Film Screening of “Company Retreat” (Oct 18, with English subtitles)

This event is organized by Sophia University Institute of Comparative Culture based Abe/SSRC project “Consent” in Sexual Violence: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Japan and the US. The screening is followed by a discussion with the director, Atsushi Funahashi and the actress Saki Hirai, and Dr. Machiko Osawa (Nihon Women’s University)

Date: Friday 18 October 2024 | 17:00-21:10 (JST)

Place: Auditorium, Bldg. 10 Sophia U. Yotsuya Campus (Venue has changed)

Registration: No registration required/Free of charge

Film Description: “Company Retreat (ある職場)” is a film based on a real-life sexual harassment case, addressing gender inequality in Japanese society. After a sexual harassment incident in the workplace, employees decided to take a company retreat. However, the trip—originally intended to revitalize bonds among employees—reveals the complex human relationships and mixed feelings surrounding the case. By showcasing these complex dynamics, the film offers a lens into what is really happening in Japanese society. © BIG RIVER FILMS 

Event Outline:

17:00 The venue opens

17:30 Event starts with welcome greeting by Prof. David Slater

17:32 Introduction of the film and guests by Dr. Maiko Kodaka

17:35 – 19:50 Film showing (135 minutes)

19:50 5 mins break

19:55 Comment by Prof. Machiko Osawa on NHK’s sexual violence survey

20:00 Discussion with the director Atsushi Funahashi and the actor Saki Hirai

20:40 Q & A with Audience

21:00 Event finishes

(The presentations will be in Japanese with questions in English welcome)

Director: Atsushi Funabashi - Filmmaker

After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Funahashi studied film production in New York. His debut film, "echoes" (2001), won the Special Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Annonay International Film Festival. His second film, "Big River" (2006, starring Joe Odagiri), premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, and other festivals. His 2012 film "Nuclear Nation" (depicting the Fukushima nuclear disaster) had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, where he appeared alongside the film's composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto. The film raised awareness of Fukushima's dire situation to the world and was subsequently released in more than 40 countries. In 2013, his melodrama "Cold Bloom" (starring Asami Usuda and Takahiro Miura) achieved the remarkable feat of being invited to the Berlin International Film Festival for the fifth consecutive time. His Japan-US-Portugal co-production "Lovers on Borders" (2018) earned Tasuku Emoto the Kinema Junpo Best Actor Award. His previous work, "Company Retreat" (2020), which questions gender inequality in Japan, was selected for the 2020 Tokyo International Film Festival, and his latest film, "The Burden of the Past", which depicts the struggles of former prisoners in a self-responsibility society, is currently being shown nationwide. Additionally, he serves as the Vice President of action4cinema (led by Hirokazu Kore-eda and Nobuhiro Suwa), an organization advocating for structural reform in the film industry, the prevention of harassment in the industry, and improvements to labor conditions and gender issues.

Starring: Saki Hirai – Actress

Born on March 11, 1993, in Osaka Prefecture. She made her debut in the film "The Hungry Lion" (2018, directed by Takomi Ogata), which won numerous awards at international film festivals. She was selected as a finalist for Miss iD 2018 and has since been active as an actress and model, focusing on films, dramas, and other media. Her starring film "Company Retreat" (2020, directed by Atsushi Funahashi) premiered at the 2020 Tokyo International Film Festival, followed by a nationwide release, and continues to receive invitations to various events. Her notable works include the films "Company Retreat", "The Burden of the Past" (2023, directed by Atsushi Funahashi), " Visitors-Complete Edition-" (2024, directed by Kenichi Ugana), the drama "Omimi ni Aimashitara” (2021, directed by Kenji Matsuura), and the stage play "Arishi hi, Gakusha" (2023, directed by Jun Minatoya). As a model, she has collaborated with photographer Nagi Matsuda for six consecutive years, producing works annually, and has also held photo exhibitions.

Machiko Osawa (Professor Emeritus)  Japan Women's University,

Dr. Osawa earned a Ph. D in Economics at Southern Illinois University (1984), was a researcher at Columbia University's Center for the Social Sciences (1980-84), then received a Hewlett Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Chicago (1984-1986) and from 1986-87 was an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. After returning to Japan, she was chief researcher at the Japan Institute of Labour (1987-1990), taught at Asia University (1990-1996), and subsequently became Professor in the Department of Integrated Social Sciences at Japan Women's University (JWU) where she taught for 25 years until retiring in 2021. During that time, she was the Director of the Research Institute for Women and Careers at JWU. Her area of expertise is labor economics. Some of her major works include Economic Change and Women's Work: Japan-U.S. Comparison (Nihon Keizai Hyoronsha, 1993), Toward a Work-Life Balance Society (Iwanami, 2006) Working Poor in Japan (Iwanami, 2010) Why Can't Women Thrive in Japan? (Toyo Keizai Shinposha, 2015), and Towards a Society Where Women Can Ask for Help: Sexual Violence and Gender Inequality (Nishinihon Shuppansha, 2023).

Project Members:

Akiko TAKEYAMA, Professor at the University of Kansas

David H. SLATER, Professor at Sophia University

Michiko OSAWA, Professor Emeritus at Japan Women’s University

Asato IKEDA, Associate Professor at Fordham University

Maiko KODAKA, Assistant Professor at Waseda University

Evan T. KOIKE, Project Assistant Professor at Tokyo College, University of Tokyo

Junxiao LENG, Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Tokyo

Organizers:

David H. Slater (Professor, Sophia University)

Dr. Maiko Kodaka (ICC Collaborative Researcher).