This week, the Consulate General of Japan, in partnership with the Alliance Française de Miami, are celebrating on Japan Culture Week.  There are events every day at the Alliance Francaise de Miami located at 618 SW 8th Street in Miami.

There are 2 films screening during the culture week activities.  They are 5 Centimeters Per Second and Zen.

5 Centimeters per Second, refers to the speed at which cherry blossoms fall from the trees, reminiscent of the slowness of life and how people often start together but slowly drift into their separate ways. 5cm is 63 minutes of animation; 3 short stories interconnected by 2 separated friends.

After transferring to the same elementary school, Takaki and Akari became best friends. But when both families are forced to relocate, their lives change. After a year of separation, Takaki is about to reunite with Akari. Sitting on the train from Tokyo, memories of the past rush through his mind as he draws closer to his meeting, Takaki and Akari begin to wonder if they will ever be able to see each other again, and share their secret feelings. Join Takaki on a journey into three interconnected tales of love and lost innocence that span the minutes and months of their lives.

Zen is 127 minutes about the inspiring true story of legendary Zen Master Dogen. His life is brought to the screen, more than 750 years after he lived it.

To cast away everything, surrendering yourself to the flow of nature and just sitting in meditation… This is the essence of Dogen’s Zen Buddhism. In the 13th century, Dogen, a young Japanese monk traveled to China, determined to find his true master. There he found a monk who taught him that sitting in Zen meditation is the true and only path to enlightenment. Returning, enlightened, to Japan, Dogen risked his life to pioneer Zen Buddhism, inspiring the millions of Zen Buddhists who practice around the world today.

For more information about Japan Culture Week and a complete schedule of activities, please contact (305) 530-9090 or info@cgjmia.org.