When we watch certain movies, old memories are easily whisked down our way as we put ourselves in the shoes of the characters. It could be that they’re facing problems we’ve faced before or we place ourselves in their position to take in the story. Several filmmakers over the years have managed to make cinematic hits by evoking these emotions, but none more so than Japanese directors.
This year, the Japanese Film Festival returns with a theme centering around nostalgia. Choose from many films across varying genres. Here’s your handy guide to all the films now showing. 

An anime bonanza! 

Anime has always had a special place in Filipino hearts, thanks to local television networks airing Tagalog-dubbed versions of iconic anime series in the ’90s and early 2000s. Keeping this love for classic anime series in mind, the Japanese Film Festival has picked out five anime films for all to enjoy. What started the festival lineup on Feb. 1 was The First Slam Dunk, a film that acts as a sequel to the basketball anime series Slam Dunk.
Prepare to see all your favorite Slam Dunk characters on the big screen as the students of Shohoku High face off against the champs of Sannoh High in their biggest match yet. Included in the lineup as well are two Detective Conan films, its first release The Time Bombed Skyscraper, and its film released for the franchise’s 10th anniversary, The Private Eyes’ Requiem. Both serve as a great window to get sucked into the fascinating sleuth’s life as we watch Conan solve all the mysteries and challenges thrown his way. 

For younger audiences, Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom is a fairy tale about
how a young man and a young woman from two warring kingdoms meeting in the forest to try and find a solution to stop the war. Finally, there’s Voltes V: The Liberation, an anime film that needs little introduction for Filipino
audiences. Voltes V: The Liberation acts as a combined cinematic cut of the last five episodes of Voltes V especially made for Filipino audiences after it was banned from airing during the Martial Law era.

Expect to laugh, cry, or be thrilled.
Moviegoers often watch a film and choose genres based on what they want to feel. Itching for a thrill that leaves you on the edge of your seat? A Man is the film for you, as it follows the story of a widow learning her husband was posing under someone else’s identity. Or perhaps you’d rather laugh and catch feel-good films like Not Quite Dead Yet, where a father tries to help his daughter run his pharmaceutical company from beyond the grave, or Mondays: See You “This” Week, following the story of an office staff stuck in an endless time loop. 

Maybe you’re looking for a good cry, to help get your feelings out there. If so, don’t miss out on these two drama films, Tokyo Story and Father of the Milky
Way Railroad. Yasujirō Ozu’s Tokyo Story is one of the iconic director’s most well-known works. It follows the story of an elderly couple visiting their children in the city hoping to spend quality time with them. The film takes its time in letting you get to know the characters and establishing the environment, making you all the more attached to what moves the story. Meanwhile, in Father of the Milky Way Railroad, we learn the story of one of Japan’s most beloved children’s book authors, Miyazawa Kenji. It deals with the author’s relationship with his father, a wealthy pawnbroker, who hopes Kenji will soon take over the shop. Kenji, however, has other plans, hoping to walk his own path in life. 

Melt your heart out with romance.
Romance films dominate the local market, as we Filipinos tend to enjoy a good love story. Japanese filmmakers are no strangers to making fun, lighthearted romance films that can easily have viewers gushing over their characters. This year’s lineup has two romance flicks that are sure to win over your hearts. In And Yet, You Are So Sweet, we follow the story of a heartbroken high schooler named Maaya. Upon hearing her lament over being rejected by her crush, the high school heartthrob Chigari proposes to help Maaya get over it by having her pretend to have a crush on him instead.
 

For those who prefer romance movies with a little angst, there’s We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, following the story of new lovers Mugi and Kinu who slowly find their relationship put to the test as they deal with maintaining an income without compromising their creative passions.
 

Connecting our cultures
Moviegoers can also expect a deeper connection among our cultures through these two films in the festival lineup, Voltes V Legacy: The Cinematic Experience and Angry Son. The first film is the product of a passionate Filipino fanbase putting a live-action spin on the country’s favorite anime series. Through the directorial work of director Mark Reyes, who we know for directing primetime classics like Encantadia, it’s Voltes V as you’ve never seen it before. For Angry Son, Filipino audiences are likely to connect to its characters as it deals with Jungo, a high school student, and his Filipino mother who works at a Filipina hostess bar. Knowing little about his father, he sets out on a journey to find him. At the same time, Jungo struggles over his nationality and sexuality. It’s a powerful film that deals with scenarios that most Filipinos are familiar with.
 

All these amazing films featured in the Japanese Film Festival can be viewed for free in participating venues until March. japanesefilmfestph.jfmo.org.ph