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MANILA, Philippines – Heads up, J-movie lovers! The 2025 edition of the Japanese Film Festival officially kicks off in the Philippines on January 30.
The annual film festival — which includes a movie this year that stars Filipino actors and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao — will screen in six cinemas across the country.
Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City is the cinema with the earliest start to the screenings, beginning January 30 to February 9. This is followed by SM City Baguio, whose screenings will be held from February 7 to February 16.
SM City Iloilo and SM Seaside City Cebu will follow the same screening schedules: from February 14 to February 23. SM City Davao and SM City North EDSA, meanwhile, will both hold their screenings from February 21 to March 2.
This year’s lineup features a total of 12 films, ranging from anime, drama, action, and comedy, among others. Here is the full list:
1. DitO
DitO is a Japanese-Filipino movie that marks actor Takashi Yuki’s directorial debut. It sees professional boxer Eijii Kamiyama leave his wife and children behind in Japan to continue pursuing his boxing career in the Philippines, where his daughter Momoko suddenly shows up, enabling him to work on his relationship with her.
The film stars Takashi Yuki, Momoko Tanabe, Machiko Ono, Mon Confiado, Buboy Villar, Lou Veloso, and Manny Pacquiao.
2. Godzilla Minus One
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus One is a 2023 film set in post-World War II Japan. While the Japanese people are only beginning to grapple with the aftermath of the war, they are made to deal with a new deadly fiend: Godzilla.
3. Perfect Days
In this 2023 drama film by Wim Wenders, Hirayama works as a toilet cleaner and finds satisfaction in following his daily routine to a T. When he finds himself facing unexpected encounters, he has no choice but to reflect on himself. Perfect Days stars Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Koji Yakusho.
4. Akira
A still from the 1988 film ‘Akira.’ Photo from Japanese Film Festival Philippines’ websiteAkira is a 1988 cyberpunk action film set in 2019 dystopian Tokyo. It follows Kaneda, a bike gang leader, who sets out to free his friend, Tetsuo, after he is captured by a military squadron when he encounters a strange boy. When Kaneda sneaks into the army research lab, he notices that his friend has acquired a new power after he became the subject of a series of extreme experiments.
5. Sand Land
Sand Land is a film adaptation of the original manga series by Akira Toriyama.
It premiered in 2023, and sees the people of Sand Land struggle to find water as a result of the river — their main water source — drying up after all the natural disasters and war. The citizens are then left with no choice but to buy water at extremely high prices from the king’s personal supply, leading them to turn to crime. Sheriff Rao, Beelzebub, and Thief then set out to topple the king and his oppressive regime over.
6. Under the Open Sky
Based on the book Mibuncho by Ryuzo Saki, Under the Open Sky follows Mikami, an ex-yakuza who is released from prison after 13 years. During his time in the outside world, he makes it his mission to find his long-lost mother. To achieve this, he applies for a TV show, where he meets director Tsunoda. Mikami’s mindset and actions that he has yet to unlearn, however, push away the people who try to help him.
7. The Imaginary
An animated film directed by Studio Ghibli veteran Yoshiyuki Momose and produced by Yoshiaki Nishimura, The Imaginary follows a little girl named Amanda and her imaginary best friend Rudger, whom she created to join her on her playtime adventures. That is, until Rudger one day finds himself in The Town of Imaginaries.
This film is based on the novel of the same name by A.F. Harrold.
8. Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle
An animated film based on the hit anime series Haikyu!!, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle follows the Karasuno High Volleyball Team’s thrilling matchup with Nekoma High School in a national tournament. Here, Hinata faces his rival Kenma from the opposing team.
9. Monster
The thriller-mystery film Monster tells the story of a mother who suddenly starts to notice behavioral changes in her son, Minato. Alarmed, she confronts his teacher when she suspects that he had been abusing him. Later, however, she and the teacher work together to uncover the true reasons behind her son’s strange behavior.
10. Matched
Another thriller, Matched follows Rinka, a wedding planner who matches with a man named Tom on a dating app. Before long, Rinka realizes that Tom is not who he appears to be when he begins to repeatedly send her text messages. She then finds out that he’s a suspect in a murder case involving a man who targets women from the same dating app, and must do what she can to fend him off.
11. Our Secret Diary
Set in high school, Our Secret Diary follows the love story of the most popular boy in school, Setoyama, and a second-year student, Nozomi. One day, Nozomi finds a note on her desk from Setoyama, which reads, “I like you.” This starts a series of note-passing exchanges between the two, until Nozomi realizes that they were actually intended for her best friend. As she struggles to find the words to tell the truth, something unexpected happens.
12. Let’s Go Karaoke!
In this comedy film, Satomi, a teenage school choir club leader, is suddenly approached by Kyoji, a yakuza who gets him to do karaoke with him. Satomi later finds out that it was all because Kyoji needed singing lessons to win his gang’s karaoke contest and avoid getting punished. Their time together leads to an unlikely friendship.
This 2024 film is based on the manga series by Yama Wayama.
Which film are you looking to watch? – Rappler.com
