Genki Kawamura

Genki Kawamura, born March 12, 1979 ) is a Japanese film producer, writer, screenwriter, film director and a picture book author. He serves as the producer and board member for Story Inc., as well as holding a position as the section chief at the film producing department at Toho|Toho Company, Limited.
== Career ==
He was taught the world of cinema from his father who graduated from Nihon University College of the Arts and went on to work as an assistant director at Nikkatsu but failed mid-career. At three years old, he watched his first film "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" which then was newest title from Steven Spielberg. From around this time, he started reading the Bible, both the New and the Old Testament, as was suggested by his Christian mother.(4ページ目)3歳のときに感じた気持ちは、いつか絶対誰かが書いてしまうと思っていた。でも、30年経っても誰も書いていなかったので物語にした──川村元気（2） - Bunshun Online 2016-11-27 He was raised in a home with no television and did not join his peers until elementary school. By that time, it was routine to watch classic films every weekend with his father.「モテキ」の川村元気プロデューサーに聞く、“ヒット作連発”の秘密 p.1 - Nikkei Trendy Net 2011-9-13 During his high school and university years, he frequented rental video stores and at his peak year he saw 500 films. 
After graduating from City of Yokohama Kanazawa High School, he enrolled at his top-choice school, Sophia University and studied Journalism at the Faculty of Humanities.上智で学んだジャーナリズムの視点が映画作りに活きています。 川村 元気 氏 東宝株式会社 映画プロデューサー - Asahi Shinbun Digital：SOPHIA.com "Understanding Sophia University's Now" 2012-3-1 Right out of university, he joined Toho, Limited. His first job was an usher at a movie theater in Namba Osaka. He became a producer after submitting his pitch for a film in an internal contest.
In 2005, he developed and produced a major motion picture "Densha Otoko (film)|Train Man" at the age of 26. The film garnered 3.7 billion yen in box office.
In 2008, he went on to develop and produce "Detroit Metal City". Its box office was 2.3 billion yen.
In 2010, he oversaw the development and production of "Confessions (2010 film)" and "Villain (2010 film)"."Confessions (2010 film)" recorded 3.8 billion yen in box office and was awarded the Best Picture at the Japan Academy Film Prize. It was Japan's official submission for the Academy Awards for the Best Foreign Language Film category. "Villain" raked 1.98 billion yen in Box Office and was ranked No. 1 in Kinema Junpo Top 10 in Japanese Cinema. It received the Best Actress Award at the Montreal World Film Festival. 
In the same year, he was selected in The Hollywood Reporter's "Next Gen Asia: Class of 2010".
In 2011, he became the youngest recipient in its history to be given the Fujimoto Award.
In the same year, he developed and produced "Love Strikes! (aka Moteki)" which grosses 2.22 billion yen in box office.
In 2012, he debuted as a writer with his novel "If Cats Disappeared from the World".
In 2013, he wrote with Kenjiro Sano a picture book "Tinny and the Ballloon". The book was adapted into an animated series by NHK. 
In 2014, his second novel "Million Dollar Man (Okuotoko)" originally serialized for the Brutus (magazine), and his second picture book "MOOM" were published. In the same year, he released "Shigoto" a collection of interviews with 12 various creators including Hayao Miyazaki and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
In 2016, the adaptation to his debut novel 'If Cats Disappeared from the World" was released and the book sales surpassed 1.4 million copies (as of 2018). In the same year, his picture book "MOOM" was made into an animated feature film by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi. The two are creators behind the Academy Award nominated "Dam Keeper". The film went to garner 32 different awards from International film festivals. 
In the same year, it was announced that "Million Dollar Man" was going to be adapted for the big screens in China and his third novel "April Come She Will" originally serialized for Shukan Bunshun was published. 
Further, he developed and produced "Your Name.", "Rage (2016 film)", and "Someone". 19 million in admission and 25 billion in box office, "your name." became a domestic blockbuster. It also broke records globally including in China, South Korea, and Taiwan where the film became the highest grossing Japanese film respectively. It received high reviews in the U.S. and Europe. The film was awarded Best Animated Film from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Animated Feature Length Film Award from Sitges Film Festival. 
In 2017, he received his second Fujimoto Award as well as the Shin Watanabe Award. 
In the same year, he directed the music video "Something Just Like This" by The Chainsmokers & Coldplay.
He was selected as one of the eight creators to produce the opening and closing ceremony for 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympic in Tokyo. 
In 2018, he debuted as screenwriter for the 38th title in the theatrical animation franchise for Doraemon, "Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Treasure Island. The film broke the previous record of 4.43 billion yen and grossed 4.8 billion yen in box office.
In the same year, the short film "Duality" which he directed with Masahiko Sato was selected for short film competition in the 71st Cannes Film Festival.
