The good folks over at Japan Society are revving up their nineteenth edition of Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film which launches July 8. The festival was announced earlier last month and I’d been harping in their DMs since then, so someone finally managed to circle back to me with some coverage opps which makes my summer festival plate quite full..
Details are in the press release from June beneath the festival trailer, so read on or head over to the festival’s official website to dive right into what’s what, who’s who, where, when and how. You already know why if you love the cinema Japan so no help needed from me on this end. さあ行こう！
New York (June 3, 2026) – Japan Society, a 119-year-old nonprofit dedicated to fostering closer ties between the U.S. and Japan, announces the full lineup for the 19th edition of its annual contemporary Japanese film festival, JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. The annual event is the largest festival of contemporary Japanese cinema in North America, and it will take place this year from July 8-18, 2026 with global technology brand Canon joining for the first time as title sponsor.
JAPAN CUTS Powered by Canon will take place at Japan Society in New York City, showcasing over 30 films across 11 days. This year’s lineup spans five dynamic sections: Feature Slate, Next Generation, Classics, Documentaries, and New Directions in Japanese Cinema. Among the festival’s lineup are two World Premieres, eight International Premieres, nine North American Premieres, six U.S. Premieres, three East Coast Premiere, and two New York Premieres.
Leading this year’s guest lineup, JAPAN CUTS Powered by Canon will honor lauded actress Suzu Hirose with the 2026 CUT ABOVE Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. Hirose is regarded as one of Japan’s most influential living actresses, and the festival will host the New York Premiere of her latest film, A Pale View of Hills, as its Centerpiece Film. Director Kei Ishikawa’s adaptation of Nobel-Prize winning author Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel tells a sweeping 30-year chronicle of sacrifice and perseverance in the aftermath of World War II. In addition, JAPAN CUTS will present a revival screening of Our Little Sister by director Hirokazu Koreeda, Hirose’s breakthrough role. Hirose will make a rare live appearance at both these films.
JAPAN CUTS Powered by Canon will then welcome acclaimed director Hirokazu Koreeda inperson for the North American Premiere of his latest film, Sheep in the Box, as its Closing Night Film. Koreeda is one of Japan’s most storied directors, helming works including Shoplifters, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and Monster, which won Best Screenplay at Cannes, as well as internationally beloved films such as After Life, Still Walking, Air Doll, and
Like Father, Like Son. Koreeda will appear at JAPAN CUTS’ Closing Night Screening of his thought-provoking science-fiction parable about a grieving couple who adopt an AI-powered robot made in the image of their dead son. Sheep in the Box had its World Premiere only weeks ago at the Cannes Film Festival this year.
Highlights of this year’s festival include:
● Opening Night screening of Tokyo Taxi from veteran director Yoji Yamada, selected as the Centerpiece Film at last year’s Tokyo International Film Festival, along with U.S. Premieres of Night Flower and SUZUKI=BAKUDAN, both featuring tour-de-force performances honored at this year’s Japanese Academy Awards.
● Next Generation competition with a hand-picked selection of independent narrative works directed by emerging directors. The festival’s only juried section, Japan Society awards
the Next Generation Prize presented by VIPO to its most accomplished film as determined by a jury of industry professionals. The winning filmmaker will receive $3,000 generously donated by VIPO to help fund their next work.
● Classics include the 4K World Premieres of two essential Gakuryu (ex-Sogo) Ishii shorts,
The Master of Shiatsu and Shuffle, and a focus on 50 years of Kadokawa Pictures with a new 4K Restoration of the Hiroko Yakushimaru media mix hit W’s Tragedy and Haruki
Kadokawa’s cult film Rex: A Dinosaur’s Story.
● Animated premieres of The Last Blossom by Baku Kinoshita of Odd Taxi fame, Cocoon, a powerful anti-war anime from Ghibli alum Hitomi Tateno, and JUNK WORLD, an
outrageous stop-motion marvel from Takahide Hori.
