All brochure copy written and edited myself, as well as creating design concept. The festival drew nearly 6000 people over the course of 12 days, increasing attendance by 30% from the previous year.

1. W E D N E S D AY T H U R S D AY F R I D AY S AT U R D AY S U N D AY
JA PA N C U T S 2 3 4 5 6
SCHEDULE 6:30 4:20 pm 12:15 pm 1 pm 1:15 pm
Adrift in Tokyo Accuracy of Death Always: Sunset on Third Sad Vacation
OPENING FILM
The Mourning Forest* Street—2
* Denotes special guest introduction and/or Q&A 6:15 2:30 4
preceded by Tarachime United Red Army*
The Origin of Naomi Dainipponjin 1:45
Long Cuts Kawase Part 1* Digista Vol. VI with pre-screening talk at 3 pm
Short Cuts ( F R E E A D M I S S I O N ) 3:15
6:30 4:15
Turtle Bay Cuts ( F R E E A D M I S S I O N ) Shadow of Sand
Fine, Totally Fine Lazarus—The House
of the Rising Sun
4
8
Yasukuni
The Origin of Naomi 6
Kawase Part 2* JVC Tokyo Video Festival
5
Off Highway 20 7:45
8:45
A Permanent Part-Timer
Accuracy of Death 6:30
in Distress
Fine, Totally Fine
8:15
6:45
Always: Sunset on Third
Planet + 1 Selection:
Street—2
Immoral Films
8:15
J U LY 2–1 3 , 2 0 0 8
Open Art Animation
9
Sukiyaki Western Django
followed by
Sukiyaki Western Party
M O N D AY T U E S D AY
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
6:45
6:30 8:45 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Vortex and Others
The Mourning Forest Kisaragi Yasukuni Filmful Life Near Equal Kusama Yayoi— Sakuran
I Adore Myself *
preceded by Tarachime 7:30 6:45 6:45 pm 1
United Red Army*
6:45 Open Art Animation A Permanent Part-Timer 1:15 A Girl in the Sunset
with pre-screening talk
Digista Vol. VI in Distress JVC Tokyo Video Festival
8:15 3
at 6:30 pm
8:15 Planet + 1 Selection: 8:15 3:15 A Gentle Breeze in the
8:45
Shadow of Sand Immoral Films Off Highway 20 Gummi, Chocolate, Pine Village
893239 9 8:30 3:30 3:15
Gummi, Chocolate, Pine The Inugami Family The Origin of Naomi Lazarus—The House of the
Kawase Part 1 Rising Sun
5:30 5:15
The Origin of Naomi 893239
Kawase Part 2 5:30
5:45 C LO S I N G F I L M
Murder of the Inugami Clan Kisaragi
7:30
Vortex and Others
8:30
Sakuran
followed by Red Light Party
Kisaragi

2. The Origin of Naomi Kawase
In these short documentaries, Naomi Kawase establishes her
own language to express a world filled with isolation that plays
a fundamental role in her filmmaking today.
Part 1: Embracing & KyaKaRaBaA
Thursday, July 3 at 6:15 pm & Saturday, July 12 at 3:30 pm
Lazarus—The House of the Rising Sun Kawase strives to face her history in the search for her unseen
Sunday, July 6 at 4:15 pm & Sunday, July 13 at 3:15 pm father in Embracing. Eight years later, she tries to make a sequel
Mayumi is ambivalent when her frustrated sister Naoko returns to to Embracing, but soon finds out her father is already dead in
their economically declining hometown. After small disagreements KyaKaRaBaA. Kawase pushes herself to the edge of her sanity,
they appear to be reconciled, but then Naoko provokes a catastrophe. slowly driving the film to merge with a fictional world.
Japan 2007, 81 min. Directed by Kishu Izuchi. Total running time approximately 90 min.
Embracing (Nitsutsumarete) 1992, 40 min.
KyaKaRaBaA 2001, 50 min.
Part 2: Grandmother Trilogy
Thursday, July 3 at 8 pm & Saturday, July 12 at 5:30 pm
M E E T C U T S ! Q & A with director Naomi Kawase following
The only large-scale annual Japanese film festival in North the July 3 screening.
