Showtime at Japan Expert Insights

Boojazz Studios and Japan Expert Insights
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In this entertainment industry-focused version of Japan Expert Insights, Michael William Foster (Boojazz Studios) and co-host Maya Matsuoka (Japan Expert Insights) will explore the multifaceted world of Japanese entertainment, culture, and industry trends. We’ll feature in-depth discussions every other week with leading experts who offer valuable perspectives on the latest developments and timeless aspects of Japan’s entertainment landscape.

  1. Making A Japanese Harry Potter Film/TV Series

    JAN 30

    Making A Japanese Harry Potter Film/TV Series

    There is a secret hidden at the summit of a Japanese volcano... and it isn't a myth. It’s canon.Did you know that within the official Harry Potter canon, there is a premier Wizarding School located in Japan? Situated at the summit of the volcanic island of Minami Iwo Jima, the school of Mahoutokoro stands as a fascinating bridge between ancient tradition and magical education.In this episode of the podcast, we go beyond the books to imagine a full-scale Harry Potter spin-off series set in Japan. We’re joined by a powerhouse duo from the Japanese film industry to discuss the creative and logistical "what-ifs": Would the series be a period piece or a modern-day thriller? Who would lead the cast? And how would Japanese folklore reshape the Wizarding World as we know it?Kanako Fujita | ProducerTokyo-based film producer Kanako Fujita is the founder of Felis Pictures Ltd. A graduate of King’s College London with a degree in Film Studies, Kanako has built a reputation for specializing in Asian–European co-productions that explore the moral and emotional complexities of modern society.Her first feature as a producer, Dead Fishes (2022), earned critical acclaim, screening at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival and winning Best Cinematography at the Japan Film Festival Los Angeles. A frequent participant in prestigious global forums like the Rotterdam Lab and the Busan Producer Hub, Kanako is currently developing several high-profile projects, including Push Button Syndrome (winner of the Asian Discovery Award at BIFAN) and The Funeral March, which recently received the One Cool Award at the Busan International Film Festival.Taro Kawasaki | DirectorBorn in Yamagata and a graduate of the Tohoku University of Art & Design, Taro Kawasaki represents the next generation of Japanese directorial talent. He sharpened his skills working as an assistant director under celebrated filmmakers such as Yuji Nakae, Shinobu Yaguchi, and Natsuki Seta.Taro’s thesis film, DOUGHNUT HOLE (2021), was featured at the Kyoto International Student Film & Video Festival, signaling his arrival as a storyteller to watch. His debut feature, FARAWAY FAMILY (2023), which he co-directed, screened at the 19th Osaka Asian Film Festival before seeing its nationwide theatrical release in Japan in 2025.

    1h 21m
  2. Favorite Japanese Movies and TV Shows

    JAN 10

    Favorite Japanese Movies and TV Shows

    On this episode of Showtime @ Japan Expert Insights, Maya Matsuoka and Michael Foster are kicking off the year by sharing their favorite Japanese movies and TV shows. They'll be diving into the latest hits and trends shaping the entertainment landscape.

    1h 5m
  3. The Life of Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director

    12/26/2025

    The Life of Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director

    Organized by the Chicago Japan Film Collective, this special in-person conversation with Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle, writers of Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director, talks about the life and career of Japanese director Ishiro Honda, focusing on his films, war experiences, and friendship with Akira Kurosawa. Over a span of 46 feature films, Honda became a pioneer of the modern disaster genre and Japan's most internationally successful director before Hayao Miyazaki. Ed Godziszewski is editor and publisher of Japanese Giants magazine. He is the author of a Godzilla film encyclopedia and has written for Fangoria and other publications.  Steve Ryfle has contributed film journalism and criticism to the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Cineaste, Virginia Quarterly Review, POV, and other publications. He is the author of a book on the history of the Godzilla film series.

    36 min
  4. From Toronto to Tokyo: The Path to Vertical Filmmaking

    12/12/2025

    From Toronto to Tokyo: The Path to Vertical Filmmaking

    This week's guest is Ron Reid Jr., a Toronto native who originally traveled to Japan with just $400 in his pocket and has since established himself as a prominent filmmaker and actor in Tokyo. His award-winning documentary work includes 614, which chronicles a pastor's vision to aid communities by living amongst them, as well as Love Letter to Kumamoto, a project born from his earthquake relief efforts. On screen, Ron has appeared as Detective Allen and can be seen in the upcoming NHK drama The Queen of Mars this December. Beyond his own productions, he is deeply committed to training the next generation of filmmakers and supporting fellow artists through his workshops.

