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22nd Feb 2026

Blue Boy Trial

TBC

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

Tokyo, 1965. Amid growing internationalisation after the Olympics, the government introduces new measures to reinforce public morals, particularly public prostitution by women. However, the so- called “Blue Boys”, transgender women who live and work as prostitutes, cannot be prosecuted as they are legally registered as male. Frustrated, authorities instead arrest Dr. Akagi Masao (Yamanaka Takashi), who performs gender-affirming operations, accusing him of violating the Eugenic Protection Law.

Meanwhile, Sachi (Nakagawa Miyu) is quietly planning her future with her fiancé (Maehara Ko). She, too, is transgender and one of Dr. Akagi’s patients. When defence attorney Kano Taku (Nishikido Ryo) asks her to testify in court for Dr. Akagi, Sachi confronts her past and identity before a society unwilling to see her for who she really is.

Based on the real-life “Blue Boy Incident,” this powerful film sheds light on a ground-breaking yet long-overlooked case that questioned the legality of gender-affirming surgery and what is means to find happiness. The director of Angry Son (JFTFP23), Iizuka Kasho (a transgender man), and actor Nakagawa Miyu (a transgender woman) bring to life a moment that reshaped Japan’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues and continues to resonate today.

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 “Blue Boy Trial” Film Partners

Director:IIzuka Kasho

Year:2025

Languages:Japanese

Runtime:106

Origin:Japan

Location:QUAD

Subtitles:English

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