BUSAN, South Korea, and TOKYO, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JAPANESE NIGHT in Busan 2026, organized by JAPANESE NIGHT Executive Committee, was held for the first time in Busan on October 9 at Paradise Hotel Busan during the Busan International Film Festival. At least 300 guests, including actors, directors, film professionals and media representatives from around the world, gathered to engage with Japanese cinema and culture while exploring future collaborations, according to the committee, led by MEGUMI–an actor, producer and representative of KICKY Inc.
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MEGUMI, who founded the event, reflected on its beginnings in Cannes in 2024 and expressed hope that connections made in Busan will grow into new projects and collaborations across borders.
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Presentations and Special Appearances
Producer Takeshi Moriya introduced "ATMOVIE GLOBAL TRACK," a program designed to develop producers for international co-productions. Four creators joined him to present their projects ahead of JAPAN PITCH in BUSAN on October 11-12.
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Miki Tanaka, whose "Ginger Boy" won Third Prize in La Cinef at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, presented her debut feature "silver express," selected for the Competition section of the Busan International Film Festival. She discussed the importance and difficulty of imagining the perspectives of people with different values.
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Director Hirokawa Hayashida and actor Kiko Mizuhara unveiled the first public teaser for "GURUGURU," Hayashida’s feature directorial debut. Exploring the cycles of life and the Buddhist concept of impermanence, the comedy film addresses grief and healing. Mizuhara invited industry professionals to connect with the team.
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Korean actor Jung Il-woo discussed his first appearance in a Japanese production, the Prime Video Original series "Hanzaisha" (The Criminal). Now in his 20th year as an actor, he described how Japanese craftsmanship inspired him to embrace unfamiliar environments and discover new dimensions of himself as an actor.
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Lead actor Ruhito Okura and director Ryohei Kumamoto introduced "After the Song," selected for the Vision-Asia section of the Busan International Film Festival. Kumamoto described the film as a record of Okura’s changes over time, while Okura reflected on his first substantial acting role in a film.
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Eita Nagayama and Son Sukku, co-leads of the Netflix series "Puleungil (The Blue Road)," made a surprise appearance, drawing an enthusiastic audience response. Director Han Jun-hee praised the two as among Japan’s and Korea’s finest actors and expressed pride in the series they had created together.
Photo Session & Networking
MEGUMI and the speakers gathered for a group photo, followed by a networking reception featuring a DJ set by Mademoiselle Yulia. In closing, MEGUMI expressed hope that the evening’s connections will develop into new collaborations.
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About JAPANESE NIGHT
Founded by actor and producer MEGUMI, JAPANESE NIGHT showcases Japanese cinema, culture and talent, promoting international cultural exchange and collaboration across the film industry.
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