Knowing Me, Knowing You: The True Self in Japanese Cinema

Sasaki Mamoru (Kitamura Takumi) is a shy, introverted welfare department caseworker, impassively carrying out duties such as sanctioning fraudulent claimants despite pressure from the office. One day, his colleague Miyata Yuko (Ito Marika) discovers that fellow caseworker Takano Yoji (Maiguma Katsuya) is coercing a single mother, Hayashino Aimi (Kawai Yuumi), for sex in exchange for welfare benefits.

Having reluctantly agreed with Yuko to help uncover the truth, Mamoru starts visiting Aimi who is on the verge of child neglect. While she denies any involvement with Yoji, Aimi is in fact secretly entangled with Kanemoto Ryu (Kuboto Masataka), a criminal underworld boss involved in shady dealings. Without truly knowing her, Mamoru gradually forms a personal relationship with Aimi, only to find himself trapped in a nightmarish summer — one that builds to a shocking and unforgettable climax.

Directed by veteran filmmaker Jojo Hideo (Twilight Cinema Blues, JFTFP24), A Bad Summer is an explosively emotive drama that weaves together satirical analysis of Japan’s social structure and psychological tension with devastating precision.

Screening as part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2026. Passes are available allowing entry to multiple films in this programme at a significant discount. Visit this page to purchase a pass.

© 2025 “A Bad Summer” Film Partners