Matt Schley
NewsToei to launch Keishi Otomo’s ‘Hero’s Island’ featuring Suzu Hirose at Cannes
The cast includes Suzu Hirose of upcoming Cannes Competition film ‘A Pale View Of Hills’.
NewsNikkatsu to launch Tatsushi Omori’s ‘Hokusai’s Daughter’ at Cannes
EXCLUSIVE: The historical drama will reunite the director with actress Masami Nagasawa.
News‘Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback’ breaks box office franchise record in Japan
The latest in the long-running anime series took $24.1m from more than 2.3 million admissions.
NewsNetflix film viewing in Asia-Pacific up nearly 20% in 2024
The figure was revealed at a showcase event in Tokyo
News‘Alice In Borderland’ producer Akira Morii readies thriller ‘Baka’s Identity’
Marks the first feature for Japanese production company The Seven.
NewsLow-budget comedy ‘A Samurai In Time’ hits milestone at Japan box office
The film, directed by Junichi Yasuda, has reached a landmark ¥1bn.
News‘Look Back’ wins grand prix at Niigata animation festival as winners reflect on AI
The festival is due to take place a month earlier in 2026
News‘Plan 75’ director Chie Hayakawa among selection for Japan’s global networking scheme
The filmmaker is one of four emerging filmmakers chosen for the second Film Frontier Global Networking Program.
FeaturesFilmart 2025: the buzz titles from Japan
A murder mystery starring Ken Watanabe, the latest from Plan 75 director Chie Hayakawa and a true story from Takashi Miike are showcased by Japanese sellers at Filmart.
News‘Perfect Days’ star Koji Yakusho to receive Asian Film Awards honour
The Japanese actor has a career spanning more than four decades.
NewsCompiled TV episodes prove Japan’s biggest cinema release of 2025 so far
‘Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-’ is set for release in the US on February 28.
News‘Inu-Oh’ director Masaaki Yuasa launches animation studio Ame Pippin
The Japanese filmmaker is also known for animated features ‘Mind Game’, ‘Lu Over The Wall’ and ‘Ride Your Wave’.
NewsMichihito Fujii readies crime drama ‘A Light In The Harbor’, Toei to sell at EFM
The feature is set for release in winter 2025.
FeaturesBerlin 2025: The buzz titles from Japan
A true story from Takashi Miike, an adaptation of a Kazuo Ishiguro novel and a horror sequel are being introduced by Japanese sellers at EFM.
NewsNetflix reveals three films and samurai series on Japan 2025 slate
The features include ‘10Dance’ and ‘Bullet Train Explosion’.
NewsFounder of UK’s Day for Night launches Asia-based company Not That Films (exclusive)
The sister firm will handle distribution, sales and co-production from its base in Tokyo, Japan.
NewsNikkatsu picks up ‘What Should We Have Done?’ for EFM slate (exclusive)
The documentary has recorded local box office success since its release.
NewsJapan box office down 6.5% to $1.3bn in 2024 due to Hollywood shortfall
Local films performed strongly but could not offset a decline in taking for US imports.
NewsJapan’s Cinema at Sea festival reveals line-up for second edition
The Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival will open with ‘Ocean Elergy: The Tragedies Of Mudan And Ryukyu’.
Features75 films to tempt festival directors in 2025
Expect films from Chloe Zhao, Carla Simon, Julia Ducournau, Annemarie Jacir, Kathryn Bigelow, Lynne Ramsay and (possibly) Lucrecia Martel.