NEWS

ICU Hosts Special Lecture by Documentary Filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki: "The Making of a Japanese- Reflecting on the Future of Japanese Education and Film "

Update: October 26, 2026

Ms. Yamazaki is a renowned filmmaker whose work includes an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Short Film. Having studied at Japanese elementary school, international school, and a U.S. university, she creates documentaries that look at Japan from both internal and external perspectives. Following opening remarks by President Shoichiro Iwakiri, Ms. Yamazaki spoke about using film to build empathy and her responsibility as a filmmaker to share real stories.

In the second half, Ms. Yamazaki talked directly with students during group work. The following Q&A covered topics like the future of documentaries and the role of AI in film production, giving students a great chance to ask questions and share their thoughts.