Japanese Film Festival Singapore 2012

Founded upon the consolidation of several production companies and theater chains, Nikkatsu Corporation has enjoyed a rich history of film production and distribution since 1912.

Searching for its own niche in the booming postwar Japanese film industry, Nikkatsu moved into the youth market. As the vogue for these youth films began to wane in the early Sixties, Nikkatsu launched a series of hard-boiled action films that remain perhaps the company's best-known period internationally. Nikkatsu action introduced a new kind of protagonist, often cynical and at odds with a society revealed to be totally corrupt. With aging action stars and a public looking for something new, Nikkatsu in the Seventies created "Roman Porno" or "romantic pornography" a series of soft-core erotic films that featured real, and at times, bizarre plots and actors.

Nikkatsu has remained continuously in production, branching out into new genre such as horror, martial arts, and even family drama. As it approaches its centenary, Nikkatsu's motto "We Make Fun Films" remains as true today as it was in its golden era.

This year's festival features a substantial body of work by IMAMURA Shohei, and highlights from notable Nikkatsu directors such as SUZUKI Seijun, KUMASHIRO Tatsumi, MASUDA Toshio and KAWASHIMA Yuzo.

We hope a new generation of filmgoers will discover its classic films and filmmakers.