● Major League Baseball legend Masanori “Mashi” Murakami will attend the New York Premiere of the U.S.-Japan baseball documentary Diamond Diplomacy together with director Yuriko Gamo Romer and author Robert Fitts. Mashi was the first Japanese player in the MLB, and he’ll participate in a rare autograph signing following the film.
● All attendees will have a chance to win a three-night stay in Tokyo. This year’s Audience Award is presented by mesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection, and JAPAN CUTS filmgoers
can enter by casting ballots for their favorite films at the festival. One winner will receive a three-night stay at the luxury waterfront mesm Tokyo hotel.
● Sample Japanese food and drink from Afuri, Lady M, Sapporo, and ITO EN at receptions on key nights throughout the festival.
“Nearly two decades ago, JAPAN CUTS began with a simple belief: that Japanese storytellers deserved a bigger stage in America,” said Joshua W. Walker Ph.D, President & CEO of Japan Society. “From the global stage of New York, Japan Society has helped champion a generation of filmmakers whose work has transformed Japanese cinema into a worldwide cultural force. As we celebrate our 19th year, JAPAN CUTS remains both a spotlight and a bridge—honoring the iconic directors and actors audiences already love while introducing the next generation of
creators who will define the future of Japanese film.”
Framing the festival this year is title sponsor Canon U.S.A., Inc. For decades, Canon has been an indispensable force in the art of filmmaking, shaping how stories are told on screen across every scale of production. In 2008, Canon ignited an indie filmmaking revolution with the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II camera, which was the world’s first full-frame DSLR capable of recording in Full HD. This camera was embraced by major studios, low-budget independents, and hobbyists alike. Today, Canon remains one of the world’s largest imaging manufacturers, with its Cinema EOS ecosystem holding a substantial presence in Hollywood, Japan, India, and Europe, with RFmount cinema systems widely used in documentary and commercial filming. Canon technology has also won several industry, academy, and cinematic awards for its sophistication and quality. As technology advances, so does Canon’s commitment to the transformative power of cinema and empowering artists who create it.
“Canon has long been committed to the art of visual storytelling, and JAPAN CUTS represents the creativity, craftsmanship, and the power of images to connect people across cultures,” said Sammy Kobayashi, President and CEO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “It is a privilege to bring Canon’s support to this extraordinary festival and to celebrate the filmmakers and artists who remind us why visual storytelling matters. Fostering cultural exchange and artistic excellence is at the heart of Canon’s Kyosei philosophy, and our sponsorship of Japan Society is a natural expression of that commitment.”
OPENING, CENTERPIECE & CLOSING FILMS
Opening Night Film
Tokyo Taxi (East Coast Premiere)
『TOKYOタクシー』 (TOKYO takushi)
Wednesday, July 8 at 6:00 PM
Dir. Yoji Yamada, 2025, 103 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Yu Aoi.
A remake of the French drama Driving Madeleine, Tokyo Taxi marks veteran Tora-san director and Shochiku stalwart Yoji Yamada’s 91st feature, reuniting him with longtime collaborator Chieko Baisho alongside Takuya Kimura and Yu Aoi for a farewell tour through Tokyo. Opening Night Reception.
Centerpiece Film
A Pale View of Hills (New York Premiere)
『遠い山なみの光』 (Toi Yamanami no Hikari)
Monday, July 13 at 6:00 PM
Dir. Kei Ishikawa, 2025, 123 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Suzu Hirose, Fumi Nikaido, Yoh Yoshida, Camilla Aiko.
Based on Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel, A Pale View of Hills follows Etsuko, portrayed stunningly by both Suzu Hirose and Yoh Yoshida across the passage of years, as she shares her postwar memories. A story spanning 30 years, it recounts sacrifice, tragedy and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. CUT ABOVE Award Ceremony, Q&A with Suzu Hirose, and Centerpiece Reception.
Closing Film
Sheep in the Box (North American Premiere)
『箱の中の羊』 Hako no Naka no Hitsuji
Sunday, July 19 at 8:00 PMDir. Hirokazu Koreeda, 2026, 126 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Haruka Ayase, Daigo, Rimu Kuwaki.