In 2019, he developed and produced "Weathering with You".
In 2020, he returned as the screenwriter for the 50th Anniversary title, "Doraemon: Nobita's New Dinosaur".
In 2022, he produced the animated film "Suzume," which has generated over ¥41.5 billion (approximately $370 million), making it one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time.
In 2022, he made his directorial debut with the feature film, "A Hundred Flowers.” The film was based on his novel published in 2019. It won Silver Shell for Best Director at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
In 2023, Kawamura produced the Netflix series "The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House." 
In 2023, he produced "Monster," in collaboration with Hirokazu Kore-eda. The film won the Best Screenplay and Queer Palme awards at the 76th Cannes International Film Festival in 2023. 
== Filmography ==
=== Live Action Feature Films ===
* 2005: "Train Man" (Development)
* 2006: "Pair Ski Jumping: Road to Turin 2006" (Development and Production)
* 2006: Forbidden Siren
* 2006: Rough (manga)#Live-action film
* 2006: Christmas on July 24th Avenue (Development) 
* 2007: Say Hello for Me (Production)
* 2008: Flowers in the Shadows (Development and Production)
* 2008: Detroit Metal City (Development)
* 2010: Confessions (2010 film)
* 2010: Villain (2010 film)
* 2011: Moteki (aka Love Strikes) (Development and Production) 
* 2012: Space Brothers (manga)
* 2014: A Bolt from the Blue (film)
* 2014: Parasyte: Part 1 (Production)
* 2015: Parasyte: Part 2 (Production)
* 2015 Bakuman (Development and Production)
* 2016: If Cats Disappeared from the World (Original Story)
* 2016: Rage (2016 film)
* 2016: Someone (Development and Production)
* 2018: 2018年 Duality (Direction and Screenplay)
* 2018: Sunny Our Hearts Beat Together (Development and Production)
* 2018: Million Dollar Man (Original Story)
* 2018: It Comes (Development and Production)
* 2020: Last Letter (Development and Production)
=== Animated Feature Film ===
* 2011: Friends: Mononoke Shima no Naki
* 2012: Wolf Children (Associate Producer)
* 2013: Saint Young Men (Producer)
* 2015: The Boy and the Beast (Producer)
* 2016: your name. (Development and Production)
* 2016: MOOM (Original Story and Production)
* 2017: Fireworks, Should We See it from the Side or the Bottom? (Development and Production)
* 2017: Tinny & The Balloon Nandaka Fushigina Kyouryu no Kuni (Original Story)
* 2018: Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Treasure Island (Screenplay) 
* 2018: Mirai (film) (Producer)
* 2019: Weathering with You (Development and Production)
* 2019: Her Blue Sky (Development and Production)
* 2020: Doraemon: Nobita's New Dinosaur (Screenplay)
=== Series ===
* 2014: Tinny & The Balloon (Original Story)
* 2015: Blood Blockade Battlefront (Executive Producer)
* 2015: Tinny & The Balloon Second Season (Original Story) 
=== Music Video ===
* 2017: The Chainsmokers & Coldplay "Something Just Like This" (Screenplay, Direction, Production)
* 2019: Eve (Japanese singer) "Raison d'etre" (Development and Production)
=== Educational Program ===
* 2017- Present : Odomo TV / NHK (Showrunner)
=== Advertisement / Commercials ===
* 2012: LOUIS VUITTON -BEYOND- / Louis Vuitton (Creative Director)
* 2015: Oshieru Shigoto Osowaru Shigoto / Meikou Gijyuku (Creative Director)
* 2016: Arigato / Meikou Gijyuku (Creative Director)
* 2016: LOUIS VUITTON -DANCE WITH AI- with Mirai Moriyama, Daito Manabe, Mikiko / LOUIS VUITTON (Creative Director)
* 2017: Roppongi Academy Hills (Series Director)
* 2017-2019: TIFFANY and ZEXY collaboration Web series short films / Tiffany & Co., (Screenplay and Creative Director)
** 2017 "Tiffany Blue"
** 2018 "TIFFANY BLUE"
** 2019 "TIFFANY BLUE"
* 2018-2020: Lotte Holdings|Lotte 
** 2018: 70th Anniversary Special Animation "Baby I Love You Daze" (Development and Production)
** 2020: "Ghana Pink Valentine" (Development and Production)
== TV Appearances ==
* February 26, 2016: Kagai Jyugyou Youkoso Senpai / NHK 
== Bibliography ==
=== Novels ===
* October 2012: "If Cats Disappeared From the World / Magazine House
* September 2014: "If Cats Disappeared From the World" paperback edition / Shogakukan
* April 2016: "If Cats Disappeared From the World" paperback edition / Shogakukan Junior Bunko
* October 2014: "Million Dollar Man" / Magazine House 
* March 2018: "Million Dollar Man" paperback edition / Bunshun Bunko
* November 2016: "April Come She Will" / Bungeishunjū 
* July 2019: "April Come She Will" paperback edition / Bunshun Bunko
* May 2019: "Hyakka" / Bungeishunju
=== Collection of Essays ===
* April 2016: "Chou Kikaku Kaigi" / Eiga Walker
* June 2019: "Chou Kikaku Kaigi" paperback edition with new title "Buresuto" / Kadokawa Corporation
=== Collection of Interviews ===
* September 2014: "Shigoto." / Shueisha 
* September 2018: "Shigoto." paperback edition / Bunshun Bunko 
* April 2016: "Rikei ni Manabu." / Diamond Inc.
