Japanese Film Festival

The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is a film festival held in Singapore and dedicated to Japanese cinema. It was first held in 1983 and then held annually from 1999 to 2016, and curated with Singapore audiences in mind, led by local programmers with a wide-ranging programme of film classics, Japanese independents and commercial releases. There was no festival in 2017. Under new direction from 2018 from the Japan Foundation in Tokyo, it has shifted its focus to screening mainly commercial releases from Japan.

Japanese Film Festival Singapore
LocationSingapore
StartedMay 1, 1983

History

The JFF was established in Singapore in 1983.[1] The festival was organised by the Singapore Film Society and the Japanese Embassy and the films were shown at the Cultural Theatre and Victoria Theatre.[2]

The next JFF was shown in 1986.[3] In 1987, Japanese ambassador to Singapore, Wasuke Miyake, brought JFF to Singapore which was held in October.[4][5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, the festival turned to hybrid screenings for 2020 and 2021.[1] Since then they have continued to deliver the hybrid model each year using a platform provided by Shift72.[6]

2014 (26 June to 12 July)

The Japanese Film Festival was held from 26 June to 12 July at the National Museum of Singapore.

Film programme

Currents

  • Leaving on the 15th Spring / 旅立ちの島唄～十五の春～ (2012) by Yoshida Yasuhiro / 吉田康弘 (PG)
  • Homeland / 家路 (2014) by Kubota Nao / 久保田直 (M18)
  • Homesick / ホームシック (2012) by Hirohara Satoru / 廣原暁 (PG)
  • Maruyama, The Middle Schooler / 中学生円山 (2012) by Kudo Kankuro / 宮藤官九郎 (NC16)
  • Survive Style 5+ (2004) by Sekiguchi Gen / 関口現 (NC16)
  • The Tale of Iya / 祖谷(いや)物語　おくのひと (2013) by Tsuta Tetsuichiro / 蔦哲一朗 (PG)
  • The Mole Song / 土竜の唄 (2013) by Miike Takashi / 三池 崇史 (M18)

Retrospective (Ichikawa Kon)

2013 (26 June to 8 July)

The Japanese Film Festival was held from 26 June to 8 July at the Alliance Francaise and the National Museum of Singapore. There will be a focus on films from the 80s as well as a retrospective on Shindo Kaneto and Yoshimura Kozaburo, in addition to a showcase of the best in Japanese current films.

Film programme

Around the 80s

Retrospective (Shindo Kaneto and Yoshimura Kozaburo)

Currents

  • GFP Bunny / タリウム少女のプログラム (2012) by Tsuchiya Yutaka / 土屋豊 (R21)
  • Japan Lies / ニッポンの嘘　報道写真家福島菊次郎90歳 (2012) by Hasegawa Saburo / 長谷川三郎 (M18)
  • Japan's Tragedy / 日本の悲劇 (2012) by Masahiro Kobayashi / 小林政広 (PG13)
  • Rent a Cat / レンタネコ (2012) by Ogigami Naoko / 荻上直子 (PG)
  • Shady / かしこい狗は、吠えずに笑う (2012) by Watanabe Ryohei / 渡部亮平 (NC16)
  • See You Tomorrow Everyone / みなさん、さようなら (2013) by Nakamura Yoshihiro / 中村義洋 (NC16)
  • Our Homeland / かぞくのくに (2012) by Yang Yong-hi / ヤン・ヨンヒ (NC16)

Undercurrents

2012 (1 to 8 July)

The Japanese Film Festival was held from 2 to 8 July at the National Museum of Singapore. Besides showcasing the best of current Japanese films, one segment of the festival focused on documentaries examining the undercurrents and post-trauma effects of the tsunami in Japan in March 2011, while another segment focused on the celebration of the Nikkatsu Centennial.

Film programme

Tsunami Documentaries

  • Fukushima Memories of a Landscape / 相馬看花 第一部 奪われた土地の記憶 (2011) by Matsubayashi Yojyu / 松林 要樹 (PG)
  • No Man's Zone / 無人地帯 (2012) by Fujiwara Toshi / 藤原 敏史 (PG)

Nikkatsu Centennial - Celebrating 100 Years of Nikkatsu Studio

Japanese Currents

  • Life Back Then / アントキノイノチ (2011) by Zeze Takahisa / 瀬々 敬久 (PG13)
  • About the Pink Sky / ももいろそらを (2011) by Kobayashi Keiichi / 小林 啓一 (NC16)
  • Death of a Japanese Salesman / エンディングノート (2011) by Sunada Mami / 砂田 麻美 (PG)
  • I Wish / 奇跡 (2011) by Koreeda Hirokazu / 是枝 裕和 (PG)
  • Tokyo Oasis / 東京オアシス (2011) by Matsumoto Kana / 松本 佳奈 and Nakamura Kayo / 中村 佳代 (PG)
  • Chronicle of My Mother / わが母の記 (2011) by Harada Masato / 原田 眞人 (PG)

2011 (2 to 10 July)

The Japanese Film Festival was held from 2 to 10 July at the National Museum of Singapore. The festival theme was Journey.