Exploring the notion of resurrection through technological means, Hirokazu Koreeda’s Sheep in the Box follows a bereaved couple who welcome home an AI-powered robot built in the image of their dead son, an outlier in Koreeda’s domestic naturalism that remains grounded in his enduring concerns. Q&A with Hirokazu Koreeda and Closing Reception.
FEATURE SLATE
In Alphabetical Order
Visit the JAPAN CUTS website for full descriptions of all films:
japansociety.org/japancuts
Burn (East Coast Premiere)
『炎上』 (Enjo)
Friday, July 17 at 6:00 PM
Dir. Makoto Nagahisa, 2026, 103 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Nana Mori, Aoi Yamada, Wataru Ichinose.
Makoto Nagahisa’s bleakly exuberant, pop-art nihilist feature follows Ju-Ju, the stuttering daughter of abusive religious zealots who escapes and joins a band of young runaway misfits. Far from a haven for the broken, Ju-Ju’s “Lost Boys” fantasy turns into an underworld of drugs,
prostitution and hopelessness—a smoldering powder keg ready to burst.
Cocoon (North American Premiere)
『cocoon～ある夏の少女たちより～』 (cocoon～Aru Natsu no Shojo-Tachi Yori～)
Friday, July 10 at 6:00 PM
Dir. Yukimitsu Ina, 2025, 60 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Hikari
Mitsushima, Marika Ito, Yoko Hikasa, Rena Motomura, Chinatsu Akasaki, Aoi Koga, Yume Miyamoto, Izumi Aoyagi, Miyuki Sawashiro, Umeka Shoji.
Animated by Sasayuri, a studio founded by Ghibli alum Hitomi Tateno, Cocoon features the profound talents of both veteran and new animators to bring Machiko Kyo’s wartime manga to life and shine a light on an often overlooked tragedy—the Himeyuri students, a group of young girls compelled to support the Japanese army on Okinawa.
Gosh!! (North American Premiere)
『THE オリバーな犬、(Gosh!!) このヤロウ MOVIE』 (THE Oriba na Inu, (Gosh!!) Kono Yaro
MOVIE)
Saturday, July 11 at 9:30 PM
Dir. Joe Odagiri, 2025, 99 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Sosuke Ikematsu, Joe Odagiri, Masatoshi Nagase, Koichi Sato.
Police officer Ippei Aoba (Sosuke Ikematsu) leads a normal life, except his dog Oliver is a womanizing middle-aged drunk in a dog suit (Joe Odagiri). Together with an all-star ensemble including Masatoshi Nagase and Koichi Sato, they lead a wondrously bizarre escapade featuring doors across space and time, a town obsessed with takoyaki, a tiny fairy in a box, a Bollywood-style dance number, and more. Maybe Aoba doesn’t lead a normal life after all.
JUNK WORLD (U.S. Premiere)『ジャンク ワールド』 (Janku Warudo)
Saturday, July 11 at 7:00 PM
Dir. Takahide Hori, 2025, 104 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Takahide Hori, Atsuko Miyake, Matsuoka Soshi.
A prequel to Takahide Hori’s outrageous, word-of-mouth marvel JUNK HEAD (2017), JUNK WORLD builds upon its predecessor’s absurdist stop-motion biosphere of Giger-esque, cenobite-inspired lifeforms, populating its subterranea with a New World’s flora and fauna, violent aberrations and grotesque humor.
Night Flower (U.S. Premiere)
『ナイトフラワー』 (Naito Frawa)
Thursday, July 16 at 9:00 PM
Dir. Eiji Uchida, 2025, 124 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Keiko Kitagawa, Misato Morita.
From acclaimed director Eiji Uchida comes the story of Natsuki (Keiko Kitagawa) and Tamae (Misato Morita), two women on the fringes of society who find family in each other. Natsuki fled to Tokyo with her children to escape debt. She soon encounters Tamae, a struggling kickboxer, and together they sell drugs to Tokyo’s outcasts to survive. Can Natsuki and Tamae be criminals by night and lead normal lives by day? Or will all they have be dragged into the underworld and their precious found family unravel?
