Shanghai, Chengdu to host this year's Japanese film fest

Shanghai and Chengdu will hold the 2019 Japanese Film Festival from January 10 to 13. This time, six new Japanese films will be screened for movie buffs in China.

Among the six new productions are drama film “Hanalei Bay,” youth film “And Your Bird Can Sing,” comedy film “Fly Me To the Saitama,” romance movies “You, I Love” and “Asako I&II,” as well as “The Bastard and the Beautiful World,” a film comprised of four short stories.  

The festival was launched in 2017, when around 20,000 Chinese movie fans attended the screenings of new Japanese movies. Last year in March, a Chinese film festival was held in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, where 10 new Chinese movies were screened.

Based on a short novel by Murakami Haruki, “Hanalei Bay” centers around the life of a mother who lost her son in an accident 10 years ago.

Set in Tokyo in the 1970s, “And Your Bird Can Sing” is a story about friendship and love among three young people.

“Fly Me To the Saitama” is a live-action film adapted from a popular Japanese anime. 

“The Bastard and the Beautiful World” is made up of four shorts dealing with romance, fantasy, action and musical. The four stories are told by four directors in different styles.

Tickets for the festival will be available from 8am on January 5 on dianying.taobao.com. Movie buffs can also buy tickets at Grand Cinema and UME International Cineplex.