FUKUMA Kenji Memorial Spotlight

A Special Screening of Director Fukuma's Final Work Not Born Yesterday,
Celebrating the Life of a Poet and Filmmaker Who Lived Through Both Poetry and Cinema.

FUKUMA Kenji
（1949-2023）

Humans are born,
they grow,
accumulate experiences,
and on a bright, clear day,
they say life suddenly feels empty.
But that’s a tiresome refrain.
I don’t believe it.

From Kenji Fukuma's Not Born Yesterday
(included in the poetry collection Reason for Autumn).

FUKUMA Kenji, a director who cherished the feeling of living in reality, continuously pushed the boundaries of adventurous expression through poetry and film.

His seventh film, Not Born Yesterday, was initially conceived in 2015 as a story about the encounter between an elderly man and a child. After the pandemic, it evolved into a work focusing on the vulnerable elderly and children.

Filming took place between November and December 2022. Tragically, just three days after its completion in March 2023, Fukuma suffered a stroke and passed away on April 26 at the age of 74. This final film embodies his belief that "human connections can bring small hope.

Biography

Born in Niigata Prefecture in 1949, FUKUMA Kenji was a widely active poet, critic, and translator. He became engrossed in cinema during middle school, influenced by directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, Yasuzo Masumura, and Koji Wakamatsu. In high school, he met WAKAMATSU Koji, YAMATOYA Atsushi, and ADACHI Masao, and in 1969, he wrote and starred in Wakamatsu’s Confessions of a Rapist. While teaching at Tokyo Metropolitan University, he continued writing poetry and founded the magazine Jiraiya in 1989, focusing on poetry and film.

In 1995, he released his first feature film, Suddenly Arriving. He continued his dual career, releasing films such as The Daughter of Okayama and Reason for Autumn, and gained strong support from younger filmmakers. His poetry collection Blue House won both the Hagiwara Sakutaro Award and the Fujimura Memorial Rekitei Award, further solidifying his reputation as a poet.

Fukuma passed away on April 26, 2023, at the age of 74 due to pneumonia.

From the Festival Founder

This year, with the passing of Director FUKUMA Kenji, we feel a special significance in screening his works in the United States. Fukuma was an extraordinary figure who demonstrated talents not only as a filmmaker but also as a poet, critic, and translator. His wide range of expression, rich sensibility, and unique perspective have deeply influenced many people across different fields.

His films transcend mere visuals, offering deep insights into human connections and society. We are proud to present his invaluable final work, Not Born Yesterday, to American audiences in honor of his remarkable legacy.

Filmography

1969：Confessions of a Rapist: The Dark Chapter of Modern Sex Crimes – Screenwriter and Lead Actor (Directed by WAKAMATSU Koji)
1969：Prologue to a Youth Legend – Screenwriter and Director (Cinematography by TAKAMA Kenji, 16mm)
1995：Suddenly Arriving – Screenwriter and Director (First Feature)
2008：My Dear Daughter of Okayama – Screenwriter and Director
2011：Summer for the Living – Screenwriter and Director
2013：A Fairy Tale – Screenwriter and Director
2016：Autumn – Screenwriter and Director
2020：Paradise Lost – Screenwriter and Director
https://kino.brighthorse-film.com/NBYfukuma/






    

  
  

  



  
    
    


  
  




  

    

    
      
    
    

  

  

    

      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      











































  

    
  
    

      

        

          

          
          

          
            
              
            
          

        

      

    

    
  


  







  
Suddenly Arriving























  
  















































  

    
  
    

      

        

          

          
          

          
            
              
            
          

        

      

    

    
  


  







  
Summer for the Living























  
  















































  

    
  
    

      

        

          

          
          

          
            
              
            
          

        

      

    

    
  


  







  
Paradise Lost