The Japan Foundation (JF) will hold a streaming project titled “Japanʼs Local Wonders in Films” on the free online streaming platform “JFF Theater” for three months from May 1 to August 1, 2025.

In this project, six films set in various Japanese locations and eight videos showcasing the cultures of those regions will be streamed to the world, with multilingual support. The films and videos will be available not only to fans of Japanese films overseas but also to a wide range of viewers, such as Japanese language learners and those interested in visiting Japan for sightseeing, with the aim of further expanding interest in regions throughout Japan, and increasing inbound tourism demand.

Six films set in various Japanese locations and eight videos showcasing the cultures of those regions will be streamed to the world, with multilingual support

Six films will be streamed: “Ito”, a coming-of-age film about a high-school girl with a talent for playing the Tsugaru shamisen at Aomori; “The Genealogy of Sake” and “A Handful of Salt”, documentaries about chief sake brewers and salt-making artisans, respectively, in　Ishikawa; “Love and the Grand Tug-of-war” and “Three Sisters”, human dramas that unfold around festivals in Kagoshima; and “Nabbieʼs Love”, which triggered an Okinawa boom thanks to its beautiful scenes and fine performances of Okinawan folk songs. In addition, in order to deepen understanding of the culture of the regions, eight films produced by JF regarding a mini-theater, art museums, festivals, music and other cultural attractions will be streamed simultaneously.

During the project, online talk events featuring ISHII Kaori, who directed “The Genealogy of Sake” and “A Handful of Salt”, will be held in Mexico and Australia, and film screening events are also scheduled to be held by JFʼs overseas offices.

Talk Events with Director ISHII Kaori

ISHII Kaori, who directed “The Genealogy of Sake” and “A Handful of Salt”, documentaries set in Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture, will appear at online talk events for fans of Japanese culture and films in Mexico and Australia. She will convey the background to the production of the films and the situation in Noto, which is recovering from an earthquake disaster and torrential rain damage to overseas viewers. Details will be announced on the ʻNewsʼ column of the JFF Theater website and its official social media sites.（Online participation may be available.）

（１）Mexico

 

（２）Australia

Official JFF Theater Social Media

Special Flyer: “Japanʼs Local Wonders in Films”

JF has produced a specially designed “Japanʼs Local Wonders in Films” flyer that features highlights from the six films, accompanied with charming illustrations. The flyer will be translated into multiple languages and distributed worldwide.

“Japanʼs Local Wonders in Films” LineupーSix films and eight videos

Feature １．Aomori - Threads Across Time

Shamisen, art, and heritage̶threads of tradition and innovation connecting Aomoriʼs past and future.

【Film】"Ito"

A shy country girl chooses a part-time job at a "maid cafe" where she serves customers while dressed up as a maid. A unique and touching coming-of-age drama.

【Video】"Ki&Ki: Blending Old and New Sounds with Shamisen"

Tune in to shamisen duo Ki&Ki as they perform their dynamic sounds in songs that blend the traditional and modern. This performance features three unique original pieces along with a representative folk song of Tsugaru shamisen.

【Video】"Aomori Museum of Art - Invitation to Explore Japan's Museums"

Aoki Jun, the architect of the Aomori Museum of Art, talks about the concept and features of its design, as well as his thoughts on the museum.

Feature 2．Ishikawa - Hands that Ferment History

Sake, salt, and puppet theater̶echoes of craft and devotion shaped by Ishikawaʼs land and people.

【Film】"The Genealogy of Sake"

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.

【Film】"A Handful of Salt"

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.

【Video】"Traditional Puppet Theater: Bound by Spirits"

In a small mountain village in Ishikawa Prefecture, a traditional form of puppet theater has been handed down by local people for over 350 years. Why and how has this unique art form been so carefully passed down over the centuries? Through excerpts from a popular program in their repertoire titled “Taishokukan” (The Stolen Crystal Jewel), we explore the passionate feelings that the local people put into their puppet manipulation.

Feature 3．Kagoshima – Where Festivals Strengthen Bonds

Festivals, family, and love – powerful dramas unfold in majestic nature.

【Film】"Love and the Grand Tug-of-war"

A drama of family bonds, friendships and the various human relationships revolving around the Sendai Grand Tug of War̶a spectacular event held in Satsumasendai City that has a tradition of over four centuries.

【Film】"Three Sisters"

Set amidst the soft light that emanates from Kagoshima's Rokugatsu-doh summer lantern festival, is a story of three sisters and their family as they struggle to revive their confectionery shop.

【Video】"Kirishima Open-Air Museum - Invitation to Explore Japan's Museums"

The KIRISHIMA OPEN-AIR MUSEUM stands on a hillside in a rich forest area to the northwest of the Kirishima Mountain Range in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu. All the works are in harmony with the natural environment. Here, majestic nature and art blend into one, creating a more profound moving experience.

Feature 4．Okinawa – Soul-Stirring Sounds and Dances

Sanshin, dance and soul - carving rhythms that resonate with timeless hearts.

【Film】"Nabbieʼs Love"

 

Chaos ensues when an old woman's love is rekindled after 60 years. A nostalgic tale on a remote island in Okinawa, set to the tunes by legendary folk musicians.

【Video】"Ryukyu Buyo: Okinawan Soul"

Ryukyu Buyo was created in the era when Okinawa flourished as the Ryukyu Kingdom. Why has this tradition been carried on for so many generations? We explore how ʻChimugukuru – Sincerityʼ, the soul of Okinawan culture, has been inherited through dance.

【Video】"Honensai: Prayers for the Harvest"

Honensai is a festival to thank the gods for the past yearʼs harvest and pray for abundant crops in the next. Among the many Honensai festivals held all over Japan, the “Four-village Puri” in Okinawaʼs Ishigaki Island is not only an important spiritual event, but also one where a wide variety of unique performances are offered. Puri has come down through the ages from the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429 - 1879), and even today its scale remains undeniably exceptional. Get a close look at the rituals and see how each one of them is imbued with the villagersʼ prayers for the ropeʼs sacred power to “draw in” a bountiful harvest.

【Video】"Sakurazaka Theater – MINI-THEATER JOURNEY"

This theater is nestled in the heart of Naha City, in a quaint alley just off Kokusai Dori. Beyond being a cinema, this venue offers a cafe and a shop, making it a versatile space for various activities.Moreover, over 100 lectures are offered under the name of "Sakurazaka People's College."

【Video】"Nago City Hall - BUILT ENVIRONMENT"

"What is Okinawan architecture, and what form should a city hall take?" Answers to these questions can be found everywhere inside this building. The Nago City Hall weaves Okinawaʼs unique culture into its walls, structure, and overall design.