Lost for decades, Asia is One was rediscovered in 2005. Shot around the time of the reversion, Asia is One initially begins by capturing shifting perceptions in Okinawa and economic developments—from the onset of increased tourism and cultural preservation, to the exodus of islanders migrating to the mainland for better opportunities whether for work, education or a better life. Composed of testimonials, Asia is One uncovers the history of labor abuse and exploitation by mainland mining companies since the 1930s…

Shot over a period of 15 months from April 1969 to July 1970, Motoshinkakarannu—which takes its name from the Okinawan word for “business without seed money” (a euphemism for prostitution)—captures a tumultuous time in Okinawa’s occupation. With the impending reversion, the NDU chronicles a confluence of sentiments across the island prefecture from anti-American riots to labor protests. An immediate and radical work, Motoshinkakarannu delivers an unflinching snapshot of Okinawa at the time, revealing racial tensions, discrimination, imperialist gazes and more…

Mamoru Oshii’s groundbreaking cyberpunk classic conjures a startling vision of the future—a new age of global interconnectedness wherein neural pathways and information networks have become inextricably linked. Surveilling the sprawling technopolis of New Port City, Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg officer specializing in cybercrime, hunts down a mysterious entity responsible for a series of ‘ghost-hackings’ that have infiltrated human hosts. Known only as the Puppet Master, the newly-surfaced threat leads Major to uncover a vast conspiracy—prompting her to question her…

25th Anniversary — Archival 35mm Presentation! Crippled by tragedies at home and work, a depressed police detective (Takeshi Kitano) resolves to rectify his situation and the lives of those around him through illicit means. Told through elliptical editing and interspersed with flora-inspired canvases painted by Kitano himself, Hana-bi oscillates between tender moments and temperamental bouts of violence, delicately constructing an affecting and melancholic meditation on mortality. Following its Golden Lion win at Venice, Hana-bi served as Kitano’s directorial breakthrough in…