Japan House London presents a special screening of the documentary Rokkoku Kitchen, which follows lives connected through food as one lens on Fukushima Prefecture in 2024, 13 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Rokkoku Kitchen is created by non-fiction writer Kawauchi Ario and film director Miyoshi Daisuke. Travelling through communities along National Route 6 (Rokkoku) in Fukushima, they explore people’s lives through the themes of food, kitchens, and family recipes in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011.
The film follows three towns, Futaba, Ōkuma and Namie, which were profoundly impacted by the Fukushima nuclear accident and the long years of displacement that followed. It features three individuals whose backgrounds and experiences differ greatly: Swastika Harsh Jajoo, originally from India, who works at the Futaba Area Tourism Research Association; Nakasuji Jun, a photographer and the founder and director of the private museum OREDEN; and Takeuchi Yū, who runs the outdoor nighttime bookshop Ikitsugi Books. Their stories reveal the many ways people continue to build lives and communities in Fukushima.
The screening is accompanied by a video message from Kawauchi Ario and Miyoshi Daisuke recorded especially for Japan House London, providing background to the film.
About the directors
Kawauchi Ario
Kawauchi Ario is a Japanese writer and filmmaker. After studying at Nihon University College of Art and earning a master’s degree in Latin American Area Studies from Georgetown University, she worked in international cooperation before becoming a non-fiction writer. Her books have received major Japanese literary awards, including the Nitta Jiro Literary Award and the Kaikō Ken Non-fiction Award.
Kawauchi made her directorial debut with Blind Mr. Shiratori’s Eye for Art (2022), based on her bestselling book Going to See Art with Mr. Shiratori, Who Is Blind, winner of the 2022 Non-fiction Book Award. Screened in Japan and South Korea, the film received critical acclaim. Her second feature, Rokkoku Kitchen (2025), co-directed with Miyoshi Daisuke, is currently enjoying a successful theatrical run in Japan.
Miyoshi Daisuke
Miyoshi Daisuke studied journalism and documentary filmmaking at Nihon University’s College of Art. After joining a video production company, he worked on music videos, live performances, and channel branding. He later worked at an advertising agency before becoming independent. He serves as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Design at the Tokyo University of the Arts, teaching film production. He coined the term ‘Community Cinema’ to describe his work collecting 8-mm film footage recorded by local residents and compiling it into feature-length films. In 2015, he established his own production company, Alps Pictures. In 2025, he founded the General Incorporated Association Manazashi Archives (collective memory lab) to promote Community Cinema nationwide and preserve citizens’ records for future generations. Among his theatrical releases, the documentary Blind Mr. Shiratori’s Eye for Art (2022), which follows a visually impaired art enthusiast, garnered acclaim both domestically and internationally. His latest film, Rokkoku Kitchen (2025), co-directed with non-fiction writer Kawauchi Ario, has been well-received at festivals such as the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.
The screenings are in Japanese with English subtitles. Duration: approx. 122 mins
Guests who are booked to attend the screening can also enjoy 10% off drinks at the Stand on their way in. Please note that the Stand is open until 20:00, Monday–Saturday, and until 18:00 on Sundays.
*Please note that filming and/or photography may take place at this event. Photos and footage of the event may then be used to promote Japan House London, helping more people to discover what we offer. If you have any concerns, please contact us online or contact a member of the team on site.
Main image: Still from Rokkoku Kitchen (2025)
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