Japanese

Japanese and Iranian Films Take Top Honors at International Film Festival Rotterdam

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Rotterdam, Netherlands – Japanese actor and director Toshihiko Tanaka’s film “Rei” and Iranian filmmaker Oktay Baraheni’s “The Old Bachelor” emerged as the top winners at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Tanaka’s “Rei” took home the prestigious €40,000 ($43,000) Tiger Award in the main competition, while Baraheni’s “The Old Bachelor” won the €30,000 ($32,000) VPRO Big Screen Award 2024. “Rei” tells the story of a woman in Tokyo struggling to find meaning in her life until she encounters a deaf landscape photographer living in the mountains of Hokkaido. The jury, consisting of Marco Müller, Ena Sendijarević, … Read more

Japanese and Iranian Films Shine at International Film Festival Rotterdam: ‘Rei’ and ‘The Old Bachelor’ Take Top Honors

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Rotterdam, Netherlands – Japanese actor and director Toshihiko Tanaka has been awarded the top prize at the International Film Festival Rotterdam for his human relationships drama, “Rei.” The film follows the story of a woman in her thirties working in Tokyo who discovers the value of her life after meeting a deaf landscape photographer in Hokkaido’s mountains. The Tiger Award, which comes with a prize of €40,000 ($43,000), was given to Tanaka’s debut film by a jury consisting of Marco Müller, Ena Sendijarević, Nadia Turincev, Billy Woodberry, and Herman Yau. In addition to “Rei,” two … Read more

Japanese Film ‘Rei’ Takes Top Prize at International Film Festival Rotterdam

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ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – During the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Japanese director Tanaka Toshihiko’s debut film, “Rei,” was awarded the prestigious Tiger Award. The film tells the story of a young woman working in Tokyo who meets a deaf landscape photographer in the mountains of Hokkaido. Toshihiko not only directed the film but also produced, edited, and acted in it. The jury praised Toshihiko for his collaborative approach and the film’s loose and unbounded environment. In addition to the Tiger Award, the Special Jury Awards went to “Kiss Wagon” by Midhun Murali and “Flathead” by Jaydon … Read more

Japanese Government Faces Unprecedented Lawsuit over Racial Harassment: Plaintiffs Seek Justice and Compensation

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TOKYO, Japan – In an unprecedented move, three men have filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government, alleging a disturbing pattern of racially motivated police harassment. The plaintiffs, consisting of two permanent residents and one foreign-born Japanese citizen, are demanding improved practices and approximately ¥3 million ($20,330) each in compensation. This legal action stands out in a country with a long history of homogeneity and limited precedent for addressing racial discrimination. The primary objective of this lawsuit is to highlight the unconstitutional nature of differential treatment based on race, a violation of both domestic laws … Read more