Japan Named 2026 Cannes Market Country of Honor at Tokyo Film Festival

The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) opened with a star-studded red carpet featuring international celebrities such as Juliette Binoche, Fan Bingbing, and Sayuri Yoshinaga. Japan was announced as the Country of Honor at the 2026 Cannes Marche du Film, with government initiatives aimed at promoting Japanese cinema globally. Sayuri Yoshinaga received the TIFF Lifetime Achievement Award and starred in the opening film "Climbing for Life," a biopic about Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest. The festival also highlighted the resurgence of Japan's film industry and its cultural impact, with notable premieres including Binoche's directorial debut and Fan Bingbing's competition film. American filmmaker Paul Schrader presented his classic "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters," marking its official premiere at TIFF after decades of censorship in Japan. The event reflects TIFF's ambition to strengthen its international profile and celebrate Japan's cinematic heritage alongside contemporary global talent.