Kobe hosts new cinema rakugo event and prepares for Monet-themed film release

Kobe is hosting several cultural events and film productions. Amusta! KOBE in Rokko Island will launch ‘Kobe Cinema Rakugo’ on October 30, 2026. The program features live rakugo by Katsura Fukumaru followed by a screening of the Indian short film ‘Tashi-chan and the Monk’.

Additionally, the film ‘Monet: The Painting That Crossed the Sea of Time’ is scheduled for release on October 15, 2027. Produced by Toei and Minato Studio, the film stars Kento Hayashi and Mone Kamishiraishi. The story explores the connection between Claude Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’ and Kobe, centered on the Matsukata Collection. Filming took place in Kobe, including locations such as the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Kobe Plant, to commemorate the company’s 130th anniversary.