Boston Japan Film Festival 2026

Sunday, November 29, 2026

11:00 AM–6:00 PM

MIT Stata Center, Room 32-123

Film, science, art, music, and the space industry come together at the Boston Japan Film Festival 2026.

Under this year’s theme, “SPACE — From Sci-Fi to Reality,” the festival presents Japanese films and moving-image works that explore the universe through documentary, animation, fashion, art, science, and imagination.

The day will feature short films, a live musical opening performance, a special lecture on solar science, a space-food experience, space-industry presentations, a feature documentary screening, and a panel discussion with guests from the fields of space exploration, science, and business.

A complimentary lunch will be offered to guests attending the morning program. Advance reservations are required, and availability is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.

Admission is by advance registration with a suggested donation.
Guests may enter or leave during the program.

Join us for a journey where imagination meets innovation, and science fiction inspires the future of space exploration.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. | Former NASA JPL Engineer

Moderator:
Chris Pilcavage

Program times and screening order are subject to change.
TimeProgram

11:00 AM — Opening Live Music Performance: Cosmic Sounds

11:15 AM — Short Film Program: Taro the Space Alien / Orbital Christmas / PLANET

12:00 PM — Special Mini Lecture: The Mysteries of the Sun

12:25 PM — Space Food Experience: The Space Mackerel Can

12:40 PM — Lunch

1:30 PM — Afternoon Program Opening

1:40 PM — Short Film: Galaxy Express 999, Episode 1: Departure Ballad

2:05 PM — Space Business Story Sessions

2:35 PM — Moving-Image Art: BEYOND EARTH — YOSHIROTTEN

2:45 PM — Break

3:00 PM — Feature Documentary: Why I Went to Space?

4:30 PM — Panel Discussion: From Sci-Fi to Reality

5:20 PM — Raffle Drawing (pending final confirmation)

5:40 PM — Closing and Community Gathering

6:00 PM — Event Concludes

Complimentary lunch is available by advance RSVP for morning program attendees. Limited quantities.

SUPPORT BJFF

Suggested Contribution: $15 per person | Admission is Free

The Boston Japan Film Festival is organized by Wa Link Boston, Inc., a nonprofit organization, in collaboration with the MIT Japan Program.

As a nonprofit cultural event, BJFF relies on the generosity of our community to bring Japanese cinema, art, science, and inspiring cultural experiences to Boston.

We warmly encourage a suggested contribution of $15 per person to help us continue presenting the festival and creating opportunities for cultural exchange between Japan and the United States.

As a token of our appreciation, supporters contributing $15 or more will receive an exclusive BJFF 2026 original sticker at check-in!

Your support helps make this festival possible and brings us one step closer to another inspiring year of Japanese cinema and cultural exchange.

Admission remains free and open to everyone.
Contributions are entirely voluntary, and guests are welcome regardless of their ability to contribute.

Online registration will remain open until 3:00 PM on the day of the event.
Same-day registration will also be available at the reception desk, subject to venue capacity.

A Special Japanese Lunch for Morning Program Attendees

Enjoy a special Japanese lunch, generously provided by our sponsors from Boston’s Japanese food community!

Join us for the morning film screenings and special programs, followed by a delicious Japanese lunch and a fun tasting experience featuring Japanese space food.

Lunch Reservations & Information

• Lunch service: Approximately 12:40–1:30 PM
• Complimentary lunch is available for morning program attendees.
• Advance reservations are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Lunch reservations close the day before the event.
• Guests with lunch reservations should check in by 11:30 AM.
• Lunch vouchers will be distributed at the reception desk.
• Unclaimed lunches may be released to other festival guests after 1:10 PM.

If your plans change after making a lunch reservation, please cancel so that the meal can be offered to another guest.

We look forward to sharing a special taste of Japan—and a glimpse into the future of space food—with you!

• Please register in advance through Eventbrite.
• Guests may attend the morning program, afternoon program, or both.
• We warmly encourage guests to join us from the morning program.
• Guests may enter or leave during the event.
• Please bring your own reusable water bottle to stay hydrated during the event.
• Seating is limited. If you are unable to attend, please cancel your Eventbrite registration.
• Films, speakers, program content, and times are subject to change.
• Photography and video recording may take place during the event. Images may be used on the BJFF website, social media, and in future promotional materials.
  

ORGANIZED BY
Wa Link Boston, Inc. | A U.S.-registered nonprofit organization
Boston Japan Film Festival (BJFF)
IN COLLABORATION WITH
MIT Japan Program
Sponsors and supporting organizations will be acknowledged with their official names and logos.
We look forward to welcoming you to MIT for a celebration of Japanese cinema, art, science, and cultural exchange!

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Ray and Maria Stata Center, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, United States

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