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TIFF

“Blue Giant,” a feature-length anime movie that centers on young men in Tokyo who aspire to become jazz stars, was so successful in Japan and overseas that director Yuzuru Tachikawa was given an even bigger budget to re-edit the film for a second screening in theaters across Japan.
CULTURE / Film / CULTURE SMASH
Nov 23, 2023
Sleeper hit anime 'Blue Giant' gets an encore
The surprise success of the big-budget feature about jazz warranted a re-edited version and a second life in theaters.
Director Wim Wenders served as president of the competition jury at this year's Tokyo International Film Festival. Wenders' "Perfect Days," which opened the festival and features Koji Yakusho as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo, is Japan’s nominee for the Academy Awards’ best international feature film category.
CULTURE / Film
Nov 11, 2023
'Perfect Days' and '(Ab)normal Desire' turn heads at Tokyo International Film Festival
Wim Wenders' film opened the event, while Yoshiyuki Kishi’s multilayered drama made a splash, taking both the Audience Award and the best director prize.
Director Hideo Jojo made the switch from soft-core adult films to more mainstream entertainment with “On the Edge of Their Seats,” a drama about four teenagers watching their high school baseball team lose an important tournament game.
CULTURE / Film
Nov 10, 2023
'Pink film' director Hideo Jojo gets the red carpet treatment
Tokyo's annual film festival named Jojo — who has made over 100 titles, from soft-core adult films to theatrical features — this year's Director in Focus.
Tokyo International Film Festival celebrated the 120th anniversary of Yasujiro Ozu’s birth with screenings of the director’s films, including 1953’s “Tokyo Story.” The festival also held a symposium featuring three world-class filmmakers discussing Ozu’s contributions: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Jia Zhangke and Kelly Reichardt.
CULTURE / Film
Nov 9, 2023
Kelly Reichardt: 'Yasujiro Ozu truly tries to achieve stillness'
The indie director discusses Ozu's cinematic impact on the 120th anniversary of his birth at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 5, 2022
Tokyo International Film Festival sees welcome uptick in crowds
The 35th edition of the major movie event struck a noticeably different tone after relocating from Roppongi Hills to its new home in one of the more scenic areas of central Tokyo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Nov 13, 2021
TIFF and Tokyo Filmex shakeup gets conversations going
The 34th edition of Tokyo's annual film event marked the debut of a newly appointed programming director, an emphasis on female perspectives and the resurrection of the TIFF Times.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 12, 2021
TIFF's Director in Focus Keisuke Yoshida makes a case for compassion
The underrated director of films such as u201cHimeanole,u201d u201cBlueu201d and u201cIntoleranceu201d gets his due at this year's Tokyo International Film Festival.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 29, 2021
Hirokazu Kore-eda brings his golden touch to TIFF
The Conversation Series at Asia Lounge, a program of discussions that the director helps curate, gives Tokyo's annual film festival a philosophical boost.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Oct 23, 2021
Tokyo International Film Festival’s animation section aims beyond hardcore fans
The 34th iteration of TIFF will feature a retrospective, recent and upcoming films, and a look at a live-action tokusatsu special effects franchise.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 22, 2021
TIFF ambassador Ai Hashimoto wants a cinema comeback
The in-demand veteran actress will serve as ambassador at Tokyo International Film Festival's 34th iteration.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Apr 3, 2021
Is change sweeping the sclerotic Japanese film industry?
The Japan Academy awarded top honors to the LGBTQ-themed drama u201cMidnight Swanu201d and its star, and Tokyo International Film Festival announced that its 34th edition would see more diversity.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Jan 10, 2021
How COVID-19 has changed live events in Japan
While some live events have resumed, the arrival of artists and participants from overseas still may be a ways off.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 16, 2020
‘Hold Me Back’: Listen to the voice in your head
Akiko Ohkuu2019s charming rom-com explores the inner struggles of working women in modern-day Tokyo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 11, 2020
Japanese rom-com 'Hold Me Back' wins sole prize awarded at 2020 Tokyo film festival
Director Akiko Ohku received the Audience Award for her film, "Hold Me Back." She also won the award at the festival in 2017 for "Tremble All You Want."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 30, 2020
Filmmaker Eiji Han Shimizu finds his 'True North' in animated film about North Korea
Eiji Han Shimizu seeks to accurately reflect the experiences of prisoners in North Korean camps with his animated film.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 22, 2020
Veteran Koji Yakusho brings his movie star clout to the Tokyo International Film Festival
This yearu2019s TIFF ambassador discusses the festival experience, the effects of COVID-19 on the film industry, and discovering his inner Marie Kondo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 28, 2020
Tokyo joins world film festivals for 10-day YouTube event
Tokyo International Film Festival's competition programmer says that We Are One is just the start of a more digital-friendly future for festivals.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Nov 8, 2019
With the 2019 Tokyo Film Festival having come to a close, we take a look at how anime was represented at the event
In today's world of visual entertainment, it's hard to argue that Japan has any stronger export than animation.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 31, 2019
Nobuhiko Obayashi: A life spent working among Japan's movie greats
As the Tokyo International Film Festival stages a retrospective of his work, filmmaker Nobuhiko Obayashi talks of a past working with movie greats, such as Akira Kurosawa
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 30, 2019
Shin Adachi's mission to bust the myth of marital bliss in 'A Beloved Wife'
Shin Adachi discusses his latest feature, 'A Beloved Wife,' which will be screened in the main competition at the 2019 Tokyo International Film Festival

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world