TAKOYAKI STORY reviewed

  Takoyaki Story

Directed by Sawako Kabuki

Japan, 2018, 1’35”

 

Takoyaki Story is an animated short about a girl who is attracted to takoyaki and who eventual overcomes her hesitancy to eat them. Takoyaki is translated into English as octopus balls. But let's be absolutely clear:  they are not the genital sacks of male octopuses!  Rather, takoyaki is a famous and very delicious Japanese street food snack made of ball-shaped cakes containing pieces of chopped octopus and sundry other items.

Takoyaki Story is colorful, fun and delightful. Made me think of the Beatles' animated film Yellow Submarine, only it's a short and features dancing octopuses instead of Blue Meanies.

AsianCineFest rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very highly recommended.

Takoyaki Story is one of the fourteen short films showing online at this year's New York Japan CineFest which ends today, Sunday, November 22nd.
 

Registration: $1 service fee plus suggested donation
Official Festival site: http://watch.nyjcf.com
Official Website: http://nyjcf.com

More information about the 9th annual New York Japan CineFest

The 9th New York Japan CineFest
held online for the first time
Festival dates: November 20 – November 22, 2020

New York Japan CineFest (NYJCF), an independent Japanese short film festival now in its 9th year, will be held online for the first time from November 20th to November 22nd. This year, fourteen short films in the categories of documentary, narrative and animation have been selected. NYJCF 2020 will be presented by Mar Creation, Inc., sponsored CYBER-NY, (platform provider), partnered with Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan, and supported by Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market, Aichi International Women’s Film Festival and Kadoma International Film Festival.

As most film festivals around the world have been forced to go online due to the Coronavirus pandemic, NYJCF is also going to hold the film festival online after the 5-month delay from the regular festival month, June. The festival has implemented a digital platform called, “LOGIC” which is a business cloud solution, provided by CYBER-NY.

This year’s theme is “LIGHT” which is the festival committee found after struggling and discussing what the best way is to continue the annual festival during the pandemic.

NYJCF was founded by three Japanese producers based in New York in 2012; Yasu Suzuki (Actor, dancer and filmmaker), Kosuke Furukawa (Film director) and Hiroshi Kono (CEO of Mar Creation, Inc.) Since 2015, the film festival has been invited to screen its programs and films in multiple cities; Boston, Washington D.C. Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco in the U.S. and also at film festivals in Japan; Aichi International Film Festival Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market, Kadoma International Film Festival and New Director Film Festival. In the nineth year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, they are planning to continue the tour online are scheduled to host in Akita City, Japan in November and Boston, MA in December, 2020.

Dates: Friday, November 20, 2020 – Sunday, November 22, 2020
Place: on-demand online
Registration: $1 service fee plus suggested donation
Official Festival site: http://watch.nyjcf.com
Official Website: http://nyjcf.com

Program
1. Coming Back Sunny (Noriko Yuasa | drama | Japan | 2020 | 15’02”)
2. Ice Farmers {Tatsuya Ino | documentary| Japan | 2020 | 3’22”)
3. RAY (Tekkoku Nogami | drama | Japan | 2019 | 28’19”)
4. BOZE (Fuyuko Mochizuki | documentary | Japan | 2019 | 14’26”)
5. The Walking Fish (Thessa Meijer | drama | Japan | Netherlands | 2018 | 18’59”)
6. RAMETOKKOR YAN (Yuichiro Yamada | documentary | Japan | 2019 | 10’3”)
7. Makhaliss (Koji Yamamoto | drama | Japan | 2019 | 34’25” )
8. The Buttefly (Shiho Fukada | documentary| Japan | 2019 | 11’20”)
9. 20dB (Hiroyuki Nishiyama |drama | Japan | 2020 | 14’43”)
10. Takoyaki Story (Sawako Kabuki | animation | Japan | 2018 | 1’35”)
11. Miyamoto and the Machine: The Story of KenKen (Dan Sullivan | documentary | 

      USA | 2019 | 39’22”)
12. Samurai in the Oregon Sky (Ilana Sol | documentary | USA | 2019 | 48’16”)
13. Hello! Brand New World (Ryo Takebayashi drama/YouTube short | Japan | 2019 | 18’52”)
14. Nourishing Japan (Alexis Aligana Sanborn | documentary | USA | 2019 | 23’59”)

New York Japan CineFest is available online this weekend, Nov 20th-22nd

New York Japan CineFest, a jewel of a festival that's been around since 2012, is returning this weekend with a program of fourteen short films. This year marks the first time that the festival has been online, a result of the COVID situation (as was the case with 2020's New York Asian Film Festival and Japan Society NY's JAPAN CUTS film festival).

