Boston Japan Film Festival 2026

Catch Japanese films and culture in person at Boston Japan Film Festival 2026! Boston Japan Film Festival 2026 SPACE — From Sci-Fi to Reality Sunday, November 29, 2026 11:00 AM–6:00 PM MIT Stata Center, Room 32-123 EVENT SUMMARY Under this year’s theme, “SPACE — From Sci-Fi to Reality,” the festival presents Japanese films, anime, live music, solar science, a space-food experience, space-industry presentations, and a panel discussion with guests from JAXA, and space industry. • Admission: Free with advance registration; an optional $15 contribution is encouraged • Language: Japanese films and anime with English subtitles • Lunch: Complimentary for advance morning registrants; availability is limited on a first-come, first-served basis • Flexible Attendance: Guests may attend all or part of the event Please see the Agenda below for the complete program schedule and times. Join us for a journey where imagination meets innovation, and science fiction inspires the future of space exploration. FEATURED FILMS & SCREENINGS Feature Documentary WHY I WENT TO SPACE？ Yozo Hirano | 2023 | Japan | 89 min | Documentary | Japanese with English subtitles A documentary following Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa as he fulfills his childhood dream of traveling to the International Space Station (ISS). Director Yozo Hirano, who accompanied him, captures intensive training, twelve days in space, and rare footage of Earth from orbit—a dream becoming reality. Short Films & Animation GALAXY EXPRESS 999 — EPISODE 1: DEPARTURE BALLAD Nobutaka Nishizawa | 1978 | Japan | 25 min | Animation / Sci-Fi | Japanese with English subtitles First aired in 1978, this iconic sci-fi anime is set in the year 22XX, when humans can extend their lives through mechanical bodies. As young Tetsuro journeys across space with the mysterious Maetel, the story raises timeless questions about humanity, technology, and the value of life—questions that resonate in today’s age of AI and robotics. TARO THE SPACE ALIEN Randy Schmidt | 2024 | Japan (produced in Tokyo) | approx. 3 min | Animated Short / Comedy | Japanese with English subtitles Taro, a space alien sent to Earth on a mission to destroy the planet, ends up becoming a stand-up comedian instead! This animated short humorously explores the quirks of human life through the eyes of an alien outsider. ORBITAL CHRISTMAS Mitsuyasu Sakai | 2021 | Japan | 16 min 10 sec | Short Film / Sci-Fi | English Set aboard a space station in the near future, this heartwarming sci-fi film follows an encounter between a young Japanese girl searching for her missing father and a Muslim astronaut. Through a giant Christmas tree floating in space, the story celebrates compassion, hope, and human connection beyond cultural and religious boundaries. Moving-Image Art BEYOND EARTH — YOSHIROTTEN YOSHIROTTEN | 2026 | Japan | 5 min | Visual Art / Experimental Film | No Dialogue Through the eyes of Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN, the cosmos reveals a beauty beyond what we know, transformed by light, color, and imagination. His exhibition, BEYOND EARTH, at TOKYO NODE in Tokyo explores the mysteries of the universe through the intersection of art and science. In collaboration with JAXA, astronomical observations become a source of artistic exploration, bringing the invisible to life in unexpected ways. BEYOND EARTH takes us beyond the familiar, into a universe shaped by art, curiosity, and imagination. PLANET — ANREALAGE Autumn/Winter 2022–23 Collection ANREALAGE｜2022｜Japan｜10 min ｜Fashion Film / Video Art | No Dialogue Created with the cooperation of JAXA, ANREALAGE’s Autumn/Winter 2022–23 Paris collection film imagines future fashion on the Moon and Earth. Spacesuit-inspired forms, advanced technology, and two interpretations of “Clair de Lune” by Isao Tomita and Kyohei Sorita bring science and art together. Through clothing that connects worlds, the work expresses a hope for peace beyond national and racial boundaries. SPECIAL PROGRAM Special Mini Lecture | The Mysteries of the Sun Lecturer: Professor Mahboubeh Asgari-Targhi, Solar and Space Science Researcher, The University of Tokyo. Through solar imagery and scientific visualization, the lecture will explore the Sun’s magnetic fields and plasma activity and reveal how space science connects to our everyday lives and technologies. Space Food Experience | The Space Mackerel Can What began as high school students’ idea in Fukui, Japan, grew into a 14-year project to send local canned mackerel into space. In 2018, their creation was officially certified by JAXA as Japanese Space Food. Discover the inspiring story of how these students brought their idea to space through a special video presentation, followed by an opportunity to taste the Space Mackerel Can during lunch. Space Business Story Sessions | From Science Fiction to Real-World Business Space is no longer just the world of science fiction. It is becoming a rapidly evolving industry, creating new opportunities and shaping our future. Through engaging stories and visual presentations, representatives from Japanese companies will introduce their businesses, share how their ventures began, and explore how space technology and innovation are becoming part of our everyday lives. From the origins of their businesses to their visions for the future, this session brings the festival’s theme, “Sci-Fi to Reality” to life—showing how imagination is being transformed into real-world industries. Participating Companies i space, inc.： A pioneering Japanese lunar exploration company, ispace is developing lunar landers and rovers to expand human activity beyond Earth. With a vision of creating a sustainable economy between Earth and the Moon, the company is exploring new possibilities for the future of space exploration and business. Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)：One of Japan’s leading global trading and investment companies, Mitsubishi Corporation has a long history of involvement in the space industry. Building on its extensive experience, the company is expanding its space-related businesses and exploring new opportunities that connect space innovation with industries on Earth. Panel Discussion | From Sci-Fi to Reality How much of the universe once imagined in science fiction has become reality? How might the next era of space exploration transform our lives and our future? Experts working in space exploration, science, and business will discuss the possibilities that emerge when imagination becomes innovation—and science fiction becomes reality. Scheduled panelist: Masami Onoda Director, International Relations and Research Department, JAXA Janelle Wellons Mission Test & Operations Manager, ispace, inc.