BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//The Japan Foundation, Toronto - ECPv6.6.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:The Japan Foundation, Toronto
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Japan Foundation, Toronto
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Toronto
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20150308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20151101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20160313T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20161106T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20170312T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20171105T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20180311T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20181104T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20190310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20191103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20200308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20201101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20210314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20211107T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20220313T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20221106T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20230312T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20231105T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260308T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260308T203000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20260212T222227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T141624Z
UID:110149-1772994600-1773001800@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Linda Linda Linda (KOTATSU screening)
DESCRIPTION:Linda Linda Linda\nリンダ リンダ リンダ \nSunday\, March 8\, 6:30PM (ET) \nDoors open 6:00PM | Film Screening | In-Person | Innis Town Hall \nDirected by YAMASHITA Nobuhiro • 2005 • Comedy\, Drama\, Music • 114 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer \n4k Restoration! \nFor Kei\, Kyoko\, and Nozomi\, their dream of playing the final high school concert together is dashed when their lead vocalist quits the band. Desperate\, they recruit the very first person they see: Korean exchange student Son (BAE Doona)\, whose comprehension of Japanese is limited at best. It’s a race against time as the group struggles to learn three songs in three days for the festival’s rock concert. \nLinda Linda Linda is an effervescent\, tenderhearted snapshot of youth about the unparalleled joy of jamming out with your friends. The soundtrack fuses bangers from iconic Japanese bands The Blue Hearts and Base Ball Bear with original music composed by James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. The beloved classic is acknowledged by many as one of the greatest Japanese films of the 21st century.  \n@GKIDS \nThis screening is a part of our annual winter film showcase\, KOTATSU 2026: Japanese Cinema at Innis Town Hall. \nFree admission. Registration Required. \nThis event is now fully booked. However\, additional tickets may be available on Eventbrite closer to the event if there are cancellations.  We will also have a rush line before the event to release available seats on a first-come\, first-served basis. Admission is NOT guaranteed. Thank you for your understanding. \nRegister here \n\nDirector Profile: \n \nYAMASHITA Nobuhiro (山下敦弘) is a Japanese film director known for quirky\, “slacker” comedies and slice-of-life films\, often collaborating with screenwriter MUKAI Kōsuke. Yamashita emerged from Osaka’s indie scene with breakout films like Hazy Life (1999) and Linda Linda Linda (2005)\, and later directed features like A Gentle Breeze in the Village (2007)\, La La La at Rock Bottom (2015) and episodes for the popular TV show Midnight Diner\, focusing on impulsive\, unexplainable human moments. Most recently\, he directed the live-action film Let’s Go Karaoke! (2024) and animation Ghost Cat Anzu (2024). \n  \n\nCommunity Partners:
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/linda-linda-linda-kotatsu/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film,Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Kotatsu-Film-5.png
ORGANIZER;CN="The Japan Foundation%2C Toronto":MAILTO:info_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260308T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260308T170000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20260212T222209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T141556Z
UID:110161-1772982000-1772989200@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Forever a Woman (KOTATSU screening)
DESCRIPTION:Forever a Woman \n乳房よ永遠なれ \nSunday\, March 8\, 3:00PM (ET) \nDoors open 2:30PM | Film Screening | In-Person | Innis Town Hall \nDirected by TANAKA Kinuyo • 1955 • Drama • 106 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer\n \n4k Restoration! \nTANAKA Kinuyo’s third film as a director tells the story of  NAKAJO Fumiko\, an ill-fated female tanka poet whose life was brought to a premature end by breast cancer. Set on the plains of Hokkaido\, it features a fully-committed performance from star TSUKIOKA Yumeji\, whose character deals with the pain of being separated from her son\, then suddenly finds herself forced to confront her mortality\, yet still invests herself wholeheartedly in one last love affair. The supporting cast includes MORI Masayuki\, one of the most revered actors of Japanese cinema’s golden age\, as well as HAYAMA Ryoji in his first film role\, SUGI Yoko\, and OSAKA Shiro. The screenplay was penned by TANAKA Sumie\, further consolidating the “films for women\, by women” outlook that TANAKA Kinuyo strived to advance.  \nBefore the screening\, there will be an extended introduction by writer\, producer and filmmaker\, Kelley Dong! \n  \nThis screening is a part of our annual winter film showcase\, KOTATSU 2026: Japanese Cinema at Innis Town Hall. \nFree admission. Registration Required. \nRegister here \n\nDirector Profile: \n \nAs an actress\, TANAKA Kinuyo (田中 絹代) appeared in approximately 250 films\, including works by masters of Japanese cinema such as MIZOGUCHI Kenji\, NARUSE Mikio\, OZU Yasujiro\, etc. At the age of forty-two\, and after starring in more than two hundred films\, Tanaka chose to work behind the camera as a director. This decision constituted a milestone in the history of women in Japanese cinema. Prior to Tanaka\, only one woman had directed a Japanese feature film: SAKANE Tazuko\, whose directorial career was unfortunately cut short due to backlash from the largely male-led film industry. By the time Tanaka announced her wish to become a director\, she was one of the most celebrated actress in Japan\, and her decision was met with circumspection and even objection from some of her previous collaborators. \nA pioneering woman in a studio system that actively discouraged female directors\, TANAKA Kinuyo made six groundbreaking features over the course of a decade\, dismissing the passivity assigned to most female protagonists of the era and creating a small\, radical oeuvre of progressive heroines. These films\, which for decades were not available in North America\, and rarely screened outside of Japan\, were recently restored in 4K\, allowing audiences to (re)discover Tanaka’s achievement as a director.  \n Director Filmography\n1953 Love Letter\n1955 The Moon Has Risen\n1955 Forever a Woman \n1960 The Wandering Princess \n1961 Girls of the Night\n1962 Love Under the Crucifix  \n\nGuest Profile: \nKelley Dong is a writer\, producer and filmmaker. Their writing has appeared in MUBI Notebook\, Cinema Scope\, Film Comment\, The Village Voice\, and the Harvard Film Archive. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\n  \nCommunity Partners:
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/forever-a-woman-kotatsu/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film,Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Kotatsu-Film-4.png
ORGANIZER;CN="The Japan Foundation%2C Toronto":MAILTO:info_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260307T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260307T205000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20260212T222033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T141537Z
UID:110190-1772910000-1772916600@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:And Your Bird Can Sing (KOTATSU screening)
DESCRIPTION:And Your Bird Can Sing\n \nきみの鳥はうたえる \nSaturday\, March 7\, 7:00PM (ET) \nDoors open 6:30PM | Film Screening | In-Person | Innis Town Hall \nDirected by MIYAKE Sho • 2018 • Romance\, Drama • 106 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer \nBased on SATO Yasushi’s novel of the same title\, the film depicts a love triangle and captures the magic and melancholy of a summer. The main character\, « Me » (played by EMOTO Tasuku\, who won Best Actor at the Kinema Junpo Awards for his performance)\, works in a bookshop in Hakodate\, Hokkaido\, and shares a flat with a friend named Shizuo (SOMETANI Shota). Sachiko (ISHIBASHI Shizuka) is « Me »’ s colleague from the bookshop\, and the two starts a relationship. When Shizuo meets Sachiko\, he too starts to like her… Depicted like a breeze in the heat of Summer\, the relationship between these three young Japanese is built on a delicate balance of love and friendship.  \n  \nThis screening is a part of our annual winter film showcase\, KOTATSU 2026: Japanese Cinema at Innis Town Hall. \n  \nFree admission. Registration Required. \nRegister here \n\nDirector Profile: \n \nBorn in 1984 in Sapporo\, Hokkaido\, MIYAKE Sho (三宅 唱) is a Japanese filmmaker whose work has garnered significant international recognition\, particularly at major European film festivals. He completed the elementary fiction course at the Film School of Tokyo and began making feature films after graduating from university. \nHis breakthrough feature Playback (2012) was selected for the International Competition at the Locarno Film Festival. And Your Bird Can Sing (2018) screened in the Forum section of the Berlin International Film Festival\, where it received strong critical acclaim both internationally and in Japan\, and was named one of Kinema Junpo’s Best Ten Japanese Films of the Year. \nMiyake’s next two feature films — Small\, Slow but Steady (2022) and All the Long Nights (2024) — both premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film of the Year. Most recently\, Two Seasons\, Two Strangers (2025) won the top prize in the International Competition at the Locarno Film Festival\, further cementing Miyake’s reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Japanese cinema. \n\nCommunity Partners: \n \n 
