JAPANESE CINEMA MINI SHOWCASE 2025
JAPANESE CINEMA MINI SHOWCASE 2025
(Characters in Bloom: Confession to the Basics of Japanese Cinema)
Join us at the Japanese Cinema Mini Showcase 2025, happening from 21–24 February 2025 at GSC Mid Valley Megamall. Presented by the Japan Foundation, in collaboration with Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) and GSC International Screens, this special showcase is the outcome of the Japan Foundation’s “Professional Development and Networking Initiatives for ASEAN-Japan Film Programmers and Curators” program. Featuring four carefully curated films by Ms. Yu Ern of MIFFest, last year’s programme participant from Malaysia, this showcase celebrates the beauty of Japanese storytelling and cinema under the theme “Characters in Bloom”.
Japanese Cinema Mini Showcase 2025:
Date: 21–24 February 2025
Venue: GSC Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur
Tickets: All tickets are priced at RM10.00
Advance Ticket Sales will be announced soon and will be available at GSC E-Ticketing Kiosks or via www.gsc.com.my and GSC Mobile App.
Films:
1) Love Letter
(d. IWAI Shunji I 1995 I 117 min I 16)
2) Maborosi (幻の光)
(d. KORE-EDA Hirokazu I 1995 I 110 min I 13)
3) A Story of Yonosuke (横道世之介)
(d. OKITA Shuichi I 2012 I 161 min I 13)
4) Sweet Bean/ An (あん)
(d. KAWASE Naomi’s I 2015 I 109 min I U)
We’re also thrilled to announce that several Q&A sessions with the directors and special talk programs at Wayang Budiman and Sunway University will also be happening!
Stay tuned for more updates soon.
JAPANESE CINEMA MINI SHOWCASE 2025
Dear Patrons,
Please note the following during the Japanese Cinema Mini Showcase 2025 screenings:
- Selected scenes in the movies “Maborosi” “A Story of Yosonuke” &“Love Letter” will be manually blocked in accordance with the censorship requirement issued by the Film Censorship Board, Ministry of Home Affairs in compliance with Malaysian censorship guidelines.
- All movies will be screened in their original language, with English subtitles.
We appreciate your understanding regarding the disruptions during the screenings and hope you enjoy the movies, specially brought to you by the Organisers.
Thank you.
A Story Of Yonosuke
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Running time (min): 160
Rating: 13
Genre: Drama
Cast: Ayumi Ito, Jun Kunimura, Gô Ayano
Director: Shûichi Okita
Producer: Toshikazu Nishigaya, Yasushi Yamazaki
Release year: 2012
Synopsis: In 1987, Yonosuke, an 18-year-old student, arrived in Tokyo to attend university and made friends with Kato, Yoko and Chitaru. Then 16 years later, Yoko learns that Yonosuke has died and recalls the time they shared in college.
Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/oR_T16buikg?feature=shared
Love Letter
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Running time (min): 117
Rating: 16
Genre: Drama, Romance
Cast: Miho Nakayama, Etsushi Toyokawa, Bunjaku Han
Director: Shunji Iwai
Producer: Tomoki Ikeda, Masahiko Nagasawa
Release year: 1995
Synopsis: Despite the years that have passed, Hiroko Watanabe (Miho Nakayama) is still grieving the death of her fiancé, who died unexpectedly while climbing a mountain. When Hiroko discovers her deceased lover's childhood address, she impulsively writes to him, and is shocked to receive a letter in reply. However, the note's author is Itsuki Fujii (also Nakayama), a young woman who shares the same name as Hiroko's late boyfriend. As the two women exchange letters, they begin an unusual relationship.
Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/P6JAtpSC0EA?feature=shared
Maborosi
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Running time (min): 110
Rating: 13
Genre: Drama
Cast: Makiko Esumi, Takashi Naitô, Tadanobu Asano
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Producer: Naoe Gôzu
Release year: 1995
Synopsis: Despite her outwardly happy and tranquil life as a wife and new mother, Yukimo (Makiko Esumi) is regularly troubled by a horrific nightmare about the death of her grandmother. When tragedy strikes her husband, Ikuo (Tadanobu Asano), the stress forces Yukimo into hermit-like solitude until a kindly widower (Takashi Naitô) attempts to draw her from her shell.
Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/n0mDpUpIZ6Y?feature=shared
Sweet Bean
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Running time (min): 109
Rating: U
Genre: Drama
Cast: Kirin Kiki, Masatoshi Nagase, Kyara Uchida, Etsuko Ichihara
Director: Naomi Kawase
Producer: Kôichirô Fukushima, Yoshito Ohyama, Masa Sawada
Release year: 2015
Synopsis: Burdened with a heavy and ever-increasing debt, a dorayaki baker hires a kind ageing woman, after tasting her delicious surprise. Little by little, she unravels her beautiful inner world. Could she be holding the secret to his success?
Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/m5q20bMG07Q?si=D2S5C1-bcYBGTQM8