NUMB (North American Premiere)
『しびれ』 (Shibire)
Saturday, July 18 at 12:00 PM
Dir. Takuya Uchiyama, 2025, 118 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Takumi Kitamura, Rie Miyazawa, Masatoshi Nagase.
Daichi (Takumi Kitamura) is a boy who lost his voice because of his father’s violence. Growing up in isolation and poverty, he witnesses a transitory Japan seldom seen by the outside world. Facing hardship after hardship across his adolescence only leaves Daichi perpetually more numb, and he can do nothing but watch as the few he cares about are hurt by those who are
supposed to support them. Can Daichi break free or will he now scar others?
Rewrite (U.S. Premiere)
『リライト』 (Riraito)
Sunday, July 12 at 2:30 PM
Dir. Daigo Matsui, 2025, 127 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Elaiza Ikeda, Kei Adachi, Ai Hashimoto.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a classic of Japanese literature, one that has influenced a whole genre of “time leap” stories. Rewrite is a homage to this classic, but all is not as it appears. Transfer student Yasuhiko (Kei Adachi) is a boy from 300 years in the future who comes to visit the past after falling in love with a novel he read. When Yasuhiko shares his secret with Miyuki (Elaiza Ikeda), she comes to learn from her future self that she must pen this very book and spends the next 10 years writing the novel to complete the time loop. However, Yasuhiko didn’t tell Miyuki the whole story. Charming, funny, and unexpected, Rewrite is a delightful reinvention that turns tropes on their head.
SAI: disaster (U.S. Premiere)
『災 劇場版』 (Sai Gekijoban)
Saturday, July 11 at 2:30 PM
Dir. Yutaro Seki, Kentaro Hirase, 2025, 128 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Teruyuki Kagawa, Anne Nakamura, Pistol Takehara.
Four individuals, unrelated and living in entirely different regions of the country, face a nameless man existing on their peripheries whose appearance leaves only death in his wake. Operating at a terrifying register, SAI: disaster presupposes life’s many tragedies as part of the natural order—mere “acts of God” heralded by a harbinger of chaos.
Sato and Sato (North American Premiere)
『佐藤さんと佐藤さん』 (Sato-san to Sato-san)
Sunday, July 12 at 5:30 PM
Dir. Chihiro Amano, 2025, 114 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Yukino Kishii, Hio Miyazawa, Sakura Fujiwara, Nozomi Sasaki.
Cutting across 15 years of a couple’s lives, Chihiro Amano’s Sato and Sato details the unraveling of a marriage. Sachi Sato (Yukino Kishii) and Tamotsu Sato (Hio Miyazawa) meet in college and begin a life together until their early career plans are upended. Amano’s empathetic treatise is a frank and intimate study of life’s great disappointments: the unkept promise of a life together.
SUZUKI=BAKUDAN (U.S. Premiere)
『爆弾』 (Bakudan)
Saturday, July 18 at 5:00 PM
Dir. Akira Nagai, 2025, 137 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Yuki Yamada, Atsuro Watabe, Jiro Sato.
Based on a bestselling novel, SUZUKI=BAKUDAN is a big budget blockbuster centered around Tagosaku Suzuki (Jiro Sato), a mysterious man who claims to see the future. After successfully predicting a bomb will go off in Tokyo, Suzuki leads the police in a game of wits—they must solve his riddles to stop further explosions. While police fan out over the city, a young detective (Yuki Yamada) challenges Suzuki to uncover the truth behind his predictions.
The Last Blossom (U.S. Premiere)
『ホウセンカ』 (Housenka)
Friday, July 10 at 7:30 PM
Dir. Baku Kinoshita, 2025, 90 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Kaoru Kobayashi, Junki Tozuka, Hikari Mitsushima, Yoshiko Miyazaki, Pierre Taki, Natsuki Hanae.
