Monday night saw Asian film stars and international industry players coming out to celebrate Japanese cinema and culture at Japan’s Kanpai Night at Le Grand Hotel de Cannes. The glamorous evening presented a special opportunity for film industry professionals to meet and network with Japan’s leading entertainment executives, along with a cross section of today’s top Japanese directors and actors.
The leaders of Japan’s largest entertainment companies were introduced to the crowd (over 1,100 people in attendance).
Notable Asian film figures in attendance included:
- Tadanobu Asano, star of Journey to the Shore and Martin Scorsese’s upcoming Japan-set film, Silence
- Eri Fukatsu, star of Journey to the Shore
- Naomi Kawase, director of AN
- Masatoshi Nagase, star of AN
- Jia Zhangke, director of Mountains May Depart
- Zhao Tao, actress of Mountains May Depart
The Japanese executives present included:
- Tsuguhiko Kadokawa (Chairman of the Board, Executive Officer, KADOKAWA Corporation)
- Kyoko Kashiwabara (Director, Media and Content Industry Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI))
- Yokichi Osato (Representative, Director and Chairman, AMUSE INC.)
- Jay Sakomoto (President & CEO, Shochiku Co., Ltd.)
- Yasushi Shiina (Director General, Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF))
- Yoshishige Shimatani (President, Toho Co., Ltd.)
- Tom Yoda (Chairman of the Board/President /CEO – GAGA Corporation; Member of the Policy Board & Chairman, Sub Committee on Entertainment & Contents, Committee on Industrial Affairs – Japan Business Federation)
Japan’s Kanpai Night party was produced by creative visionary Kundo Koyama, creator of internationally popular TV series Iron Chef and writer of the Oscar-winning film Departures, among many other successful endeavors.
To provide all party guests with a memorable Japanese cultural experience, Mr. Koyama recruited six of the most celebrated Japanese chefs working in France to produce a special tasting menu of Japanese delicacies. Fine Japanese SAKE was also served. All guests were treated to a special souvenir gift set consisting of Ochoko (delicate sake cups), handmade by aspiring masters in Kyoto, according to traditional techniques, and Furoshiki (a beautiful type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used to transport gifts and other goods). As the party got into full swing, the assembled industry guests raised their glasses to Japanese cinema in a group “kanpai” toast (in Japanese, “kanpai” means “cheers”).
The 2015 Kanpai Night party in Cannes was produced by Japan Day Project. The Japan Pavilion exhibited by this project.
More fun pics from the event:
I write like I think—fast, curious, and a little feral. I chase the weird, the witty, and the why-is-this-happening-now. From AI meltdowns to fashion glow-ups, if it makes you raise an eyebrow or rethink your algorithm, I’m probably writing about it. Expect sharp takes, occasional sarcasm, and zero tolerance for boring content.
