18 Films you shouldn’t miss at the 22nd Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival (Part 2)

By Asian Film Festival on May 11, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

We continue with our list of films that you shouldn’t miss at the 22nd Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival which will take place from May 24 – 29, 2022 in Frankfurt, and On Demand from May 30 until June 6, 2022.

– Selected Films –

**Paper City** by Adrian Francis – Australia, Japan | 2021 – 80 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Docs | German Premiere

In March 1945, air raids on Tokyo killed more than 100,000 people. In Tokyo, many residents are still fighting to keep the memory of the war alive. Adrian Francis conducted interviews with survivors for his documentary. He combines them with archival footage to explore questions regarding what we remember, what we want to forget and how memories shape society. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Trailer:

**Popran** by Shinichiro Ueda – Japan | 2022 – 96 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema | German Premiere

Shinichiro UEDA’s low-budget zombie hit ONE CUT OF THE DEAD (2017 / NC ’18) catapulted into the hearts of genre fans worldwide. His new film is about Tagami, a successful CEO of a manga distributor, who discovers one morning that his penis has disappeared and is flying around through the skies of Tokyo. POPRAN is a bizarre piece of entertainment cinema. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Trailer:

**Ring Wandering** by Masakazu Kaneko – Japan | 2021 – 103 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Visions | German Premiere

Sosuke is a manga artist, but earns his living on a construction site in Tokyo. During an excavation, he discovers the skull of an extinct Japanese wolf. When he digs up the remaining skeleton of the animal in order to draw it, he meets a mysterious girl. In his award-winning fantasy drama, Masakazu KANEKO tells the story of lost souls of World War II. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Trailer:

**Target** by Shinji Nishijima – Japan | 2021 – 99 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Docs | European Premiere

In 1991, Takashi UEMURA wrote a number of articles about a former Korean “comfort woman” who claimed to have been forced into prostitution for Japanese soldiers. Two decades later, commentators brand the report as a fabrication and UEMURA becomes a target. Shinji NISHIJIMA traces the influence of right-wing forces in Japan’s society. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Trailer:

**Tokyo Kurds** by Fumiari Hyuga – Japan | 2021 – 103 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Docs | European Premiere

Ozan and Ramazan were displaced from their homeland and came to Japan as children. They are two Turkish Kurds who are considered illegal aliens by the authorities but continue to apply for refugee status in order to work. Filmmaker Fumiari HYUGA provides an insight into the precarious living situation of young migrants suffering under Japan’s rigid immigration laws. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Trailer:

**Under The Stars** by Tatsushi Omori – Japan | 2020 – 110 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema | German Premiere

Chihiro grew up in a family belonging to a sect that is convinced of the healing properties of a supposed miracle water. Only when she grows older does she begin to question her parents’ blind faith in the sect. Tatsushi OMORI tells Chihiro’s coming-of-age story as a compelling family drama about optimism and reconciliation. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Trailer:

**Unlock Your Heart** by Rin Shuto – Japan | 2021 – 120 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Visions | International Premiere

Ai has had a crush forever on her classmate Tatoe. When she finds out that Tatoe is in a secret relationship with another girl, she sets out to sabotage their plans for the future. Avoiding gender clichés, young director Rin SHUTO presents an unusual and complex high school drama based on a novel by Risa WATAYA. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Trailer:

**We Made A Beautiful Bouquet** by Nobuhiro Doi – Japan | 2020 – 124 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema | Germany Premiere

Mugi and Kinu first meet at a station after missing their last train and seem to be made for each other. Their future as a couple looks bright, but work life after graduation puts a strain on their relationship. Nobuhiro DOI presents a bittersweet melodrama about the unconditional longing for love. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Screening Dates:
May 26, 2022 | Thursday | Mousonturm Saal | 19:30 pm (Buy tickets here)

Trailer:

**What She Likes…** by Shogo Kusano – Japan | 2021 – 121 minutes
**Section**: Nippon Cinema | German Premiere

Closeted teenager Jun seizes the opportunity to enter an alibi relationship when his schoolmate Sae confesses her love to him. But soon his fake reality is about to fall apart. Shogo KUSANO’s sensitive coming-of-age drama is based on a popular novel celebrated in Japan for its authentic portrayal of the situation of queer teenagers. (Nippon Connection 2022)

Screening Dates:
May 26, 2022 | Thursday | Mousontrum Saal | 13:45 pm (Buy tickets here) https://nipponconnection-ticketshop.reservix.de/p/reservix/event/1937258

Trailer:

For more information, please visit: https://nipponconnection.com/en/start/

Image Source:
Paper City – © Feather Films
Popran – © ”Popran” Film Partners
Ring Wandering – © RW Production Committee
Target – © Document Asia
Under the Starts – © 2020 “Under the Stars” Production Committee
Unlock Your Heart – © Risa Wataya, Shinchosha / Unlock Your Heart production committee
All other still photos were taken from NipponConnection’s website