Launch Of Japanese Film Festival 2025

On Wednesday, 26 March 2025, Erika Marcet (Japanese Section, MLAL) and fourth-year students of Japanese Clíona Rice (BA Applied Languages), Ciara Gibbs (Applied Languages) and Magdalena Tanneberger (BA Journalism and Digital Communications) were invited to a food and drinks reception followed by a film screening at the Light House Cinema (Dublin).

This event provided an opportunity for students to network and expand their Japan-related contacts in Ireland. This event marked the launch of the Japanese Film Festival 2025 (April 1st-27th) and was presented by access>CINEMA in association with the Embassy of Japan in Ireland and with the support of the Japan Foundation. 

Mr Norimasa Yoshida, Deputy Head of the Mission, Embassy of Japan, launched the event. The film, “The Making of a Japanese” (2023), directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki, won the Nippon Docs Award at the Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival, as well as the Audience Award at Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film. 

Clíona commented the following about the event and the film: “It was truly an amazing experience, as the event gave me a chance to practice Japanese outside of the university and meet new people. The film was great too, as it introduced elements of Japanese elementary school culture that I wasn’t aware of. For example, the film showcased how, in case of an earthquake, children are taught to take shelter under their desks. It also highlighted the importance of cooperation, such as children cleaning their classroom every day after school. I was really surprised by these things.”