INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

Japan
I am a Monk
Showing: 4/12 at 7PM
Director: Yukinori Makabe
Producer: Tomiji Kajiwara
Screenwriter: Kenya Hirata
Editor: Hiroaki Morishita
Music: Mamiko Hirai
Sound: Hiroyuki Ishizaka
Chief Executive Producer: Takaaki Kabuto,
Tsukasa Shiga
Director of Photography: Kozo Shibazaki
Cast: Atsushi Ito, Mizuki Yamamoto,
Issey Ogata, Gaku Hamada,
Miyuki Matsuda
Print source: Pony Canyon Inc
Address: Tokyo
Tel: 81-3-5521-8016
Email: sakoda@ponycanyon.co.jp
Website: www.ponycanyon.co.jp/intl
Synopsis:
Koen Shirakata, age 24. With the sudden death of his
grandfather, he became an Abbot of Eifukuji, the 57th of
88 temples on the Shikoku pilgrimage route. Although
he was born and raised in this temple, stepping into the
Buddhist world as a monk was a much deeper experience
than he had ever imagined. At times getting excited seeing
special monk tools for the first time, or meeting unique
monks, while also worrying about relations with worshippers
of the temple.
Docu-Drama
104 Minutes
Color, Japanese
Yukinori Makabe
Born in 1984 in Tokyo. After graduating from university, he joined ROBOT. After years of serving in the
CM Production Division, he was transferred to Film Direction Division. Makabe’s short film “The Sun and
the Moon” won Jury’s Award in the Journey Awards, a prestigious international film competition establishedby
Kar Wai Wong and Louis Vuitton. Makabe has directed short films such as “Tokyo Sky Story”,
commemorative of Tokyo Skytree’s first anniversary, and “Starry Night”, exclusively produced for Nestle
Theater. He has also directed TV drama such as “The Liar and his Lover – Side Story”, and theatrical play
“Martini!”. “I am a Monk” marks Makabe’s feature directorial debut.
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