News

Director Seiichi Hishikawa began his career in New York City. He is a very eclectic artist; he has a background in music, photography, cinematography, graphic design and he is an awarded director of short films, television commercials, corporate advertisements, as well as dramas. Hishikawa also directs and stages exhibitions and creates contemporary art installations. He directed and edited the feature film “All Aboard!”, penned by Akio Miyoshi,

“All Aboard!” is screening at Japan FilmFest Hamburg

“All Aboard!” follows the life of Haruka Asakura (Yukino Murakami) and her seemingly unconventional family, consisting of herself and three men. The film starts quietly, in the same way as she describes her typical day, with a dawn over the port town of Komatsushima, soon to be disrupted by the chaotic awakening of the whole gang of housemates, fighting for the toilet, and stuffing themselves with breakfast, prepared by a motherly Haruka. Around the kitchen table,...

First features are becoming more and more accomplished and sophisticated, due to generous fundings, nurturing institutions, excellent film academies and the mentoring of big stars. To mention only few, we were recently blessed by ”Still Human”, “The Third Wife”, and “House of Hummingbird”.

However, it is very refreshing to come across a film that it’s genuinely young at heart, not just because is directed by a young woman of 25 (and looking 16), but because it is rough around the edges, and at the same time raw, impulsive, unapologetic, and daring. With her “Orphan’s Blues”, Riho Kudo won the Grand Prize at the latest edition of the Pia Film Festival (Pff), a festival launched in 1977 in Tokyo and dedicated to nurture young, promising film directors.

“Orphan’s Blues” is screening at Japan Cuts 2019

The film focuses on Emma (Yukino Murakami) a lonely and energetic chain-smoking young woman who sells books...