The Cat Returns
Thu 20/02/2025 – 8:30 PM
Ciné RIO (de koer – Gent) presents: When Haru saves the life of a cat, she receives an invitation that threatens to turn her entire life upside down. Only the Baron, a charming, magical cat, and his grumpy friend Muta can come to her rescue and prevent her from living in this fairytale world forever. … →
Film Festival 2025 – Programme preview
Wed 19/03/2025
Film Festival 2025 – Programme preview The JAPAN SQUARE team is busy putting together the program for the 15th Japan-Square Film Festival. The selection is not yet completely finalized and all details are not yet fixed, but here is a preliminary overview of the films that have definitely been selected for screening: My Sunshine (2024) … →
Film Festival 2025 – Save The Date
Wed 19/03/2025
It’s here! You can mark it in your agenda again: the dates of the 15th edition of the Japan-Square Film Festival in Studio Skoop! From 19 to 23 March 2025 we will once again spoil you with a delicious selection of Japanese films, where as always you can enjoy equally delicious Japanese dishes before a … →
Film Festival 2025 – Programme, practical, etc
19/03/2025 – 23/03/2025
[ EXTRA ] 20/03/2025 22:15 – Takashi MIIKE – Blazing Fists (2025) It’s finally here! You can mark it in your agenda again: the dates of the 15th edition of the Japan-Square Filmfestival in Studio Skoop! From March 19 to 23, 2025, we will once again spoil you with a delicious selection of Japanese films, … →
My Sunshine
Wed 19/03/2025 – 7:45 PM
This year, we are honored to present My Sunshine as the opening film – a poignant and visually stunning movie that perfectly sets the tone for this edition of our festival. Director Hiroshi Okuyama, known for Jesus, once again delivers a subtle and layered story that takes the viewer to a snowy Japanese island, where … →
Reception – sake and sushi combo
Wed 19/03/2025 – 9:45 PM
With the paraphrased saying “Never change a winning reception”, the Gohan Team is pleased to once again provide the opening reception in and around the Skoop Café this year. See you on Wednesday March 19th after the 7:45 PM film in the Skoop Café. At the opening reception you pay 6 euros for a “trio … →
Donburi
Thu 20/03/2025 – 6:00 PM
YAKITORI-DON & VEGGIE DON ! From 18:00 on Thursday 20 March you can come and eat a tasty bowl of donburi. Donburi is a delicious Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of rice covered with various toppings such as meat, vegetables and sauce. GOHAN offers you a version with chicken or with tofu. Enjoy!!! ● … →
Shades of Indigo
Thu 20/03/2025 – 7:30 PM
With Shades of Indigo, we open a poetic journey through the world of traditional Japanese indigo dyeing techniques. Director Shigeru Yoshida, known for his visual precision and in-depth cultural documentaries, offers a tribute to the artisans who keep this ancient craft alive. With a restrained, meditative style, he introduces us to a craft that is … →
Blazing Fists
Thu 20/03/2025 – 10:15 PM
With over 100 films to his name, Japanese actor and director Takashi Miike established his reputation within the Japanese film industry years ago. He is known for his hard-edged and unique filmmaking style, often featuring explicit depictions of sex and violence. This trend is clearly visible in some of his classics, such as Audition, Ichi … →
Chirashi-zushi
Fri 21/03/2025 – 6:00 PM
On Friday 21 March, you can enjoy colourful loose sushi in the café of Studio Skoop from 18:00. After enjoying your delicious chirashi-zushi, you can relax and enjoy the film. GOHAN creates 2 different types of chirashi-zushi (loose sushi) with garnish: Chirashi-zushi fish: teriyaki fish (depending on the market supply) with a garnish of boiled … →
Kanasando
Fri 21/03/2025 – 7:45 PM
忘んなよーや 忘んなよー Don’t forget. Don’t forget. 我ね思とんどー かなさんどー I think of you, my dearest. These words from the text of an Okinawan folk song by the same name beautifully capture the essence of Kanasando. When Mika returns to Okinawa after seven years to accompany her father, who is suffering from dementia, in his final days, she is … →
The Box Man
Fri 21/03/2025 – 10:00 PM
The Box Man is an intriguing and psychologically charged film that you won’t want to miss. Based on the famous novel by Kōbō Abe, director Gakuryū Ishii takes you into a world of self-exploration and identity. The story follows a man who literally hides his life in a cardboard box, concealing his identity and observing … →
Komaneko (+ kamishibai)
Sat 22/03/2025 – 2:30 PM
As every year, the youth will be put in the spotlight on Saturday. This year, the children’s afternoon will start with a “historical” selection of Komaneko stop-motion short films. Komaneko – The First Step Komaneko – Hands-on Camera Koma and Radi-bo Radi-bo’s Battle Komaneko – A New Journey Komaneko follows the story of Komaneko, a … →
"Mini Matsuri" children's entertainment
Sat 22/03/2025 – 3:15 PM
Following the Komaneko animation short films and the Kamishibai performance, a fun children’s afternoon has been planned in and around the Skoop Café in collaboration with Japanese exchange students from Ghent University, including traditional Japanese games, origami and even a kimono photoshoot: children can dress up in colorful kimonos, a unique opportunity to capture a … →
Let's Go Karaoke!
