Curations

Sanma Summer Beach Film Festival.

There’s something magical about the seaside in summer— a charm that makes you forget time, inviting you to linger in the warmth of fleeting romance. Inspired by the Summer by the Sea feature in the latest issue of Japanese culture magazine Sanma, the editorial team curates a wistful film series set along the coastal towns of Japan’s Kanto region. These six summer films are perfect companions for the season’s memories. Wander through the nostalgic seaside home of Still Walking, soaking in the gentle friction of ordinary family life in Shōnan. Listen for the waves in the final notes of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s farewell. Escape into the dreamlike world of Swallowtail Butterfly and encounter the hallucinatory metropolis of Yen Town. Each of these cinematic landscapes captures a unique Japanese summer, stirring up the most enchanting waves in your heart. This summer, come watch the sea—and the films—with us.