Guest Country Evening Japan

In the organizer's words:

German below

For its 25th anniversary, Edimotion wanted a very special guest country: Japan is the first Asian film nation to be in the spotlight at our Guest Country Evening. We are delighted that the film editors Tomomi Kikuchi and Yukiko Kobori, who are both board members of the "Japan Society of Editors" (JSE), will be making the long journey to give us insights into their artistic and professional work at the traditional highlight of our international program.

We are screening a feature film edited by Kikuchi: Under the Open Sky (2020, directed by Miwa Nishikawa, co-edited by Ryūji Miyajima). It premiered in Toronto, won four awards at Japan's oldest film competition, the "Mainichi Eiga Concours", and was nominated for seven Japanese Academy Awards. The main lead is played by Kōji Yakusho, one of Japan's most renowned actors.

Edimotion presents the Guest Country Evening in cooperation with the Japan Society of Editors (JSE), and with the support of the Japanese Culture Institute Cologne (The Japan Foundation). The event will begin with a reception featuring Japanese food and drinks. Yukiko Kobori will give a welcoming speech, and after the screening of Under the Open Sky, there will be a film talk with editor Tomomi Kikuchi.

Saturday, October 25, 2025 | Filmforum at the Museum Ludwig
19:30 Reception with Japanese food and drinks
20:30 Introduction to the Guest Country Japan by Yukiko Kobori
Screening of Under the Open Sky (JAP 2020, 126 min., Japanese with English subtitles),
followed by a film talk with editor Tomomi Kikuchi, moderated by Dietmar Kraus

TEMPO members and/or IFEF participants pay the reduced fee of 8 €.
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For its 25th anniversary, Edimotion has chosen a very special guest country: Japan is the first film nation from Asia to be in the spotlight at our guest country evening. We are delighted that Tomomi Kikuchi and Yukiko Kobori, two editors from the board of the Japan Society of Editors (JSE), will be making the long journey to give us an insight into their artistic and professional work at the traditional highlight of our international program.

We will be showing the feature film Under the Open Sky (2020, directed by Miwa Nishikawa, co-edited by Ryūji Miyajima), edited by Kikuchi. The feature film premiered in Toronto, won four prizes at Japan's oldest film competition, the "Mainichi Eiga Concours", and was nominated seven times for the "Japanese Academy Award". The lead role is played by Kōji Yakusho, one of Japan's most renowned actors. International movie lovers know him from films such as Tampopo, Shall We Dance and Perfect Days by Wim Wenders. His portrayal of a former yakuza member who struggles to find his way in everyday life after being released from a long prison sentence alternates between quiet thoughtfulness and sudden flare-ups. The film also moves between the tonalities of social realism, slapstick humor and melodrama.

Edimotion is presenting the guest country evening in cooperation with the Japan Society of Editors (JSE) and with the support of the Japan Cultural Institute Cologne (The Japan Foundation). The event will kick off with a reception featuring Japanese food and drinks. Yukiko Kobori will give a welcome speech and after the screening of Under the Open Sky there will be a discussion with the editor of the film, Tomomi Kikuchi.

Saturday, October 25, 2025 | Filmforum at Museum Ludwig

19:30 Reception with Japanese food and drinks
20:30 Greeting by Yukiko Kobori and screening of Under the Open Sky
Followed by a film talk with Tomomi Kikuchi, moderated by Dietmar Kraus