From Soy Source
Yukibumi Josha, an upcoming Japanese cinematographer, will come to the United States to attend the Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists sponsored by the Japanese government.
Support system for upcoming artists by Japanese government
The Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists is promoted by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and is the artist dispatch program financed by the Japanese treasury. The program supports upcoming artists and experts who are active in various media fields including art, music, dance, drama, movies and scenography, and funds their travel and living costs to be able to take an oversea training for Japanese cultural and artistic activities in the future. Many famous Japanese artists have experienced the training program and their performances are expanding in the world.
This year, Josha was selected for the program. He will come to the United States in March of 2017 as a compilation of his work of ten years.
He has loved movies since he was a child. He decided to seek a career in the film industry at 31, using the photography skills he gained when he traveled Asia in his 20s.
After a while, he began desiring an education at a film school in the United States. At 38 he decided to go to the States and learned English in Philippines. After returning to Japan he had to seek out how to realize his desires until his friend, who was learning at a film school, shared information about the training program.
Josha applied for the program in 2015 and was approved this year. He is now 40 years old.
“I have been called as slowpoke, and I also think I am,” he said.
But he has continued to work hard and has accumulated many achievements. He produced “Midnight Taxi 1st season” with a Chinese team in 2014, and the drama received the best drama award by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television in China. His talent has been internationally recognized.
He had experience as an assistant member for some films directed by Takashi Miike and Takeshi Kitano when he was a college student. After graduating from university, he worked on various films and dramas as a Cinematographer.
Success in Seattle International Film Festival
He directed the photography in “2045 CarnivalFolklore,” which was selected in the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). The movie was featured as “Live movie screening” performed by Sierror!, a music unit with film director Naoki Kato and music director Keisuke Masuda.
The film is a science fiction story and the scene tells of Japanese society in 2045 after a nuclear power plant meltdown. This was by far low-cost for a SIFF movie and the cost was one hundred times as small as the other three Japanese films screened in the event.
Josha said that the selection by the SIFF was meaningful and a great step up for him because his talent was proved in the United States, a great power in film.
Josha also has a connection to Seattle as he joined a film project for the “Celebrate Asia” event by Seattle Symphony. He produced a film in “Tohoku Revive,” which is an event hosted by composer Yugo Kanno.
Furthermore, he is invited by Institute of Contemporary Art London in 2016, and “2045 CarnivalFolklore” will be screened with a live performance. The film trailer can be viewed at <www.2045carnivalfolklore.com/ja/20>.
His dream has come true and he will start training in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle next year.
“I will never forget my challenging spirits for years to come,” Josha said.
[Editor’s Note]
The original article was published in the sister paper, Soy Source, in Japanese on Sept. 25, with coverage cooperation by EN Pacific Service Inc.
