Tokyo-based Japanese film producer Kanako Fujita is the founder of Felis Pictures Ltd. and a graduate of King’s College London, where she earned her degree in Film Studies. A participant of Rotterdam Lab 2025 and the Busan Producer Hub 2024, she specializes in Asian–European co-productions that bridge cultures and explore the moral and emotional complexities of modern society.Her first feature as a producer, Dead Fishes (2022, dir. Tomoaki Kaneko), was released theatrically across Japan, screened at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, and won Best Cinematography at the Japan Film Festival Los Angeles. She is currently developing and producing several short and feature projects, including Push Button Syndrome (dir. Riko Murakami), which won the Asian Discovery Award at BIFAN It Project Market 2024, and The Funeral March (dir. Naoya Fujita), which received the One Cool Award at the Busan International Film Festival APM 2025.
This week’s guest is Takashi Horie, a New York-based independent filmmaker. Born in Sendai, Miyagi, he graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1996.Since then, Horie has built a versatile career as a director, cinematographer, and editor, creating numerous award-winning music and promotional videos in the U.S. His short film, Ordinary Days, was nominated and screened at various film festivals. His most recent feature, The Last Passenger, received multiple awards and was theatrically released in Japan in October 2024. Horie is currently directing a road movie about four Japanese bandmates traveling Route 66 and is also filming a documentary on the vibrant, multicultural lifestyle of the Rockaway surfers in New York.
This week, we once again welcome Kanako Horii. Born in Chicago, Kanako spent most of her life in Tokyo before returning to the U.S. decades later to make it her home once more. Her passion for launching creative projects with a social purpose led her to develop the card game "SHAKE HANDS" as part of an enablement project with Enable Partners LLC. In this special episode, we'll take a deep dive and an introductory course into the world and economics of J-Dramas.
This week’s guest is Greg Dale, a Princeton graduate with a decade of experience in New York theater, has been directing and acting in Broadway-level productions and films in Japan. He has written half a dozen screenplays and recently wrote and directed his debut feature, the romantic comedy “Rules of Living”. The film won Best Feature Comedy at the 2024 Sedona International Film Festival and has been selected for 12 other festivals worldwide. Starring Minami Kaho, Shiina Kippei, Sumire, and Kawakita Mayuko, “Rules of Living” premieres Friday, September 20th, with a roadshow at Shinjuku Piccadilly and 60 other cinemas across Japan.
This week's guest is Stefanie Arianne, an accomplished actress with roots in both the Philippines and Japan. After moving to Japan to pursue acting, she quickly rose to prominence, earning a Best Supporting Actress Award at the Malaysia International Film Festival for her role in the critically acclaimed film “Plan 75". The film was also a standout at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival and represented Japan at the 2023 Oscars. Arianne remains a vibrant presence in Japan's entertainment world, with recent work including her musical stage play debut in "Mahal Ko Medley”.
This week, we have Kanako Horii. Born in Chicago, she spent most of her life in Tokyo before returning to the U.S. decades later to make it her home again. Her passion for bringing creative projects into society led her to create the card game "SHAKE HANDS" as part of a social enablement project with Enable Partners LLC.
This week, we have Jason Gray, a veteran of the Japanese film industry with over two decades of experience. Beginning his career as a translator and film business journalist, he is now an accomplished feature film producer. His impressive resume includes producing five theatrical releases, such as Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s "To the Ends of the Earth" and Chie Hayakawa’s "Plan 75", which was Japan’s official entry to the 2023 Oscars. Gray's latest production, Hayakawa's RENOIR, was featured in competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival before its theatrical release across Japan.
This week, we feature Jeffrey Rowe, a Canadian actor, voice actor, and producer. He splits his time between Okinawa, Tokyo, and Vancouver. Rowe has appeared in nearly 50 films and TV projects, including the NHK Taiga dramas Ryomaden and Seiten wo Tsuke, Prime Video's The Silent Service, and numerous Japanese documentaries where he served as narrator. As the founder of Mirus Pictures, he produced Rules of Living, All the Songs We Never Sang, and BLT Sandwich Cafe, which was the first American-style sitcom in Japanese TV history.
This week have Daniel L. Smith, an award-winning director, producer, and journalist, and co-founder of Aurora Borealis Entertainment. He has produced numerous TV series and documentaries for major U.S. and Japanese media companies, including FOX, NBC-Universal, and Amazon.