Sat 22/03/2025 – 5:00 PM
What would you do if a high-ranking member of the local yakuza, the Japanese mafia, suddenly asked you to teach him how to sing? Satomi Oka, the 14-year-old leader of the school choir, certainly wasn’t keen on the idea. Yet, he can’t resist helping Kyoji Narita, and before he knows it, Satomi is spending his … →
Japanese Curry
Sat 22/03/2025 – 6:00 PM
GOHAN will be offering his delicious Japanese curry on Saturday March 22nd before the movie “Castle of Wind and Clouds” (with live guitar accompaniment by Alexander Makay)! You can choose between chicken and vegan! Prepared by GOHAN: https://gohan.be/ You can purchase your portion for a democratic additional price (+15 euros) via a combination ticket for … →
Castle of Wind and Clouds
Sat 22/03/2025 – 7:45 PM
This year, there is also a classic on the program. And this classic is about as old as it gets. Directly from the Royal Belgian Film Archive, we are proudly presenting Castle of Wind and Clouds. This silent film from 1928, directed by Toko Yamazaki, will be shown on Saturday accompanied by a live musical … →
The Friends
Sat 22/03/2025 – 10:00 PM
The Friends (夏の庭), directed by Shinji Somai, is a heartwarming and poignant story about friendship, loss, and the search for meaning. This 1994 Japanese film explores the lives of three young friends who, in the summer of their lives, are confronted with the complex reality of adulthood. The story follows three children who spend their … →
Bento-lunch
Sun 23/03/2025 – 12:45 PM
The traditional Japan-Square Film Festival Bento! GOHAN brings the traditional lunch film bento to the Skoop Café again this edition! On Sunday 23/03 you can order a delicious bento lunch from 12:45 (before the start of the 14:30 film Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality). We are offering 2 different bento’s this year (quantity is limited!) Japan … →
Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality
Sun 23/03/2025 – 2:30 PM
This year we present director Fumihiko Sori’s latest film Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality, an immersive blend of history and fantasy that blurs the lines between reality and story. Sori, known for films like Ping Pong and Fullmetal Alchemist, is renowned for his visually striking and narratively bold projects. The film centers around Kyokutei Bakin, an … →
Film Festival 2025 – Sponsors, photos, etc
19/03/2025 – 23/03/2025
Thank you! Sponsors, photos, … Photographer Rob Walbers, who traded Overpelt for Tokyo a few years ago, once again provided the poster image for the Japan-Square Film Festival this year. We thank our sponsors, generous donors and partners. Without their support, the Japan-Square Film Festival would not be possible. →
Demons (35 mm)
Mon 24/03/2025 – 8:00 PM
Art Cinema OFFoff presents: Toshio Matsumoto – Demons (35 mm) Experimental filmmaker and critic Toshio Matsumoto followed up his queer cult classic Funeral Parade of Roses (1969) with a “simple” samurai film, but beneath its seemingly traditional surface lurks just as much subversion. A Borgesian satire masquerading as samurai horror, this nocturnal masterpiece is one … →
Japanese Avant-Garde Pioneers
Thu 24/04/2025 – 7:45 PM
[Film Tip] Studio Skoop presents: Belgian premiere of “Japanese Avant-Garde Pioneers” (Amélie Ravalec, 2025) The 1960s era in Japan was a time of profound social change, political unrest and student protests. The turbulent times of the postwar era inspired an artistic explosion in Japan, with the emergence of a revolutionary scene of avant-garde artists who … →
The Taste of Tea
Thu 23/10/2025 – 8:30 PM
Ciné RIO (de koer – Gent) presents: This magical-realistic film follows the daily lives of the Haruno family. Father Nobuo works as a hypnotherapist, mother Yoshiko makes anime in her spare time, shy son Hajime falls in love for the first time, and his little sister Sachiko is followed everywhere by a gigantic version of … →