From director Baku Kinoshita, best known for the anime series Odd Taxi, comes a tear-jerking tale of love, redemption, and a talking plant. An elderly prisoner serving a life sentence awaits a lonely death—until a voice calls out. A talking flower asks the inmate about his life, and the two reflect on the good intentions that led him to a life of crime, the people he cared about, and that maybe—just maybe—these people can still blossom.
Tiger (East Coast Premiere)
『TIGER』
Friday, July 17 at 8:30 PM
Dir. Anshul Chauhan, 2025, 126 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Takashi Kawaguchi, Maho Nonami, Kenzo Shirahama.
Inspired by real-life experiences, director Anshul Chauhan’s socially-conscious fourth feature excavates the pressures placed on queer existence in Japan through Taiga, a closeted, middleaged gay masseuse returning home to see his dying father.Yoyogi Johnny (North American Premiere)
『代々木ジョニーの憂鬱な放課後』 (Yoyogi Johnny no Yuutsu na Hokago)
Saturday, July 18 at 2:30 PM
Dir. Satoshi Kimura, 2025, 109 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With KANON, Maya Imamori, Mio Matsuda.
An inventive and delightfully deadpan take on seishun eiga, Yoyogi Johnny follows the titular Johnny (singer KANON) and the band of misfits in the school’s squash club who don’t actually play squash. Yet Johnny’s days of loafing are numbered as a new girl at school captures his heart. A coming-of-age comedy ripe with eccentric characters, inventive dialogue, and a warm and uplifting heart.
NEXT GENERATION
In Alphabetical Order
This sole competitive section of the festival features a hand-picked selection of independently produced narrative feature films by emerging directors who offer a glimpse into the future of Japanese cinema. One film within the section—determined as the most accomplished by a jury of film industry professionals—will receive the Next Generation Prize presented by VIPO. The winning filmmaker will receive $3,000 generously donated by VIPO to help fund their next work.
BRAND NEW LOVE (International Premiere)
『BRAND NEW LOVE』
Saturday, July 11 at 12:00 PM
Dir. Ryuichi Iwakura, 2025, 84 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Yuna Yoshikawa, Kei Kikuchi, Kana Niigawa.
A remarkably understated film, BRAND NEW LOVE was awarded PIA’s Runner Up Award. As their relationship starts to break down, Yuiko and Kenichi undertake a short trip to watch over a relative’s antique shop in a last-ditch effort to save their deteriorating partnership.
Ginger Boy (North American Premiere)
『ジンジャーボーイ』 (Jinjaboi)
Tuesday, July 14 at 9:00 PM
Dir. Miki Tanaka, 2024, 48 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Kai Fujita, Kei Nakafuji, Akari Shima.
Transferring back to the Tokyo headquarters for his job at a regional bank, Kishida temporarily crashes with high school pal Kura who works now as a filmmaker, but senses a growing disconnect between them. Claustrophobic and unnerving, Kura’s erratic lifestyle and peculiar behavior start to affect Kishida who tries his best to support his friend. A slow-burn, propulsive work laced with atmosphere and inventive direction, the Cannes-selected Ginger Boy is a distinct showcase of director Miki Tanaka’s craft, visually arresting and confident in its vision.
Screening with Naomi Out of Sync.
Leave the Cat Alone (North American Premiere)
『猫を放つ』 (Neko wo Hanatsu)
Thursday, July 9 at 6:00 PMDir. Daisuke Shigaya, 2025, 102 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Soma Fujii, Yukino Murakami, Ran Taniguchi.
An understated domestic drama with deep emotional range, Leave the Cat Alone unfolds across three days and two nights of a couple’s lives as one partner encounters an old flame, bringing back residual memories, lingering regrets and nostalgia for a time before the growing chasms of
a long-term love.
Naomi Out of Sync (International Premiere)
『空回りする直美』 (Karamawari suru Naomi)
Tuesday, July 14 at 9:00 PM
Dir. Fuku Nakazato, 2025, 44 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Kono Adachi, Masafumi Shinohara, Wataru Ohshige.
