After two online editions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Japan Foundation, Manila brings
back the on-site screenings of its beloved film festival, the Japan Film Festival (JFF), featuring 10
award-winning and must-see full-length films, on Jan. 20 to Feb. 22, 2023 in various venues
in the Philippines.

 One of the largest and most popular film festivals in the country attracting over 25,000 audiences
every year, the Japan Film Festival kicks off its on-site screenings on Jan. 22 to Feb. 3, at the
Shangri-la Plaza in Mandaluyong City. 

It will have simultaneous screenings at SM City Baguio, SM Seaside Cebu, SM City Davao from
Jan. 27 to 31, 2023; followed by Cinematheque Manila, Cinematheque Negros, Cinematheque
Iloilo, Cinematheque Davao, Cinematheque Nabunturan from Jan. 28 to 29.; and UP Cine
Adarna (Quezon City) from Feb. 17 to 22.

The festival opens with Belle (竜とそばかすの姫), a film by director HOSODA Mamoru, starring
the voices of NAKAMURA Kaho and SATOH Takeru. The 2021 animated film tells the story of a
high school girl Suzu (Nakamura Kaho) who lost the ability to sing when her mother died in an
accident when she was young.  One day, a friend invited Suzu to join the virtual world known as
“U” which has  over 50 million members. There, she created her own alter-ego and became popular
throughout the world as the singer Belle.

Intolerance (空白), by director Keisuke Yoshida, follows the story of a junior high school girl who
figured in an accident after allegedly trying to shoplift, then eventually died. The father, wanting to
prove her innocence, doggedly goes after the manager, but then turns into a terrifying monster and
chases down everyone involved. The drama film stars Arata Furuta and Tori Matsuzaka.

In Blue (ブルー), directed by Keisuke Yoshida, Urita loves boxing more than anyone, but continues
to lose. Meanwhile, his younger rival Ogawa is close to becoming the Japan champion and is
preparing to marry Urita’s childhood friend Chika. Though everything he ever wanted is within
Ogawa’s grasp, Urita continues to work toward his dream. Actor Kenichi Matsuyama plays the
titular role.

And So The Baton Is Passed (そして、バトンは渡さ れた) narrates about Yuko (Nagano Mei) who
has been raised by parents unrelated to her and has changed her last name four times. She currently
lives with her father-in-law Morimiya (Tanaka Kei), but things are not going well. Meanwhile, the
freewheeling Rika (Ishihara Satomi) has been showering her daughter with love, but one day
suddenly disappears. And then Yuko receives a letter. This is a film by director MAEDA Tetsu.

In ANIME SUPREMACY! (ハケンアニメ!), Hitomi Saito works for a major animation
production company. After giving up her stable career as a public servant, she joins the anime
industry and has at last been given her first chance to direct a series called “Soundback: The Kanade
Stone.” Despite her eagerness to make the most of the opportunity, storm clouds soon gather over
the production floor. Yukishiro, the producer who handpicked Hitomi for the job, is also a tricky character who’ll go to ruthless lengths to ensure his “product” sells. Sure enough, he frequently clashes with Hitomi, who is determined not to compromise her creative vision. Directed by YOSHINO Kohei, the film stars YOSHIOKA Riho, NAKAMURA Tomoya, EMOTO Tasuku, ONO Machiko.

BLUE THERMAL (ブルーサーマル), a film by director TACHIBANA Masaki, is about Tamaki (Hotta Mayu) who wants nothing more than an ordinary life in college. Unfortunately, she damages a glider shortly after school starts and ends up taking a gofer position with the aviation club to pay back the damages. Tamaki becomes fascinated with the world of the skies from the moment she takes flight in the glider operated by club captain Kuramochi (Shimazaki Nobunaga).

Directed by ZEZE Takahisa, IN THE WAKE (護られなかった者たち へ) follows a series ofnbaffling serial killings where the victims were tied up and left to starve. Tone (Satoh Takeru) who was just released from prison after serving his sentence surfaces as a suspect but detectiven Tomashiro (Abe Hiroshi) cannot nail down a conclusive proof.

In Lesson in Murder (死刑にいたる病), Masaya Kakei attends a low-ranked university, a situation he
finds depressing. One day, he receives a letter from Yamato Haimura, a high-profile serial murderer
convicted and sentenced to death for nine of the 24 killings he had been accused of. Before his
capture, Yamato ran a local bakery, which Masaya frequented while attending junior high school.
Reaching out to Masaya, Yamato freely admits his guilt but insists the ninth conviction was a
frameup and implores him to find the true killer. As Masaya delves into the case, the truth proves to
be cruel beyond imagination. The film is directed by SHIRAISHI Kazuya and starred ABE Sadawo
and OKADA Kenshi.

INU-OH (犬王), a 2022 historical animated film by YUASA Masaaki, is about an encounter
between Inu-Oh who was born with an unusual appearance and Tomona who is a young biwa (lute)
minstrel. The two become inseparable friends. As they mutually foster one another's talents, they
release successive hit songs and gradually rise to stardom.

In Every Day A Good Day (日日是好日), 20-year-old Noriko (Kuroki) and her cousin Michiko (Tabe
Mikako) start taking tea ceremony lessons with Takeda, who has a reputation for being an
extraordinary teacher. At first, Noriko is confused by the intricate rules, but after two years she
comes to realize the profundity of the tea ceremony. Director OMORI Tatsushi casts
YOSHIMURA Tomomi, KANAI Takaharu, and KONDO Takahiko in the film.

Tickets are priced at Php100 per screening. Follow Japanese Film Festival on its official Facebook
accounts (facebook.com/japanesefilmfestPH) for more information and complete screening schedule.

Launched in 1997, the Japanese Film Festival (JFF), formerly known and appreciated in the
Philippines as EIGASAI, is presented and run by the Japan Foundation, Manila. Since then, it has
grown to become one of the largest film festivals featuring a wide variety of cinematic delights from
drama, anime, and mystery to recently released films. JFF also brings guests from Japan for special
talks and discussions.