Nippon Connection 2025

Photo: © Nippon Connection Press

Photo: © Jumpei Tainaka

25th Japanese film festival Nippon Connection

Nippon Connection celebrates its 25th anniversary! From May 27 to June 1, 2025, the world's largest Japanese film festival invites you to a six-day journey of discovery through Japan's diverse (film) culture. Visitors can look forward to around 100 short and feature films of various genres.

About the festival

Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The Japanese Film Festival Nippon Connection is organized by the 100-strong, mostly volunteer team of the non-profit association Nippon Connection e.V. It is under the patronage of the Hessian State Minister for Science and Research, Arts and Culture, Timon Gremmels, the Mayor of the City of Frankfurt am Main, Mike Josef, and the Consulate General of Japan in Frankfurt am Main.

Since its founding in 2000, the festival has developed into the largest platform for Japanese film in the world and the film festival with the highest audience in Hesse, with around 19,000 visitors in 2024. A campaign to support the festival is running on the online platform betterplace.org.

From current blockbusters and animated films to independent and documentary films, the majority of the works shown will celebrate their German, European or international premieres at the festival. During the festival, the audience will have the unique opportunity to talk to numerous filmmakers and artists traveling from Japan and learn more about their works. The film programme is complemented by a variety of exciting supporting events. In addition to workshops and lectures, concerts, exhibitions and Japanese market stalls provide insights into the art and cuisine of the island state.

The artist Kosuke Hayashi, who will be presented with the Nippon Rising Star Award at the festival on June 1, 2025, is expected as a special guest of honor. The award is dedicated to emerging talents of the Japanese film scene. As a background artist, Kosuke Hayashi most recently worked on Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning work "The Boy and the Heron".

Music & artists

A highlight of the cultural program will be the concert of the Japanese girl rock band ЯeaL. The band gained international attention mainly for their powerful theme songs for well-known anime series such as "Gintama", "Pokémon" and "BORUTO". ЯeaL will perform as part of the festival on May 28, 2025 at the International Theater Frankfurt. To mark the anniversary of Nippon Connection, a panel will take a look back at the festival's 25-year history.