For all the information you need about the films that will be available and how to register to watch them, click here.

"Miss u, Love" reviewed; one of the shorts at NY Japan CineFest

Mar Creation

and

Asia Society NYC

Present

Miss u, Love

Directed by Toko Shiiki

USA, 2018, 7 minutes

Miss u, Love will be shown on Thursday, June 6th as one of the shorts included in Program 2 of this year's New York Japan CineFest. The mini-festival runs Wednesday, June 5th and Thursday the 6th at Asia Society located at 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street. (Click here for map.) Each night's program is scheduled to run from 6:30 - 8:15 PM.

Synopsis:
Rei is working as a “Mail-Lady” for the “Mental Health Mail-Lady Service” in Japan. Her job is to exchange emails with clients who have mental health disorders. According to her, she is the most popular “Mail-Lady” in Japan. But recently, she relocated to the United States, after a troublesome exchange with one of her clients.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; an intriguing film that is highly recommended.

New York Japan CineFest 2019 returns to Asia Society on June 5th and 6th

New York Japan CineFest, the annual mini-festival of recent shorts by emerging Japanese and Japanese-American filmmakers, will return to Asia Society NYC for the eighth time next Wednesday, June 5th and Thursday, June 6th. There will be separate programs each day beginning at 6:30 PM. The Day 1 Program on Wednesday will be followed by a reception.

 

Information about the Day 1 Program can be found here; Day 2 Program info is available here.

Asia Society NYC is located at 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street. (Click here for map.)

New York Japan Cinefest 2016 coming to Asia Society June 2nd and 3rd

"Tokyo Cosmos" (Dir. Takahiro Miyauchi)

New York Japan CineFest 2016

When: June 2 and 3, 2016

Where: Asia Society and Museum

725 Park Avenue at 70th Street, NYC

Map

Highlighting some of the most exciting new voices in cinema, New York Japan CineFest is an annual event that features works by emerging Japanese and Japanese American filmmakers. Two programs of short films are presented in this year's edition. Program 1 on Thursday, June 2 will be followed by a reception. Program 2 on Friday, June 3 will be followed by a discussion.

Tickets: $8 members; $10 students/seniors; $12 nonmembers.

Co-presented with Mar Creation, Inc.

Part of Citi series on Asian Arts and Culture.

New York Japan CineFest's program of four short films will be screening in Washington, D.C. on September 24

The Japan Information and Cultural Center (JICC)

and

New York Japan CineFest

present 

When: Thursday, September 24th - 6:30pm 

Where: The JICC Auditorium 

1150 18th Street NW

Washington, DC

Highlighting some of the most exciting new voices in cinema, New York Japan CineFest will be coming to the Japan Information and Cultural Center (JICC, part of the Public Affairs Section of the Embassy of Japan) to present an exciting night of four short films by emerging female Japanese filmmakers.

The films that will be shown are:

Tsuyako
Japan | 2011 | 25 min | Directed by Mitsuyo Miyazaki 
During post-war Japan, Tsuyako lives a demanding life as a mill factory worker, obedient wife, and loving mother. When an old female lover, Yoshie, pays a surprise visit, Tsuyako finds herself entranced by the dream of a different life. 
Watch The Trailer

Little Kyota Errand Hood
Japan | 2014 | 20 min | Directed by Satsuki Okawa 
Three years after the earthquake and tsunami, little boy Kyota meets little girl Shiori. Sharing similar eccentricities, the two quickly become friends and plan to embark on an adventure together. 
Watch The Trailer

Reflection
Japan | 2014 | 23 min | Directed by Hazuki Aikawa 
Tara, a young single mother, struggles to understand and come to terms with her son's gender identity. Reflection tells the story of a mother and her enduring influence on her child's life. It provides an honest look at what it means to be a parent to a LGBTQ+ youth. The screening will be followed by a discussion and Q&A with director Ema Ryan Yamazaki.
Watch The Trailer

Monk By Blood 
Japan | 2013 | 25 min | Directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki 
As a first-born son, 21-year-old Scion Sasaki is destined to take over his family's Buddhist temple in Kyoto, a temple that is 800 years old and has been managed by 23 generations of Scion's family. Born in California, Scion was was brought back to Japan at the age of 9 and raised to understand his ultimate duty. Meanwhile, he juggles multiple worlds as a monk, DJ, and aspiring chef. 
Watch The Trailer

Please note that all films are unrated. Some films may contain mild sexual content.
Viewer discretion is advised.

