The Japan Foundation Movie Festival, jointly organized annually by the Japan Foundation and the Korean Film Archive, will take place from January 30 (Fri) to February 26 (Thu), 2026. This third program, curated around the theme “Cinema and Literature,” features 12 Japanese films adapted from Japanese epic novels and international literary works.

This year’s festival will also pay tribute to legendary Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai, who passed away on November 8, 2025, at the age of 92, by screening six films in which he appeared. The lineup includes The White Tower and The Waste Land, based on epic novels by Toyoko Yamazaki; Mount Hakkoda, adapted from Jiro Nitta’s nonfiction work Death March on Mount Hakkoda; Muddy River, based on the novel by Teru Miyamoto; and Akira Kurosawa’s distinctive interpretations of William Shakespeare’s tragedies, including Throne of Blood, The Bad Sleep Well, and Ran. These timeless masterpieces, whose artistic power truly shines on the big screen, will be presented together in this special program.

Tatsuya Nakadai (仲代達矢, 1932–2025)

Born in Tokyo, Tatsuya Nakadai was a legendary Japanese actor who helped define the golden age of Japanese cinema. His career spanned acting, directing, singing, narration, and voice acting. He began his acting life in 1952 when he joined the theatre troupe Haiy？za. Thereafter, he moved fluidly between screen and stage, remaining actively engaged in acting until his passing at the age of 92.

Nakadai collaborated with many of the most important directors in Japanese film history, including Akira Kurosawa, Kon Ichikawa, Mikio Naruse, Masaki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Teshigahara, and Masahiro Kobayashi. He shone on screen as a defining persona for these filmmakers, leaving an indelible mark on their works.

He visited Korea for the 2010 Akira Kurosawa 100th Birth Anniversary Retrospective and the 2012 Tatsuya Nakadai Retrospective, both jointly organized by the Korean Film Archive and the Japan Foundation. During these visits, he shared reflections on his life and career through conversations with audiences.

stills_ⓒ1964 NIKKATSU