An Action Legend Reflects on Dreams, Cinema and Survival
Sneak Preview Screening: "The Living Dragon" (Yume Monogatari) followed by a Q&A with
action star Yasuaki Kurata and directors Koichi Sakamoto and Yuji Shimomura
Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 pm
In Japanese, Cantonese and English with English and Japanese subtitles Japan, 2026 78 minutes
Written and Directed by: Koichi Sakamoto, Kenji Tanigaki, Yuji Shimomura
Produced by: Yasuaki Kurata
Starring: Yasuaki Kurata, Rina Takeda, Masaya Kato, Seiji Takaiwa, Fumi Taniguchi
Special Appearance by: Sammo Hung
Film courtesy of Musashino Kogyo
For more than half a century, Yasuaki Kurata has been one of the most prominent and singular Japanese actors in international action cinema. After becoming a major star in Hong Kong during the Golden Age of kung fu films - appearing alongside such icons as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Jet Li and Donnie Yen - Kurata now marks both the 60th anniversary of his acting career and his 80th birthday with an ambitious and deeply personal new project, "The Living Dragon."
Structured as an anthology of three interconnected stories, the film brings together leading action directors Koichi Sakamoto, Kenji Tanigaki and Yuji Shimomura - all former members of the Kurata Action Club, who went on to earn their own fame in Japan and abroad. Moving between realism, fantasy and memory, the stories they've written for their sifu revolve around aging, unrealized dreams and the enduring spirit of those who continue to devote themselves to cinema.
In Sakamoto's "The Pursuit," Kurata plays a former action actor who seizes one final opportunity to appear before the camera again. Shimomura's "Heart of the Dragon" follows a timid office worker (Takeda) whose dream encounter with her action-film idol transforms her understanding of strength and courage. And Tanigaki's "Dragon in Wonderland" sends Kurata through a dreamlike version of 1973 Hong Kong on a mission connected to an iconic martial artist's final days, culminating in a remarkable reunion with longtime friend and fellow legend Sammo Hung.
Rather than functioning simply as a nostalgic tribute, "The Living Dragon" becomes a reflection on action cinema itself - its traditions, elaborate stunts, and philosophy of perseverance. Kurata's presence anchors the omnibus film with extraordinary gravity, with a physicality and screen charisma that remain unmistakable, while the undercurrent of mortality and legacy creates an emotional resonance.
Please join us for this sneak preview screening of "The Living Dragon," a rare collaboration uniting multiple generations of Japanese and Hong Kong action cinema, before the Japanese release on July 17.
For more: https://yumemonogatari.com/
Action legend YASUAKI KURATA made his screen debut in 1966 before relocating to Hong Kong in 1970, where he became known internationally as the "Japanese Dragon." Appearing in more than 100 productions across Hong Kong, Japan and international cinema, Kurata became one of the defining Japanese action actors through such films as "Call Me Dragon," "Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars," "Fist of Legend," and "Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen." In Japan, he also became widely popular through television series including "Fight! Dragon" and "G-Men'75." At age 80, Kurata continues to work in action cinema worldwide. "The Living Dragon" reflects both his lifelong philosophy and his continuing refusal to slow down.
Director KOICHI SAKAMOTO joined the Kurata Action Club at the age of 16 before moving to the U.S. in 1989, where he worked extensively as a stunt performer and action coordinator. He later became one of the defining directors of modern tokusatsu entertainment through his film and TV work on the Power Rangers, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider franchises. In recent years, Sakamoto has expanded into feature filmmaking and period action cinema, including the upcoming "Ninja Wars: Blackfox Vs. Shogun's Ninja." For "The Living Dragon," he contributes an emotionally charged tribute to his longtime mentor, Yasuaki Kurata.
Director YUJI SHIMOMURA began his career as a stunt performer after training at the Kurata Action Club. Following the award-winning success of an independent film he directed in 1996, he emerged as one of Japan's leading action directors through works such as "Versus," and worked closely with Donnie Yen in Hong Kong. As founder of Yuden Frameworks, Shimomura has choreographed action across film, TV, and video games. His recent credits include "Golden Kamuy," "Kingdom," and Netflix's "Alice in Borderland." In "The Living Dragon," he explores the emotional and philosophical inheritance of action filmmaking.
Please make your reservations at the FCCJ Reception Desk 03 3211-3161 or register online.
All film screenings are private, noncommercial events primarily for FCCJ members and their guests.
- Karen Severns, Film Committee