Smith is a leading producer of original content from Japan and Asia, highly sought after for Hollywood and international film and TV production support in Japan. His acclaimed work includes documentaries on Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey, the award-winning Defending Japan series, and PR campaign films for Warner Bros. Japan and Universal.
In the spirit of award-winning indie romantic comedies/dramas from the early 2000s, From Chicago to Osaka is a screenplay written for the modern era. With fast-paced, ping-pong comedic dialogue in both English and Japanese, From Chicago to Osaka is the quintessential date movie for adults looking for something smart, sophisticated, and highly entertaining.The screenplay, written by Michael William Foster, is a two-hour small-to-low-budget independent film that highlights the locations and people of Osaka in the same way Ferris Bueller’s Day Off did for Chicago.Chicago and Osaka are real-life sister cities with many cultural similarities. As Chicago and Osaka also share a “second city” status, it seemed like a wonderful idea to give Osaka a chance to shine in the spotlight, especially since the residents of Chicago and Osaka have deep compassion for where they live.
Get ready for a special recap episode of "Showtime at Japan Expert Insights"! This week, we're taking a nostalgic and celebratory look back at the past twelve episodes of our show. It's been an incredible journey, and we're excited to revisit some of the most memorable moments and profound insights shared by our incredible guests. Join us as we highlight our most renowned guests, from industry leaders to cultural connoisseurs, and dive back into the wonderful and diverse expertise they've brought to the show. We'll revisit their fascinating stories and the unique perspectives they’ve shared on everything from Japanese business etiquette to the country's vibrant pop culture scene.
But that's not all! In this exclusive episode, we're also taking a deeper dive into something you've all been asking about: Michael's original screenplay, "From Chicago to Osaka." Michael will pull back the curtain and share more about the inspiration behind this ambitious project, its key themes, and what it’s been like to bring this cross-cultural story to life.
Whether you're a longtime listener or a new fan, this episode is a perfect opportunity to catch up on the best of "Showtime at Japan Expert Insights" and get an exclusive look at the creative process behind "From Chicago to Osaka." Tune in for a powerful episode filled with reflection, revelation, and a few surprises!
This week, we have Mayu Nakamura, a lifelong traveler and storyteller from Japan, who left home at 16 to study in the U.K. and eventually moved to New York City to pursue a career in filmmaking. She earned her MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film Program and now creates both fiction and documentary films while splitting her time between Tokyo and NYC. Her fiction feature Intimate Stranger premiered at the 2021 Tokyo International Film Festival, and her documentary Alone Again in Fukushima debuted at the 2020 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. Most recently, she received a BAFTA award for her work as a producer on the BBC documentary Atomic People.
This week’s guest is Fujiko, a vibrant and rising Japanese comedian based in Chicago who brings laughter, insight, and a unique cross-cultural perspective to the stage. Originally from Osaka, Japan, Fujiko discovered her passion for comedy through her gift for connecting with audiences, delivering joy with her positive energy, sharp wit, and empowering humor.
From her roots in Osaka to the vibrant U.S. comedy scene, Fujiko has harnessed the power of humor to connect and empower, navigating the unique challenges and joys of building a cross-cultural career. As a Japanese woman in American stand-up, she masterfully weaves her identity and cultural experiences into her performances, offering a fresh perspective that bridges different worlds. Her ultimate mission is to uplift and inspire audiences through laughter, making her journey a compelling story for anyone interested in comedy, Japanese culture, or the universal power of humor to transcend boundaries.
This week, we welcome Donie Ordiales and Sho Ikushima—two dynamic voices in contemporary Japanese cinema. Donie Ordiales is an independent director and screenwriter from the Philippines, a graduate of the prestigious Tokyo Film Center School of Arts, where he majored in film directing. Joining him is Sho Ikushima, a multifaceted Japanese actor, producer, and choreographer known for his compelling performances and creative versatility.
The duo will delve into their latest collaboration, Crosspoint—a gripping 2024 Philippine-Japanese action thriller written and directed by Ordiales, with Ikushima starring in a lead role. They’ll take us behind the scenes of filming in Japan, exploring the creative challenges and cultural intersections that shaped the project. Donie and Sho will also reflect on their unique artistic journeys and the unexpected crossroads that brought them together on this cinematic venture.
This week, we have Kei Kurosawa, a Filipino-Japanese actress, singer-songwriter, dancer, and content creator. She is known for the Japanese indie horror film, The Red Dress (2023), the Filipino youth-oriented series, Zoomers (2024), and the international Japanese action-drama film, Crosspoint (2024).
