Because We Forget Everything
M, a mystery writer, has a girlfriend of five years named F, who disappeared on Halloween night. When a woman comes and claims to be her sister, M begins the search for his girlfriend. Along the way, the people he meets describe a woman very unlike the F he knew.
Also Directed by Yukiko Sode
A new feature from Yukiko Sode, one of Japan's most-hoped-for young directors, based on a novel by Mariko Yamauchi. The film depicts life in Tokyo for two women of different social classes.
In a present, Asako, a housewife, lives with her 5-year-old son in a country side, separated from her husband who runs kindergarden. When she was young, she lives with her mother and young sister in a tiny and dirty apartment. A scar on her thigh, underwear, smell of those places... One day, those elements of her two different times comes cross strangely.
Hanako Haibara (Mugi Kadowaki) was born and raised in the city of Tokyo. After she gets dumped by her boyfriend, while in her late 20's, she goes on blind dates to find a man to marry. Miki Tokioka (Kiko Mizuhara) was born in a province. She studied very hard and entered a prestigious university in Tokyo. She experienced difficult financial times, but she now works at an IT company. Due to a man, Hanako Haibara and Miki Tokioka meet each other. --asianwiki
This spunky indie revolves around an independent young woman who faces an alienating world with her own set of values and relationships. Makoto does not lead a “good” life. She hates her family, dates a married man, and moonlights as a phone sex operator. Though she is busy everyday with work and rituals, she has no idea where her meaningless life is heading. Then one day, a good man, as kind and grounded as they come, enters her life and tries to straighten things out.
Midori Mantani (Akiko Kikuchi) and Masao Minamisawa (Ayumu Nakajima) are both 28-years-old. They have dated for 4 years, but their relationship seems to be just going through the motions. They think about breaking up. At that time, Midori becomes pregnant. Midori and Masao decide to marry. While preparing for their wedding, they become more familiar with each other's background. Midori Mantani grew up with parents who ran an iron factory in a provincial city that didn't offer much in terms of culture. Unlike Midori, Masao Minamisawa grew up in Tokyo and his family was wealthy. His father worked as a photographer and his mother was a doctor. He now works as a web designer. The couple begin to have a better understanding of each other.
Also Directed by Shuichi Okita
High school student, Ryoichi, hasn't gone to school since he injured a classmate. He kills time playing videogames alone everyday. One day, Uncle Kiyoshi comes to the house to recover after having tried to kill himself. During the daytime, only Ryoichi and Kiyoshi are in the house. Ryoichi can't stand his uncle’s eccentric behavior; however, he gradually starts to enjoy Kiyoshi's company. From their conversations, Ryoichi learns that perhaps there are second chances in life...
Eikichi left his hometown in Hiroshima for Tokyo. He tried to find success with his music band, but failed. Several years later, Eikichi goes home to tell his father, Osamu, that his girlfriend is pregnant. His father curses him out, but he is also excited to have a grandchild. Osamu has a party to celebrate the news, but, at the party, he collapses and goes to the hospital. Eikichi struggles to make his father happy.
Nishimura has a passion for cooking, but never would he have imagined the task before him now: He is unexpectedly assigned to a south polar mission to serve as head chef at the Dome Fuji station. Leaving his wife and daughter behind for a year, he and the other crew members experience one existential crisis after another in the icy cold.
Rookie movie director Koichi and his crew travels to the mountain village of Yamamura to film his next movie. The villagers are eventually enlisted to help film the movie and, in particular, 60-year-old lumberjack Katsuhiko helps against his will.
Seven women aged between 40 and 80 join the Leaf-Watching & Grand Mythical Waterfall & Hot Spring tour. The women chat, pick berries, take photos and generally enjoy themselves as they follow their unreliable guide to the waterfall. Then the guide disappears, leaving the women stranded in the woods. Thrown into an experience far removed from their ordinary lives, they become reflective. An open casting call was held to search for seven women over the age of 40. Acting experience was not required. Director Okita's screenplay comes to life when the cast's unique presence and talents combine with the characters.
The year is 1987 and Japan is just reaching the peak of its economic success. Eighteen-year old Yonosuke Yokomichi arrives in Tokyo from Nagasaki. Ordinary in every way possible, he lives in a suburb far from the excitement of the big city and commutes to a university in the center of Tokyo.
Momoko is a 75 year-old widow living alone in the suburbs of Tokyo. She leaves the hometown in 1964, get married and raises two children as a housewife… 55 years have passed since she came up to Tokyo, and she is supposed to enjoy the rest of her life with her loving husband. But the life is not that simple. Her husband suddenly died and left Momoko alone. However, this turns into the beginning of her new life. She enjoys visiting library, reading books and taking notes about the 4.6 billion-year history of the earth, drinking tea at home... Her curiosity is aroused for everything, and "voices inside her heart" arise like a jazz session! Going and returning between past memories and present, her lonely life changes into the life with freedom and joy!
"Meebo" is an elementary school student and loves fish. His life is indeed "fish-a-holic". Meebo stares at the fish, draws the fish and eat the fish every day. His father worries that he is a little different from other children but his mother always encourages and supports him warmly rather than worrying. After entering a high school, Meebo is still obsessed with the fish as usual. For some reason, Meebo is getting along with rogues like a protagonist of a tale. Eventually, Meebo starts to live alone. With encounters and re-encounters, he is still loved by the people around him and pushes forward straight to his only way.
In 1974, Morikazu is 94-years-old and his wife Hideko is 76-years-old. They live at a house in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The garden at their home is full of trees, plants and insects. Morikazu paints pictures of the creatures in his garden and also observes them. This has been his daily routine for more than 30 years. Morikazu and Hideko entertain visitors every day including a photographer and the couple living next door.
Minami Sakuta (Moka Kamishiraishi) is a 2nd grade high school student. She loves to swim and is a member of the swimming club. Minami Sakuta also enjoys anime and, in particular, "Maho Sakan Otome Buffalo-Koteko." She meets Shohei Moji (Kanata Hosoda), who is drawing "Maho Sakan Otome Buffalo-Koteko" on the rooftop of their school. Shohei Moji is also in the 2nd grade of high school and he is a member of the school's calligraphy club. One day during their summer vacation, Minami Sakuta unexpectedly starts a journey to find her missing father. Shohei Moji joins her along the way. During their journey, they meet various people and undergo personal growth.
Also Directed by Takamasa Oe
The second feature by OE Takamasa, who won the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes with “Drive My Car”, co-written by HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke. University student Yuji lives alone with his mother. He begins to keep a journal. One day, he finds his mother’s diary, in which she details her imaginary life with Yuji’s unborn little brother. “Nice to Meet You” looks into the verity of a real life hidden under a lie, by depicting an alienated mother and son trying to communicate through a fictional diary.