Courtesy of Japan Foundation
JFF, or Japanese Film Festival, is a project of the Japan Foundation created with the aim to share the excitement of Japanese cinema with the world.
This year, an online version of the annual event will be held in 25 countries simultaneously for two weeks in February. Viewers located in the countries where the online festival is taking place will be able to watch 20 films presented with subtitles in 15 languages for free.
See the JFF Online lineup of films below.
Those interested in watching the films can create a free online access account through the JFF website by clicking the button below.
Happy viewing!
JFF FILM LINEUP
AWAKE (2020)
Director: YAMADA Atsuhiro
Drama | 1h 59m
A thrilling coming-of-age drama depicting the fateful battle between a professional shogi player and a shogi software developer.
Under the Open Sky (2021)
Director: NISHIKAWA Miwa
Drama | 2h 6m
The story of a former yakuza's struggles to be accepted by society, even as he tries to live an earnest life.
SUMODO ～The Successors of Samurai～ (2020)
Director: SAKATA Eiji
Documentary | 1h 44m
A film all about sumo—Japan's national sport. A documentary with rare access into the behind-the-scenes lives of famous sumo wrestlers.
Mio's Cookbook (2020)
Director: KADOKAWA Haruki
Period Drama | 2h 11m
Back when Tokyo was called Edo, a young girl has made a name for herself as a chef while she dreams of being reunited with her best friend. An invigorating story about friendship and the art of cooking.
Aristocrats (2021)
Director: SODE Yukiko
Drama | 2h 4m
Does happiness look different for women in different social classes? A drama that questions the state of contemporary life through the perspectives of two female protagonists of different backgrounds.
RASHOMON (1950)
Director: KUROSAWA Akira
Classic | 1h 28m
A group of murder witnesses all give completely different testimonies. One of the most celebrated films in Japanese history that questions whether there is such thing as truth in this world.
ReLIFE (2017)
Director: FURUSAWA Takeshi
Drama · 1h 59m
If you could redo your high school years, how will it affect your life? A peculiar coming-of-age love story about re-living new destinies.
It's a Summer Film! (2021)
Director: MATSUMOTO Soushi
Drama | 1h 37m
"Let's make a movie together!" A girl passionate about samurai films and a boy full of mystery make a film together that transcends time and space.
Until the Break of Dawn (2012)
Director: HIRAKAWA Yuichiro
Drama | 2h 9m
If you could meet the dead one more time, who would you choose? A spiritual and moving humanistic drama.
The Floating Castle (2012)
Director: INUDO Isshin, HIGUCHI Shinji
Action, History, Period Drama | 2h 24m
Despite the absolute disadvantage of a troop of 500 against 20,000, a commander still decides to go to war. A war spectacle set during Japan's civil war period.
Bread of Happiness (2012)
Director: MISHIMA Yukiko
Drama | 1h 54m
A cafe in the middle of the great outdoors serves delicious bread and coffee to people with pain in their hearts. A humanistic drama that is sure to warm one's heart.
The Chef of South Polar (2009)
Director: OKITA Shuichi
Drama | 2h 5m
A classic Japanese comedy film that follows the bittersweet and charmed daily lives of a group of men living in the Antarctic, where their only joy is to eat.
The God of Ramen (2013)
Director: INNAMI Takashi
Documentary | 1h 30m
A moving documentary about the man who started a legendary ramen shop in Tokyo.
Masked Ward (2020)
Director: KIMURA Hisashi
Thriller | 1h 54m
What is the robber's true motive? A surprising thriller that unfolds in the confines of a hospital building.
Ito (2021)
Director: YOKOHAMA Satoko
Drama | 1h 56m
A shy country girl chooses a part-time job at a "maid cafe" where she serves customers while dressed up as a maid. A unique and touching coming-of-age drama.
OZLAND (2018)
Director: HATANO Takafumi
Drama | 1h 45m
What kind of employee can wield the magic that makes customers smile? The story of a new employee assigned to an amusement park, and the fun-filled chronicles of her growing pains.
Time of EVE the Movie (2010)
Director: YOSHIURA Yasuhiro
Animation | 1h 46m
Do androids have souls? A moving animation that considers the nature of emotions through the interactions between humans and androids.
Happy Flight (2008)
Director: YAGUCHI Shinobu
Comedy | 1h 43m
Emergency on a flight from Tokyo to Honolulu! An ensemble film depicting on-the-ground staff, cabin attendants and pilots in action.
Patema Inverted (2013)
Director: YOSHIURA Yasuhiro
Animation | 1h 39m
A girl and a boy living in two different worlds, that exist upside-down from each other, change the future. Characters "rise" underground and "fall" into the sky in this truly innovative animation.
Her Love Boils Bathwater (2016)
Director: NAKANO Ryota
Drama | 2h 5m
A tear-inducing humanistic drama about the bonds between a strong-willed and deeply-loving mother and her family.
About the Japanese Film Festival:
The first-ever Japanese Film Festival Online was held across five continents and 20 countries from November 2020 to March 2021. A total of 30 Japanese films, from new releases to classics, were streamed for free, recording over 210,000 views around the world. At a time when movie theaters in many areas were closed due to the pandemic, the Festival was able to share Japanese cinema with the world on a scale never before achieved. The variety of films presented, as well as special interviews with directors, made this festival a well-received success.
For its second year, the festival will expand to 25 countries, focusing on areas where access to Japanese cinema is limited. Nepal, Bangladesh, Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru have been added to the festival’s scope. Viewers located in the countries where the online festival will take place will be able to watch 20 films presented with subtitles in 15 languages for free.
In addition to movies, the festival plans to produce a variety of Japanese cinema related content including events and special feature articles published on the JFF+ website.