Jackson Free Press

The Japan-America Society of Mississippi is partnering with the Crossroads Film Festival to bring a little bit of Japanese culture to the metro area, by showing three Japanese films at Madison Malco Grandview theater starting March 13. The film series is an outreach program by the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville, and Nissan Neighbors sponsors the series.

"I think it'd be neat for Jackson metro to show up and really learn a little bit about the culture of a country whose company has employed more than 8,000 people here in Mississippi," says John Henry Jackson, vice president of the Japan-America Society of Mississippi.

The first film is "Always: Sunset on Third Street," directed by Takashi Yamazaki and adapted from Ryoehei Sagan's manga "Sanchoeme no Yuehi," which means "Sunset on Third Street."

The film, set in post-war Tokyo, follows the lives of a few residents in a single year as the Tokyo Tower is being built. The film shows at Malco at 7 p.m. March 13.

"Brave Story," directed by Koichi Chigira, is the second film. Based on Miyuki Miyabe's fantasy novel of the same name, the movie centers on a boy named Wataru who tries to change his fate by entering a world full of magic and monsters, where he must summon his courage and go on a journey to find the Goddess of Destiny. The movie will air March 20 at 7 p.m.

The third film is "Robo-G," directed by Shinobu Yaguchi. The plot follows three employees of the Kimura Electrical Company who plan to present a new robot at an exhibition but, after an accident destroys the robot, they hire an actor to get inside the remains. It shows at Malco March 27 at 7 p.m.

The Japanese film series begins at Malco Grandview Theater (221 Grandview Blvd., Madison) on March 13 and ends March 27. All films will be shown with English subtitles. Seating will be on a first-come first-served basis. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit jasmis-us.com.