August 20-September 2
North America’s largest festival of contemporary Japanese cinema returns for its 15th edition as an online and in-person hybrid event! Following last year’s entirely online edition, this summer’s festival again offers 14 days of unique access to the best new films from Japan—including studio films, independent gems, documentaries, shorts, avant-garde works and more—for audiences across the United States through Japan Society’s virtual cinema. Additionally, JAPAN CUTS is thrilled to welcome back New York City festival goers to Japan Society’s auditorium for an exciting and diverse selection of Japanese cinema on the big screen.
“It’s the best opportunity for American film lovers to get an unparalleled peek into the singular world of Japanese cinema.” — The Wall Street Journal
“Meticulously curated… An annual highlight of New York’s film calendar” — The New York Times
“JAPAN CUTS has unambiguously become America’s best annual showcase of new Japanese film… a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s ever-vital national cinema.” — IndieWire
Organized by K. F. Watanabe, Alexander Fee and Joel Neville Anderson.
Collections
Feature Slate
Feature Slate Bundle
6 films
Come and Go
2h 38m
•
Drama, Comedy
•
2020
Company Retreat
2h 15m
•
Drama, Based on a True Story
•
2021
The Goldfish: Dreaming of the Sea
1h 16m
•
Drama, Coming of Age
•
2021
It's a Summer Film!
1h 37m
•
Comedy, Coming of Age
•
2020
Ito
1h 56m
•
Comedy, Drama
•
2021
Wife of a Spy
1h 55m
•
Drama, Thriller
•
2020
Wonderful Paradise
1h 35m
•
Comedy
•
2020
Next Generation
Next Generation Bundle
6 films
B/B
1h 17m
•
Drama, Fantasy
•
2020
Mari and Mari
1h 31m
•
Drama
•
2021
My Sorry Life
1h 35m
•
Drama, LGBTQ
•
2021
Sasaki in My Mind
1h 58m
•
Drama
•
2020
Spaghetti Code Love
1h 36m
•
Drama
•
2021
Town Without Sea
1h 45m
•
Drama, Coming of Age
•
2020
Classics
Hiruko the Goblin
1h 29m
•
Horror, Comedy
•
1991
Robinson's Garden
1h 59m
•
Drama, Comedy
•
1988
To Sleep So as to Dream
1h 20m
•
Drama, Silent
•
1986
Documentary Focus
Documentary Focus Bundle
3 films
No Smoking
1h 36m
•
Documentary, Music
•
2019
Ushiku
1h 27m
•
Documentary, Human Rights
•
2021
Why You Can’t Be Prime Minister
1h 59m
•
Documentary, Politics
•
2020
Experimental Spotlight
Experimental Spotlight Bundle
2 films
The Blue Danube
1h 45m
•
Experimental, War
•
2021
Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions
1h 21m
•
Experimental, Documentary
•
2021
Shorts Showcase
Shorts Showcase Bundle
12 films
Narrative Shorts Bundle
4 films
Experimental Shorts Bundle
8 films
Among Four of Us
20m
•
Short
•
2021
Born Pisces
30m
•
Short, Drama
•
2020
Go Seppuku Yourselves
26m
•
Short, Drama
•
2021
HONEYMOON
29m
•
Short, Experimental
•
2021
In a Mere Metamorphosis
9m
•
Short, Experimental
•
2020
June 4, 2020
4m
•
Short, Experimental
•
2021
Leo's Return
27m
•
Short, Drama
•
2021
Night Snorkeling
13m
•
Short, Experimental
•
2021
RED TABLE
7m
•
Short, Experimental
•
2021
Reflective Notes (Reconfiguration)
7m
•
Short, Experimental
•
2021
School Radio to Major Tom
10m
•
Short, Experimental
•
2021
ZONA
15m
•
Short, Experimental
•
2021
In-Person Screenings at Japan Society
The Great Yokai War: Guardians
Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
Wife of a Spy (Centerpiece Presentation)