Outdoor Japanese Movie Nights
In partnership with the Consulate General of Japan in Houston
These screenings were scheduled for March 2020! Interested in enjoy films outdoors with us? Learn about our Front Lawn Film Nights! Through March through June, we're screening a collection of Asian and Asian American films on our festival lawn.
Learn more and purchase tickets »
Enjoy three different family-friendly Japanese movies out on our front lawn during Spring Break! Bring your own blankets, lawn chairs, snacks, and drinks to enjoy during the outdoor screenings.
These screenings are FREE and open to the public. Please RSVP for planning purposes.
In the event of inclement weather, the film screening will move indoors.
Don't forget to join us during Spring Break for different activities, games, and more each day, March 16–20, 12–2 p.m.! Learn more »
Film Screenings at a Glance
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya | Monday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.
I Wish | Wednesday, March 18, 7:30 p.m.
Okko's Inn | Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
About The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
From legendary STUDIO GHIBLI cofounder Isao Takahata comes this hand-drawn masterpiece revisiting Japan's most famous folktale. Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her — but ultimately she must confront her fate and the punishment for her crime.
Directed by: Isao Takahata
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Running time: 137 minutes
"You won't see a lusher, more gorgeous film." — The Verge
"Ravishing." — NPR
About I Wish
Forced to live apart due to their parents' separation, two young brothers hatch a complicated plan to reunite their family.
Directed by: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Cast: Kohki Maeda, Ohshiro Maeda, Nene Otsuka, Joe Odagiri
Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Running time: 127 minutes
"Forget about all those phoney Oscar-bait films — this complex, delicate drama about two young boys living through their parents' split is the real deal, and deeply satisfying." — The Guardian
"Kore-eda’s mastery gets us caught up in the moment: We hope for a miracle, and we get one — but of the cinematic kind, in which we’re carried away as if on that train; transformed, just for a moment, into a child again." — The Seattle Times
About Okko's Inn
After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn built on top of an ancient spring said to have healing waters. While she goes about her chores and prepares to become the inn's next caretaker, Okko discovers that there are spirits who live there that only she can see - not scary ones, but welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games and help her navigate her new environment.
Directed by: Kitarō Kōsaka
Language: English dubbing
Running time: 94 minutes
"A warm and adorable new addition to the growing subgenre of animated children's films about grief (see: Coco, Kubo and the Two Strings, and My Neighbor Totoro among many others, most of them Japanese)." — IndieWire
"In a divisive era, Okko’s Inn carries a welcome message of acceptance and inclusion." — The Los Angeles Times
Education and outreach programs at Asia Society Texas Center are made possible through generous funding from the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation. Additional support provided by the Friends of Education & Outreach at Asia Society Texas Center. This program is presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Japan in Houston.
Japan Series Presenting Sponsor
Japan Outreach Initiative Sponsor