Akashi is a Canadian drama film. It was written, directed and starred Mayumi Yoshida, in her feature-length directorial debut, and produced by Yoshida, Nach Dudsdeemaytha and Tyler Hagan."Akashi Exclusive Clip: VIFF 2025". That Shelf, September 26, 2025.
Plot Kana, a Japanese Canadian artist based in Vancouver returns home to Tokyo for the first time in ten years to attend the funeral of her grandmother; during the trip, she reconnects with her old boyfriend Hiro, and investigates a family secret about her grandfather that her grandmother had revealed before her death.Charlie Smith, "VIFF 2025: Skillful filmmaker Mayumi Yoshida delves into deep emotional terrain in Akashi". Pancouver, October 5, 2025.
Cast Mayumi Yoshida as Kana Hana Kino as Grandma Ryo Tajima as Hiro Kunio Murai as Grandpa Chieko Matsubara as Wakako Hiro Kanagawa as Cab Driver Rin Kusunose as Yumeko
Production Akashi was Yoshida's full-length directorial debut. The film was an expansion of her 2017 short film of the same title.Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Mayumi Yoshida heads to Japan for debut feature". Playback, December 13, 2023. It entered production in December 2023 in Tokyo, with some later location shooting in Vancouver.Zac Ntim and Andreas Wiseman, "‘Akashi:’ Directorial Debut From ‘The Man In The High Castle’ Actor Mayumi Yoshida Enters Production In Japan". Deadline Hollywood, December 11, 2023.
Release The film premiered at the 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival,"A closer look at the highly-anticipated, local VIFF film Akashi". CityNews, September 18, 2025. where it won the Audience Award for the Northern Lights program.Andrew Tracy, "Three Canadian films claim audience awards at VIFF". Playback, September 20, 2025.
It screened in the Borsos Competition program at the 2025 Whistler Film Festival.Andrew Tracy, "Youngblood, Akashi among Whistler’s Borsos Award nominees". Playback, October 28, 2025. It swept the awards at the Whistler Film Festival with Yoshida winning best actor, best B.C. director and the Haebler Award for best feature, alongside Hagan and Dudsdeemaytha. Additionally, Jaryl Lim won for best cinematography.
It was screened at the 2026 Canadian Film Festival, where it won both the juried award for Best Film and the People's Pick award.Jamie Casemore, "Akashi wins Best Feature, audience award at Canadian Film Fest". Playback, March 30, 2026.
The film has been acquired for commercial distribution by KinoSmith in Canada, and Rabbit House in Japan.Andrew Tracy, "Mayumi Yoshida’s Akashi acquired for Canada, Japan". Playback, February 18, 2026. Additional international distribution rights have been acquired by Canoe Film.Amber Dowling, "Canoe Film picks up international rights to drama film Akashi". Playback, May 20, 2026.
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