Registration is not open yet. Sign up to be notified when registration begins!

About the New York Japan CineFest:
New York Japan CineFest was founded by two filmmakers, Yasu Suzuki and Kosuke Furukawa, and a music producer, Hiroshi Kono. Originally planned as rather small one night event, a devastating earthquake occurred in their home country of Japan while the three friends organizing the event in 2011. Since then, their motivation to connect Asian films with films from America and the world, shaking the foundations in a positive way to raise spirits, has only increased.

New York Japan CineFest focuses on the independent filmmakers who have committed to fullly expressing their voice and vision to the world. In its fourth year, New York Japan CineFest will be presented in multiple cities after the New York premiere, which took place in June 2015, through April 2016; Washington D.C., Boston, Houston and more.

For more information about the festival, visit the New York Japan CineFest website.

New York Japan CineFest: Program 2 at Asia Society this evening

Asia Society NY

and

Mar Creation, Inc.

Co-present

21-year-old Scion Sasaki the subject of "Monk by Blood" directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki

   New York Japan CineFest 2015
Program 2

When: Friday, June 5, 2015 at 6:30 pm

Where: Asia Society and Museum

725 Park Avenue (just above East 70th Street)
Map

New York Japan CineFest is an annual two day mini-festival that highlights short films by emerging, talented Japanese and Japanese American filmmakers. This year's iteration concludes this evening at Asia Society with a program of four short films by female directors. Program 2 will be followed by a Q&A with directors Ema Ryan Yamazaki (Monk by Blood) and Hazuki Aikawa (Reflection).

Last night I attended Program 1. Each of the four films were very good. I was especially taken with Confession Ranking of Girlfriend, directed by Shinichiro Ueda and by A Warm Spell, which was directed by Toshimichi Saito.

Ueda''s film is a hilarious comedy about a young woman making 17 confessions to the man who has proposed marriage and vowed that he would love her no matter what. It ends with a revelation even wilder than some of the bizarre confessions that have been made.

A Warm Spell is about the death of the mother of two sons. The elder brother, a doctor, cared for her during her final illness and has brought her back to her home village, where the younger son previously had come to be with her. At times, the film is quite comical, at others, it is very touching. I understand that the 40 minute film, developed from director Toshimichi Saito’s NYU thesis short film, is currently being expanded by him to a full length feature. Quite frankly, my feeling is that as a feature, A Warm Spell has the possibility of becoming another Departures, Yôjirô Takita's 2008 film that went on to represent Japan at the 2009 Oscar's and win the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year award.

Of the films being shown tonight, I have only had the time to watch Monk by Blood in advance. It's a very interesting documentary about 21-year-old Scion Sasaki, who as the eldest son, is expected to take over his family’s Buddhist temple in Kyoto, a temple that is 800 years old and has been managed by 23 generations of his family. The film follows Scion, who was born in California and is currently a college student in Vancouver, as he returns for a brief visit to Japan. His duty to his family and the temple's congregation is juxtaposed against his personal interests in becoming a cook and working as a DJ in clubs.

Program 2: Friday, June 5, 2015, 6:30 pm
Tickets: $8 members; $10 students/seniors; $12 nonmembers.

Monk By Blood
Dir. Ema Ryan Yamazaki. 2013. Japan. 25 min.

Reflection
Dir. Hazuki Aikawa. 2014. Japan. 23 min.

Tsuyako
Dir. Mitsuyo Miyazaki. 2011. Japan. 25 min.

Oh Lucy!
Dir. Atsuko Hirayanagi. 2014. Japan. 21 min.

Note: the films may not necessarily be shown in the above order.

Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

Part of Citi series on Asian Arts and Culture.

New York Japan CineFest 2015 short film event set for June 4th and 5th

Asia Society NY

and

Mar Creation, Inc.

