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In early 19th-century Edo, Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality, celebrated novelist Takizawa Bakin (Yakusho Koji) embarks on an ambitious story of eight samurai warriors.
They are bound by a mystical orb that grants them supernatural powers to lift the curse afflicting the Satomi clan.
Seeking an illustrator, Bakin turns to his close friend, the legendary ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai (Uchino Seiyo). Though Hokusai declines to collaborate, he continues to visit, eager to hear each new chapter as it unfolds.
Nearly three decades pass, but when his life’s work reaches its climax, Bakin’s private life takes its toll — in addition to family strife, he begins to lose his sight. Just as despair sets in, his devoted daughter-in-law, Omichi (Kuroki Haru), offers to assist him, rekindling his determination to complete the masterpiece.
Hakkenden has been adapted for film numerous times since the 1950s, but this adaptation is different.
Masterfully directed by SORI Fumihiko (Pinpon, 2002), it effortlessly blends the intimate true story of some of Japan’s most renowned artistic historical figures with the world of fascinating heroes Bakin created, alongside breath-taking visual effects.
The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2026
Knowing Me, Knowing You: The True Self in Japanese Cinema.
The UK’s largest festival of Japanese cinema, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme (JFTFP),is back again. This is the place where cinema comes alive!
Knowing others—let alone ourselves—is not easy, as we behave differently depending on the relationship, environment, or even intention. In an age of advanced digital technology, where imagery can be readily manipulated, it is even harder to define who we, or others, truly are.
With these questions in mind, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2026 showcases some of the most unmissable Japanese films nationwide across the UK.
From powerful social crime dramas and laugh-out-loud comedies to gender-defining films, fantasy, and horror, the programme offers something for everyone.
See all our JFTFP 2026 screenings!
Co-presented by:
Supported by:
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Ticket prices:
Standard £11.50 Concessions £10.50 Students £5.50
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Certificate: 18
Length: 164 minutes
Director: Sori Fumihiko
Cast: Yakusho Koji, Uchino Seiyo, Tsuchiya Tao and Kuroki Haru
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Dates and times
Sunday 29 March 2026 | 11:00 am