JASC is excited to host our first-ever Kids Movie Night, presented in partnership with the Chicago Japan Film Collective! On August 22, we invite children ages 6–12 to join us for a special screening of Moon of a Sleepless Night (2015), a beautifully crafted stop-motion film directed by Takeshi Yashiro (八代健志).

Watching films in another language is a wonderful way for young audiences to build language awareness and explore cultural values in an engaging, interactive way. This 27-minute film—shown in Japanese with English subtitles—follows the whimsical lives of forest dwellers under a moonlit sky, brought to life through rich textures of soil, wood, and hand-crafted puppetry.

The evening will kick off with pizza and mini kakigori (shaved ice) served by Gaijin Chicago, followed by a screening of the film. After the movie, kids will take part in a hands-on stop-motion animation workshop and lantern-making activity inspired by the story.

Please note: This is a kids-only event. Caregivers are kindly asked to drop off children at the start of the program and return for pick-up at the scheduled end time.

Date: August 22, 2025

Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Location: 5700 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL

Ticket Prices

JASC Member: $10 (Additional Child $5/child)

Non Member: $15 (Additional Child $10/child)

Movie Trailer

About the Director

Takeshi Yashiro

八代 健志

Takeshi Yashiro graduated from the Design Department at Tokyo University of the Arts. He began his career directing live-action TV commercials at Taiyo Kikaku and also explored various forms of stop-motion animation.

In 2015, he founded TECARAT, shifting his focus toward puppet animation. In addition to writing and directing, he is deeply involved in all aspects of production, including art direction, animation, and puppet modeling. His work emphasizes the unique textures and expressive qualities that emerge from handcrafted stop-motion techniques.

His acclaimed short film “GON, THE LITTLE FOX” (2019) received numerous accolades and was officially selected by over 160 international film festivals. His 2021 film, “Pukkulapottas and Hours in the Forest,” won the Ōfuji Noburō Award in the Animation Division of the Mainichi Film Awards and was named a Jury Recommended Work at the Japan Media Arts Festival.

He was responsible for puppet modeling and animation in “Hair Album” (produced for Takara Belmont), which earned the Yellow Pencil in the Animation category at the D&AD Awards 2022.

His latest work, “Haru-tsuge Fish and Fu-rai Boy” (part of NHK’s TinyTales: Stop Motion Shorts), is a poetic blend of flowers and puppets. The film won the Grand Prix in the Japanese Competition at Hiroshima Animation Season 2024 and received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 11th New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival. It continues to be screened internationally.

About the Chicago Japan Film Collective:

The Chicago Japanese Film Collective (CJFC), established in 2021, is the first and only Japanese film festival in the Midwest.

CJFC showcases the diverse voices of Japanese independent cinema through narrative, documentary, and animation. Our mission is to promote cultural exchange between Japan and the U.S., connect audiences across generations and backgrounds, and expand opportunities for international screenings.

Beginning this September, we will launch a special program titled the Backstreet Cinema Series at the Music Box Theatre, spotlighting the hidden gems of Japanese culture. Through film, we invite audiences to experience a deeper, more intimate encounter with Japan.