Twin Tales: Kon Ichikawa and Yasuzō Masumura
About the Programme
In collaboration with the Japan Foundation and Singapore Film Society, The Asian Film Archive presents Twin Tales: Kon Ichikawa and Yasuzō Masumura, with three film pairings by Japanese New Wave director Masumura and the master filmmaker Ichikawa.
Masumura studied filmmaking in Italy, returned to Daiei Studios, and apprenticed under Kenji Mizoguchi and Ichikawa. Their connection traces a lineage between Japan’s studio-era golden age and the New Wave, with Ichikawa’s adventurous cinema helping to pave the way for a new generation of filmmakers.
2026 also marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of Tanizaki Jun’ichirō. Both directors have adapted several of his works. We present one celebrated adapted work from each director, tracing the artistic lineage between two distinctive filmmakers.
By pairing the films of Ichikawa and Masumura, Twin Tales explores the artistic lineage between generations of Japanese filmmakers, and how distinct cinematic sensibilities meet, diverge and transform through literary adaptations for the big screen.
The screenings run from 9-18 October 2026 at Oldham Theatre as part of the Japanese Film Festival in Singapore.
Programme
Suggested film pairings:
Below are some ways you can navigate our selection of Ichikawa and Masumura’s cinema:
The Tutelage Years
A Full-Up Train (満員電車, 1957, Kon Ichikawa)
Kisses (くちづけ, 1957, Yasuzo Masumura)
The Literary Adaptations of Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (谷崎润一郎)
Odd Obsession/Kagi (鍵, 1959, Kon Ichikawa)
All Mixed Up/ Manji (卍, 1964, Yasuzo Masumura)
The Best of
The Burmese Harp (ビルマの竪琴, 1956, Kon Ichikawa)
Cheerful Girl/Blue Sky Maiden (青空娘, 1957, Yasuzo Masumura)
Directors’ Bio:
Yasuzō Masumura (1924–1986) has been described by filmmaker and critic Shinji Aoyama as “the most important filmmaker in the history of postwar Japanese cinema.” A prolific and fiercely independent director, Masumura worked across a wide range of genres, from social satire and corporate comedy to melodrama, crime and erotic cinema. His bold visual style and unconventional portrayals of desire, individualism and social conformity made him a distinctive figure in postwar Japanese cinema.
Kon Ichikawa (1915-2008) was one of Japan’s most versatile and distinctive filmmakers, whose career spanned genres from anti-war drama and period film to documentary. From The Burmese Harp (1956) and An Actor’s Revenge (1963) to Tokyo Olympiad (1965), Ichikawa brought a distinctly modernist sensibility to subjects ranging from war and tradition to contemporary Japanese society. His stylistic versatility and experimentation bridged Japan’s studio-era golden age and the Japanese New Wave that followed, earning him international recognition along the way.
The programme is held in conjunction with the 2026 Japanese Film Festival Singapore, and is made possible with the generous support of the Japan Foundation.
Tickets will go on sale from Thursday, 10 September 2026.
Scroll down to select the screening of your choice and click through to purchase tickets.
Friends of AFA members, please read the membership guide on how to purchase your discounted tickets and redeem your complimentary tickets.
Oldham Theatre’s opening hours
For further assistance, please contact us at ticketing@asianfilmarchive.org
Important Notice:
Do note that Oldham Theatre does not play ads and screenings will start promptly. Doors will open 20 minutes before showtime, so arrive early to register and find a seat. Arrive early so as not to disrupt the screenings. All patrons are encouraged to purchase your tickets online to be able to secure a seat. If you choose to purchase tickets or merchandise at Oldham Theatre’s box office, cashless payment is preferred.
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