Message | The 28th Rainbow Reel Tokyo ~Tokyo International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival ~

We appreciate the many encouraging messages to our festival!

Click the image to see the message.

Shiki Aoki
Kousuke Emori(SEYAROGAI OJISAN)
Akira Outani
kazuecyan
Conor Hanratty
Shiho Shimoyamada
SUZUKI　KEN
Akiyoshi Tanaka
Shun Nakagawa
Ataru Nakamura
Li Kotomi

	Shiki Aoki Voice actor LGBTQ is fast becoming familial to us all, and no longer immediately perceived as a minority. Today “Coming Out” is an individuality development process, and it no longer needs to be kept hidden. I feel the world we live in today has gotten much easier for the LGBTQ community to live in. However, LGBTQ is still not fully understood by many. My wish is for people to understand our community further through the power of art, that is film, and for the world to become a place where people of the LGBTQ community like us can live our authentic lives.

Shiki Aoki

Voice actor

LGBTQ is fast becoming familial to us all, and no longer immediately perceived as a minority. Today “Coming Out” is an individuality development process, and it no longer needs to be kept hidden. I feel the world we live in today has gotten much easier for the LGBTQ community to live in. However, LGBTQ is still not fully understood by many. My wish is for people to understand our community further through the power of art, that is film, and for the world to become a place where people of the LGBTQ community like us can live our authentic lives.

	Kousuke Emori(SEYAROGAI OJISAN) Japanese Comedian & YouTuber I believe ignorance breeds prejudice, and indifference breeds ignorance! But we can’t blame people who are indifferent! Because others are struggling with life issues too! Which is why it’s important to cultivate an understanding with a larger audience through entertainment and fun! Which is why this Film Festival has many facets! But, indifferent people wont bother to come to our film showings! That’s why, each and every person who comes to this event must become a beacon of advertisement, and get the word out about the films that touched them! Am I right or am I right!

Kousuke Emori(SEYAROGAI OJISAN)

Japanese Comedian & YouTuber

I believe ignorance breeds prejudice, and indifference breeds ignorance! But we can’t blame people who are indifferent! Because others are struggling with life issues too! Which is why it’s important to cultivate an understanding with a larger audience through entertainment and fun! Which is why this Film Festival has many facets! But, indifferent people wont bother to come to our film showings! That’s why, each and every person who comes to this event must become a beacon of advertisement, and get the word out about the films that touched them! Am I right or am I right!

	Akira Outani Writer When I was a young lesbian kid, living in hick country, poor and unpopular, it was movies from around the world that taught me there is a world out there besides the world I lived in. I believe films can still harness power and brilliance in even an age when the Internet is widely available, providing many more choices for entertainment. This year I wish everybody again the best in discovering films about people from different walks of life, people from different societies, and people experiencing a different love. I support Rainbow Reel Tokyo.

Akira Outani

Writer

When I was a young lesbian kid, living in hick country, poor and unpopular, it was movies from around the world that taught me there is a world out there besides the world I lived in. I believe films can still harness power and brilliance in even an age when the Internet is widely available, providing many more choices for entertainment. This year I wish everybody again the best in discovering films about people from different walks of life, people from different societies, and people experiencing a different love. I support Rainbow Reel Tokyo.

	kazuecyan YouTuber Back when I was unable to accept my own sexuality, there was a film I saw over and over. It was “MILK”. A film about politician Harvey Milk. His courage and hope as he fought for the minority. He taught me how important it is to take action. I believe films have the power to change people’s life. I am looking forward to this year’s Rainbow Reel Tokyo.

kazuecyan

YouTuber

Back when I was unable to accept my own sexuality, there was a film I saw over and over. It was “MILK”. A film about politician Harvey Milk. His courage and hope as he fought for the minority. He taught me how important it is to take action. I believe films have the power to change people’s life. I am looking forward to this year’s Rainbow Reel Tokyo.

	Conor Hanratty Director of Operas and Theatre Growing up in sheltered, conservative Ireland in the 80s and 90s, it was always an escape for me to see movies and stories from all over the world, particularly from Japan. Japanese cinema has been a constant source of wonder and inspiration for me – and long may it continue! Sending all good wishes from Ireland for Rainbow Reel Tokyo 2019, and hoping that you continue to inspire our people all over the world. <3

Conor Hanratty

Director of Operas and Theatre

Growing up in sheltered, conservative Ireland in the 80s and 90s, it was always an escape for me to see movies and stories from all over the world, particularly from Japan. Japanese cinema has been a constant source of wonder and inspiration for me – and long may it continue! Sending all good wishes from Ireland for Rainbow Reel Tokyo 2019, and hoping that you continue to inspire our people all over the world. <3

	Shiho Shimoyamada Women’s Soccer Player (formerly German Bundesliga, Tier 2) You will laugh hard, cry hard, and sometimes find yourself relating deeply to the scenes on film. Film is a place where you can find yourself discovering an emotion that you don’t always feel everyday. My wish is for both LGBTQ and our friends to discover the different emotions you have through the selection of films at this Film Festival, and that the films will be an opportunity to see the situation surrounding LGBTQ. I am looking forward to discovering beautiful films again at this year’s Film Festival!