America brings a sizable slice of Japan’s contemporary Kawase affectionately films the daily life of the great aunt who
Shadow of Sand raised her, growing vegetables and flowers in the garden as a
film scene to New York City! With nearly 20 feature films Saturday, July 5 at 3:15 pm & Monday, July 7 at 8:15 pm way to reassure her of their relationship as a family.
and over 60 shorts, JAPAN CUTS promises to give the Total running time approximately 100 min.
Yukie has an idyllic relationship with her boyfriend Tamagawa, but
Katatsumori 1994, 40 min.
her behavior at work grows increasingly bizarre. Majima, an outsider,
first taste of Japan’s most recent films ranging from major See Heaven (Ten mitake) 1995, 10 min.
tries befriending her but senses a dark secret.
blockbusters and breakthrough films, to the internationally Hi wa Katabuki 1996, 45 min.
2007, 76 min. Directed by Yusuke Kaida.
acclaimed and highly controversial.
* Don’t miss the NY Premiere of Kawase’s award-winning film
The Mourning Forest, page 1.
FEAT U RIN G
LONG CU TS A Girl in the Sunset
18 U.S. and NY premiere feature films, including a sidebar tribute Sunday, July 13 at 1 pm
Off Highway 20
to late filmmaker Kon Ichikawa’s two Inugami films. Saturday, July 5 at 5 pm & Friday, July 11 at 8:15 pm Based on four early novellas by Noble Prize winner Yasunari Kawabata,
these four short films are by emerging directors from the second
Glue-sniffing, pachinko-playing Hisashi just hangs out while his
SHORT CU TS graduating class of the new Graduate School of Film and New Media
debts rise. One day an old biker pal invites him on a journey into
at Japan’s top art school, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and
the provincial underbelly along Route 20. What they get is a high-
Over 60 short films from Japan’s emerging independent filmmakers
Music (Tokyo Geidai), where famed directors Takeshi Kitano and
tension trip through a very different Japan.
and video artists plus a special highlight on Naomi Kawase. Kiyoshi Kurosawa teach.
2007, 77 min. Directed by Katsuya Tomita.
Total running time 100 min.
M EET CU TS An Italian Song, the Rebirth of a Woman. Directed by Saki Yamada.
Written by Mika Kobayashi. With Yumiko Yoshitaka.
Meet the filmmakers behind this year’s hottest films through
Mind of Maidens, the Mystique of Young Women. Directed by
introductions, Q&As and discussions. Natsuki Seta. Written by Ayumi Kannno.With Maiko Yamada.
Sisters of Asakusa. Directed by Yuichiro Yoshida. Written by Taku
T U RT LE BAY CU TS Yamada and Ayumi Kannno. With Haru and Hanae Kan.
A Girl in the Blazing Sunset. Directed by Shinju Funabiki.Written by
Free screening of an award-winning film for the community of
Koki Tawada. With Tomorowo Taguchi and Yuka Hoshaku.
Turtle Bay and beyond. A Permanent Part-Timer in Distress
Sunday, July 6 at 7:45 pm & Friday, July 11 at 6:45 pm
JAPAN CU TS LOU NGE Iwabuchi documents his bizarre situation and contradictory feelings
as a part-timer with bitter but hilarious irony.
Open for drinks! Hang out and cool down between and after films!
2007, 67 min. Directed by Hiroki Iwabuchi.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
TICKETS
Kayo Yoshida and Yoko Kawase (Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc., Sakuran and A Gentle Breeze in the Village); Seiji Itaki and Takako Matsumoto (B.B.B. Inc., Near Equal Kusama
Yayoi: I Adore Myself); Ken Hashimoto (CCRE, Gummi, Chocolate, Pine); Chinlin Hsieh and Pascale Ramonda (Celluloid Dreams, The Mourning Forest); Yunhui Zhang, Takayuki
Nakamura and Kanae Matsuzawa (Dragon Films Inc., Yasukuni); Katrina Wan (First Look, Sukiyaki Western Django); Yucca Seki and Mayumi Nagumo (Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.,
LO N G C U T S
Filmful Life, The Inugami Family, and Murder Of The Inugami Clan); Yuko Naito (Kumie, Tarachime); Tom Quinn (Magnolia Pictures, Dainipponjin); Michiko Komatsu (Micott &
Basara Inc., Kisaragi); Alexander Zahlten (Nippon Connection Festival on Tour, Nippon Connection); Fumiko Nagata (Nippon Television Network Corporation, Always 2 and
$11 general/$7 Japan Society members & seniors.