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/and-your-bird-can-sing-kotatsu/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film,Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Kotatsu-Film-3-And-Your-Bird-Can-Sing.png
ORGANIZER;CN="The Japan Foundation%2C Toronto":MAILTO:info_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260307T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260307T164500
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20260212T221956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T141443Z
UID:110176-1772892000-1772901900@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:A Story of Yonosuke (KOTATSU screening)
DESCRIPTION:A Story of Yonosuke \n横道世之介 \nSaturday\, March 7\, 2:00PM (ET) \nDoors open 1:30PM | Film Screening | In-Person | Innis Town Hall \nDirected by OKITA Shuichi • 2012 • Drama • 160 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer \nA coming-of-age drama based on a serialized newspaper novel by YOSHIDA Shuichi (author of Kokuho)\, it nostalgically depicts the interactions between a good-natured young man and his friends\, while interweaving the past and present. \nIn 1987\, a young man named Yonosuke (played by KORA Kengo\, who won Best Actor at the Blue Ribbon Awards for his performance) who is unable to decline the requests of others leaves his hometown of Nagasaki to start university life in Tokyo. One day as he is juggling classes and extracurricular activities\, he goes to a driving school and meets Shoko (YOSHITAKA Yuriko)\, the daughter of a company president\, who takes a liking to him. \n  \nThis screening is a part of our annual winter film showcase\, KOTATSU 2026: Japanese Cinema at Innis Town Hall. \nFree admission. Registration Required. \nRegister here \n\nDirector Profile: \n \nOKITA Shuichi (沖田 修一) is one of Japan’s most distinctive contemporary filmmakers\, known for his humanistic storytelling\, understated humor\, and deep compassion for his characters. His films often focus on ordinary people navigating moments of quiet change\, blending comedy and melancholy with remarkable emotional precision. \nOkita gained recognition with The Woodsman and the Rain (2011)\, a warmhearted comedy about an unlikely friendship between a retired lumberjack and a young film director\, which won the Jury Prize at the 2011 Tokyo International Film Festival. He followed this success with A Story of Yonosuke (2013)\, winning Best Director at the 2014 Japan Film Professional Awards\, which further cemented his reputation. \nOther notable works include Mori\, The Artist’s Habitat (2018)\, a meditative portrait of artist MORI Morikazu (shown at our KOTATSU 2020)\, One Summer Story (2020)\, Ora\, Ora Be Goin’ Alone (2020)\, and The Fish Tale (2022). Across his body of work\, Okita demonstrates a rare ability to find meaning in the everyday\, portraying lives not defined by dramatic turning points\, but by the gentle accumulation of moments. \n\n  \nCommunity Partner: \n 
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/yonosuke-kotatsu/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film,Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Kotatsu-Film-2-Yonosuke.png
ORGANIZER;CN="The Japan Foundation%2C Toronto":MAILTO:info_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260307T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260307T130000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20260212T221854Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T141423Z
UID:110186-1772881200-1772888400@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Another World (KOTATSU screening)
DESCRIPTION:Another World \n半世界 \nSaturday\, March 7\, 11:00AM (ET) \nDoors open 10:30AM | Film Screening | In-Person | Innis Town Hall \nDirected by SAKAMOTO Junji • 2019 • Drama • 120 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer \nInternationally recognized director SAKAMOTO Junji teams up with INAGAKI Goro to deliver an original story about three old school friends who are about to turn 40 years old. One of them returns home after a long silence and it brings the other two a moment to contemplate the days ahead in their lives. Through the perspective of men who are facing their 40s\, a point in life too late to be ambitious but too soon to give up\, Sakamoto depicts a human drama of new hope\, bonds between friends and family\, and struggle of how to live the rest of your life when you reach the half-way point. \n“A wistful\, intimate affair about friendship and fateful choices” (Screen Daily)\, Another World premiered at the 2018 Tokyo International Film Festival where it received Audience Award. It was later named one of Kinema Junpo’s Best Ten Japanese Films of the Year and received 4  Kinema Junpo Awards.  \nThis screening is a part of our annual winter film showcase\, KOTATSU 2026: Japanese Cinema at Innis Town Hall. \n  \nFree admission. Registration Required. \nRegister here \n\nDirector Profile: \n \nSAKAMOTO Junji (阪本 順治) is a Japanese filmmaker whose prolific career includes over thirty films. He started his career as an assistant director while studying\, working with filmmakers like ISHII Gakuryu\, among others. He made his directorial debut in 1989 with Knockout\, earning the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award\, and followed it up with another boxing film\, Tekken\, in 1990. Sakamoto became known for action films focusing on the conflicts between male characters\, such as Tokarefu (1994) and New Battles Without Honor and Humanity (2000)\, but has also made films centered on female characters such as Face (2000)\, for which he won the award for Best Director at the 24th Japan Academy Prize.  \nRecently\, his film Okiku and the World had its world premiere at the 2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam and won Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film of the Year. In 2023\, Sakamoto was honoured by New York Asian Film Festival with a Lifetime Achievement Award. \n\n  \nCommunity Partner: \n 
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/another-world-kotatsu/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film,Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Kotatsu-Film-1-Another-World.png
ORGANIZER;CN="The Japan Foundation%2C Toronto":MAILTO:info_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250406T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250406T210000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20250318T142805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T221124Z
UID:101521-1743966000-1743973200@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:April Story (film screening)
DESCRIPTION:April Story\n四月物語 \nSunday\, April 6\, 7:00PM (ET) \nDoors open 6:30PM | Film Screening | In-Person | Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Avenue\, University of Toronto) \nDirected by IWAI Shunji • 1998 • Romance / Drama • 67 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer\n \n 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. \nLead by an enchanting performance from MATSU Takako amidst the fairy tale backdrop of Tokyo cherry blossoms and raindrop confessions\, IWAI Shunji paints an unforgettable and nostalgic tale of independence with April Story\, an ultimate springtime classic. \nApril Story director IWAI Shunji will be in attendance via video call for a virtual Q&A session following the screening. \nApril Story is the “Spring” film and final screening of our Seasonal Impressions series. \nFree admission. Register below. \nThis event is now fully booked and registration is closed. We will have a rush line before the event to release available seats on a first-come\, first-served basis. Admission is not guaranteed. Thank you for your understanding! \n\nDirector Profile: \n \nIWAI Shunji was born on January 24\, 1963\, in Miyagi Prefecture\, Japan. Ever since 1988\, Iwai has been an avid creator in a variety of visual fields including TV dramas and music videos\, and his unique and outstanding visual style has become to be known as “Iwai Aesthetic” – attracting much attention. In 1995\, Iwai made his feature film directorial debut with Love Letter. His representative works include Swallowtail Butterfly (1996)\, April Story (1998)\, All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001)\, Vampire (2011)\, and Last Letter (2018). In 2012\, Iwai wrote the lyrics for “Flowers Will Bloom\,” the theme song to support the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. In October 2023\, his latest feature film\, Kyrie\, was released. Iwai continues to work across diverse genres both domestically and internationally\, maintaining a borderless creative presence.  \n\n  \n \n 
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/april-story/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/april_main_square.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="The Japan Foundation%2C Toronto":MAILTO:info_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20240928T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20240928T170000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20240905T041032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240927T211339Z
UID:97152-1727535600-1727542800@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Before the Coffee Gets Cold (film screening)
DESCRIPTION:  \n \nBefore the Coffee Gets Cold\nコーヒーが冷めないうちに\nCafé Funiculi Funicula\n \nSaturday\, September 28\, 3:00PM (ET) \nDoors open 2:30PM | Film Screening | In-Person | Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Ave.) | Free Admission \nDirected by TSUKAHARA Ayuko • 2018 • Drama / Fantasy / Sci-Fi • 116 minutes • Presented in Japanese with English subtitles • Trailer \nUrban legend has it that you can return to your chosen point in the past at Café Funiculi Funicula\, the coffee shop where TOKITA Kazu works. But\, several rules must be obeyed in order to travel back to the past. One’s time travelling is limited to the period by which the coffee gets cold. \nAdapted from the global book sensation of the same name by author KAWAGUCHI Toshikazu\, who is a featured guest at the 2024 Toronto