Despite various voices from left and right, Japanese cinema seems to be a in a good place, particularly during the last few years, and Nippon Connection proved the fact quite eloquently, with a truly brilliant selection for its 2025 editions. Either comedies or dramas, anime or shorts or documentaries, all categories included a number of movies of quality, in a testament to the job done by the programming team. The restrospectives and the screening of movies like Mizoguchi’s “The Water Magician” with accompaniment by benshi Ichiro Kataoka and live music by Günter A. Buchwald were the cherry on top. The audience filled the screening rooms, with them particularly enjoying two comedies, “Kaiju Guy“, which eventually got the audience award, and “Hotspring Shark Attack”.
Check our full coverage in the articles below.
1. Short Film Review: Confession (2025) by Mai Nakanishi
Mai Nakanishi crafts a haunting work that excels particularly in its atmosphere. Several elements contribute to this effect. The woman’s sudden appearance and the unsettling way her confession unfolds immediately set the tone for something dark beneath the surface. The fact that she is never fully revealed until the end, Ashizawa’s camera focusing mostly on her hands, and later her mouth in tight close-ups, intensifies the tension. In contrast, the priest is shown clearly from the start, suggesting a power dynamic that hints at him as the ‘victim’ and her as the ‘predator,’ with danger radiating from her composed but disquieting presence. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
3. Film Review: Kaiju Guy (2024) by Junichiro Yagi
At the center of it all is Gunpii, a Youtuber with almost a million followers, who gives a wonderful performance as Yamada. He perfectly balances the character’s timid public servant persona with the passionate dreamer determined to go to extremes to achieve his goal. His scenes in the finale are a high point, not just for the character, but for the entire production. Similar premises don’t always result in similar quality, and “Kaiju Guy” proves that even a commissioned movie can be a standout experience. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
4. Video Interview: Go Koga and Keisuke Naito
5. Anime Review: Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege (2023) by Go Koga
When the action takes over, the exceptional quality of Toei Animation becomes evident. The fight scenes are dynamic and visually stunning, elevated by the speed and intensity of movement. This momentum carries through the entire movie, demanding full attention from the audience. Touko Yatabe‘s character designs feel somewhat underwhelming in the facial expressions of the human cast but truly shine in the depiction of the monsters, which are as imaginative and impressive as expected. The detailed and often beautiful background art further enhances the visual experience. “The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe” is a masterfully crafted work that fuses suspense, horror, action, and social commentary with notable skill. It stands out as one of the most memorable anime releases of recent years. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
6. Film Review: Happy Life (2024) by Yoshihiko Taniguchi
“Happy Life” is far from a failure. It contains moments of real poignancy and several scenes that linger in the mind. However, its narrative choices and restrained style ultimately hold it back, resulting in a story that feels like a missed opportunity. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
7. Interview With Park Jengil: For Every Japanese Person Who Does Not Like Koreans, There Is Also One Who Accepts and Respects Us
What is the meaning of the film’s title?
It is a bit embarrassing but we made the film without having a title. We really liked the kanji but when we saw the title written down, it reminded us of Chinese letters. That was interesting, because the story shows people who are both part of this country, but at the same time they have their Korean identity. I wanted to stress this diversity. However, I messed up the kanji, which is the second embarrassing reason for the title of my movie.
8. Film Review: Poems of Flower Rain (2024) by Park Jengil
Yusaku Takahashi’s cinematography captures the characters closely, employing many medium shots and close-ups, especially of Yuki Yamazaki. The story unfolds mostly in small, intimate settings, allowing for detailed observation of each interaction. The editing supports a relaxed but steady rhythm, fitting the overall tone of the piece. “Poems of Flower Rain” is not without its flaws, but it remains an enjoyable and insightful work that stands out by using a gentle, humorous approach to explore topics that are undeniably serious. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
9. Documentary Review: Floating Weed (2024) by Mohamed Ghanem
“Floating Weeds” is a documentary about a theater troupe and their dynamics, but most importantly, it is a story about artists and their drive to perform. Mohamed Ghanem manages to give his audience intimate insights into a community of people living solely for their art and who strive to perfect each of their performances. (Rouven Linnarz)
10. Interview With Hiroshi Okuyama: In Every Scene I Wanted to Include Natural Light
The main character of “My Sunshine” really loves the season of winter. What was your favorite season when you were a teenager?
I was born in Tokyo and snow was something of a rarity, which is probably why I loved winter so much. It was very exciting to see how the whole atmosphere of a city could change when over night snow had fallen.
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