JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2025

Immerse yourself in the heart of Japan through the magic of film

Join us this spring as we bring the best of contemporary Japanese cinema to Aotearoa! The Japanese Film Festival 2025 invites film lovers, culture enthusiasts, and curious minds to experience stories that resonate—tales of connection, creativity, identity, and the beauty of everyday life.

This annual festival goes beyond entertainment. Each carefully selected feature opens a window into Japan's rich heritage, modern society, and diverse voices. All films are in Japanese with English subtitles, making them accessible and authentic.

Secure your seat, feel the stories, and be moved. Come celebrate the spirit of Japan through film!
 

All films will be in Japanese with English subtitles.
 

Organiser                           In Cooperation with

                                                                                             

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What Did You Eat Yesterday?

Saturday 11 October 10:30am

Director: Kazuhito Nakae 
Year: 2021 
Length: 120 mins 
Genre: Drama
Rating: G
 

A gentle, heartwarming Japanese drama that blends food, love, and everyday life, exploring the quiet rhythms of a middle-aged couple's relationship with warmth and humor.

Story: Shiro, a lawyer, and Kenji, a hairdresser, are a couple who cherish their quiet daily life together. A trip to Kyoto for Kenji's birthday stirs emotional distance, especially after Shiro sees Kenji with a mysterious young man. As tensions rise, they face the fragility of their once peaceful life—and question whether they can return to it.

WATCH TRAILER

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Hit Me Anyone One More Time

Saturday 11 October 1pm

Director: Kōki Mitani 
Year: 2019 
Length: 127 mins 
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
 

A sharp political comedy that follows a bumbling prime minister's journey of self-discovery after a sudden bout of amnesia, delivering both laughs and light social commentary.

Story: A man wakes up with amnesia and discovers he is the Prime Minister of Japan — widely hated and dubbed the worst in history. As he hides his memory loss with help from his secretaries, he navigates scandals, blackmail, a crumbling family, and an impending U.S. presidential visit. With nothing to lose, he rediscovers his ideals and shakes up the nation.

WATCH TRAILER

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I Am What I Am

Saturday 11 October 3:45pm

Director: Tamada Shinya
Year: 2022
Length: 104 mins 
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG: Adult themes
 

A heartfelt story about self-identity and acceptance, following a young adult discovering their voice and individuality through dance.

Story: Kasumi, who has never felt romantic or sexual attraction, faces pressure to marry at 30. After a failed relationship with a man who develops feelings, she reconnects with Maho, a former classmate. Their bond grows, but Maho decides to marry. As their paths diverge, Kasumi must decide what it means to live authentically — on her own terms.

WATCH TRAILER

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On-Gaku: Our Sound

Sunday 12 October 10:30am

Director: Kenji Iwaisawa 
Year: 2020 
Length: 71 mins 
Genre: Anime
Rating: M
 

 

A deadpan, offbeat animated comedy about three high school delinquents who pick up instruments on a whim, discovering an unexpected and unpolished passion for making music.

Story: High school delinquent Kenji convinces his friends Ota and Asakura to start a band — despite none of them having any musical experience. With two basses and drums, they form a unique trio and are unexpectedly moved by the sound they create. Naming themselves Kobujutsu, they soon discover a school folk group called Kobijutsu. Despite their contrasting styles, the two bands bond over music and set their sights on an upcoming rock festival in August.

WATCH TRAILER

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The Nighthawk's First Love

Sunday 12 October 12:15pm

Director: Yutaka Yamamoto
Year: 2021 
Length: 95 mins
Genre: Drama
Rating: M: Sex scenes
 

 

 

A poetic adaptation of Kenji Miyazawa's classic story, capturing the quiet yearning and bittersweet emotions of a solitary nighthawk who dares to dream of love beyond his reach.

Story: Aiko Maeda (Rena Matsui), a science student with a birthmark on her face, has avoided love and fun since childhood due to teasing. Focused only on research, her life changes when she's interviewed for a book about people with facial marks. The book becomes a film, and through her friend Marie (Risa Oda), Aiko meets director Tobisaka (Ayumu Nakajima). As her feelings for him grow, Aiko is forced to confront her long-held insecurities.

WATCH TRAILER

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Love at Least

Sunday 12 October 2:30pm

Director: Kosai Sekine
Year: 2018 
Length: 109 mins 
Genre: Romance, Drama
Rating: M: Offensive language, nudity & mental health themes
 

A romance film based on a novel by Akutagawa Prizewinner Motoya Yukiko and the feature debut of director Sekine Kosai, exploring the complexities of love when one partner lives with a severe illness.

Story: Yasuko (Shuri), suffering from depression and isolation, lives with her indifferentboyfriend Tsunaki (Suda Masaki). When his ex-girlfriend Ando (Naka Riisa) reappears, tensions rise as she pushes Yasuko to rejoin society—and tries to break them up.

WATCH TRAILER