=== Picture Books ===
* Tinny & The Balloon series, illustrated by Kenjiro Sano 
** November 2013: "Tinny Fusen Inu no Monogatari" / Magazine House
** December 2014: "Fusen Inu Tinny Hajimete no Baby" / Magazine House
** October 2015: "Fusen Inu Tinny Sekai Isshuu!" / Magazine House 
** July 2017: "Fusen Inu Tinny Nandaka Fushigina Kouryu no Kuni" / Magazine House
* June 2014: MOOM / Hakusensha, illustraated by Yuuki Mashiko
* May 2015: "Patishie no Monsuta-" / Magazine House, illustrated by Ryo Sakamoto 
* September 2018: "Makaron no Kaikata" / Shogakukan, illustrated by Ryo Sakamoto
== Awards ==
=== Self ===
* 2010: Next Gen Asia / Hollywood Reporter
* 2011: 30th Fujimoto Award for recognition on the production of "Villains" and "Confessions" 
* 2016: 35th Fujimoto Award and Special Achievement Award for recognition on the production of "Bakuman"
* 2017: 12th Shin Watanabe Award and Special Achievement Award
* 2017: 36th Fujimoto Award for recognition on the production on "your name."
=== Works ===
; Villain (2010 film)
:* 34th Montreal World Film Festival
:** Best Actress
:* 84th Kinema Junpo Awards
:** Best Picture
:** Best Ten Film Winner
:** Best Japanese Film Director
:** Best Japanese Film Screenplay
:** Best Supporting Actor
:* 34th Japan Academy Prize
:** Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
:** Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
:** Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 
:** Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
:** Outstanding Achievement in Music
:* 23rd Nikkan Sports Film Awards
:** Best Actor
:** Best Actress
:* 35th Hochi Film Award
:** Best Picture
:** Best Actress
:** Best Supporting Actor
:* 65th Mainichi Film Awards 
:** Best Japanese Film 
:* 53rd Blue Ribbon Awards
:** Best Actor
; Confessions (2010 film)
:* 34th Japan Academy Prize
:** Best Picture
:** Best Director
:** Best Screenplay
:** Best Film Editing
:* 35th Hochi Film Awards
:** Best Director
:* 53rd Blue Ribbon Awards
:** Best Picture 
:** Best Supporting Actress
;
; Your Name. (2016)
:* 49th Sitges Film Festival 
:** Best Animated Feature Length Film
:* Los Angeles Film Critics Association
:** Best Animated Film 
:* 18th Bucheon International Animation Festival
:** Best Animated Feature Special Distinction Prize
:** Best Animated Feature Audiences Prize
:* 40th Japan Academy Prize
:** Screenplay of the Year
:** Outstanding Achievement in Music
:* 41st Hochi Film Awards
:** Special Award
:* 40th Fumiko Yamaji Film Awards
:** Fumiko Yamaji Award
:** 
; MOOM (2016) 
:* WorldFest Houston International Film Festival 
:** Platinum Award
:* Canada International Film Festival
:** Best Animation Film 
:* Nashville Film Festival 
:** Honorable Mention
:* SENE Film Festival
:** Best Animated Short
:* USA Film Festival 
:** Special Jury Award
:* Toronto Animation Arts Festival
:** Special Jury Award
:* Sunscreen Film Festival
:** Best Animated Film
:* Polish International Film Festival 
:** Best Animation Film 
:* NYC PictureStart Film Festival
:** Speacial Jury Award 
:* 24th Curtas Vila do Conde 
:** Best Film 
:* Atlanta Shortfest
:** Best Animated Short Award
:* Film Miami Fest
:** Best Animation Award
:* Real to Reel International Film Festival
:** Best Animation Award
:* Illinois International Film Festival
:** Best Animated Short
:* Prix Ars Electronica
:** Honorary Mention
:
; Duality (2018)
:* 71st Cannes Film Festival 
:** Selected for official Short Films Competition
Category:1979 births
Category:People from Yokohama
Category:Japanese children's book illustrators
Category:Japanese film directors
Category:Japanese novelists
Category:Japanese film producers