    1h 9m
  5. How to Bring Japanese Cinema to Life

    11/28/2025

    How to Bring Japanese Cinema to Life

    Our next guest is Aki Takabatake, the founder and CEO of Momo Films Inc., a Toronto-based boutique film distribution company specializing in Japanese cinema. A University of British Columbia graduate, she began her career as a film buyer in Tokyo and has since held diverse roles in Toronto, including with the Toronto International Film Festival and on productions like Netflix's Age of Samurai and Apple TV +'s Pachinko Season 2. For the last 12 years, Aki has been the driving force behind the Toronto Japanese Film Festival (TJFF), overseeing all programming and logistics, even for its Tokyo event. Leveraging her industry depth, Momo Films has expanded to include a talent agency and content sales division, focusing on selling international content into the Japanese market.

    59 min
  6. Making Documentaries to Bridge Japan and the World with Megumi Nishikura

    11/14/2025

    Making Documentaries to Bridge Japan and the World with Megumi Nishikura

    In this episode, we meet Megumi Nishikura, a US-based documentary filmmaker whose work explores identity, belonging, and the cultural intersections between Japan and the world. Her feature documentary film “Hafu – the mixed race experience” screened theatrically throughout Japan and aired on PBS and NipponTV. She produced “Fall Seven Times, Get Up Eight: The Japanese War Brides,” which aired globally on BBC World News. In 2019, Megumi directed and produced “Minidoka,” a short film about the Japanese American internment experience during WWII, which was published by TIME magazine. She is currently making a film about Japan’s Nationality Law and the dual citizenship issue in Japan. When she’s not making her own films, Megumi works as a producer on docuseries for major streaming platforms.

    1h 9m
  7. Getting A Head Start In Japanese Film Production with Kanako Fujita

    10/31/2025

    Getting A Head Start In Japanese Film Production with Kanako Fujita

    Tokyo-based Japanese film producer Kanako Fujita is the founder of Felis Pictures Ltd. and a graduate of King’s College London, where she earned her degree in Film Studies. A participant of Rotterdam Lab 2025 and the Busan Producer Hub 2024, she specializes in Asian–European co-productions that bridge cultures and explore the moral and emotional complexities of modern society.Her first feature as a producer, Dead Fishes (2022, dir. Tomoaki Kaneko), was released theatrically across Japan, screened at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, and won Best Cinematography at the Japan Film Festival Los Angeles. She is currently developing and producing several short and feature projects, including Push Button Syndrome (dir. Riko Murakami), which won the Asian Discovery Award at BIFAN It Project Market 2024, and The Funeral March (dir. Naoya Fujita), which received the One Cool Award at the Busan International Film Festival APM 2025.

    1h 7m
  8. Tales of an Independent Filmmaker from Sendai with Takashi Horie

    10/17/2025

    Tales of an Independent Filmmaker from Sendai with Takashi Horie

    This week’s guest is Takashi Horie, a New York-based independent filmmaker. Born in Sendai, Miyagi, he graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1996.Since then, Horie has built a versatile career as a director, cinematographer, and editor, creating numerous award-winning music and promotional videos in the U.S. His short film, Ordinary Days, was nominated and screened at various film festivals. His most recent feature, The Last Passenger, received multiple awards and was theatrically released in Japan in October 2024. Horie is currently directing a road movie about four Japanese bandmates traveling Route 66 and is also filming a documentary on the vibrant, multicultural lifestyle of the Rockaway surfers in New York.

    1h 5m
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About

In this entertainment industry-focused version of Japan Expert Insights, Michael William Foster (Boojazz Studios) and co-host Maya Matsuoka (Japan Expert Insights) will explore the multifaceted world of Japanese entertainment, culture, and industry trends. We’ll feature in-depth discussions every other week with leading experts who offer valuable perspectives on the latest developments and timeless aspects of Japan’s entertainment landscape.

Information

  • Creator
    Boojazz Studios and Japan Expert Insights
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Boojazz Studios and Japan Expert Insights
  • Show Website
    Showtime at Japan Expert Insights