Mumbai is Getting Ready to Groove to Japanese Music and Culture

Mumbai, November 10th, 2022: To commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and India, the Japan Foundation, in association with the Embassy of Japan in India and PVR Cinemas (Venue Partner), will be organizing the JAPAN FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL from November 11-13 at PVR ICON, Infiniti Andheri (W), Mumbai. The tickets can be booked through PVR Cinemas and BookMyShow, November 1st onwards. This year’s festival will feature recorded concerts by ’The World of RADWIMPS’, one of Japan’s leading rock bands followed by screenings of iconic movies by the world-renowned filmmaker and animator Makoto Shinkai.

RADWIMPS is a famous Japanese rock band formed in 2001 and has been awarded the Japanese Academy Award for Best Original Score, for composing the soundtracks for record-breaking animated feature films like “Your Name.” and “Weathering With You,” directed by world-renowned animator and filmmaker Makoto Shinkai. RADWIMPS is also composing the music for Makoto Shinkai’s upcoming movie “Suzume”, which is scheduled for release in Japan, on November 11th.

Speaking about the festival, Mr. Koji Sato, Director General, Japan Foundation New Delhi said, “India-Japan have shared a close relationship, encompassing not just trade and economic ties but also cultural exchange. In our contemporary culture, both music and films are shared and enjoyed by the wider public, making us feel much closer. In this memorable year of friendship, we are bringing Mumbai a true slice of Japanese entertainment; helping friends make happy moments and memories across the country.”

The festival will feature a recorded concert of RADWIMPS from their world premiere of “FOREVER IN THE DAZE TOUR 2021-2022” along with the “Your Name. Orchestra Concert”. The Japan Film & Music Festival will also showcase Makoto Shinkai’s animation movies, including “Weathering With You”, “Your Name.”, “The Garden of Words”, “Children Who Chase Lost Voices”, “5 Centimeters per Second” and “The Place Promised in Our Early Days”.

“Your Name.” was not only a critical success but became the third highest-grossing animated movie of all time, worldwide, with international box office collections in excess of $330 million. “Weathering With You,” the last film by Makoto Shinkai received critical and commercial success across the globe. It was Japan’s official entry to the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. It is also the first anime film to be commercially released in India. A large petition and a major twitter trend got Makoto Shinkai’s attention which subsequently led to the release of the film in India.