Accuracy Of Death); Mariko Tazawa (Slow Learner, Inc., Shadow Of Sand); Yuko Shiomaki (Stylejam, Fine, Totally Fine, Adrift In Tokyo and Sad Vacation); Koji Wakamatsu
(Wakamatsu Production, United Red Army); Asako Otomo (Yugakusha, United Red Army).
SPECIAL TICKET PRICES:
Sukiyaki Western Django July 5, followed by Sukiyaki Western Party
SPECIAL THANKS
$15/$12 Japan Society members
Kyoko Hirano; Go Hirasawa; Asako Kobayashi, A Girl in the Sunset; Shinobu Koide; Noriko Komura; Mizue Kunizane, Dongyu; Marc Walkow, Grady Hendrix, Brian Naas,
Goran Topalovic, Daniel Craft and Paul Kazee, Subway Cinema; Hyoe Yamamoto.
Sakuran July 12, followed by Red Light Party
$15/$12 Japan Society members
Accuracy of Death © 2008 “Accuracy of Death” Film Partners; Adrift in Tokyo © Ten-Ten Film Partners; Always: Sunset on Third Street—2 © 2007 “Always 2” Film Partners; Dainipponjin © 2007 Yoshimoto
Kogyo Co Ltd.; Filmful Life © 2006 “Ichikawa Kon Monogatari” Film Partners; Fine, Totally Fine © 2007 “Fine, Totally Fine” Film Partners; A Gentle Breeze in the Village © 2007 “Tennen Kokekko” Film Partners
T U RT L E B AY C U T S
© KURAMOCHI FUSAKO/SHUEISHA; A Girl in the Sunset © 2007 Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music/Geneon Entertainment Inc.; Gummi, Chocolate, Pine © 2007 GUMICHOCO Film Partners;
The Inugami Family © 1976 Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.; Kisaragi © 2007 “KISARAGI” Film Partners; The Mourning Forest © KUMIE/Celluloid Dreams Production/Visual Arts College Osaka; Murder of the Inugami
Free admission
Clan (TBC) © 2006 “Inugamike no Ichizoku” Film Partners; Near Equal Kusama Yayoi: I Adore Myself © 2008 B.B.B. Inc. ©YAYOI KUSAMA; Sad Vacation © 2007 SAD VACATION Film Partners; Sakuran © 2007
SAKURAN Film Committee © Moyoco Anno/Kodansha; Sukiyaki Western Django © 2007 “Sukiyaki Western Django” Film Partners; Tarachime and The Origin of Naomi Kawase © Kumie Inc.; Yasukuni © 2007
Dragon Films Inc./Beijing Film Academy Youth Studio/Beijing Zhongkun Film Inc.; United Red Army © Wakamatsu Production.
S H O RT C U T S
Free admission
Ms. Machiko Kashiwagi and
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Mr. Stephen W. Dizard Ms. Wakako Ohara
Box Office: Monday–Friday, 10 am–4:45 pm
Mr. Robert H. Ellsworth Alex B. Pagel
Mr. Thomas Bingham
Margot Paul Ernst Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Parker
$100,000 and over Mr. William Laurent
333 East 47th St. between 1st & 2nd Ave.
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gill Mr. William G. Parrett
The Globus Family * Dr. Stephen and Michiko Levine
(212) 715-1258
Ms. June Omura Goldberg* Shelly and Lester Richter
Joan B. Mirviss
Jack and Susy Wadsworth
Shelley and Donald Rubin
Ms. Mariko O. Gordon and
Ms. Hiroko Onoyama
www.japansociety.org/film
Ms. Patricia Salmon
Mr. Hugh Cosman
Michael W. Oshima
$50,000 and over
Fredric T. Schneider
Mrs. April Riddle Gow and
Thierry Porte and Yasko Tashiro
Mr. Chris A. Wachenheim Ms. Gail Garfield Schwartz
Mr. Roderick C. Gow OBE
Ms. Sachiko Tsuchiya All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. Programs are subject to change.
