Shigeki Kinoshita

Clouds of War

In this film, Chie Mikam looks not at the well-documented controversies surrounding U.S. military bases in Okinawa, but at the quiet expansion of Japan’s own Self-Defense Forces there.

Tobishima

Tobishima used to be a prosperous sea transportation hub in the Sea of Japan, but now it is a quiet island with a small and aging population. The only junior high school student in the island will graduate this year, and his school, Tobishima Elementary and Junior High School, will be closed at the end of this school year. This film captures the daily lives of the various people living on Tobishima and follows the activities of those who are struggling to maintain the community and connect the island to the future while facing the harsh reality of the situation.

Boy Soldiers: The Secret War In Okinawa

The greatest taboo of the Battle of Okinawa were Guerrilla units composed of boy soldiers. Until now, not even the Japanese people knew the full scope of these secret troops, and survivors have been afraid to share their tragic details. Okinawa became the bulwark to protect the Japanese mainland toward the end of World War II. After the Americans landed, a violent battle ensued resulting in the loss of over 200,000 lives – many of them civilian. This documentary uncovers Japan’s deepest secrets concerning the Battle of Okinawa, and also sounds alarms about modern Japan’s recent steps toward remilitarization.

The Night Kindergarten

ABC Childcare Center offers 24-hour childcare in Okubo, neighboring the Kabukicho nightlife district in Shinjuku. The facility has tried out numerous unique experiments including nutrition education through meals prepared with organic ingredients, treatment for kids with ADHD, and after-school care for kids after they graduate from daycare. The camera also captures the reality of 24-hour childcare centers in Hokkaido, Niigata and Okinawa.

The Targeted Island: A Shield Against Storms

Documentary on Okinawan resistance to American and SDF base construction

We Shall Overcome

An elderly woman named Fumiko lived through the battle of Okinawa. Now she is part of the movement protesting the construction of a new American military base in Henoko. This film captures the complex feelings of those who have had to live their lives alongside military bases. It compels us to share in their yearning to bring an end to this battle.

The Cat Who Lived One Million Times

Yoko Sano, picture-book author and essayist, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her most famous work "The Cat Who Lived One Million Times" is still read widely.