Japan Foundation Screens Films in August

The Japan Foundation has organised a series of free screenings from August 9th – 22nd. The films are a mixture of live-action and anime films which range from comedy to period drama. Here’s a list with some trailers for and clips from the films:

• Saturday, 9 August, 2pm
  After the Flowers (Dir. Kenji Nakanishi, 2010, 107 mins, English subtitles)

A drama set in the Edo period and tells of the blossoming romance between Ito, the daughter a of a clan official, and a low ranking samurai. Can their romance be?

• Saturday, 9 August, 6:30pm
  Barefoot Gen (Dir. Mori Masaki, 1983, 85mins, English subtitles)

Barefoot Gen tells the harrowing story of six-year-old Gen Nakaoka and his family who survive the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and see the results of the event.

• Friday, 15 August, 2pm
  Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Battle of the Warring States (Dir. Keiichi Hara, 2002, 95 mins, English subtitles)

Naughty school boy Shin Chan and his hapless an dysfunctional family travel back in time to the Sengoku period. Could he rewrite history?

• Friday, 15 August, 6:30pm
  Waterboys (Dir. Shinobu Yaguchi, 2001, 91 min, English subtitles)

The much-loved tale about a female teacher who creates a synchronised swimming team at a boy’s school. Five different pupils must work together to create a performance in time for the school’s festival.

• Saturday, 16 August, 2pm
  Bushido Sixteen (Dir. Tomoyuki Furumaya, 2010, 109 mins, English subtitles)

Kaori Isoyama is an elite kendo champion who has trained under her strict father’s guidance since the young age of three. When she is defeated by the more nonchalant Sanae at middle school, she becomes intent on fighting back and winning her honour! When she meets Sanae at high school and on the same kendo team, Kaori challenges her and the two embark upon an awkward rivalry/friendship full of swordplay and, surprisingly for both, laughter.

• Saturday, 16 August, 6:30pm
  Jiro Dreams of Sushi (Dir. David Gelb, 2011, 81 mins, English subtitles)

85 year-old Jiron Ono may run a tiny restaurant in a subway station but he is considered one of the best sushi chefs in the world. This American documentary takes a look at the life of Jiro and his work.

• Friday, 22 August, 2pm
  Chibi Maruko-chan (Dir. Tsutomu Shibayama, 1990, 94 mins, English subtitles)

Nine-year old Momoko Sakura (Chibi Maruko-chan) may not be as well known as other Japanese school girl protagonists in the west but her antics have won the hearts of many in Japan and this film gives a good example of what has made her so poplar as she gets into mischief to reunite two best friends.

The film will be introduced by Helen McCarthy.

• Friday, 22 August, 6:30pm
  Hotel Hibiscus (Dir. Yuji Nakae, 2003, 92 min, English subtitles)

Hotel Hibiscus is a smallm run down one room family-run hotel in Okinawa. When Mieko’s older brother and sister leave the island to start new lives, she goes on a journey to scover her cultural roots.

The films will be available to view at The Japan Foundation, London, Russell Square House, 10-12 Russell Square, London WC1B 5EH from August 9th – 22nd, 2014. The event is free to attend but places are limited and must be reserved for the event. To book your place you must email your name and the title of the event you would like to attend to event@jpf.org.uk.

For more information, visit the Japan Foundation website.