World premiere of latest RADWIMPS concert footage in India: JAPAN MUSIC & FILM FESTIVAL – The World of RADWIMPS and Makoto Shinkai

Presenting the world of Japanese anime and music with films by Makoto Shinkai

Mamta On Oct 30, 2022

NEW DELHI: In its continuous bid to commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and India, the Japan Foundation (JF), New Delhi presents “JAPAN MUSIC & FILM FESTIVAL -The World of RADWIMPS and Makoto Shinkai” in four Indian cities -Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru from November 4 to December 11, 2022.

World premiere concert footage of “FOREVER IN THE DAZE TOUR 2021-2022” by the popular Japanese rock band RADWIMPS as well as 6 feature films directed by Makoto Shinkai will be screened to showcase the appeal of Japanese music and anime.

In Delhi, the “JAPAN MUSIC & FILM FESTIVAL – The World of RADWIMPS and Makoto Shinkai” will be organized at PVR Select City Walk on November 4–6. In Mumbai it will happen at PVR ICON Infiniti Andheri West on November 11–13, in Chennai at PVR SPI Escape Chennai on November 25–27, and in Bengaluru at PVR Orion Mall on December 9–11, 2022.

Speaking about the festival, Koji Sato, Director General, Japan Foundation, New Delhi said, “India-Japan ties go back to the 6th century when Buddhism was first introduced in Japan and since then, the two countries have shared a close relationship, encompassing not just trade and economic ties but also cultural exchange. In our contemporary culture, both music and films are shared and enjoyed by the wider public, making us feel much closer. In this memorable year of friendship, we are bringing India a true slice of Japanese entertainment; helping friends make happy moments and memories across the country.”

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India and following the revival of in-person events in India, as well as growing interest in Shinkai’s films, the JF has planned “JAPAN MUSIC & FILM FESTIVAL – The World of RADWIMPS and Makoto Shinkai” to give audiences in India the opportunity to view all of Shinkai’s feature-length films and enjoy the music of RADWIMPS, in the hope of further cultivating Indian people’s interest in a wide range of genres of Japanese culture.

The dates and the venues for the festival

City Venue Dates

Delhi PVR Cinemas, Select CITYWALK November 4-6

Mumbai PVR ICON: Infiniti Andheri (W) November 11-13

Chennai SPI Escape November 25-27

Bengaluru PVR Orion Mall
December 9-11

In 2019, the Japan Foundation held the large-scale Japanese Film Festival (JFF) in India, featuring screenings of 25 Japanese films including “Your Name.” and “Weathering with You.” Director Makoto Shinkai even participated in the festival’s opening event. This was after local fans had launched a petition for “Weathering with You” to be theatrically released in India, receiving about 56,000 signatures and resulting in “Weathering with You” becoming the first Japanese anime film to be commercially released across India. The campaign was a testament to the high level of interest and anticipation displayed toward Japanese anime by people in India.

During the screening of “Your Name.,” the loudest cheers were heard when the theme song Zenzenzense played. This burst of energy that shook the cinema became the motivation for the JF to begin planning a project to share with audiences in India the wonderful world of not only anime but also the music that forms an integral part of it.

Previously in the year 2020, Jap[an Foundation , New Delhi a Virtual Japanese Film Festival 2020 to screen 30 movies on digital platform as part of the 4th edition of Japanese Film Festival – JFF 2020 from genres of varied formats and subjects. In this film festival the JF brought critically acclaimed award-winning titles along with mainstream entertainment from the Japanese showbiz for the Indian patrons such as One Night, Lady Maiko, Production I.G Short Animation: (Pigtails), Stolen Identity, and Our 30-Minute Sessions.

In February this year (2022), Indian audience enjoyed a series of marquee Japanese movies from the comfort of their homes and free-of-cost as the Japan Foundation rolled out the Japanese Film Festival Online 2022 (#JFFOnline2022) across the world including in India in virtual mode. The fifth edition of this annual film event screened 20 globally popular Japanese movies of varied genres and styles in 25 countries including India, South Korea, Nepal, and others during the 2-week extravaganza.

Recently on September 5-29, the Embassy of Japan, New Delhi and the India International Centre (IIC) jointly organized a Japanese Film Festival and screed seven specially curated films by well-known Japanese directors. Some of these films have been screened in national and international film festivals. These films were released between 2005 and 2021 and represent the changing characteristics of Japanese society and lifestyles.

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