International Festival of Authors. \n  \nFree admission. Register below. \n \n\nRelated Programming: \nCurtain Up to a New Chapter: KAWAGUCHI Toshikazu’s journey of storytelling across genres \nSaturday\, September 28\, 3:00PM (ET) \nMr. Kawaguchi will converse with Mr. Bruce Pitkin at The Japan Foundation\, Toronto about his unique journey of being a playwright turned novelist. The pair will discuss theatre\, writing\, and translation\, making it suitable for enthusiasts of all three to join in. Venturing into the challenges and opportunities the writer has faced in his journey\, audience can expect to learn more about the author’s storytelling\, which spans genres\, as well as hear all about how the café that lets you visit your past came into being. \nDetails Here \n\nCo-Presented by: \n \n  \nFood & Beverage Partner: \n \n 
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/beforethecoffeegetscold/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/before-the-coffee-gets-cold_square-01.png
ORGANIZER;CN="The Japan Foundation%2C Toronto":MAILTO:info_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20160314T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20160314T203000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20160224T150349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160412T170033Z
UID:8011-1457980200-1457987400@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Japanese Movies at Innis: Rent-a-Cat
DESCRIPTION:Sayoko\, single and in her thirties\, lives alone in her  traditional Japanese house- alone\, that is\, except for the many cats who are inexplicably drawn into her orbit. She passes her time tending to her house\, taking care of the family altar of her beloved grandmother\, and engaging in eclectic entrepreneurial projects\, including renting out cats to lonely people. Like director Naoko Ogigami’s Kamome Diner and Megane\, Rent-a-Cat  is a beautifully filmed\, low-key comedy that celebrates its iconoclastic characters with offbeat humour. \nDirected by Naoko Ogigami\n2011\,110 minutes \nPlease note that food and drink (except for water bottles) are strictly prohibited in the Innis Town Hall Theatre. Thank you for your cooperation. \nReservations are now closed. Thank you for your interest! \n\n \nPowered by Eventbrite
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/japanese-movies-at-innis-rent-a-cat-2/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Rent-a-Cat1.jpg
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20160229T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20160229T210000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20160210T221052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160212T203933Z
UID:8262-1456770600-1456779600@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Japanese Movies at Innis Town Hall: The Vancouver Asahi
DESCRIPTION:click here for info about the screening in Hamilton on March 6!\nThis drama by award-winning director Yuya Ishii (The Great Passage) is based on the true story of the Vancouver Asahi\, a Japanese-Canadian baseball team that was established in 1914 and rose to prominence in 1920s and 1930s. Playing a strategic game\, dubbed “brain ball\,” they used their unique strengths to defeat their larger and stronger European-Canadian opponents. Despite  success and popularity\, the Asahi faced discrimination and\, during WWII\, internment due to their Japanese heritage. The Vancouver Asahi won the People’s Choice Award at the 2014 Vancouver International Film Festival\, and screened twice at the 2015 Toronto Japanese Film Festival. \nDirected by Yuya Ishii\n 2014\, 132 minutes \nPlease note that food and drink (except for water bottles) are strictly prohibited in the Innis Town Hall Theatre. Thank you for your cooperation. \nRegister here:\n\n \nPowered by Eventbrite
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/vancouver-asahi/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Vancouver_Asahi.jpg
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20151215T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20151215T210000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20151125T143826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20151127T190816Z
UID:6866-1450204200-1450213200@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:December Films at Innis Town Hall: Ikiru
DESCRIPTION:Ikiru • いきる\nDirected by Akira Kurosawa/B&W /1952/143 min/blu-ray\nKanji Watanabe (Takashi Shimura)\, a devoted single father\, has mindlessly rubber-stamped documents at city hall for 30 years to support his son.  When he receives a diagnosis of terminal stomach cancer\, he throws himself into a seemingly lost cause- turning a vacant lot into a playground for a neighbourhood mothers’ group\, a project that has repeatedly been pushed aside by the city bureaucracy. Considered by many to be Kurosawa’s greatest film\, Ikiru is an inventively structured\, brilliantly performed\, relentless examination of what it means to truly be alive. \n\nBest Picture\, Kinema Jumpo\nBest Film\, Best Screen Play\, Best Sound Recording\, Mainichi Film Concours\nSpecial Prize of the Senate\, Berlin International Film Festival\n\n\nRegistration\nTo register\, please select the number of tickets and click the “register” button. Please print your ticket or show it to us on your smartphone or other device. Doors will open 30 minutes before the event. Most events at The Japan Foundation\, Toronto are free\, so it is our policy to overbook to ensure capacity. We will begin releasing unclaimed seats to the rush line 10 minutes before the start of the event. In case of a full house\, your ticket reservation may not guarantee admission. \n\n \nPowered by Eventbrite