She has also made guest appearances in several hit television series in the Philippines. In 2024, she also made her singer-songwriter debut with "This Time It's New", currently being used as the official soundtrack of Zoomers. Kei is the first of her generation to be on our show, and we're excited to learn about Kei's perspectives from her rapidly accelerating career.
We are thrilled to share that Michael recently sat down with director Jun'ichi Yasuda and acterss & assistant director Yuno Sakura to discuss their breakout film A Samurai in Time (侍タイムスリッパー)—a fantasy comedy that has captured the hearts of Japanese moviegoers.
Made on a modest budget of 26 million yen and initially screened in just one theater, this indie gem has won several awards, among which is the 48th Japan Academy Film Prize. If you haven't watched it yet, the film follows Kosaka Shinzaemon, an Aizu Domain samurai who is struck by lightning and wakes up in 2007 Japan—where he carves out an unlikely career as a kirareyaku, a stunt actor who specializes in being slashed down in period dramas. His quiet success turns into something much bigger which we are not going to disclose here in order not to spoil the surprise.
Jun'ichi Yasuda is a director known for A Samurai in Time (2023), Kenjû to medamayaki (2014), and Gohan (2017). Born in Kyoto in 1967, after graduating from Osaka University of Economics, he worked at various jobs before starting his own videography business. His work ranges from kindergarten recitals to bridal photography, corporate videos, event video production, direction and design, multi-cam event recording and broadcasting, and production and distribution of low-budget films.
Yuno Sakura is an actress known for A Samurai in Time (2023) and Kimi to Yukite Saku: Shinsengumi Seishun Roku (2024). Born in Kyoto in 1967, when she graduated from elementary school, she dreamed of becoming an actress, but she did not study acting. She entered her current industry through a yukata contest, and her first acting experience was appearing in an opening video for an event filmed by Jun'ichi Yasuda. Since 2015, Asian Pop-Up Cinema has presented more than 300 films from across Asia, from mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. In our interview, Yasuda san talks about the film’s journey from passion project to sleeper success and the appeal of combining history with humor. Whether you love Japanese cinema, independent filmmaking, or just a great underdog story, don’t miss this film!
This week, we have Moeka Iida, a reporter and researcher at The Economist’s Tokyo bureau, covering Japanese politics, society, business, and culture. With a keen interest in subcultures and social trends, she has written about host clubs in Tokyo’s red-light district, the rise of female writers in Japan’s literary scene, and the changing face of masculinity. She also contributes to The Economist’s daily podcast, The Intelligence, and has reported from Thailand and South Korea. Born in Japan and raised in the UK, she studied anthropology at Sophia University in Tokyo. We're very thrilled to have her on the show!
This week, we have Chiaki Yanagimoto, a Japanese-born, Los Angeles-based producer with many award-winning features. After producing a series of genre films, Chiaki switched gears to documentaries, including “KAMPAI! For the Love of Sake,” which premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival and was released by IFC Films/Sundance Selects. She is also a founder of SAKKA, a US-based distribution hub for Japanese independent films. As a unique multicultural creative force, she began her career working for Taka Ichise and is currently developing international documentaries and scripted films under her own Synepic Entertainment. Her first directorial feature, "AUM: The Cult at the End of the World," premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2023 in the US documentary competition. We’re thrilled to have her on the show!
Mark Schilling is a reporter, critic, and author who specializes in Japanese films and popular culture. Since 1989, Mark has been a regular film critic for The Japan Times and has covered the Japanese film industry for Screen International (1990–2005) and Variety (2005–present). Mark has written or contributed to several books, including The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture (1997), Contemporary Japanese Film (1999), and No Borders, No Limits: Nikkatsu Action Cinema (2007). He has also served as a program advisor for film festivals such as the Udine Far East Film Festival and as a script advisor on Edward Zwick's The Last Samurai (2004). Major media outlets, including BBC, CNN, NPR, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, have recognized Mark's expertise.
In the fourth episode, we’re excited to welcome Susan Miyagi McCormac, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of JapanCulture NYC, a website that introduces New Yorkers to Japanese culture and promotes Japanese-related events. In addition to her work with JapanCulture NYC, Susan is a Vice President of the Japanese American Association of New York, serves on the JET Alumni Association of New York’s Board of Directors, and co-chairs the Communications Committee of the U.S.-Japan Council’s New York Region. We're excited to have her on the show!