Doco Double Feature - Living Ninja Legend/Kimono Revolution: CANCELLED

Join us for Free Japanese Film evening!

Free Japanese films shown at Massey University are usually screened on the first Wednesday of the month from 6:30pm and are preceded by a documentary about Japanese culture from 6:15pm.

- All films have English subtitles.
- Booking is not necessary.
- Films, dates and times are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Please contact us to confirm details.
We hope that you will enjoy the films and gain a deeper insight into various aspects of Japanese culture.

April film: Documentary Double Feature

Living Ninja Legend (2016, 49 minutes):
Masaaki Hatsumi, 84 years old, is a living ninja in modern times. He is the grandmaster of Togakure-ryu, a ninjutsu school that was founded about 900 years ago, and has drawn attention from the FBI and other government agencies as they train in survival skills and how to dodge enemy attacks and save one’s life. Hatsumi’sdisciples and followers are estimated at more than 100,000 around the world.

His ninjutsu is now even taught at the university in California as a regular course. At age of 27, Hatsumibecame an apprentice of a ninjutsu mentor and inherited the position after 15 years of grueling training. He bolstered his reputation during his journey abroad, with fierce fighters and soldiersbeing no match for him. We will look at the life of the world-renowned grandmaster and his legendary techniques.

Kimono Revolution (2018, 49 minutes)
Yoshimasa Takakura, a kimono shop owner from Fukuoka Prefecture, launches an unprecedented project: to produce elaborate kimonos representing each of the 206 nations recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Takakura’s goal is to see all the country placard bearers at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics dressed in their special kimono at the opening ceremony.

Takakura is fighting to save the declining kimono industry by calling on artisans across Japan – both established and emerging talents – to come together to create innovative designs. Kimono Revolution illuminates the painstaking work, technical skill and artistic vision that goes into each kimono, and follows Takakura’s quest to bring new life to an old tradition.

NHK World Japan.

Presented by the Consulate-General of Japan, the University of Auckland, Massey University and the Japan Foundation and NHK World Japan.