Films from the regions of Japan are now being streamed online with a new internet service offering free cinema for overseas viewers.
The Japan Foundation is pleased to announce a new free online streaming program, ‘JFF+ INDEPENDENT CINEMA’, featuring twelve independent Japanese films. Films are selected by the managers of Japanese independent theatres, so-called “mini theatres” that have nurtured the diversity of Japanese cinema culture. The program runs for six months, starting December 15, 2022, until June 15, 2023. The streaming period is divided into two terms, with six films, each in the first and second halves.
To spread the excellence of Japanese films to overseas audiences despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japan Foundation has held an online streaming program, the Japanese Film Festival Online (JFF Online), since 2020. In the latest edition, the JFF Online 2022, 20 Japanese films were streamed free of charge to 25 countries, and the program has received a great response, with 540,000 views by 320,000 viewers worldwide.
Please check this page for the film line-up and its streaming period. Click on each film for more detailed information. Please check here to know the available countries/regions, streaming period, and subtitle information for each film. Click ‘Watch for Free’ to jump to the streaming page. The “Watch for Free” button appears only during the streaming period.
The site can be accessed here, and films can be watched after creating a personal account.
