hit. He went the prestigious school founded by Shohei Imamura. Chigasaki Story (14) is Misawa’s on to become one of Japan's most popular and acclaimed directors thanks to films such first feature, and has screened at international film festivals including Rotterdam and as Swallowtail Butterfly (96), All About Lily Chou Chou (01) and Hana and Alice (04). He Beijing. He has also helped with production on a number of other features, and served also directed the English language film Vampire (11) and a segment of New York, I Love as assistant director on Taksu (14) directed by Kiki Sugino (who also plays a main role You (08). The Case of Hana & Alice (15) is his first animated feature. in Chigasaki Story). EARLY SUMMER THE EMPEROR IN AUGUST 晩春 日本のいちばん長い日 © 2015 "THE EMPEROR IN AUGUST" FILM PARTNERS DIRECTOR: Yasujiro Ozu | 1951 | 124 minutes | Cert: CLUB DIRECTOR: Masato Harada | 2015 | 135 minutes | Cert: CLUB STARRING: Setsuko Hara, Chishu Ryu, Chikage Awashima, Kuniko Miyake, Ichiro Sugai STARRING: Koji Yakusho, Masahiro Motoki, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Shinichi Tsutsumi We remember the great Setsuko Hara, Ozu’s favourite Masato Harada’s accomplished period film recreates the actress, in a rare screening of this classic.