Japanese Film Festival Arizona 2026 | Arizona State University (ASU) Media and Immersive Experience (MIX) Center in downtown Mesa | September 18-19, 2026
Japanese Film Festival Arizona Unveils Full Lineup for 4th Annual Event
Mesa, AZ (July 31, 2026) — The Japanese Film Festival Arizona (JFFA) returns for its fourth year on Friday and Saturday, September 18–19, 2026.
Presented by the Japanese Culture Club of Arizona (JCCA) in partnership with The Sidney Poitier New American Film School at Arizona State University, the event will take place at the ASU Media and Immersive Experience (MIX) Center in downtown Mesa.
As Arizona’s only Japanese film festival, this two-day celebration will showcase major studio releases, independent films, animation, documentaries, and short films exploring Japanese culture, heritage, identity, and artistic expression.
This year’s program includes four feature-length films, seven short films, filmmaker Q&As, traditional Japanese taiko drum performances, and food trucks, creating a vibrant cultural experience for all ages.
Leading the lineup is KOKUHO, director Sang-il Lee’s (Pachinko Season 2, Hula Girls) epic tale of rivalry, ambition, and artistic devotion set within the hereditary world of Kabuki theater. The film became Japan’s highest-grossing live-action film of all time and earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling earlier this year.
The festival will also present a free community screening of Makoto Shinkai’s worldwide smash-hit animated fantasy Your Name. Co-sponsored by the MIX Community Action Boards, the screening invites families, anime fans, and newcomers alike to experience one of modern anime’s most celebrated films on the big screen.
The lineup also includes Happyend, the striking fiction feature debut of writer-director Neo Sora, son of acclaimed composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (The Revenant). Driven by a vibrant electronic soundtrack that captures the pulse and restlessness of youth, Sora crafts a coming-of-age drama about friendship, adolescence, and quiet resistance in a society increasingly shaped by surveillance.
The film will make its Arizona theatrical debut at the festival. Several filmmakers are expected to participate in online and in-person Q&A sessions, offering audiences behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process and the stories that inspired their work.
“As Arizona’s only Japanese-focused film festival, this event offers a unique opportunity to experience stories that reflect Japan’s artistic, cultural, and contemporary landscape. We hope to foster meaningful cultural connections and serve as a bridge between Japan and communities throughout Arizona,” said Harumi Maejima, President of JCCA.
This year’s short film showcase further expands the festival’s commitment to emerging talent through a selection of works from Japan and beyond. “We expanded our short film program to spotlight emerging filmmakers from around the world, including students from our film school at ASU,” said Reina Higashitani, Assistant Professor at The Sidney Poitier New American Film School and Director of Programming for the Japanese Film Festival Arizona.
The complete festival program is outlined below. Screening dates and times are subject to change. For the latest schedule and updates, please visit https:// jffarizona.org.
FULL LINEUP (4 features and 7 shorts)
OPENING FILM “A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story”
Directed by Paul Bonesteel
Friday, September 18, 3:30 p.m. | 86 min. | documentary
Arizona Theater Premiere
Through newly discovered materials and extensive research, Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Paul Bonesteel explores the life of George Masa, a photographer and conservation advocate whose vision played a vital role in the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail.
Tracing Masa’s journey from Asheville, North Carolina, back to Japan, Bonesteel uncovers the hidden story of a visionary whose contributions helped shape some of America’s most treasured landscapes.
COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT | Free Event, Family Friendly Program “Your Name.”
Directed by Makoto Shinkai
Friday, September 18, 6:45 p.m. | 107 min. | animation | English Dubbed | Rated PG
One morning, rural high school girl Mitsuha and city boy Taki awaken to discover that they have mysteriously switched bodies. As they struggle to navigate each other’s lives, the two strangers gradually grow close. But when they finally resolve to meet, the true nature of their connection threatens to alter their fate.
Written and directed by animation master Makoto Shinkai, this worldwide smash-hit became a landmark success, drawing even non-anime audiences to theaters around the globe. Blending a deeply resonant coming-of-age story with romance, wonder, and breathtaking animation, Your Name. returns to the big screen.
Co-Sponsored by the MIX Community Action Board
CENTERPIECE FILM “Happyend”
Directed by Neo Sora
Saturday, September 19, 2:15 p.m. | 113 min. | drama
Arizona Theater Premiere
In near-future Tokyo, best friends Yuta and Kou are preparing to graduate from high school when a prank prompts their school to install an extensive surveillance system, setting them on diverging paths. In his fiction feature debut, writer-director Neo Sora delivers a striking coming-of-age drama that draws on his transnational upbringing to follow a group of multiracial and multicultural teenagers as they navigate friendship, identity, and resistance in an increasingly uncertain world.
Energized by a vibrant electronic soundtrack that captures the pulse and restlessness of youth, the film offers a timely and thought-provoking reflection on contemporary society.
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
“KOKUHO”
Directed by Sang-il Lee
Saturday, September 19, 6:15 p.m. | 174 min. | drama
This sweeping historical epic follows two rivals striving to master the hereditary world of Kabuki theater. Beginning in the 1960s, Kikuo, the son of a yakuza family, is taken in by a renowned Kabuki actor after his father’s death and raised alongside the actor’s heir, Shunsuke.