18-year-old Naomi lives with her older brother Shingo, who has a developmental disability and Tourette’s, and her father, struggling to keep up with daily life, but maintains an upbeat demeanor despite her struggles at her part-time job and taking care of her brother. One day, out of frustration, Naomi accidentally hurts her brother’s feelings. Utilizing this setup, director Fuku Nakazato delivers a lighthearted study of the two siblings with candor and empathy. Winner of the Grand Prize at the PIA Film Festival. Screening with Gingerboy.
White Flowers and Fruits (North American Premiere)
『白の花実』 (Shiro no Kajitsu)
Thursday, July 9 at 8:30 PM
Dir. Yukari Sakamoto, 2025, 110 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Miro, Anji Ikehata, Nico Aoto.
Set at a secluded all-girls boarding school, Yukari Sakamoto’s White Flowers and Fruits is a spectral and sapphic Gothic study of two classmates coping with the unfathomable loss of a peer.
CLASSICS
In Alphabetical Order
The Master of Shiatsu (World Premiere of 4K Restoration)
『指圧王者』 (Shiatsu Oja)
Saturday, July 11 at 5:30 PM
Dir. Gakuryu Ishii (as Sogo Ishii), 1989, 13 min., 4K DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Tokujiro Namikoshi, Anna Hole.
The inaugural work of Ishii’s spiritual phase, The Master of Shiatsu emerged after a period of setbacks and disappointments. The cackling laugh of a mysterious shiatsu master (Tokujiro Namikoshi, the “father of shiatsu”) initiates this transformative uncoupling from reality as a shiatsu session imparts strange, astral properties to a young woman. Screening with Shuffle.
Our Little Sister
『海街diary』 (Umimachi Diary)
Sunday, July 12 at 8 PM
Dir. Hirokazu Koreeda, 2015, 126 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, Suzu Hirose.
At their estranged father’s funeral, three sisters meet the teenage half-sister (Suzu Hirose) they never knew and invite her into their Kamakura home, setting in motion Hirokazu Koreeda’s radiant domestic drama of sisterhood and familial understanding. Introduction by Suzu Hirose.
Rex: A Dinosaur’s Story
『REX 恐竜物語』 (REX Kyoryu Monogatari)
Friday, July 10 at 9:30 PM
Dir. Haruki Kadokawa, 1993, 106 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Yumi Adachi, Shinobu Otake, Tsunehiko Watase.
Released only a month after Jurassic Park, Haruki Kadokawa’s rarely-seen cult picture Rex follows a young girl who befriends a Tyrannosaurus hatchling, remaining a fascinating relic of Kadokawa’s once-dominant brand of commercial filmmaking.
Shuffle (World Premiere of 4K Restoration)
『シャッフル』 (Shaffuru)
Saturday, July 11 at 5:30 PM
Dir. Gakuryu Ishii (as Sogo Ishii), 1981, 37 min., 4K DCP, b&w and color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Yosuke Nakajima, Tatsuya Mori, Shigeru Muroi.
Initially filmed as an unsanctioned adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga Run, Shuffle is an attempt by Ishii to “sketch a man’s entire life through only one motif: running”. Screening with The Master of Shiatsu.
W’s Tragedy (International Premiere of 4K Restoration)
『Wの悲劇』 (Daburyu no Higeki)
Wednesday, July 15 at 9:00 PM
Dir. Shinichiro Sawai, 1984, 108 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Hiroko Yakushimaru, Yoshiko Mita, Masanori Sera.
Hiroko Yakushimaru stars as a young aspiring stage actress who develops frightening ambitions to become a star in Shinichiro Sawai’s self-reflexive, fascinatingly complex W’s Tragedy, a rare prizewinning triumph for Kadokawa’s pop experimentalism.
DOCUMENTARY
In Alphabetical Order
Diamond Diplomacy (New York Premiere)
『Diamond Diplomacy』
Wednesday, July 15 at 6:00 PM
Dir. Yuriko Gamo Romer, 2025, 86 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Masanori “Mashi” Murakami, Warren “Cro” Cromartie, Ichiro Suzuki, Bobby Valentine.