Elaine Sheng and Samuel Jamier
Susan Hancock
Anonymous (2)
$25,000 and over Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Simon
Dr. Gail D. Hashimoto
Ms. Yoko Makino Lea Sneider
Mrs. Seiji Hatakeyama
Snider Family Fund
$1,000 and over Ms. Susan Heck
$10,000 and over Roy Ashikari David Solo
Mr. David S. Howe* JAPAN CUTS is funded by grants from The Japan Foundation
Mr. Bal G. Das Mr. Azhaday Asiadai* Sarah D. Solomon
Ms. Chie Imai
and the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency.
Dr. John K. Gillespie Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Baekeland Steven and Hitomi Spence
Mr. and Mrs. Tamotsu Inami
Mary and Bill Baskett Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado
Tomi Ise
$5,000 and over Martin and Mary Ann Baumrind Mr. John Tancock
Mr. James E. Kirk
Joshua S. Levine and Nozomi Terao*
Mr. and Mrs. Norton Belknap
Martin and Kathleen Feldstein Barbara Ann Klein
Mr. and Mrs. Marc Benda Mrs. Nora Tezanos
Sebastian and Miki Izzard Mark and Elizabeth Levine
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis W. Bernard Mr. and Mrs. Dean R. Thacker
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Lindsey
Ms. Kaori Kawazu
Mr. Graeme Birchall Additional support is provided by
Erik and Cornelia Thomsen
Rosemarie and Leighton R. Longhi
Mr. Brian F. Prince
Ms. Reiko Braun* Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan D. Twombly
Dr. and Mrs. John P. Lyden
Mr. Justin A. Rockefeller
Mrs. Kiyoko Ohata Brown Mr. and Mrs. Cor van den Heuvel
Dr. and Mrs. Robert W. Lyons
Yoshiko and Tim Schilt* Transportation assistance is provided by
Mary Griggs Burke Marie-Helene Weill
Mr. Morton H. Meyerson
Mr. Mark T. Campbell Mr. Howard Wolfson
Ms. Constance Miller
$2,500 and over
Mr. Alejandro M. Carosso Mr. and Mrs. Katsura Yamaguchi
Mrs. Keiko Mimura Japan Society’s 2007–08 Film Programs are generously supported
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Anderson
Dr. Victoria Chan-Palay Mr. Keiichi Yoshikawa
Satoko Miyake and Aaron Nir
Mr. Mark S. Barres by The Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund.
Beatrice Lei Chang Anonymous
Etsuko O. Morris
Mr. Raphael Bernstein Babette and Carmel Cohen Mr. Naoto Nakagawa
Mrs. Catherine G. Curran† Pilar Conde Dr. Tatsuji Namba*
Anne Delaney Charles Cowles Klaus F. Naumann
Festival trailer and logo by Motomichi, www.motomichi.com.
Kurt A. Gitter M.D. and Alice Yelen Charles T. Danziger As of June 9, 2008
Marjorie G. Neuwirth
Mr. Mark F. Goldfield and Mr. Thomas Danziger and Ann Richards Nitze † Deceased August 2007
Ms. Mary E. Hatch Ms. Laura B. Whitman Mr. and Mrs. John and Kathleen Nolan *Japan Society acknowledges with gratitude the
Lesley Nan Haberman Peggy and Richard M. Danziger Halsey and Alice North generous donors who contribute specifically to
Mr. Jon Hutcheson* Ms. Jane DeBevoise and Mr. Paul Calello Mr. Mark O’Friel the Film Program
5
Dainipponjin