Festival highlights (Journey)

Opening Film:

  • Mother Water / マザーウォーター (2010) by Matsumoto Kana / 松本 佳奈 (PG)

Closing Film:

Director in attendance:

  • Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / 熊切 和嘉

Film programme

Tribute to Takamine Hideko / 高峰 秀子

Focus on Gosho Heinosuke / 五所　平之助

Focus on Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / 熊切 和嘉

  • Sketches of Kaitan City / 海炭市叙景 (2010) by Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / 熊切 和嘉 (PG)
  • Antenna / アンテナ (2004) by Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / 熊切 和嘉 (R21)
  • Green Mind, Metal Bats / 青春☆金属バット (2006) by Kumakiri Kazuyoshi / 熊切 和嘉 (M18)

Japanese Currents

  • Mother Water / マザーウォーター (2010) by Matsumoto Kana / 松本 佳奈 (PG)
  • Strawberry Shortcakes / ストロベリーショートケイクス (2006) by Yazaki Hitoshi / 矢崎 仁司 (R21)
  • Birthright / 臍帯 (2010) by Hashimoto Naoki / 橋本 直樹 (PG)
  • Megane / めがね (2007) by Ogigami Naoko / 荻上 直子 (PG)
  • Kamome Diner / かもめ食堂 (2005) by Ogigami Naoko / 荻上直子 (PG)
  • The Days After / 後の日 (2010) by Koreeda Hirokazu / 是枝 裕和 (PG)
  • Pool / プール (2009) by Omori Mika / 大森 美香 (PG)

Others

2010 (19 to 29 August)

In 2010, the Japanese Film Festival was held from 19 to 29 August at the National Museum of Singapore. The festival theme was Youth.

Festival Highlights (Youth)

Opening Film:

Closing Film:

  • Sweet Little Lies / スイートリトルライズ (2010) by Yazaki Hitoshi / 矢崎仁司 (NC16)

Director in focus: Ōshima Nagisa / 大島 渚
Director in attendance:

Film Programme

Focus on Japanese New Wave and Oshima Nagisa

Focus on PIA Film Festival

  • A Stranger of Mine / 運命じゃない人 (2004) by Uchida Kenji / 内田けんじ (PG)
  • Water Flower / 水の花 (2005) by Kinoshita Yusuke / 木下雄介 (PG)
  • Fourteen / 14歳 (2006) by Hirosue Hiromasa / 廣末哲万 (PG)
  • ASYL - Park and Love Hotel / パーク　アンド　ラブホテル (2007) by Kumasaka Izuru / 熊坂出 (PG)
  • MIME-MIME / マイム マイム (2008) by Sode Yukiko / 岨手由貴子 (M18)

Directions – Focus on NDJC 2007

  • The Bus to Heaven (2007) by Gunjigake Masayuki (PG)
  • Good bye, George Adamski (2007) by Kodama Kazuto (PG)
  • Seismic Girl (2007) by Tatenai Kenta (PG)
  • Babin (2007) by Hirabayashi Isamu (PG)
  • Restaurant UFO (2007) by Yamaguchi Satoshi (PG)

Directions – Focus on NDJC 2008

  • A Lying Woman's Daybreak (2008) by Kumagai Madoka (PG)
  • Bloom (2008) by Tanaka Tomofumi (PG)
  • The Sparkling Amber (2008) by Nakako Ryota (PG)
  • Kudan (2008) by Yoshii Kazuyuki (PG)
  • The Third Skin (2008) by Wajima Kotaro (PG)

Japanese Currents

  • Air Doll / 空気人形 (2009) by Koreeda Hirokazu / 是枝裕和 (R21)
  • Bare Essence of Life / ウルトラミラクルラブストーリー (2009) by Yokohama Satoko / 横浜聡子 (PG)
  • Fish Story / フィッシュストーリー (2009) by Nakamura Yoshihiro / 中村義洋 (PG)
  • LALAPIPO - A Lot of People / ララピポ (2009) by Miyano Masayuki / 宮野 雅之 (R21)
  • Live Tape / ライブテープ (2009) by Matsue Tetsuaki / 松江哲明 (PG)
  • Yuriko's Aroma / ユリ子のアロマ (2010) by Yoshida Kota / 吉田浩太 (M18)

2009 (25 to 30 August)

The Japanese Film Festival 2009 was a showcase of some of the finest in Japanese horror, mystery and supernatural cinema that year. The festival was held from 25 to 30 August at the National Museum of Singapore.

Festival Highlights (Horror)

Audience Award:

Film Programme

2008 (22 to 31 August)

In 2008, the Japanese Film Festival was held from 22 to 31 August 2008 at the National Museum of Singapore, and was a pre-event of the Japan Creative Centre, which was launched in mid November 2009. The festival theme focused on femininity in Japanese Cinema, as exemplified by the festival theme: "Jyo-yuu" (女　優). The festival showcased works by Master director Naruse Mikio and acclaimed actress-director Tanaka Kinuyo. Works of award-winning young director Kawase Naomi and two other independent directors of the current indie movement Matsuoka Naomi and Matsue Tetsuaki were also featured.

