In A Samurai in Time, award-winning director Junichi Yasuda offers a take on the time-travel genre that’s not only clever, funny, and distinctly Japanese, but also remarkably poignant.

As the Edo period (1603-1868) draws to its dramatic close, two swordsmen clash with a political foe. They are interrupted by a flash of lightning, heralding a bizarre paranormal event, and Shinzaemon (Yamaguchi) awakens to find himself... in a quiet lane in Kyoto.

His confusion turns to alarm when among the locals clad in the robes of old Japan, he sees people wearing unfamiliar attire. Even the folks who seem ordinary to him are behaving oddly… it turns out he’s travelled several centuries forward in time, landing right in the middle of a 21st century film set!

In A Samurai in Time, award-winning director Junichi Yasuda offers a take on the time-travel genre that’s not only clever, funny, and distinctly Japanese, but also remarkably poignant.

Japanese with English subtitles

Screening as part of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2025

Please note: films without BBFC certification may only be screened to over 18s. This does not necessarily mean that the films contain adult content.