News On Japan

Director Hayakawa Chie receives Camera d'Or Special Mention at Cannes

May 29 (NHK) - Japanese director Hayakawa Chie's film PLAN 75 has received a Special Mention by the jury for the Camera d'Or, an award for debut feature films, at the Cannes Film Festival.

The movie is set in Japan in the near future, when a government program encourages people aged 75 or older to be voluntarily euthanized as a remedy to the rapidly aging society.

The main character, an elderly woman, faces a choice of life or death and ponders the meaning of life.

The film was in the "Un Certain Regard" or "a certain glance" section, which presents works with non-traditional stories.

At the festival, South Korean actor Song Kang-ho received the Best Actor Award for his role in "Broker."

The movie by Japanese director Koreeda Hirokazu depicts the journey of a group of people brought together by a "baby box," where infants who cannot be cared for can be left anonymously.

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Hirokazu Kore-eda’s latest film "Sheep in the Box," which was selected for the competition section at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival in France, received its official screening on May 16th as it competes for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d'Or.

Today we have a look at, unfortunately, the final kabuki show to take place at the Shochiku-za theatre in Osaka, the last remaining kabuki venue in Dōtonbori. (Kabuki In-Depth)

The Cannes Film Festival opened this week with three Japanese films nominated for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d'Or, including 'Sheep in the Box' directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, 'Nagi Notes' directed by Koji Fukada, and 'Suddenly Feeling Unwell' directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

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The Osaka Shochikuza theater, which has entertained audiences in Osaka’s Dotonbori district for more than a century through films, kabuki and live performances, will close in June 2026 due to aging facilities and the high cost of renovations.