Hibiya Cinema Festival 2024

See Films Under the Stars for Free

Venue(s): Hibiya Step Square, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya
Oct. 19 (Sat), 2024 – Oct. 27 (Sun), 2024: 18:30 - around 21:00
Language: 8 Evening Japanese films are with English subtitles.
Official website: www.hibiya.tokyo-midtown.com/hibiya-cinema-festival/
Theater website: www.hibiya.tokyo-midtown.com/hibiya-cinema-festival/assets/pdf/schedule.pdf
Tariff: Free
Advance tickets: RSVP for front seats: https://bit.ly/3zDqMci
Talk event: Directors on stage 18:30〜19:00

Title: 第6回 トロント日本映画祭 (日比谷シネマフェスティバル 2024) (Dai 6 kai Toronto Nihon Eigasai (Hibiya Cinema Festival 2024))

The Toronto Japanese Film Festival in Hibiya returns for the seventh year with the free screening of eight recent Japanese films, to be held on the giant screen under the twinkling stars (or are those Christmas lights?) at Hibiya Step Square, just across from the iconic Godzilla statue, from October 19 – 26. Timed to finish just before the kickoff of the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival, the lineup includes English-subbed titles that were shown at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival in June. Grab your jacket and reserve your chair (or take your chances with day-of seating opportunities)!

Each screening will be preceded by 30-minute talk sessions with the directors of each film (in Japanese only), providing a valuable opportunity for audiences to hear behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of their work.

You should try to catch all the films, of course, but here are a couple of recommendations:

LIFE IS CLIMBING!, ライフ・イズ・クライミング!
Director: Sokichi Nakahara

For outdoor adventurers and fans of feel-good stories about overcoming remarkable odds, this documentary traces the incredible journey of Koba (Koichiro Kobayashi), a blind paraclimber, and his companion Naoya (Naoya Suzuki), who becomes his eyes as Koba tackles the dangerous sport of rock climbing. Their remarkable partnership leads to four consecutive Paraclimbing World Championships. Then the duo sets their sights on the red sandstone spires of the Fisher Towers in Utah, USA, and director Sokichi Nakahara is there to record what happens next — which naturally involves testing the outer limits of their abilities, resilience and resolve.

MISSING, ミッシング
Director: Keisuke Yoshida

Keisuke Yoshida’s early 2024 hit confronts some dark truths about Japan in a surprisingly non-melodramatic way, as it depicts the increasingly desperate efforts of a couple to find their young daughter before it’s too late. As the months go by with no sign and public interest in the case wanes, the couple begins fighting over their divergent approaches to the disappearance. And then, inevitably, the online slander and abuse begins, culminating in what critic Mark Schilling terms “a toxic brew of personal tragedy, media exposure and social media auto-da-fe.” It’s riveting stuff, with great performances from Munetaka Aoki, Satomi Ishihara and Yusaku Mori.

TAKANO TOFU, 高野豆腐店の春
Director: Mitsuhiro Mihara

This nostalgic, Showa-style story of a father and daughter who run a traditional tofu shop in Onomichi, Hiroshima has warmed the hearts of audiences and earned awards from Italy to Chicago, so fans of gentle, retro comedy are sure to enjoy it. While it’s very much a throwback to the 50s, with familiar characters and much detail paid to the craft of tofu making, it boasts the masterful Tatsuya Fuji in cranky-old-geezer mode, meaning he elevates the viewing experience enormously.