Bound by brotherhood, rivalry, ambition, and betrayal, the two dedicate their lives to the demanding art form as they compete to become the greatest Kabuki actor of their generation.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sang-il Lee and adapted from Shuichi Yoshida’s bestselling novel, KOKUHO (National Treasure) combines extraordinary performances, breathtaking stage sequences, and profound emotional depth in a stirring tribute to Japan’s traditional performing arts. The film became the highest-grossing live-action film in Japanese box-office history.
SHORTS PROGRAMS
Highlighting emerging talent from Japan, the United States, and beyond, the festival presents two short film programs, one on each day of the festival. Each program features three to four short films followed by a filmmaker Q&A.
Shorts Program 1: Dream and Desire
Contains mature content. Parental discretion is advised.
Friday, September 18, 1:30 p.m.
- “The Fox Bride,” directed by Ryusei Emi | 28 min. | drama
• Inspired by Japanese folklore, this magical and haunting short follows Saburo and his sister during a game of hide-and-seek on a sunny afternoon, interrupted by a sudden rain shower. As Saburo witnesses the mysterious fox wedding, the boundary between childhood wonder and ancient superstition begins to blur.• “BARA,” directed by Chavo | 19 min. | drama
• In the dim glow of a gay adult movie theater, a jubilant drag performer crosses paths with a married man struggling to conceal his sexuality. As their lives become intertwined, they confront love, identity, and the choices that will shape their futures. Offering a poignant glimpse into the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in contemporary Japan, the film is a moving exploration of desire, belonging, and self-acceptance.• “How to Catch a Butterfly,” directed by Kiriko Mechanicus | 26 min. | documentary
• In this raw and compelling documentary, Dutch-Japanese filmmaker Kiriko Mechanicus writes letters to the young man who carried out the Atlanta spa shootings that claimed the lives of Asian women. Weaving together her own experiences and the gunman’s recorded accounts, the film confronts racial fetishization while examining the complex desires that shape our lives and relationships.Shorts Program 2: Memory and Love
Family FriendlySaturday, September 19, 10:30 a.m.• “Sayonara Raifuku Ramen,” directed by Chiho Teratani | 28 min. | drama
• Hana helps her father run their beloved family ramen shop, making his decision to close it all the more difficult to accept. On the restaurant’s final day, the unexpected arrival of her father’s former apprentice interrupts their farewell, stirring memories and emotions as they prepare to say goodbye.• “Round and Round,” directed by Hayato Otogi | 13 min. | drama
• In this enchanting single-take film, two friends reunite at the park where they spent their high school days. What begins as a casual conversation slowly awakens long-buried memories, revealing emotions and confessions left unsaid.• “Itadakimasu,” directed by Fumiya Nakagawa | 23 min. | drama
• A visit from his single mother prompts a work-absorbed son to rediscover what truly matters through the flavors of her cooking. Named after the Japanese phrase expressing gratitude before a meal, Itadakimasu is a tender story of memory, reconciliation, and the enduring bonds nurtured through shared meals.• “Candling,” directed by Rio Brown | 13 min. | drama
• Nineteen-year-old Quinn learns that her best friend is leaving for college. Grappling with feelings of loss and uncertainty, she struggles to express what she has never been able to say before their lives take them in different directions. An invited ASU student film presented in collaboration with the Association of Filmmakers at ASU (AFA) to support emerging local talent.MUSIC PERFORMANCES
Friday, September 18, 6:45 p.m. and Saturday, September 19, 10:30a.m.
A Taiko drum performance “Flower of Peace” by Ken Koshio
A taiko drum performance is a dynamic Japanese musical art form featuring powerful rhythms, intense athleticism, and highly choreographed movement.*Films in Japanese or other non-English languages are presented with English subtitles. English dialogue is not subtitled unless otherwise noted.
Ticket Information Use promo code JAPAN26 by August 23 to receive early-bird pricing on all-access passes.
• Single Program Ticket – $8 • Friday all-day ticket – $14
• Saturday all-day ticket – $22
• All-access pass – $29 ($25 early-bird)
• All-access pass with student ID – $24 ($20 early-bird)
Children 12 and under, accompanied by a parent or guardian, receive free admission to film screenings.
Parental discretion is advised. Films are not MPAA rated unless otherwise indicated.
Location ASU MIX Center (Theater 201) 50 North Centennial Way Mesa, AZ 85201
For more information, please visit https://jffarizona.org
Festival Official Website: https://jffarizona.org
Ticketing website: https://jffa2026.eventbrite.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561047417156
Instagram: @japanesefilmfestivalaz
TikTok: @jffarizona
Festival Endorsement: Endorsed by the Consulate General of Japan, Los Angeles. Sponsors: BOOKOFF USA, Inc., the Japanese Business Association of Arizona, Kratzer Consulting, LLC, Type Zero USA, SP-Ring USA, the MIX Community Action Board, the Asia Center at ASU.
Supporters: Arizona Diamondbacks, Yamachiku Co., Association of Filmmakers at ASU