Festival highlights ("Jyo-yuu" 女優)

Director in focus: Naruse Mikio / 成瀬 巳喜男
Directors in attendance:

Film programme

Free-Admission Component

Paid Screenings Component

  • Shara / 沙羅双樹　(2003) by Kawase Naomi / 河瀨 直美 (PG)
  • The Mourning Forest / 殯の森　(2007) by Kawase Naomi / 河瀨 直美 (PG)
  • Shadow of Sand / 砂の影　(2008) by Kaida Yusuke (PG)
  • Katatsumori / かたつもり (1994) by Kawase Naomi / 河瀨 直美 (PG)
  • See Heaven / 天、見たけ (1995) by Kawase Naomi / 河瀨 直美 (PG)
  • The Setting Sun / 陽は傾ぶき (1996) by Kawase Naomi / 河瀨 直美 (PG)
  • Broken Blossom / 花の鼓 (2003) by Matsuoka Naomi (R21)
  • Pathos / 背骨のパトス (2008) by Matsuoka Naomi (R21)
  • Birth / Mother /　垂乳女 (2006) by Kawase Naomi / 河瀨 直美 (R21)
  • Summer Vacation with Naomi Kawase / 2002年の夏休み　ドキュメント沙羅双樹 (2003) by Matsue Tetsuaki (PG)
  • Every Japanese Woman Makes Her Own Curry / カレーライスの女たち (2003) by Matsue Tetsuaki (PG)
  • Embracing / につつまれて (1992) by Kawase Naomi / 河瀨 直美 (PG)
  • Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth / きゃからばあ (2001) by Kawase Naomi / 河瀨 直美 (PG)
  • Sakuran / さくらん (2006) by Ninagawa Mika / 蜷川 実花 (R21)

2007 (15 to 23 September)

The 2007 festival theme was True. Romance and the festival was held at the National Museum of Singapore.

Festival Highlights (True.Romance)

Director in focus: Imamura Shohei / 今村 昌平
Director in attendance:

Actress in attendance:

Film Programme

Imamura Shohei Retrospective

Ichikawa Jun Showcase

Other films

2006 (21 to 29 October)

Friendship was the theme of the 2006 Japanese Film Festival.

Festival Highlights (Friendship)

Director in focus Kitano Takeshi / 北野 武
Director in attendance:

  • Ogigami Naoko

Film Programme

Kitano Takeshi Retrospective

Ogigami Naoko Showcase

  • Yoshino's Barber Shop by Ogigami Naoko
  • Kamome Diner / Kamome Shokudo by Ogigami Naoko

Other films

2005 (28 September to 9 October)

Adaptations was the theme of the 2005 Japanese Film Festival.

Festival Highlights (Adaptations)

Directors in focus:

Film Programme

Nomura Yoshitaro Retrospective

Ichikawa Kon Retrospective

Other films

2004 (24 September to 3 October)

Tokyo Stories was the theme of the 2004 Japanese Film Festival.

Festival Highlights (Tokyo Stories)

Directors in focus:

Film Programme

Yamada Yoji Retrospective

Ichikawa Jun Retrospective

Other films

2003 (26 September to 5 October)

Festival highlights (Commemoration - Ozu Yasujiro)

Director in focus: Fukasaku Kinji / 深作 欣二
Commemoration: 100th birthday and 40th death anniversary of Ozu Yasujiro / 小津 安二郎

Film programme

Fukasaku Kinji Retrospective

Ozu Yasujiro (Commemoration)

Other films

2002 (11 to 20 October)

Film programme

2001 (29 September to 7 October)

Festival highlights (Kurosawa Retrospective)

Director in focus: Kurosawa Akira / 黒澤 明

Film programme

Kurosawa Retrospective

Other films

2000 (7 to 15 October)

Festival highlights (Mizoguchi Retrospective)

Director in focus: Mizoguchi Kenji / 溝口 健二

Film programme

Mizoguchi Retrospective

Other films

1999

Film programme

Audience Award winners
YearFilm DirectorCountry of origin
2012About the Pink Sky / ももいろそらをKobayashi Keiichi / 小林 啓一Japan
2010Fish Story / フィッシュストーリーNakamura Yoshihiro / 中村義洋Japan
2009Strange Circus / 奇妙なサーカスSono Shion / 園 子温Japan

References
  1. Lui, John (29 September 2022). "Film Picks: Japanese Film Festival, South Korean Film Festival, Crimes Of The Future | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  2. "Film fest and fair". The Straits Times. 1 May 1983. p. 28. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  3. "Japan cinema's angry years". The Straits Times. 14 March 1986. p. 6. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. "New Japanese envoy has plans for better ties". The Straits Times. 7 April 1987. p. 23. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. "Japanese films with the accent on youth". The Straits Times. 4 October 1987. p. 2. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. "Japanese Film Festival". www.shift72.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
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