The Vernon Japanese Cultural Society invites the community to experience the city's first Japanese Film Festival – an opportunity to enjoy Japanese film, music, cuisine and much more this November.
The Japanese Canadian Legacy Society, which funds this festival, was established after the provincial government issued a formal apology and compensation to Japanese Canadians affected by the internment policies during the Second World War. The purpose of this funding is to promote Japanese Canadian culture and help improve infrastructure that supports it,” says Nina Langton, an Associate Professor in Japanese Studies at UBC Okanagan.
“We applied for a grant to bring this festival to Vernon as a way of involving the community in Japanese culture and history.”
The festival spans several weekends, each with its own theme. It began earlier this month with a focus on music, featuring a taiko drumming performance by Vernon’s local drumming group and the Raiden Drummers from Kamloops, along with the festival's first film, Perfect Days. “Each weekend has its own theme,” Langton says, “and we try to pair films with cultural events.”
Last weekend, they featured a food-themed day with a local Japanese café, allowing visitors to experience Japanese cuisine alongside the screenings. Last Sunday, Nov.10 was devoted to yakuza-themed films, with classic and modern crime dramas such as Tokyo Drifters (1966) and First Love (2019) on the schedule.
To complement the screenings, there was a presentation on traditional Japanese tattoos, highlighting the connection between the yakuza and tattoo artistry.
Saturday, Nov. 16 is anime day, with activities like origami workshops and an invitation for attendees to come dressed as their favourite anime characters. The final day, Nov. 17, will feature a taiko drumming performance by Yamabiko Taiko from Kelowna, followed by a screening of Evil Does Not Exist.
“This festival, and the legacy fund supporting it, reminds people of the history of Japanese internment in Canada. It’s about keeping that memory alive so it isn’t forgotten, and so history doesn’t repeat itself,” Langton says.
Additionally, she sees the festival as a way to enrich Vernon’s cultural landscape. “We want people to taste and experience Japanese culture in all its richness,” she says.
Langton is motivated by her passion for teaching Japanese film and bridging Japanese culture with the local community. “It’s a unique chance to share Japanese culture, from drumming and dance to language and cinema, and the festival brings all these elements together for Vernon,” she adds.
Learn more at vjff.vjcs.org where you can review the festival's full program of events.