Young Japanese Director Rina Takahashi Brings Sakura and Nanjing to Tokyo Film Market

TOKYO, Japan — September 21, 2026 — Following her graduation from a Japanese university film programme, emerging director Rina Takahashi began developing her debut feature Sakura and Nanjing after discovering the documentary The Truth of Nanjing (南京の真实).

The documentary became the starting point for Takahashi's fictional story about historical memory and one family's relationship with the past. Japanese filmmaker Satoru Mizushima (水島総), whose documentary work inspired the project, later joined the production as supervising producer.

The film was independently developed and financed by Japanese production company Kiyora Film Works, together with private individual investment. Principal photography took place in Nagano, Japan, with a small production team.

Sakura and Nanjing also incorporates AI-generated historical imagery to recreate fragments of the past within the fictional narrative, combining contemporary photography with digitally reconstructed historical scenes.

Set in 2006, the film follows Yoshiko Kayama, a young Japanese woman who returns home after learning that her grandfather is seriously ill. Among his old photographs, she discovers that he was once a war photographer in China during the 1930s. As she uncovers his memories, Yoshiko begins to question how the same history can be remembered differently across generations and countries.

The film has attracted early interest from international distribution company Eastbridge Pictures, which is currently discussing international sales and distribution with the filmmakers.

Sakura and Nanjing will be presented at the Tokyo International Film Festival Market 2026, where the production team will seek international distribution and festival opportunities.

Film: Sakura and Nanjing
Japanese Title: 桜と南京
Director: Rina Takahashi
Supervising Producer: Satoru Mizushima
Production: Japan / Taiwan
International Sales: Cinefila s.r.o.
Website: cinedust.com