FILM, ANIME AND GAMES
Film and anime marketing for Japanese releases in the UK
Distributors, film festivals and games publishers bring us in when a Japanese release needs fans in the UK to hear about it in time. We review the film or game and explain the story behind it. Then we give our community of Japanese culture lovers a reason to go, often a ticket giveaway. Since 2021 that has ranged from classic seasons at BFI Southbank to new anime in UK cinemas.
Japanese and anime films in UK cinemas, 2025 to 2026
Modern Films: HAPPYEND, A Pale View of Hills and Kokuho
Modern Films worked with us on three Japanese releases between September 2025 and May 2026. For Kokuho we published an explainer on the film's kabuki world alongside the event article. A ticket giveaway then sent one reader to a Saturday screening at Vue West End in Leicester Square.
Trinity CineAsia: Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway, June 2026
The UK trailer for the 29th Detective Conan film went out on 26 May as a collaboration post on Trinity CineAsia's account and ours. On release day a joint giveaway offered ODEON e-vouchers and official merchandise to two winners.
Japanese film seasons at BFI Southbank and on tour
BFI Japanese film seasons, 2021 to 2023
For the BFI's Japanese seasons we wrote about the films and ran ticket giveaways for screenings such as Tokyo Story and The Ring. Our Tokyo Story review from BFI Japan 2021 is still live on Japan Nakama.
The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, 2024
The Japan Foundation takes new Japanese films to cinemas around the UK each year. We gave a reader a pair of tickets to Ice Cream Fever at the ICA on the programme's opening weekend in February 2024.
Anime streaming and Japanese games
SEGA: Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2, 2025
Our writer Wesley Matthews reviewed the game on SEGA's review code, in writing for Japan Nakama and on video for his Wes Games YouTube channel. The written review went live on 1 August 2025, four days before release.
Crunchyroll
Japan Nakama has covered Crunchyroll's anime releases using the press material its team shares.
“Thank you so much for your massive help with KOKUHO! It was a really great campaign.”
Satoko Sekiguchi, Marketing and Special Projects, Modern Films
Working with distributors on reviews and giveaways
Can you review a film or game before release?
Yes, when the distributor or publisher shares a screener or review code. Modern Films commented on our A Pale View of Hills review before it went live, and our Hinokami Chronicles 2 review was published once SEGA's embargo lifted.
Can you post on Instagram with our account?
Yes. Trinity CineAsia's trailer and release day giveaway both ran as collaboration posts, so they appeared on Trinity's account and ours at once. Our A Pale View of Hills reel went out with Vue Lumière invited as collaborator.
Do you work with film seasons and festivals as well as releases?
Yes. We covered the BFI's Japanese seasons from 2021 to 2023 and gave away tickets for the Japan Foundation's Touring Film Programme in 2024.
How do ticket giveaways work?
You supply the tickets or vouchers and we run the giveaway on Instagram or in our newsletter. The BFI and Trinity CineAsia sent prizes straight to our winners, while Modern Films booked the seats and we passed the tickets on.