Co-present

  New York Japan CineFest 2015

When: June 4 and 5, 2015

Where: Asia Society and Museum

725 Park Avenue (just above East 70th Street)
Map

Highlighting some of the most exciting new voices in cinema, New York Japan CineFest is an annual event that features works by emerging Japanese and Japanese American filmmakers. Two programs of short films are presented in this year's edition. Program 1 on Thursday, June 4 is followed by a reception. Program 2 on Friday, June 5 is followed by a discussion.

Tickets: $8 members; $10 students/seniors; $12 nonmembers.

Program 1
Thursday, June 4, 2015, 6:30 pm

A Warm Spell
Dir. Toshimichi Saito. 2014. Japan. 40 min.

Little Kyota Errand Hood
Dir. Satsuki Okawa. 2014. Japan. 20 min.

Tadaima
Dir. Robin Takao D'Oench. 2014. Japan. 15 min.

Confession Ranking of Girlfriend
Dir. Shinichiro Ueda. 2014. Japan. 19 min.

Program 1 will be followed by a reception. Click here for more information.

Program 2
Friday, June 5, 2015, 6:30 pm

Monk By Blood
Dir. Ema Ryan Yamazaki. 2013. Japan. 25 min.

Reflection
Dir. Hazuki Aikawa. 2014. Japan. 23 min.

Tsuyako
Dir. Mitsuyo Miyazaki. 2011. Japan. 25 min.

Oh Lucy!
Dir. Atsuko Hirayanagi. 2014. Japan. 21 min.

Program 2 will be followed by a discussion. Click here for more information.

Part of Citi series on Asian Arts and Culture.

4th annual NY Japan CineFest is now accepting submissions

The 4th New York Japan CineFest, which will be held at Asia Society in New York in early June, is currently accepting submissions.

The program will be presented not only in New York but also in Boston, Washington D.C. and other cities.

Films need to be something to do with Japan or Japanese to be qualified for reviews.

The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2015. There is no submission fee.

Click here for the information about what must be included in the submission and for the email address to which it must be sent.

2014 New York Japan CineFest program of six short films reviewed

New York Japan CineFest 2014

When: Thursday, June 12, 2014 @ 6:30pm

Where: Asia Society,725 Park Ave, NYC

Co-presented by Asia Society and Mar Creation, Inc.

The third New York Japan CineFest will take place on June 12th and consist of six short films. I've had the opportunity to watch the films, almost all of them award winners. Here are some brief thoughts on them.

Minka
Directed by Davin Pardo
2011, 15 minutes
A touching documentary about a Japanese farmhouse that was relocated to become the home of John Roderick, an Associated Press photographer, and the narrator, a younger Japanese whom he adopted as his son.

Abita
Directed by Shoko Hara and Paul Brenner
2012, 4 minutes
A lovely animation about a young girl, her watercolors and her dreams. Also about the impact of the Fukushima disaster.

Junk Head 1
Directed by Takahide Hori
2013, 30 minutes
Another animation, but one that uses puppetry and computer graphics. It's set many years in the future when a human is sent on an ecological study deep into the subterranean underground where clones, originally built to maintain them human workforce, live. Incredibly imaginative and marvelously executed.

The Misadventures of Incredible Dr. Wonderfoot

Directed by Grier Dill and Brett Glass

2013, 12 minutes

A very funny science fiction time travel tale about an elderly podiatrist and the havoc he has wrought.

Lil Tokyo Reporter

Directed by Jeffrey Gee Chin

2012, 30 minutes

A poignant drama sent in Los Angeles in the 1930s and centered on Sei Fuji (Chris Tashima), a forthright community leader and publisher of The Japanese California Daily News. In both looks and demeanor, Tashima's performance comes across much like a Japanese version of Gregory Peck's Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Little Kyota Neon Hood
Directed by Satsuki Okawa
2012, 20 minutes
Poor ten-year-old Kyota wears a bright green padded hood because of a phobia. He lives with his single mother and  can't understand why Tim, his English teacher, who has been away for a year, would return to disaster-prone Japan.

Films such as these, like documentaries, are often given "short shrift" (pun intended) by movie goers. But each of these films is well worth seeing, and together they make an outstanding program. Just how highly I think of them is the fact that, while I've already seen them all, I'm still planning to attend Thursday night's program at Asia Society. I hope to see you there.

Complete information about the roughly 111 minute long total program can be found here.

