Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring.
The role of seasons during the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema (1950s-1960s) cannot be understated. Esteemed artists from this era (OZU Yasujiro, MIZOGUCHI Kenji, ICHIKAWA Kon, NARUSE Mikio) utilized seasonal change to convey the transience of life, a concept culturally rooted in Shinto and Buddhist philosophies. Cinematic seasonal imagery was also used to reflect postwar societal change, where traditional Japanese values and family dynamics were gradually shifting.
Looking back at postwar Japanese Cinema can feel like a fantasy or an alternative reality of a time long past, but therein lies the beauty. Seasonal Impressions carries us into modernity, where we can recognize the legacy of the Golden Age and examine the seasons shown in Contemporary Japanese Cinema (1990s-present) through the works of influential filmmakers such as KORE-EDA Hirokazu, Wim Wenders, and IWAI Shunji.
Seasonal Impressions presents four films, each representing a different season, to reflect a more recognizable reality from the past 30 years, not just for Japan, but also for a global community dealing with the effects of rapid modernization, digitization, and isolation.
This series also gives us an opportunity to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the careers of Director Iwai and Director Kore-eda, both of whom made their feature directorial debuts in 1995 with Love Letter and Maborosi, respectively.
The inclusion of Love Letter serves as our heartfelt tribute to NAKAYAMA Miho, who tragically passed away in December 2024. The Japan Foundation, Toronto, invites you to celebrate her career and legacy as an actor and singer, forever immortalized by her astounding work in Love Letter, and beyond.
March 18—April 6, 2025
The Japan Foundation, Toronto & Innis Town Hall
All films presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Free Admission • In-Person Screenings • RSVP Required (register below)
SUMMER 夏
Still Walking
歩いても 歩いても
Tuesday, March 18, 6:00PM (ET)
The Japan Foundation, Toronto (2 Bloor Street East, Suite 300)
Directed by KORE-EDA Hirokazu • 2008 • Family / Drama • 114 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer
The lyrical, profoundly moving Still Walking is KORE-EDA Hirokazu’s most personal work to date. Created as a tribute to his late mother, the film depicts one summer day in the life of the Yokoyama family, gathered together for a commemorative ritual whose nature only gradually becomes clear.
AUTUMN 秋
Perfect Days
Tuesday, March 25, 6:00PM (ET)
The Japan Foundation, Toronto (2 Bloor Street East, Suite 300)
Directed by Wim Wenders • 2023 • Drama • 124 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer
Hirayama (YAKUSHO Kōji) is content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, books, and taking photos of trees. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world.
WINTER 冬
Love Letter
Thursday, March 27, 6:30PM (ET)
The Japan Foundation, Toronto (2 Bloor Street East, Suite 300)
Directed by IWAI Shunji • 1995 • Romance / Drama • 117 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer
Hiroko (NAKAYAMA Miho) attends the memorial service of her fiancé, Fujii Itsuki, who died in a mountain-climbing incident. Although Itsuki’s mother says that their old house is gone, Hiroko finds the address listed under his name and sends him a letter. Surprisingly, she receives a reply, and discovers it came from his old classmate, a girl who also happens to also be called Fujii Itsuki.
SPRING 春
April Story
四月物語
Sunday, April 6, 7:00PM (ET)
Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Avenue, University of Toronto)
Directed by IWAI Shunji • 1998 • Romance / Drama • 67 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer
Uzuki (MATSU Takako), a shy girl from the countryside of northern Hokkaidō, leaves her family for university in Tokyo to follow the local boy she fell in love with. Just as the cherry blossoms are falling, Uzuki discovers that it can feel lonely even in the big city.
April Story director IWAI Shunji will be in-attendance virtually for a livestream Q&A session following the screening.
