Japanese Swordsmen and Taiko Drummers Storm the Toronto Japanese Film Festival
March 29, 2012, Toronto, Ontario –


The Toronto Japanese Film Festival announces a new addition to their line-up: the Canadian premiere master director Takashi Miike’s samurai epic HARAKIRI – Death of a Samurai. Prior to the screening Canada’s preeminent Japanese drumming group, Nagata Shachu, will perform a stirring set of traditional Japanese taiko. The film will introduced by lecturer and author, Dr. Toyomasa Fuse discussing the meaning and significance of the act of hara-kiri (ritual self-disembowelment) from a cultural and historical perspective. The screening is Saturday June 9 at 7 pm. For those feeling overwhelmed by all this, there is will also be a Japanese sake and beer bar to steady the nerves.

Attention: Entertainment, Film, Community, Arts, Family, Multi-cultural reporters/editors
For immediate release –Wednesday February 29, 2012
(Click here to download full press release)

NEW FILM FESTIVAL CONNECTS TORONTO AUDIENCES WITH JAPANESE FILMMAKERS IN A CELEBRATION OF JAPANESE FILM AND CULTURE

Toronto Japanese Film Festival opens June 7, 2012 with Canadian Premiere of “Rebirth” – winner of 10 Japanese Academy Awards including Best Picture– Festival proceeds to support ongoing disaster relief efforts in Japan February 29, 2012, Toronto, Ontario –

The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Shiseido (Canada) Inc. and Alliance Films Inc. are pleased to announce the inaugural Toronto Japanese Film Festival (TJFF), a two week celebration of the best of Japanese contemporary cinema in Toronto from June 7 to 21, 2012. The TJFF is a forum to connect Toronto audiences, Japanese filmmakers, industry professionals and supporters.

This new Festival will showcase the finest Japanese films that have been recognized for excellence by Japanese audiences and critics, international film festival audiences and the Japanese Film Academy.

TJFF also aims to continue to focus awareness of and support for the on-going needs of the Japanese people following last year’s earthquake and tsunami. A portion of the proceeds of the festival will go to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund which has already raised over $1.5 million for the relief effort.

The Festival will open with the Canadian premiere of Rebirth. Directed by Izuru Narushima and based on the novel by popular Mitsuyo Kakuta, Rebirth garnered 10 Japanese Academy Awards including best film of the year. “We are thrilled to open the inaugural Toronto Japanese Film Festival with Rebirth,” said James Heron, director of the JCCC. “It is a powerful film about motherhood and child abduction with searing central performances from Mao Inoue and Hiromi Nagasaku; it was a huge hit with audiences and critics in Japan and I think its universal themes will resonate with Toronto audiences as well.”

(Click here to download full press release)