New York Japan CineFest 2014 will be held June 12th at Asia Society NY

New York Japan CineFest 2014

When: Thursday, June 12, 2014 @ 6:30pm

Where: Asia Society,725 Park Ave, NYC

Co-presented by Asia Society and Mar Creation, Inc.

The third New York Japan CineFest will take place on June 12th and consist of six short films. Complete program info can be found here.

One of the films to be shown is Junk Head 1 which was named Best Animation at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2014.

Junk Head 1

Directed by Takahide Hori

Japan, 2014, 30 minutes

Animation

Description: After a conflict between humans and clones, the clones have been driven far below, to the lower levels of the city. Now, 1,200 years later, humans are sending a research pod down below to study the clones' habitat.

ACF 1917: NY Japan CineFest 2013

New York Japan CineFest 2013

Co-presented by Asia Society and Mar Creation, Inc.

When: Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, 2013

Where: Asia Society 725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), NYC

Map

There are three programs in this year's New York Japan CineFest. Two consist of short films, both animations and live-action; the third program is a live-action feature film. This short trailer gives a hint of what's awaiting you at this small gem of a film series.

The following links will take you to full descriptions of  the three NYJCF programs:

Program 1: Short Films by US-Based Directors

Friday, June 8th, 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Program 2: Sapporo Short Fest Selection

Saturday, June 8th, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Program 3: Miyoko (Miyoko Asagaya Kibun)

Saturday, June 8th, 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm

ACF 1915: NY Japan CineFest 2013, Program 3, Saturday, June 8th, 2013

NY Japan CineFest 2013
Program 3: Feature Film - Miyoko
Directed by Yoshifumi Tsubota
2009, 86 minutes, 35mm

When: Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 6:45 to 8:45 pm

Where: Asia Society
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), NYC

Map
Tickets

The final program of this year's NY Japan CineFest 2013 film series consists of the feature film Miyoko, a clever biopic/adaptation. It's a portrait of the pioneering manga artist Abe Shinichi, who turned his relationship with muse/girlfriend Miyoko into a graphic novel, the cult classic Miyoko Asagaya Kibun. Interweaving parts of the original comic book, with its candid and explicit depictions of the couple’s private and sex life, into the narrative, this film delicately tells the ups and downs of Abe’s career and marriage as he suffers from writer’s block and mental state degradation.

There will also be a Q&A with Director Yoshifumi Tsubota.

Miyoko has won the following awards:
- Fantasporto International Film Festival--Best Screenplay, Jury’s Special Award
- Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival--Blue Chameleon Award, Movie College Award

The other two NY Japan CineFest 2013 programs are: 

Program 1: Short Films by US-Based Directors
Friday, June 8th, 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Program 2: Sapporo Short Fest Selection
Saturday, June 8th, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

New York Japan CineFest is supported in part by Redac, Brother International Corp. and Sapporo U.S.A.

ACF 1914: NY Japan CineFest 2013, Program 2, Saturday, June 8th, 2013

Matou, directed by Isamu Hirabayashi

NY Japan CineFest 2013

Program 2: Sapporo Short Fest Selection

When: Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm

Where: Asia Society
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), NYC

Map
Tickets

The NY Japan CineFest 2013 film series will consist of three programs at Asia Society NY on Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th. The second program, on Saturday afternoon, focuses on films selected from the 7th Sapporo Short Fest (2012). These short films offer originality in both subject matter and style. Some meditate on serious issues such as the transience of life, horror of war, and aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Others offer quirky humor and lightheartedness towards absurdity of everyday life. Together they provide a glimpse of the vitality of Japanese culture.

The films of Program 2 are:

LI.LI.TA.AL.
Dir. Akihito Izuhara. 2011. 7min40sec. Animation.
This beautiful and poetic animation presents the magical formation of Japanese verses.
Sapporo Film Festival--Best Original Score

Matou
Dir. Isamu Hirabayashi. 2011. 3min15sec. Experimental.
Is life about a series of role-playing and the change of clothes?
Sapporo Film Festival--Best Mini Short. Best Contemporary, Experimental Short

663114
Dir. Isamu Hirabayashi. 2011. 7min25sec. Animation.
Listen to a 66-year-old cicada tell its life story. Arduously crawling upwards, it proves its determination to live.

