On a gray weekday morning in a lively cafe in Tokyo¡¯s Nippori district, documentary filmmaker Takashi Nishihara is mulling over what led him to tackle the subject matter of his latest film.
The director has spent 10 years traversing politically charged terrain while exploring youth-driven grassroots political movements that scrutinize the status quo. With his latest work, ¡°Now and Then,¡± Nishihara bridges a historical injustice with the present day treatment of asylum-seekers in Japan, providing a portrait of people who are pushing for change.
The film¡¯s August release comes as the government rolls out tighter rules on immigration amid rising concerns about issues related to Japan¡¯s burgeoning population of foreign residents.
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