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/ikiru/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/ikiru2web.jpg
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20151210T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20151210T211500
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20151116T222407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20151127T190737Z
UID:6863-1449772200-1449782100@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:December Films at Innis Town Hall: Casting Blossoms to the Sky
DESCRIPTION:Kono sora no hana: Nagaoka hanabi monogatari •この空の花：長岡花火物語\nDirected by Nobuhiko Obayashi/2012 /160 min/blu-ray/colour \nOut of the blue\, newspaper reporter Reiko gets a letter from her ex-boyfriend Kenichi\, inviting her to see the famous Nagaoka fireworks festival and a performance of a play written by one of his students. With newspaper coverage in mind as well\, Reiko decides to visit Nagaoka. \nThe Nagaoka Fireworks Festival was launched in 1947 as a memorial to war victims and a symbol of peace. Filmed in the wake of the Tohoku Earthquake of 2011\, Casting Blossoms also memorializes the victims of this natural disaster. \nDirector’s Message: \nThe ‘Nagaoka Fireworks’ is this metaphor….\n‘If the entire world’s bombs were shot to the sky as fireworks\, war would disappear’ are the words spoken by painter Yamashita Kiyoshi that reinvigorated the life of an elderly pyrotechnician. Behind the scenes\, there were people who had persistently requested to launch fireworks as a Japan-U.S. integrated memorial at Pearl Harbor. The film depicts as drama the form of those very Nagaoka City citizens’ hopes. It is a type of semi-documentary which could be called “essay cinema.” \nTwo years ago\, the “The Nagaoka Film” project was launched\, and upon completion of the script\, the earthquake of March 11th occurred. Then\, in a lodge at the foot of the Yamakoshi hills in Nagaoka\, where the scars of the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake still linger\, the shooting script was completed. I believe that film is journalism if the ink it is written with is a person’s heart. Let us suffer\, worry\, believe in hope\, and deeply think along with film. That is what is said to be film’s power and beauty. \n-Nobuhiko Obayashi \n\nRegistration\nTo register\, please select the number of tickets and click the “register” button. Please print your ticket or show it to us on your smartphone or other device. Doors will open 30 minutes before the event. Most events at The Japan Foundation\, Toronto are free\, so it is our policy to overbook to ensure capacity. We will begin releasing unclaimed seats to the rush line 10 minutes before the start of the event. In case of a full house\, your ticket reservation may not guarantee admission. \n\n\n \nPowered by Eventbrite
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/casting-blossoms/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Casting-Blossoms-to-the-Sky-2-e1447712978689.jpg
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20150807T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20150807T203000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20150622T184217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150805T142305Z
UID:5673-1438972200-1438979400@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Nordic Nippon Nights: Kamome Diner
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Foundation\, Toronto\n Nordic Nights of the Consulates of Iceland and Finland\n in cooperation with\n The University of Toronto Department of East Asian Studies and Innis Town Hall present \nNordic Nippon Nights\nat Innis Town Hall\nThis summer\, escape the heat with two films in which Japanese protagonists travel to cooler climes for international adventure\, Nordic style! \nKamome Diner\nregistration for this event is now closed \nDirected by Naoko Ogigami  (Japan/Finland)\n2006\, 102 min. \nIn Kamome Diner\, the first Japanese film to be shot entirely in Finland\, 38-year-old Sachie moves from Japan to Helsinki\, Finland by herself to open a café serving Japanese comfort food\, with a focus on onigiri (rice balls). For some time\, her only customer is a young Finnish anime otaku\, but a small community gradually forms around the café as she is joined by two more Japanese expats\, also women on their own. The neighbours start to warm up as Sachie begins selling cinnamon buns\, and a mysterious stranger teaches Sachie how to make the best coffee. But will she ever convince the locals to try her onigiri? \nThis stylish film celebrates Finnish and Japanese culture\, aesthetics and humour at a relaxed pace\, leisurely exploring the growth of friendship and community among solitary eccentrics.