Diamond Diplomacy explores the long and complex relationship between the U.S. and Japan through the shared love of baseball and the powerful cultural and diplomatic bridge the game has provided across generations—from the first introduction of baseball in Japan to the global sensation of Shohei Ohtani. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with baseball greats.
Q&A with MLB legend Masanori “Mashi” Murakami, director Yuriko Gamo Romer, and author Robert Fitts. Followed by autograph signing with Masanori “Mashi” Murakami.
In Their Traces (International Premiere)
『魂のきせき』 (Tamashi no Kiseki)
Thursday, July 16 at 6:00 PM
Dir. Shigeru Kobayashi, 2025, 97 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Morinaga Miyako, Saori Ninomiya, Kazue Takahashi.
Lensed by celebrated experimental documentarian Kaori Oda, Shigeru Kobayashi’s In Their Traces tackles the difficult subject matter of sexual and physical abuse with shocking, matter-offact frankness and utmost empathy. Q&A with director Shigeru Kobayashi.
NEW DIRECTIONS IN JAPANESE CINEMA
In Alphabetical Order
The New Directions in Japanese Cinema project provides new and emerging directors in Japan with nonprofit funding to create short films. The project is commissioned by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and administered by VIPO (Visual Industry Promotion Organization). Our New Directions in Japanese Cinema screening is presented by and funded by VIPO. JAPAN CUTS Powered by Canon is honored to share four new NDJC films for the first time outside Japan.
The New Directions in Japanese Cinema screening is free with RSVP.
All NDJC films will screen together on Tuesday, July 14 at 6:00 PM. The NDJC screening is free with RSVP.
The End of What Goes Around (International Premiere)
『巡り巡る果て』 (Meguri Meguru Hate)
Dir. Tomonari Kamobayashi, 2025, 30 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Kinari Hirano, Raiku, Yoshi Sakou.
A traditional camera shop in the Kanto region. The owner, Fumio Sugihara (Yoshi Sakou), and his employee, Minoru Fukaya (Kinari Hirano), have built a supportive relationship like that of a real father and son. Yet, one day, Fumio’s actual son (Yoshi Sakou) returns. He had left to pursue a career in photography and now threatens Minoru’s place in the shop.
An Overflow (International Premiere)
『３６万リットルのオーバーフロー』 (36 Man-Rittoru no Obafuro)
Dir. Shun Tsujii, 2025, 29 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Riku Tsuji, Mana Asaki, Fuku Kondo, Rei Matsunaga.
Fukuro (Riku Tsuji) quits his office job to pursue illustration and takes up a part-time role as a pool lifeguard to make ends meet. Though a poor swimmer, Fukuro’s days are calm until a former aspiring pro arrives and forces him to ask: is his life moving forward or standing still?
A Wavy Girl (International Premiere)
『うねうねとまっすぐ』 (Uneune to Massugu)
Dir. Natsuka Yashiro, 2025, 30 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Nao Yamato, Sosuke Ogata.
Maru (Nao Yamato) is a high school girl living in the countryside. Her lunch is always pancakes, a routine as messy as her naturally curly hair. When Sunao (Sosuke Ogata), a handsome boy from Tokyo, transfers to her class and joins her part-time job, they start riding their bikes home together. Despite his striking appearance, Maru senses something unspoken.
The Woman Who Repeats (International Premiere)
『繰り返す女』 (Kurikaesu Onna)
Dir. Ere Nakada, 2025, 30 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Ayumi Ito, Rena Tanaka, Yoko Imamoto, Riho Sato, Shohei Abe.
Office worker Takako (Ayumi Ito) secretly steals from others. Her world is upended, though, when a colleague (Rena Tanaka) catches her in the act, but rather than reprimand Takao, she walks away. Haunted, Takako becomes fixated on her witness, an obsession that grows into an uneasy intimacy between two drifting souls: a woman who steals out of loneliness, and another yearning to discard all she owns.