Script
Dir. Albert Ventura. 2010. 29min. Drama.
Driven by the desire to win a thousand dollars, four people participate in a ten-minute psychological experiment.
Sapporo Film Festival-Best Screenplay

Soldier School
Dir. Saya Ito. 2012. 14min30sec. Animation.
Upon discovering the hidden agenda of his school, a sensitive teenager becomes plagued by his fears of war and dashes his dream of attending college.

Transferring
Dir. Junichi Kanai. 2012. 20min. Drama.
What will happen when Youko, a mischievous and isolated schoolgirl, befriends the new transfer student?
Sapporo Film Festival--Best Director, Best National Short

Bicycle
Dir. Dean Yamada. 2009. 21min17sec. Drama.
Sometimes, God works in mysterious ways. Finding no meaning in his dull and lackluster life, a man is out of job and bewildered by a note “sent by God.”
Sapporo Film Festival--Best National Short
Premiered at the 66th Venice Film Festival 

The other two NY Japan CineFest programs are: 

Program 1: Short Films by U.S.-based Directors
Friday, June 7th, 4:00 - 6:00 pm 

Program 3: Miyoko (Miyoko Asagaya Kibun)

Saturday, June 8th, 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm  

New York Japan CineFest is supported in part by Redac, Brother International Corp. and Sapporo U.S.A.

ACF 1910: NY Japan CineFest 2013, Program 1, Friday, June 7th, 2013

Sayonara, directed by Eric Bates

NY Japan CineFest 2013

Program 1: Short Films by US-based Directors

When: Friday, June 7, 2013 at 6:30 pm

Where: Asia Society
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), NYC

Map
Tickets

The NY Japan CineFest 2013 film series will consist of three programs at Asia Society NY on Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th. The first night's program is devoted to short films by US-based directors. Ranging from drama, thriller, animation, to war films, these award-wining shorts offer rich insights into the creativity and imagination of filmmakers based in the US. Program attended by filmmakers. Reception to follow, sponsored by Sapporo Beer.

Program 1:

Hypnocus-Pocused
Dir. Victor Tadashi Suárez. 2011. 11min38sec.
Two brothers, one car, and a strange Japanese friend are perfect ingredients for a thriller about a hypnotism that goes awry.
Columbia University National Undergraduate Film Festival--Best Picture, Best Acting, Audience Choice
Naperville International Film Festival--Best Student Film

Usagi-san
Dir. Patrick Dickinson. 2013. 23min54sec.
The peaceful life of an elderly Japanese couple in Los Angeles is interrupted by Alzheimer’s disease. Can they hold on to the cherished past and find solace and hope again?
Ivy Film Festival--Best Graduate Film, Grand Jury Award
2013 Student Emmy Awards--Outstanding Drama-Silver Award 

SVA is... 
Dir. Who-Fu. 2012. 1min27sec.
As a promotional video for the School of Visual Arts, this interesting animation uses different styles to explore the theme of “idea.”

Once More
Dir. Hiroo Takaoka. 2010. 24min.
Using the technology of human cloning, a man pushes the ethical boundary to be reunited with his deceased wife.

The Bridge
Dir. Sheldon Schwartz. 2008. 10min.
A young Japanese American soldier joins a small squad on a dangerous mission in Italy during WWII. The film explores issues of allegiance and identity.

Sayonara
Dir. Eric Bates. 2011. 3min40sec.
After losing his home due to a natural disaster, a little boy befriends a sea turtle on a small island. But it’s time to say goodbye.

Mojave’ 43
Dir. Thomas Takemoto-Chock. 2013. 20min.
A Japanese American schoolteacher prepares a treat for his students as a reward for good behavior but they will soon have to confront an ugly truth.

The Hirosaki Players
Dir. Jeff Sousa. 2010. 19min21sec.
The opening night of a Japanese play in New York becomes a tug of war between an up-and-coming Japanese playwright/director and his famous and aging father who is the uncooperative lead actor.
Beijing International Movie Festival--Golden Duck Award for Best Short Narrative
Sonoma International Film Festival-Best Dramatic Short Film

The other two programs are: 

Program 2: Sapporo Short Fest Selection

Saturday, June 8th, 4:00 - 6:00 pm 

Program 3: Miyoko (Miyoko Asagaya Kibun)
Saturday, June 8th, 6:45 pm - 8:45 pm  

New York Japan CineFest is supported in part by Redac, Brother International Corp. and Sapporo U.S.A.