[June 2026 Long Interview] From Saturday, June 6th: Tomomi Hayama (Taiwan Eigasha), co-distributor of 'Giddens Ko's Kung Fu'
Hello everyone. This is the Seventh Art Theater and Theater Seven, a mini-theater in Juso, Osaka.
We are publishing questions on note that couldn't fit into the interviews featured on the back of our monthly schedule flyers.
Our long interview for June 2026 is with Tomomi Hayama (Taiwan Eigasha), co-distributor of 'Giddens Ko's Kung Fu'.
1. What inspired you to start distributing Taiwanese films?
I loved movies and worked at a distribution company. Even though my parents were from Taiwan, I didn't have much interest in Taiwan until I became an adult. However, after seeing 'GF*BF' in 2014, I became interested in Taiwanese cinema and wanted to see more new Taiwanese films. I realized that the number of Taiwanese films released in Japan was very limited, and I began to wish that I could distribute them myself someday.
2. You have been distributing a series of films by director Giddens Ko; what kind of person is he?
The director is charming and friendly, but at the same time, I have the impression that he is a humble person who never fails to be considerate of those around him. When he visited Japan at the end of last year, he kept the atmosphere lively throughout the wrap party, which director Takashi Yamazaki also attended, and there was constant laughter. On the other hand, I was moved by how many times he expressed his gratitude to us as distributors. And as you can tell from his work, he is also quite the 'chuunibyou' (middle-school syndrome) enthusiast (laughs).
3. I think the screening and distribution style for 'Till We Meet Again' was very unique.
Although 'Till We Meet Again' didn't have a large number of viewers after its release, it was very well-received, and I felt, 'I have to get this to more people.' Due to copyright issues, there were no plans for streaming or home video releases, so my co-distributor, Mr. Kojima, and I used trial and error to figure out how to expand the screenings. In the end, thanks to the customers who supported it, we are still able to screen it even now, more than two years after its release. I have nothing but gratitude.
4. Please tell us the highlights of the new film, 'Giddens Ko's Kung Fu'.
Just as the tagline says, the highlight is that it is packed with 'youth,' 'martial arts action,' and 'extreme chuunibyou' elements. With a production budget of approximately 1.5 billion yen—the highest for a Taiwanese film in the last 10 years—director Giddens Ko filmed exactly what he wanted to film. Please fully experience the depth of Taiwanese cinema!!
Opening Saturday, June 6th at the Seventh Art Theater!
■ Seventh Art Theater Website
■ Theater Seven Website
We look forward to seeing you there!