Isao Yoshino

Okinawa International Movie Festival Organization Committee Chairman
Director and Senior Adviser of YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO.,LTD.

This year, the “Okinawa International Movie Festival” will be held once again.
It has already been 8 years since its birth here in Okinawa in 2009, with the theme of “Laugh & Peace”. I would like to take this opportunity to thank with all of my heart the locals and people of Okinawa, and everyone that has supported this Movie Festival, in a variety of different forms.
Also, this year we will all be able to fully enjoy the mild climate of Okinawa in April.
And the venue for this year’s festival will be “all over the island”. This truly makes this a festival which is created by everyone in the 41 municipalities of Okinawa Prefecture, and the various programs planned for various locations throughout the prefecture are sure to build on the successes of past years. In terms of its content, this is a festival which is filled with all kinds of forms of entertainment, in concert with its major emphasis on the screenings and competitions of movies that are selected with unique perspectives. This year will also see a number of events and content jostling for attention, from the wonderful “Red Carpet” events to comedy, music, sport and cuisine... etc., and we truly look forward to seeing you all here.
In the 100 years since our founding, we at Yoshimoto Kogyo have focused on comedy, while also challenging a variety of other genres. Many say that we are a “Total Comedy Company”, but this focused effort has been brought to bear on promoting this movie festival.
It is our heartfelt hope that this movie festival will bring smiles to everyone that participates in it, and that the exchanges born out of this festival will lead to the birth of new innovators and to the development of new creative endeavors. Finally, we look forward to your continued support for the future of the “Okinawa International Movie Festival”.