Shiho Shimoyamada

Women’s Soccer Player (formerly German Bundesliga, Tier 2)

You will laugh hard, cry hard, and sometimes find yourself relating deeply to the scenes on film.
Film is a place where you can find yourself discovering an emotion that you don’t always feel everyday.
My wish is for both LGBTQ and our friends to discover the different emotions you have through the selection of films at this Film Festival,
and that the films will be an opportunity to see the situation surrounding LGBTQ.
I am looking forward to discovering beautiful films again at this year’s Film Festival!

	SUZUKI　KEN Professor, Meiji University Videos have the power to convince. Videos can change how people think. My wish is for all of you to watch the films this year and see how diverse sex can be in real life. And I want all of you to see that it makes no sense to ignore this reality.

SUZUKI　KEN

Professor, Meiji University

Videos have the power to convince. Videos can change how people think. My wish is for all of you to watch the films this year and see how diverse sex can be in real life. And I want all of you to see that it makes no sense to ignore this reality.

	Akiyoshi Tanaka Artist Back when I was struggling with my gayness, I watched many films with gay characters and this saved my life. Some films I still watch again and again. Some years later, I produced a number of films myself about gay subject matters. I think these are films that I would have really wanted my younger self to see. I hope that the films shown at this Film Festival will set you free.

Akiyoshi Tanaka

Artist

Back when I was struggling with my gayness, I watched many films with gay characters and this saved my life. Some films I still watch again and again. Some years later, I produced a number of films myself about gay subject matters. I think these are films that I would have really wanted my younger self to see. I hope that the films shown at this Film Festival will set you free.

	Shun Nakagawa Director of the Film “Kalanchoe” My Film “Kalanchoe” premiered in July 2017 at the 26th Rainbow Reel Tokyo and continued to enjoy success, showing for more than 150 days around Japan in 19 theaters. I owe Rainbow Reel Tokyo for their push and support. If “Kalanchoe” was not critiqued as a film acclaimed by Rainbow Reel Tokyo, I would not have received all of this attention, for which I am extremely grateful. I will continue to support your film festival, a forum which features wonderful films that provide many and not only filmgoers with the opportunity to rethink the now and see new perspectives, through wonderful works in film.

Shun Nakagawa

Director of the Film “Kalanchoe”

My Film “Kalanchoe” premiered in July 2017 at the 26th Rainbow Reel Tokyo and continued to enjoy success, showing for more than 150 days around Japan in 19 theaters. I owe Rainbow Reel Tokyo for their push and support. If “Kalanchoe” was not critiqued as a film acclaimed by Rainbow Reel Tokyo, I would not have received all of this attention, for which I am extremely grateful. I will continue to support your film festival, a forum which features wonderful films that provide many and not only filmgoers with the opportunity to rethink the now and see new perspectives, through wonderful works in film.

	Ataru Nakamura Singer/ Songwriter/ Actor I cried last year when I saw “Call Me By Your Name”, a film about romance between men. I was unable to control my emotions at the scene where the two kissed. I was watching this film wistfully, then my tagalong friend started to laugh. To each his own, LOL. Film, stage production, music. Scales may vary, but it takes gumption to build art into a form where we can invite an audience. Lifestyle today is more diverse than ever. It too takes gumption to meet people and make connections. Go see this film. Feel what gumption feels like.

Ataru Nakamura

Singer/ Songwriter/ Actor

I cried last year when I saw “Call Me By Your Name”, a film about romance between men. I was unable to control my emotions at the scene where the two kissed. I was watching this film wistfully, then my tagalong friend started to laugh. To each his own, LOL. Film, stage production, music. Scales may vary, but it takes gumption to build art into a form where we can invite an audience. Lifestyle today is more diverse than ever. It too takes gumption to meet people and make connections. Go see this film. Feel what gumption feels like.

Photo：cyuliu	Li Kotomi Writer, Translator You might think that things are rough, that things are hard, and that you want to die. You’re not feeling this because you’re weak or selfish in a world that is full of evil, and where prejudice and discrimination are seen at every corner. When the going gets tough and the tough gets going, escape to a place far away, like, into the world of film or a book. The great wide ocean. The woods. The golden desert expanse. A green oasis. Beyond the intellectual horizons of mankind, something positive awaits.

Photo：cyuliu

Li Kotomi

Writer, Translator

You might think that things are rough, that things are hard, and that you want to die. You’re not feeling this because you’re weak or selfish in a world that is full of evil, and where prejudice and discrimination are seen at every corner. When the going gets tough and the tough gets going, escape to a place far away, like, into the world of film or a book. The great wide ocean. The woods. The golden desert expanse. A green oasis. Beyond the intellectual horizons of mankind, something positive awaits.