KFP = Karatsu Film Project was born to generate new energy in Karatsu, Saga through film, art and culture.

Specifically, we focus on producing films, inviting film-related opportunities to Karatsu, and encouraging local citizens to participate in filmmaking. Through filmmaking, we would like local people to rediscover their fascination with the city and imagine a bright future there. Moreover, we hope that by producing and presenting films made in Karatsu, people all over Japan—and even the world—will want to discover and visit our city.

Furthermore, we would like to contribute to the good soul of the people of Karatsu by rooting film culture, which is full of rich education and entertainment, in the city.

KFP is organized by Karatsu Cinema. The city of Karatsu has not had a movie theater for twenty years. However, since its inauguration in 2012 in an effort to revitalize the city, Karatsu Cinema has been screening films regularly as well as publishing “IMAKARA,” Karatsu’s culture magazine, three times a year.

Karatsu Film Project was created in September 2015 to promote, as its first project, the Karatsu film “Hanakatami,” directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, based on Kazuo Dan’s novel of the same title. Our goal is to shoot “Hanakatami” completely in Karatsu as one of Mr. Obayashi’s “hometown films” in order to preserve the unchanging beauty and traditional culture of Karatsu for the future, and to reveal the charming aspects of our cultural city to the rest of Japan. Yukinori Tsuji, the head of Karatsu Cinema, has assumed the position of chairman of Karatsu Film Project, and Seiichi Miyajima, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as Shinji Yamazaki, president of Karatsu Tourist Association, will serve as vice-chairmen.

Advisers：Toshiyuki Sakai/ Mayor of the City of Karatsu, Tsugio Inaba/Superintendent of Education of Karatsu, Yasushi Furukawa/member of the House of Representatives, Yuhei Yamashita/member of the House of Representatives, Hidekazu Tanaka/ Representative of the League of City Tourism Assembly, Yuji Tominaga/ President of Karatsu Higashi Society of Commerce and Industry, Kazuhiro Koga/ President of Karatsu Uwaba Society of Commerce and Industry, Takehiko Tsutsumi/ Union President of Karatsu Agricultural Cooperative Association, Kazumasa Kawasaki/ Union President of Karatsu Fishery Cooperative, Yoshinori Mizokami/ Chief Director of Cultural Organization of Karatsu, Youichiro Inoue/ Chairman of Representative Director of Karatsu Amateur Sports Association, Tsutomu Hiraoka/ Chief Director of Incorporated Nonprofit Organization Network Station Matsuro, Shuichi Kinoshita/ Representative Director of Iki-iki Karatsu.

Supporters：People (Karatsu Cable Television), FM Karatsu 86.8 HMz, The Saga Shinbun, The Nishinippon Shinbun, NHK Saga Station and Saga Television Station