12 Sep – The highly anticipated Japanese Film Festival 2012 has finally hit the waves of Malaysia for the ninth time with its launch held yesterday at Golden Screen Cinemas, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The ninth film festival in partnership with Cinema Online comes packed with 12 critically acclaimed Japanese films, namely "Permanent Nobara", "A Good Husband", "I Wish", "Key of Life", "Wonder Child", "Always Sunset on Third Street ", "Someday", "The Last Ronin", "Death of a Japanese Salesman", "Rebirth", "Ninja Kids" and "Hayabusa". Mr. Shigeru Nakamura, the Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, said in his speech last night: "This film festival is a wonderful way to introduce contemporary Japanese films to the audience in Malaysia, through which your window of understanding to Japanese culture and ideas may be opened. I hope that this year's selection of Japanese films will continue to stimulate your thinking and whet your appetite for Japan." Distinguished guests of the event included Mr Shoichi Toyoda, Director of Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur, Mr. Mario Sammartino, the Ambassador of Italy to Malaysia, Mr. Koichi Wada, the Chief Executive in Malaysia / General Manager of Kuala Lumpur Branch Mitsubishi Corporation, CEO of Golden Screen Cinemas Ms. Koh Mei Lee and Dr. Ungku A. Aziz, Chairman of Azair Sdn Bhd. Those who attended also had the privilege to watch the premiere screening of "Key of Life", prior to its commercial release in Japan on 15 September. Directed by Kenji Uchida, the suspense-comedy film has been awarded with The Best Screenplay Award at the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival. Other highlights of this year's festival would be, among others, "Rebirth", which has won 10 major awards at the Japan Academy Prize this year, another great work by internationally acclaimed director Kore-Eda Hirokazu called "I Wish", entertaining documentary "Death of a Japanese Salesman", and "Ninja Kids", a live-action version of the TV animation "Ninja Boys". From 13 to 18 September 2012, all the JFF movies will be shown at Golden Screen Cinemas in Mid Valley, Pavilion KL and 1 Utama, with tickets priced at RM5 each, before moving to GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang from 20 to 23 September.