Japanese Film Festival Arizona 2026
About this Event
Japanese Film Festival Arizona | September 18-19, 2026 | ASU Media and Immersive Experience (MIX) Center, Mesa, AZ.
Join a vibrant two-day festival showcasing contemporary Japanese films by acclaimed directors and emerging voices—celebrating Japan’s rich culture, art, and history.
Hosted by the Japanese Culture Club of Arizona (JCCA)in partnership with The Sidney Poitier New American Film School at Arizona State University.
- Single program - $8
- Friday all-day ticket - $14
- Saturday all-day ticket - $22
- All-access pass - $29
- All-access pass with student ID (please show your student ID at the door)- $24
For more information, please visit https://jffarizona.org
September 18
🕑: 01:30 PM - 03:15 PM
Shorts Program 1: Dream and Desire
Info: Contains mature content. Parental discretion is advised.
“The Fox Bride,” directed by Ryusei Emi | 28 min. | drama |
Inspired by Japanese folklore, this magical and haunting short follows Saburo and his sister during a game of hide-and-seek on a sunny afternoon, interrupted by a sudden rain shower. As Saburo witnesses the mysterious fox wedding, the boundary between childhood wonder and ancient superstition begins to blur.
“BARA,” directed by Chavo | 19 min. | drama |
In the dim glow of a gay adult movie theater, a jubilant drag performer crosses paths with a married man struggling to conceal his sexuality.
“How to Catch a Butterfly,” directed by Kiriko Mechanicus | 26 min. | documentary|
In this raw and compelling documentary, Dutch-Japanese filmmaker Kiriko Mechanicus writes letters to the young man who carried out the Atlanta spa shootings that claimed the lives of Asian women.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Opening Film “A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story”
Info: Directed by Paul Bonesteel, 86 min. | documentary|
Arizona Theater Premiere |
Through newly discovered materials and extensive research, Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Paul Bonesteel explores the life of George Masa, a photographer and conservation advocate whose vision played a vital role in the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail. Tracing Masa’s journey from Asheville, North Carolina, back to Japan, Bonesteel uncovers the hidden story of a visionary whose contributions helped shape some of America’s most treasured landscapes.
🕑: 06:45 PM - 09:00 PM
“Your Name.” Community Movie Night Free Event, preceded by a Music Performance
Info: Directed by Makoto Shinkai | 107 min. | English Dubbed | Rated PG | Free Event, Family-Friendly Program|
One morning, rural high school girl Mitsuha and city boy Taki awaken to discover that they have mysteriously switched bodies. As they struggle to navigate each other’s lives, the two strangers gradually grow close. But when they finally resolve to meet, the true nature of their connection threatens to alter their fate. Written and directed by animation master Makoto Shinkai, this worldwide smash-hit became a landmark success, drawing even non-anime audiences to theaters around the globe. Blending a deeply resonant coming-of-age story with romance, wonder, and breathtaking animation, Your Name. returns to the big screen. Co-Sponsored by the MIX Community Action Board. | Preceded by a Taiko Drum Performance by KEN KOSHIO.
September 19
🕑: 10:30 AM - 12:40 PM
Shorts Program 2: Memory and Love, preceded by a Music Performance
Info: “Sayonara Raifuku Ramen,” directed by Chiho Teratani | 28 min. | drama|
Hana helps her father run their beloved family ramen shop, making his decision to close it all the more difficult to accept.
“Round and Round,” directed by Hayato Otogi | 13 min. | drama|
In this enchanting single-take film, two friends reunite at the park where they spent their high school days.
“Itadakimasu,” directed by Fumiya Nakagawa | 23 min. | drama |
A visit from his single mother prompts a work-absorbed son to rediscover what truly matters through the flavors of her cooking.
“Candling,” directed by Rio Brown | 13 min. | drama |
Nineteen-year-old Quinn learns that her best friend is leaving for college. Grappling with feelings of loss and uncertainty, she struggles to express what she has never been able to say before their lives take them in different directions. | Preceded by a Taiko Drum Performance by KEN KOSHIO.
🕑: 02:15 PM - 04:40 PM
Centerpiece Film “Happyend”
Info: Directed by Neo Sora. | 113 min. | drama |
Arizona Theater Premiere |
In near-future Tokyo, best friends Yuta and Kou are preparing to graduate from high school when a prank prompts their school to install an extensive surveillance system, setting them on diverging paths. In his fiction feature debut, writer-director Neo Sora delivers a striking coming-of-age drama that draws on his transnational upbringing to follow a group of multiracial and multicultural teenagers as they navigate friendship, identity, and resistance in an increasingly uncertain world. Energized by a vibrant electronic soundtrack that captures the pulse and restlessness of youth, the film offers a timely and thought-provoking reflection on contemporary society.
🕑: 06:15 PM - 09:30 PM
Closing Night Film “KOKUHO”
Info: Directed by Sang-il Lee| 174 min. | drama|
This sweeping historical epic follows two rivals striving to master the hereditary world of Kabuki theater. Beginning in the 1960s, Kikuo, the son of a yakuza family, is taken in by a renowned Kabuki actor after his father's death and raised alongside the actor's heir, Shunsuke. Bound by brotherhood, rivalry, ambition, and betrayal, the two dedicate their lives to the demanding art form as they compete to become the greatest Kabuki actor of their generation. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sang-il Lee and adapted from Shuichi Yoshida’s bestselling novel, KOKUHO (National Treasure) combines extraordinary performances, breathtaking stage sequences, and profound emotional depth in a stirring tribute to Japan’s traditional performing arts. The film became the highest-grossing live-action film in Japanese box-office history.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 29.00
