The screening of “18 x 2 Beyond Youthful Days” was held on Friday, November 22, from 11:30 a.m. at NTT CRED Hall No. 1.

This love story is set in Japan and Taiwan, and stars Jimmy (Hsu Kuang HAN) and Ami (Kaya KIYOHARA), a backpacker from Japan, who met 18 years ago at a karaoke bar in Taiwan. Their gradually budding romance, the promises they made to each other, and the feelings behind them are depicted emotionally and vividly as they move back and forth between Japan and Taiwan, the past and the present.

After the screening, a talk show was held with Director Michihito FUJII.
This film was nominated in four categories for the Golden Horse Awards, also known as “Taiwan's Academy Awards,” and Director FUJII came to the event despite his schedule to attend the awards ceremony in Taiwan the following day. The interview was conducted by Michita KIMURA, a freelance personality.

Looking back on the filming of this joint project with Taiwan, “Taiwan is where my grandfather was born and where I studied when I was in my 20s. I am happy that our ties with Taiwan have come to fruition in this way in a single film,” said FUJII.
When KIMURA asked about the difficulties of filming in Taiwan, he replied, “When we are making a film, we don't often feel the differences between regions, environments, and people. This time, I specifically requested to have a crew in their 20s and 30s. They were all there because they love movies, and we produced the film in a friendly atmosphere.” He shared a lively behind-the-scenes look at the production process.

During the Q&A session from the audience, when Director FUJII was asked if the direction of Jimmy's face in the film expressed his feelings, he expressed his delight that the audience had noticed it, and a participant from Tainan City shared her impression, “I almost cried because I missed my hometown every time it was shown." Through the questions and opinions of the participants, who carefully watched the film from beginning to end, they were able to experience the appeal of the film from an even deeper perspective.

Toward the end of the talk show, FUJII also introduced his next film, “Shotai,” which will be released on November 29. “This is an entertainment film that you cannot take your eyes off for even a minute. I want you to enjoy this film more than any other film I have ever made, so I hope you will watch it with high expectations,” said FUJII, and the audience gave him a big round of applause.