Blue Period

『ブルーピリオド』
(Buru Piriodo)

International Premiere. Tsubasa Yamaguchi’s Blue Period manga is an acclaimed coming-of-age story about the power of passion, dedication and art. It has over 8 million copies in print worldwide and has won awards at the Kodansha Manga Awards and Manga Taisho Awards. Now, Yamaguchi’s striking manga comes to life through director Kentaro Hagiwara. Following Yatora (Gordon Maeda) through his sophomore year of high school, his life changes when completing an art project. Consumed by a deep new feeling inside himself, he submerges into the world of art and challenges himself to get into one of the most difficult art universities in Japan. Yatora’s journey is one of competition, compulsion, despair and beauty driven forward by a mesmerizing soundtrack by Yuki “Yaffle” Kojima. See it at JAPAN CUTS before it comes to theaters in Japan in August!

Dir. Kentaro Hagiwara, 2024, 115 min., DCP, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Gordon Maeda, Fumiya Takahashi, Rihito Itagaki, Hiyori Sakurada.

Part of JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film 2024
July 10—21, 2024

JAPAN CUTS is the largest showcase of contemporary Japanese cinema in North America and an annual highlight of New York’s cinema scene.

Image: © Tsubasa Yamaguchi/KODANSHA ©2024 “Blue Period” Film Partners

Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Anime NYC and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family and Friends of Film. Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film.