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/kamome-diner/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/kamome.jpg
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20150724T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20150724T203000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20150622T172158Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150709T212226Z
UID:5667-1437762600-1437769800@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Nordic Nippon Nights: Cold Fever
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Foundation\, Toronto\n Nordic Nights of the Consulates of Iceland and Finland\n in cooperation with The University of Toronto Department of East Asian Studies and Innis Town Hall\npresent \nNordic Nippon Nights at Innis Town Hall\nThis summer\, escape the heat with two films in which Japanese protagonists travel to cooler climes for international adventure\, Nordic style!\nSee also: Nordic Nippon Nights: Kamome Diner \nCold Fever\nDirected by Fridrik Thor Fridriksson  (Japan/Iceland)\n 1995\, 83 min.\n format: blu-ray \nYoung salaryman Atsushi Hirata (international star Masatoshi Nagase) is forced to cancel his long-awaited golfing holiday in Hawaii. Instead\, he must reluctantly travel far north to perform a memorial service in the remote\, snowy corner of Iceland where his parents met their deaths. Atsushi stoically braves the Icelandic winter\, discovers some unfamiliar cuisine\, observes mysterious rituals\, and encounters other foreign travelers as he makes his way doggedly to his destination. \nThis dryly observant cult classic\, produced and co-written by long-time Jim Jarmusch producer Jim Stark\, belongs in the canon of indie road movies alongside Leningrad Cowboys Go America and The Straight Story. \n\n 
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/cold-fever/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20150627T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20150627T190000
DTSTAMP:20260920T154417
CREATED:20150603T140043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150618T182817Z
UID:5557-1435420800-1435431600@tr.jpf.go.jp
SUMMARY:Movie Screening: A Terminal Trust
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Foundation\, Toronto\nThe Toronto Japanese Film Festival\nand the Department of East Asian Studies present\n a special screening of \nA Terminal Trust 終の信託\nat Innis Town Hall\nwith an introduction by director Masayuki Suo and star Tamiyo Kusakari  \nWritten and directed by Masayuki Suo\n Starring Tamiyo Kusakari\, Koji Yakusho\, Tadanobu Asano\, Takao Osawa\n 2012\, 144 min \nMasayuki Suo’s 2012 film reunites his Shall We Dance cast for a beautiful and thought-provoking drama about the relationship between a doctor and her terminally ill patient. After a failed attempt at suicide\, Dr. Orii finds herself in an intense doctor/patient relationship with chronic asthma sufferer Shinzo\, and her empathy towards him sparks an emotional connection. Realizing that his life is coming to an end\, Shinzo makes a solemn request\, leaving Dr Orii faced with a decision that could have profound effects on both Shinzo’s life and her own. \nKinema Jumpo called the film one of the Top 10 Films of 2012 and recognized Suo as Best Director. \nOfficial website  (Japanese)\nToronto Japanese Film Festival website\nUniversity of Toronto Department of East Asian Studies\n \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/event/terminal-trust/
LOCATION:Innis Town Hall\, 2 Sussex Ave.\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1J5
CATEGORIES:Film Screening
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tr.jpf.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/Terminal-Trust-Poster-1.jpg
GEO:43.6654332;-79.3990226
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Innis Town Hall 2 Sussex Ave. Toronto Ontario M5S 1J5;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2 Sussex Ave.:geo:-79.3990226,43.6654332
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR