The Highs and Lows of Japanese Cinema at Cannes 2026

Firstly, I want to apologize for my extended absence; I was on holiday. I wasn't just anywhere—I was on a stunning island called Mauritius, which you should all consider visiting if you ever have the chance and are fortunate enough to do so.

While I was on vacation in Mauritius, the con film festival was taking place. This wasn't just any ordinary festival; it featured three of my favorite film directors, the leading figures in Japanese cinema, competing for the esteemed Palm d'Or, the most prestigious award outside the United States. If you're interested in watching the video, check out the link provided.

As I mentioned earlier, while I was in Mauritius, the Cannes festival was happening, and I was eagerly trying to keep up with everything emerging from the event, including various reviews, critiques, and analyses of the different storylines from this year's Cannes edition. Also, check out one of my favorite pictures from my trip below! I know that was very random, but I need to somehow use these pictures!

The three Japanese filmmakers in question are Hirokazu Koreeda, the creator of "Sheep in the Box," Koji Fukada with "Nagi Notes," and, of course, Ryusuke Hamaguchi's "All of a Sudden." All three debuted brand new movies at this year's Cannes Festival. As seen in the video, I was incredibly excited. I was thrilled that these filmmakers, whom I greatly admire, were present at the award ceremony to showcase their new films. The event provided us with new pictures and content, and fandom was certainly well-nourished. Let's just say that.

However, halfway through my trip, "Sheep in the Box" was screened for the critics and audiences in attendance, and it definitely didn’t go as planned. There was a lot of criticism and disappointment surrounding the release. It seems like people didn’t really connect with the movie. From what I gather,, it earned the lowest score from the jury, audiences weren’t impressed, and some even said it’s probably one of his weakest films to date.

As a dedicated fan, the negative reception hit me hard. I was so disappointed to learn that people didn't like it and that it wasn't well-received, causing me to question my own excitement for "Sheep in the Box." To be completely honest, I had reservations before seeing the film. The trailers reminded me of Errol, which I consider one of Creed's weaker films. Despite these feelings and the reactions confirming them, I remain excited to eventually watch it. I hope the negative reception doesn't affect its release in the Western world, particularly in the UK, where I am based.

Now, regarding the other two films - "Nagi notes," Fukada’s latest story about two Japanese women who find themselves in the countryside. It seems some people appreciated it; however, it seemed to fade somewhat within the festival discussions and wasn't necessarily a standout hit. People didn't dislike it, nor did they particularly like it—it seemed to be average. It seems Nagi Notes carries many of the elements that define Fukada's filmaking but not in a particularly "stand-out" kind of way. However, Mr. "Drive My Car "'s latest project did impress critics and attendees. Although it didn't win the Palme d'Or, Hamaguchi's "All of a sudden" was definitely in the running. People appreciated it, recognizing it as a vintage Hamaguchi film. Fans of Hamaguchi got what they wanted—a really good one, which I'm pleased about. I'm glad he delivered on expectations.

Although the festival didn't go as planned for Koreeda, I am still excited for "Sheep in the Box". We also got numerous tidbits and interviews from Koreeda with outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. And of course, we have that iconic photo of four remarkable Japanese filmmakers meeting for lunch or coffee in the south of France, which is always delightful to see.

I'm digressing a bit, but I wanted to update everyone on what I've been up to. The website has been somewhat slow these past few days because I've been away. However, I will be back and active now. Please check out my YouTube channel for more regular content, and feel free to follow all my different social media accounts.

Interestingly, "Sheep in the Box" is being released today in Japan, Friday the 29th, and it seems to be receiving rather disappointing reviews from the public. It appears that this release by Koreeda has not met expectations. However, we can look forward to "Look Back," which is set to come out later this year, although the exact release date is still unclear. Despite the lack of information, we can anticipate another creative project from Mr. Still Walking this year.

I'm confident he will make a strong comeback next year or the year after, as he always has numerous projects in the pipeline. Although "Sheep in the Box" didn't make the impact we hoped for, I still plan to watch it and will reserve my judgment until then. The future remains uncertain and full of possibilities.