These are our fifteen recommended films from the Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival, which will take place from May 28 – June 2, 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany.

All The Long Nights by Sho Miyake – Japan | 2024 – 119 minutes

Misa is ashamed of her regular outbursts of anger caused by PMS (premenstrual syndrome). After she witnesses her young colleague having a panic attack, they develop a special friendship. Sho MIYAKE’s adaptation of Maiko SEO’s novel, with its atmospheric soundtrack by Hi’Spec, leaves a powerful impression. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Arirang Rhapsody by Sungwoong Kim – Japan | 2023 – 125 minutes

During and after the Japanese colonial rule between 1910 and 1945, numerous Koreans were resettled as forced laborers or emigrated to Japan, where they had to live under adverse conditions and face discrimination. Documentary filmmaker Sungwoong KIM, himself of Korean descent, focuses on the hardships that the women from these generations had to endure. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Belonging by Kahori Higashi – Japan | 2024 – 90 minutes

What if you could return to your loved ones after you die – but as an inanimate object? This idea is developed in Kahori HIGASHI’s heartwarming and humorous omnibus film, in which deceased persons get to experience the world from unusual perspectives. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Best Wishes To All by Yuta Shimotsu – Japan | 2023 – 98 minutes

A young woman visits her grandparents in the countryside. But the friendly atmosphere is soon disturbed by strange occurrences. In his terrifying debut film, Yuta SHIMOTSU joins forces with producer and horror legend Takashi SHIMIZU (JU-ON). NIPPON RISING STAR AWARD recipient Kotone FURUKAWA delivers an unforgettable performance in the leading role. (NipponConnection 2024)

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BLUE GIANT by Yuzuru Tachikawa – Japan | 2023 – 120 minutes
To fulfill his dreams of becoming a jazz saxophonist, Dai moves to Tokyo, where he forms a jazz trio with two young musicians. Based on the popular manga of the same title, director Yuzuru TACHIKAWA presents the young trio’s rocky path to a coveted gig at a legendary jazz club as a captivating mix between music film and coming-of-age story. (NipponConnection 2024)

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From the end of the World by Kaz Kiriya – Japan | 2023 – 135 minutes

Hana’s life as a 17-year-old orphan is not easy. On top of that, she has time-bending dreams and secret agents of the Japanese government claim that her powers can save the world from the apocalypse. But she has to face a mighty opponent. Kaz I Kiriya’s action-packed sci-fi-drama received the award as best film at the 2024 Fantasporto Festival. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Ichiko by Akihiro Toda – Japan | 2023 – 126 minutes

Ichiko disappears without a trace the day after her boyfriend proposes to her. When he tries to file a report, the police inform him that no record of her exists. Slowly, her tragic past comes to light, and a web of secrets is revealed that puts Ichiko’s life in danger. In his gripping psychological thriller, Akihiro TODA reaches across several time periods and skillfully plays with the audience’s expectations. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Inch Forward by Yuchun Su – Japan | 2023 – 83 minutes

Young filmmaker Kiriko wants to make a road movie with a closing scene at the beach. This dreamlike endeavor poses real problems – low budget, a hard search for film locations, no leading actress. Her money worries and her producer put her under pressure. With ironic humor, Yuchun SU depicts the not-so-simple life of a young, determined indie director. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Johatsu – Into Thin Air by Andreas Hartmann, Arata Mori – Japan, Germany | 2024 – 86 minutes

Johatsu – “the evaporated” – is the term used in Japan to describe the thousands of people who voluntarily disappear without a trace every year to start a new life. Andreas HARTMANN and Arata MORI explore the question of what motivates people to leave their lives behind, accompanying those who take this step as well as the agencies that support them. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Missing by Keisuke Yoshida – Japan | 2023 – 119 minutes

A local TV station revisits the case of a little girl that went missing some years ago. While the case remains unsolved, emerging social media commentary places the blame on the girl’s mother. The renewed media attention threatens to tear the family apart. Keisuke YOSHIDA’s complex drama is a perfect combination of thriller, tragedy, and media critique. (NipponConnection 2024)

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PushPause by Ryoma Kosada – Japan | 2023 – 86 minutes

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Summer Olympics and Paralympics take place in Tokyo. The government uses the event as a marketing ploy while ordinary people struggle with their problems. The Coco Guesthouse becomes a meeting point for travelers who learn how helpful it can be to take it slow. Ryoma KOSASA’s award-winning feature-length debut is as relaxed as its setting. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Qualia by Ryo Ushimaru – Japan | 2023 – 96 minutes

Yuko’s life is no picnic: Her husband Ryosuke, who runs a chicken farm, does not love her, she is constantly bullied by her sister-in-law, and Ryosuke’s mistress claims to carry his child. How long will it take until Yuko’s naive smile fades from her face? Ryo USHIMARU’s directing debut is a biting and ironic take on traditional Japanese family values. (NipponConnection 2024)

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Ripples by Naoko Ogigami – Japan | 2023 – 120 minutes

After her husband secretly disappears, Yoriko joins a spiritual cult that values self-sacrifice. Years later, her husband returns seriously ill and expects Yoriko to take care of him, putting her faith to the test. With plenty of dry humor, Naoko OGIGAMI’s satire challenges the traditional image of the Japanese nuclear family. (NipponConnection 2024)

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September 1923 by Tatsuya Mori – Japan | 2023 – 137 minutes

After the Kanto earthquake of 1923, rumors spread that Koreans living in Japan might be planning riots. A group of itinerant merchants is the target of suspicions fueled by the government and newspapers. Documentary filmmaker Tatsuya MORI’s feature debut, based on true events, won the New Currents Award at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival. (NipponConnection 2024)

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The Making of a Japanese by Ema Ryan Yamazaki – Japan, USA, France, Finland | 2023 – 99 minutes

Discipline and diligence, politeness and consideration – these virtues are valued highly in Japanese society and are instilled in children from a very young age. Ema RYAN YAMAZAKI accompanies elementary school students and teachers in a Tokyo suburb over the course of one year, providing an authentic insight into the Japanese education system. (NipponConnection 2024)

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For more information, please visit: https://nipponconnection.com/en/start/