Lights, Camera, Tokyo: The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival Celebrates Global Cinema
In October 2025, Tokyo again became a lively hub for film lovers and global artists as the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) opened on October 27 and ran through November 5, with screenings across the Hibiya–Yūrakuchō–Marunouchi–Ginza area of the city. For language-school students and international residents alike, this festival offered a wonderful chance to tap into contemporary Japanese culture—not just via the films themselves, but through the energy of the city, festivals, screenings, red carpets, and the buzz around one of Japan’s major cultural events.
The atmosphere in Tokyo during the festival can best be described as electric but approachable. Crowds gathered for open-air events, press shows, and panel discussions; international guests mingled with local viewers; and various cinemas expanded their subtitled offerings in English, making it more accessible for non-Japanese-speaking visitors. For students learning Japanese or exploring Japanese pop culture, attending a lesser-known screening or reading the festival’s programme provided authentic material, perfect for classroom discussion or language practice. In fact, the festival acts as a micro-cosm of how Japan continues to engage with global media and creative flows, while still maintaining its distinct identity.
One of the key features of this edition was its theme of “Diversity & Future Visions,” which included films by emerging directors from across Asia, Europe, and beyond. The opening film, Climbing for Life, told the extraordinary life story of mountaineer Junko Tabei and set a tone of resilience and creativity. Meanwhile, the festival’s closing selection emphasized cross-cultural collaboration and Japanese cinema’s place on the world stage. For students this meant that simply browsing the line-up or watching the trailer could open conversations about tradition, modernity, and Japan’s film industry—which are topics ripe for journal writing and discussion.
In addition to screenings, the festival area featured public installations, pop-up food stalls, photo spots, and special ticket packages for students. These on-the-ground elements help to demystify what might seem like an “elite” event, turning it into a cultural experience that is welcoming and inclusive. For non-Japanese residents or learners of Japanese, it means you don’t need to be a cinephile or a Japanese film expert to participate; you can stroll through the festival zone, see posters, hear Japanese and English dialogues in the cinemas, and maybe even pick up a programme. That tangible sense of being part of Tokyo’s cultural scene is valuable when you’re studying the language and exploring what modern Japan is like.
In short, the 2025 TIFF is more than a film festival—it is a gateway into how Tokyo blends art, commerce, culture, and global connections in a vibrant autumn setting. For students, it offers an inviting entry point into Japanese language in real contexts (screenings, events, signage) and into how Japan presents itself to the world today.
Autumn Food Fairs Light Up Regional Japan: A Taste of Harvest and Community
While Tokyo was immersed in cinema, elsewhere in Japan October 2025 also brought a wave of community-centered food fairs and harvest celebrations—especially in rural and regional areas. These events may not make global headlines, but for locals and visitors they offer a warm, engaging window into Japanese culture: the joy of seasonal produce, community gathering and simple fun.
Throughout October, many prefectures held “Autumn Harvest & Food Fairs”, timed with rice harvests, fruit gathering, and local craft markets. Families flock to stalls offering sweet potatoes just pulled from the earth, chestnuts roasted on-site, juicy persimmons, and freshly pressed sake. One such fair in Hiroshima’s Sera Kōgen Farm showcased fields of dahlias and also held a food fair with regional producers offering samples—and selling their wares. magical-trip.com
The appeal is two-fold for students and international residents: first, the sensory experience—bright autumn colours, crisp air, the smell of roasted chestnuts, lively markets—and second, the cultural meaning behind them. In Japan, the harvest season is deeply tied to gratitude, tradition and community. When you stroll through a food fair, you might see elders cooking sweet potato skins over open pits, children helping at a local craft booth, and music playing softly in the background. These experiences are immersive and approachable.
What makes these fairs particularly good for language learners is that they often feature minimal Japanese → easy vocabulary: “さつまいも” (sweet potato), “焼き栗” (roasted chestnut), “地元産” (locally produced), “収穫祭” (harvest festival). People may be more open to small talk: “この栗、どこで作りましたか？” (Where were these chestnuts grown?) or “このお酒、どんな味ですか？” (What taste does this sake have?)—making them ideal real-life practice settings.
Across Japan, such events help to sustain local economies, bring urban visitors into rural zones for a day trip, and promote regional identity. They also underscore a key feature of Japanese life: how the changing seasons are not just observed, but actively celebrated in communal spaces. For students living in Japan, attending a regional food fair is a chance to connect language, culture and everyday enjoyment: buy a snack, say a few words, ask a question—even share a smile.
In sum, the October 2025 calendar in Japan had two distinct yet inter-connected themes: the international film festival in Tokyo and the quiet, delightful food fairs in the countryside. One showcases Japan’s global cultural pulse, the other its rooted traditions in community and seasonality. Together they reflect how Japan moves between big city lights and humble harvest tables—and how language learners can join both scenes with curiosity and ease.
