Online Talk Events with Director ISHII Kaori – Sake, Salt, and Film: Three Stories from Noto
2025/06/02
“Japan’s Local Wonders in Films”: A Special Streaming Series
From May 1 to August 1, 2025, The Japan Foundation (JF) is hosting a special streaming series titled Japan's Local Wonders in Films on the free global streaming platform “JFF Theater”.
This project will distribute six films set in various parts of Japan and eight videos introducing the culture of each region to the world in multiple languages.
Online Talk Event Featuring Director ISHII Kaori: Stories from Noto
As part of the streaming series, JF is hosting two online talk events featuring ISHII Kaori, director of “The Genealogy of Sake” and “A Handful of Salt,” both set in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, and HATKUTO Akiko, a sake brewer who appears in “The Genealogy of Sake.” They will explore the filmmaking process and delve into the unique culture, traditions and resilience of Noto.
Each event is hosted by the Japan Foundation, Sydney and the Japan Foundation, Mexico. They are free and open to participants worldwide, both online and at local venues.
ISHII Kaori (Filmmaker/Producer)
ISHII Kaori is a filmmaker known for her documentaries on Japanese traditional culture and artisanship, which have been screened both in Japan and abroad. She has organized over 50 promotional events of the Okunoto area and 13 local tours to the area as part of regional revitalization projects by the Ishikawa Prefectural Government. She also actively gives lectures and writes for audiences including entrepreneurs, professionals, and students.
Following the January 1, 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, she opened the screening rights to her two documentaries on Noto and encouraged charitable screenings. Over 230 groups responded, raising more than 14 million yen in donations for the region.
Talk Event Vol.1 (Sydney) :
“The Genealogy of Sake” – Craftsmanship and Spirit in Noto (Sydney)
This session explores the background of “The Genealogy of Sake,” a documentary that follows the passion and pursuit of perfection by sake brewers in Noto. These artisans engage deeply with the region’s natural environment to craft their ideal brew—“ikkon,” or “a single, perfect cup.”
We will also welcome HAKUTO Akiko, one of the featured brewers in the film, to discuss the enduring culture of sake brewing, the impact of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and the path toward recovery.
・Date/Time : June 28, 2025 (Sat)
2:00–3:30 PM (Japan) | 3:00–4:30 PM (Sydney)
・Language : English (with interpretation from Japanese)
・Guests : ISHII Kaori (Director), HAKUTO Akiko (Hakuto Brewery)
・Moderator : Simone Maynard (Sake Educator, Founder of SAKE MISTRESS)
★How to join :
Online : Live streaming on The Japan Foundation, Sydney’s Facebook page
In person : Seminar room at The Japan Foundation, Sydney (Details)
HAKUTO Akiko (Hakuto Brewery)
Originally from Fukushima, she studied brewing at Tokyo University of Agriculture, driven by her passion for fermentation. After working at a startup brewery and training at a renowned sake producer, she now brews sake with her husband, focusing on koji (malted rice) making. Despite heavy damage to their brewery in the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, they continue their craft with resilience.
Talk Event Vol.2 (Mexico City) :
“A Handful of Salt” – A Closer Look at Noto’s Heritage
This talk focuses on “A Handful of Salt,” which documents the passionate efforts of Noto’s salt makers. Director Ishii shares her experiences during filming and insights into the traditions and people of the region.
・Date/Time : July 12, 2025 (Sat)
10:30 AM–12:00 PM (Japan) | July 11 (Fri) 7:30–9:00 PM (Mexico City)
*The interview will begin after the local screening ends, so the time may vary slightly.
・Language : Spanish (with interpretation from Japanese)
・Guest : ISHII Kaori (Director)
・Moderator : Gabriel Rodríguez Álvarez (Professor of Sociology of Film, UNAM)
★ How to join :
Online : Live streaming on The Japan Foundation, Mexico’s Facebook page
In person : At Cineteca Nacional de las Artes , Mexico. The event will be preceded by a free screening of “A Handful of Salt”. See The Japan Foundation, Mexico’s Facebook page for details.
Introduction to the Streaming Titles
In connection with the online talk events, JFF Theater is currently streaming the following two films set in Noto. They are available to watch until August 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM (JST).
*Due to licencing restrictions, the titles are not available in certain countries and regions, including Japan.
“The Genealogy of Sake” (2015, Dir. ISHII Kaori)
A document of sake craftspeople known as "Noto Toji" and their skills that have been passed down through generations, set amidst the beautiful landscapes of Noto Peninsula before the recent earthquake.
“A Handful of Salt” (2011, Dir. ISHII Kaori)
A document of the Agehama-style salt fields (a style of sun-drying sea water that is scattered on a cleared beach) in Okunoto, which were devastated by a recent earthquake. The film reveals a way of life in harmony with nature and leads us to wonder about the beginnings of human activity.
