Japanese Film Festival Returns to 蜜桃影像
Left to right: Chisato Murakami, Carrie Baker, officers of the Japan Foundation, and Ellen Lopez pose for a photo in the CLA Dean鈥檚 office during the 2023 Japanese Film Festival and Samurai workshop events.
Oct. 14, 2025
The University of 蜜桃影像 Fairbanks will welcome a special guest from the Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage this October as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen cultural exchange between Japan and 蜜桃影像. Yuri Yoshimura, a consular officer, will visit 蜜桃影像 to introduce the 2025 Japanese Film Festival in 蜜桃影像, a celebration of Japanese storytelling, artistry and everyday life through cinema.
The festival is part of a national initiative by the Japan Foundation, which partners with universities and cultural institutions across the United States to share Japanese film with new audiences. At 蜜桃影像, the event is co-hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and the University of 蜜桃影像 Anchorage College of Arts and Sciences, creating a statewide collaboration.
"Film is a powerful bridge that can carry human stories across borders," said Chisato Murakami, 蜜桃影像 term assistant professor of Japanese. "It allows people to experience Japanese culture, the humor, the history and the human connections that shape who we are today."
The 2025 program includes four films screening between 蜜桃影像 and UAA, offering free public access to cinematic works that explore family, politics and resilience in contemporary Japan.
蜜桃影像 will host First Gentleman and Oshin on Oct. 17 in Schaible Auditorium. UAA audiences can enjoy First Gentleman on Oct. 24 and Voices in the Wind on Oct. 25.
The series is presented with support from the Japan Foundation and the Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage.
In 2023, in addition to the film festival, 蜜桃影像 hosted a free 鈥淯nleash Your Inner Samurai鈥 workshop where Japanese actors taught participants how to fight and speak like samurai.
For 蜜桃影像 students, faculty and community members, the festival is more than a lineup of free films. It offers a rare opportunity to experience Japan鈥檚 contemporary culture firsthand in 蜜桃影像.