RAWALPINDI: Residents of Rawalpindi were provided with a visual journey into the Japanese culture through its films, at the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) auditorium, on Monday.

Four Japanese films will be screened during the Japanese film festival, jointly organised by RAC and Japanese Embassy in collaboration with Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association and MEXT Alumni Association of Pakistan.

The festival was inaugurated by Takashi Katae, Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim of Japan to Pakistan, along with MPA Raja Hanif and RAC resident director Waqar Ahmed.

On the first day, the film ‘Always-Sunset on Third Street-3’ was screened. The film was released in 2012 and achieved great success in Japan. The story of the film revolves around a small community in post-war Tokyo.

Norifumi Suzuki, consistently called ‘Suzuki Auto’ by several characters, runs a small auto repair shop and lives with his wife and son. The movie has drama, romance and all other flavours which make the movie a delightful watch.

In the movie, Tokyo is preparing to host the Olympics; buildings and highways are being constructed at a feverish pace and excitement fills the air.

Amidst all the changes and commotion, the people of the Third Street continue to carry on their lives as colourful and vibrant as ever before.

Speaking on the occasion, Takashi Katae said that the film depicted the period when Japan was gradually developing as a country with newly-constructed buildings and highways.

Explaining to the audience, he said that the characters in the film were shown to be full of hope and aspirations in their lives.

He expressed hoped that other films would also provide entertainment and simultaneously take the audience in to the enchanting world of Japanese culture, traditions and art.

Naheed Manzoor, former director RAC, said she was pleased to see the Japanese tradition, culture and development. She added that cultural and economic ties between Pakistan and Japan were old and friendship between both countries was exemplary.

Waqar Ahmed said that ties between Rawalpindi Arts Council and the Japanese embassy were also very old and both were sincere in promoting their culture.

He said that the film festival would provide an opportunity to the people of Pakistan to learn various aspects of Japanese tradition, culture, lifestyle and society. The film festival will continue till March 6.

‘Gakko-IV’, ‘Penguins in the Sky’ and ‘Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t’ will be screened on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively.