“Kokoro” (心) translates to “heart,” “mind,” or “spirit,” and represents the innermost feelings, emotions, and thoughts of a person. In Japanese culture, “kokoro” is often associated with sincerity, empathy, and the emotional aspect of human experience. Our hope is to evoke all the above and engage and connect as a community through film.

Experience the power of community screenings by viewing beloved and trailblazing films in the newly renovated auditorium at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Panel discussions will explore themes of identity and generational perspectives and follow classic films by nisei Jesse Nishihata; sansei, Michael Fukushima, Cindy Mochizuki, Linda Ohama, and Midi Onodera; and yonsei, Jeff Chiba-Stearns, Mitch Miyagawa and Randall Okita.

Tributes to creative giants Raymond Moriyama and Jesse Nishihata will include discussions of their legacy following the  documentary, Magical Imperfection, and Nishihata’s award-winning The Inquiry Film and Watari Dori. 

Ten years ago the Nikkei National Museum held a Nishihata tribute exhibit with two-person screenings of a selection of his films. Kokoro offers a rare opportunity to view his films as a community on a big screen with his son Junji, included in the discussion of his legacy. 

Ugetsu Monogatari, by legendary Japanese filmmaker Kenji Mizoguchi, will be a final flourish. Hailed as “one of the most perfect movies in the history of Japanese cinema,”, this 1953 classic film was ahead of its time in focussing on the tragic effects of war on women.

Filmmakers, Fukushima, Ohama, Onodera and Okita, and Nishihata’s son Junji will be in attendance as presenters and panelists along with Kerri Sakamoto, Shin Imai and others.

Meet-and-greet networking events will take place at C5, the world-class lounge atop the ROM. An evening reception on Saturday, July 20 and a brunch on Sunday, July 21 will include a silent auction organized by Momiji’s Japonica team.