The celebration of Europe Day on May 9 serves to kick off a major cultural event, the annual EU-Japan Friendship Week, which introduces Europe’s diverse culture, languages and history to the people of Japan. Through July, various events and activities for all ages will take place in Tokyo and across Japan.

Among the events planned, the EU Film Days has proven popular and the selected films from EU countries attract many Japanese and foreign people alike.

This is the 12th edition of the festival, and films from 23 EU member countries will be shown at the National Film Center of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo in Tokyo’s Kyobashi area, from May 30 to June 22.

People can experience the distinction and diversity of European films, roughly half of which have English subtitles or dialogue. This year, eight feature-length films will premier in Japan.

Among those showing in Tokyo, the program from Latvia introduces a selection of short animated films recently produced in the country, all without dialogue, providing something that allows children to enjoy the event as well.

This year, films from five EU member countries will also be screened in four cities: Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Okayama, and Fukuoka.

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For more information, visit the official website at www.eufilmdays.jp.