Annual Calendar 2021
National Film Archive of Japan Calendar (April, 2021 – March, 2022)
*We have reopened from June 1. For more detailed information, please see here. (Updated: May 29, 2021)
*NFAJ will be closed on Mondays, during screening preparation, between exhibitions; Dec. 27, 2021 -Jan. 3, 2022.
Please take a look at NFAJ’s visitor guidelines and infection prevention measures before your visit.
*Further updates on our screening and exhibition events will be announced on this page.
Nagase Memorial Theatre OZU
February 16 – March 28, April 8 – March 5, 2021 → February 16 – March 28, April 8 – April 24, 2021
The screenings on and after April 25 are cancelled. We will refund your reserved tickets. Application period for refunds: May 6 - June 5. For more information, please see this page (in Japanese).
This program will present representative Japanese films in the 1980s, the decade during which while the output of major studios decreased, new filmmakers and production companies emerged, transforming the entire movie industry.
June 8 – 23, 2021
We have rescheduled the screenings although we had once cancelled them.
This is a program that showcases the choicest foreign films with Japanese subtitles from the NFAJ collection. A number of valuable films will be shown on the big screen of NFAJ.
May 28 – June 20, 2021 → June 24 - July 18, 2021
Due to the closure of NFAJ caused by the declaration of a state of emergency, the schedule has been changed. (Updated: June 2, 2021)
Co-organizers: The Delegation of the European Union to Japan, and the embassies and the cultural institutes of the EU member states in Japan
EU Film Days is a series showcasing films from the member states of the European Union (EU). Now in its 19th edition (13th to be held at NFAJ), EU Film Days brings together a wide variety of films, introducing the diversity of European society and culture to audiences in Japan.
July 8 – September 5, 2021 → July 20 - September 5, 2021
This event has been rescheduled due to the changes of the annual schedule. (Updated: June 2, 2021)
This program is organized as a memorial to Japanese cineastes such as directors, actors and crew, who passed away in the year 2019 -2020.
September 11 – 25, 2021
Co-organizers: PFF General Incorporated Association, Kawakita Memorial Film Institute, and UNIJAPAN
Pia Film Festival, which has been supporting young and upcoming filmmakers and introducing new talent to audiences both in Japan and overseas, now its 43th edition, holds again the “PFF Award Competition,” the biggest competition for “self-produced films (aka Jishu-Eiga)” in the world, special programs and screenings with film personalities as guest lecturers.
October 5 – 10, 2021
This is an established program that shows silent films mainly from NFAJ collection with the live music accompaniment or the oral explanation of the benshi film narrator as many silent film festivals around the world.
October 19 – November 23, 2021
Beginning his directorial career at Shochiku-Kamata Studio in 1925, Heinosuke Gosho (1902-1981) produced a lot of masterpieces, such as The Dancing Girl of Izu (1933), in succession. After the war, he went on to direct memorable melodrama movies at Toho studio, Kabukiza Production, the Studio Eight (the production company he co-founded) and others. After 47 years since his last retrospective at NFAJ (then National Film Center) in 1974, this program will celebrate his enduring career by screening his films from the Kamata era to the last years.
June 22 – July 4, 2021 → November 30 - December 26, 2021
We have rescheduled the screenings although we had once cancelled them. (Updated: October 13, 2021)
In this program, we will hold additional screenings of the sold-out or cancelled titles in four programs in 2020, namely Shochiku Cinema at 100, Toshiro Mifune Retrospective at His Centenary, and Setsuko Hara Retrospective at Her Centenary, and New Challenges: Japanese Films in the 1980s during which the seating capacity was reduced.
November 30 – December 26, 2021 → January 4 - January 30, 2022
The schedule has been changed. (Updated: October 13, 2021)
This program will present the unique history of Hong Kong movies, screening noted films and restored films mainly provided by Hong Kong Film Archive.
January 4 – March 6, 2022 → February 1 - March 6, April 5 - May 1, 2022
The schedule has been changed. (Updated: October 13, 2021)
Facing the popularity of foreign films, the domestic market share of Japanese cinema declined in the 1990s. It was also the decade of social and economic turbulence caused by the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the bubble economy and other incidents. This program will show representative Japanese films in this era, from hit movies against this difficult situation to radical movies directed by newcomers who had drawn attention as independent filmmakers.
March 15 – 27, 2022
This program will present diversity of French films, showing from classic ones to the latest ones. Mainly featured will be the works of female directors and the movies rarely seen in Japan. Restored films owned by Cinémathèque française will be included.
As for the educational programs held at Nagase Memorial Theatre OZU, please see the following page.
B1 Theatre
Films from the NFAJ Collection: Autumn 2021
November 5 – 21, 2021 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)
Films from NFAJ Collection: Winter 2022
February 11 – 27, 2022 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only)
The NFAJ film collection consists of both Japanese films and foreign films, narrative films and documentaries, live-action films and animation films. This program will introduce such variety of this collection.
As for the educational programs held at B1 Theatre, please see the following page.
Educational Programs
Kids' Cinema: The Summer Vacation of 2021
July 30 – 31, August 6 – 7, 2021 @B1 Theatre
This is the program for children up to junior high school students. It intends to cultivate their aesthetic sensibility and image literacy through the wonder and joy of films on screen.
October 16, 2021 @Nagase Memorial Theatre OZU
Co-operation: Directors Guild of Japan
Celebrating UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage(October 27), this special event provides the opportunity to learn the importance of moving image preservation.
December 11, 2021 @B1 Theatre
Co-organizers: The embassies and the cultural institutions of V4 countries
Animation and other films of Visegrad Four (V4: Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland), along with their cultures, are showcased for children in this program.
Gallery
Temporary Exhibitions
April 13 – July 18, 2021→April 13 - August 1, 2021 (Closed: May 25 – 28, July 6 – 7, 2021) → The Gallery reopened from June 1(Tue),2021.
We have rescheduled the exhibition term due to the closure of NFAJ.
Co-organizer: Kindaieigasha Co.,Ltd
Monthly magazine SCREEN, published by Kindaieigasha, has been committing itself to on-the-spot coverage in Hollywood, bringing the latest news about foreign films to Japanese movie fans. Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021, this exhibition will chronicle its history with gorgeous photos of Hollywood stars, presenting how its correspondents have worked in Hollywood.
Eiji Tsuburaya: On the 120th Anniversary of his Birth
August 3 – November 23, 2021→August 17 - November 23, 2021 (Closed: September 6 – 10, September 26 – October 4, October 11 – 15)
Screenings of Kaguya-hime
September 4– 5, 2021
Co-organizer: Sukagawa City
Eiji Tsuburaya (1901-1970) is a pioneer of Japanese tokusatsu (visual effects) who made a significant contribution to war movies, kaiju movies and SF movies at Toho, established Tsuburaya Production, and laid a founding stone for TV shows featuring tokusatsu. Celebrating the 120th anniversary of his birth, this exhibition will present his legacy and career, including his early years as cinematographer.
December 7, 2021 – March 27, 2022 (Closed: December 27 – January 3, March 7 – 14)
Co-organizer: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Establishing in 2004, MONDO is a group headquartered in Texas, USA, which commissions cutting-edge designers and illustrators to produce unique posters for both classic films and latest ones. To present this leading organization in the field of movie poster art, more than 70 of its prominent works will be exhibited.
Permanent Exhibition
Japanese cinema has already had a history of over one century with two golden ages. This exhibition surveys the history through posters, still photographs, documents, cameras, the personal items that belonged to noted film personalities and other materials from the NFAJ Collection.
*Captions in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean