“It doesn't matter if you are in Japan or Arizona or anywhere in the world,” said director Fumiya Nakagawa through an interpreter. “I hope you get to do itadakimasu with the meal that you have, and then maybe it's a chance to think about Japan and think about the connections as well.” 

The Japanese Film Festival held its fourth edition at the Arizona State University MIX Center in Mesa, showcasing a number of short and feature-length films. 

Included in the short film showcase was “Itadakimasu” by Nakagawa, about a man struggling after recently moving to the city. When his mom comes to visit him, she brings memories of the past through the food. 

The short film shows several scenes from the main character's childhood in which food from his mom helped him get through hard times and make new memories. Now that he is an adult, he realizes just how much his mom did for him and why those memories are important. 

American media that portray Japanese culture often include the word “itadakimasu” when eating. But it doesn’t fully convey how important the word is in Japanese culture. 

In the short film, the mom tells her son that the word isn’t just about appreciating the food; it’s about appreciating the work that went into making it and the animals sacrificed for it.

“I wanted to make the point about having a meal with somebody else sitting in front of you, and then having the flashback of the memories starting and then maybe the person in front of you might not be there,” Nakagawa said. “But we want to feel precious about the life that we share and then that feeling that we share with somebody important to you.” 

The festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to deepening understanding of Japanese and American cultures through the love of movies.

Former festival intern Sara Maksimovic said the festival continues to grow and build a new community in Arizona.

“This festival is important because it’s a bridge to connect the people of Japan to Arizona and to learn about Japanese culture,” Maksimovic said. 

The festival was supported by Murota Kosei, the consul general of Japan in Los Angeles, who said he is glad to see the people of Arizona embracing Japan and its culture. 

“The word itadakimasu is going around today in the screening and just by hearing that, it makes me really happy,” Nakagawa said.