Already on its 22nd year as an established and eagerly awaited yearly festival of acclaimed Japanese films, EIGASAI once again invites everyone in the country to partake in a generous offering of diverse genres of cinematic masterpieces from Japan. The 22nd Japanese Film Festival opened last July 3 with the Opening Night Reception at Shangri-La Plaza Grand Atrium and then with the screening of the featured film Samurai Marathon at the Red Carpet, Shangri-La Plaza . EIGASAI is also held in celebration of Philippine-Japan Friendship Month this July and is screened in film theaters around the Philippines.
Covering the event with us was arkadymac.com’s Correspondent Rica, who has attended the event for us for the last three years now. In honor of Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, EIGASAI’s 22nd edition runs from July 3 to August 25, 2019﹣with seventeen-full-feature films of diverse genres selected for more than 135 screenings across seven major cities nationwide.
IGA Kendo Club Philippines started off the program with a short demonstration of the traditional Japanese martial art of kendo.
Welcoming remarks from important personages instrumental to the organization of this year’s EIGASAI, including Director Hiroaki Uesugi of the Japan Foundation, Manila, filled everyone with the spirit of creativity, purpose and cooperation.
It led up to the ceremonial toast for the opening and the success of the film festival.
Giving a splendid performance on stage was shamisen player Keisho Ohno, a master of the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese traditional music instrument. Accredited at only twelve years old, he became the first “authorized successor of authentic Chikuzan-bushi” just two years later. He has toured worldwide in US, Europe, Africa, and Brazil.
After the program, the attendees were ask to proceed to the Red Carpet at the Cineplex for the screening of the featured film Samurai Marathon. It was an engaging movie directed by Bernard Rose, based on Akihiro Dobashi’s novel Bakumatsu Marathon Samurai about the Ansei Tooashi, known as Japan’s first marathon, with Japan’s renowned actor Takeru Satoh with a subtle yet stirring performance as the lead actor, providing action-filled, energetic experience for the audience.
Screening venues are scheduled in Metro Manila, Tacloban, Naga, Bacolod, Davao, Pangasinan and Cebu: Red Carpet Cinema, Shangri-La Plaza (July 3-14), Robinsons Movieworld Tacloban (July 18-21), SM City Legazpi (July 18-21), SM City Iloilo (July 25-28), Abreeza Mall Davao (August 1-4), Cultural Center of the Philippines (August 2-11), SM City Rosales, Pangasinan (August 8-11), Cine Adarna, UPFI (August 14-17), Ayala Center Cebu (August 15-18), and Gateway Cineplex, Cubao (August 22-25).
The JFF | EIGASAI is open to the public, and is free of charge, with the exception of films to be screened at Shangri-La Plaza Cinema (July 3-14) which will be Php100 per screening. For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, please access the Japan Foundation, Manila website: www.jfmo.org.ph or call at (+632) 811-6155 to 58.
The JFF | EIGASAI 2019 is generously supported by Shangri-La Plaza, Ayala Mall Cinemas, Cultural Center of the Philippines, SM Supermalls, SM City Iloilo, SM City Legazpi, SM City Rosales, Robinsons Movieworld Tacloban, UP Film Institute, Film Development Council of the Philippines, JT International (Philippines) Inc., Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. and Aruga by Rockwell.
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