Japanese filmmaker Uchiyama Takuya’s The Blue Breaks, an adaptation of Machiya Ryohei’s 2016 novel, was among the projects at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, with a 2027 shoot and 2028 completion targeted.
The Japan-Italy co-production The Blue Breaks,
directed by Uchiyama Takuya, is among the projects showcased at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, with plans to begin filming in 2027 and complete the film by 2028. The story follows Shukichi, a rootless part-time worker in his thirties, who embarks on a journey to Korea after discovering his girlfriend’s hidden parenthood and encountering a terminally ill woman named Toko. The article about the film was published on Variety (Middle East) on Monday, 02/11/2026, at 01:28 AM, and was edited and verified by the editorial team at PressBee.
A Journey of Identity and Connection
Shukichi’s journey begins when he discovers his girlfriend, with whom he lives, has a son she no longer has custody of. This revelation deepens his sense of detachment, prompting him to seek clarity through travel. Eventually, Shukichi and those around him journey to Korea, confronting each other’s lives and deaths. Uchiyama, who has previously crafted screenplays based on his personal experiences, mentioned feeling attracted to the book partly because it was released in the year he began his filmmaking career, and because Machiya wrote it at the age Uchiyama currently is.
Shukichi, the protagonist, struggles with the part of himself that never quite became ‘manly.’ I’ve also spent much of my life feeling uncomfortable with what society expects a man to be,
Uchiyama said. The director, whose previous work “Numb” was selected for the Berlinale, highlighted the film’s blend of lightness and romanticism, aiming to “make a film about love that is unapologetically romantic.”
Production and Industry Context
Japanese producer Satoh Naomi of Differentia and Italian co-producer Parsifal Reparato of Antropica are spearheading the project, which is part of the Tokyo International Film Festival’s content market. The team is finalizing financing, casting, and distribution strategies, with a focus on expanding beyond Japan and Italy. The project aligns with Italy and Japan’s bilateral co-production framework, aiming to deepen ties between their cinematic industries.
At this historical moment, building bridges is more important than ever,
Reparato said, emphasizing the film’s role in redefining family and identity. Satoh noted that they bonded over a mutual feeling of not fitting into the roles imposed on them, whether in society or within the film industry, and that films defying categories often face financing challenges in Japan. “When ‘Numb’ was selected for the Berlinale, it gave me real proof that Takuya’s work could resonate with audiences beyond Japan,” Satoh said. In Tokyo, the producers made headway on the remaining financing and found international co-production partners, sales agents, and distributors who could take the film beyond Japan and Italy.
The team is handling the screenplay, casting, and funding, with filming scheduled for 2027 and completion by 2028, while aiming for an international festival premiere. Uchiyama has also wrapped shooting on a separate project, which is now moving into editing.
Themes and Broader Implications
Satoh, who connected with Uchiyama over shared feelings of not fitting expectations, noted the difficulty of financing films that resist categorization in Japan. Diversity isn’t something new.
It’s always been there, even if we haven’t always acknowledged it,
Uchiyama stated.
The Japan-Italy co-production is part of the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market’s efforts to support innovative projects.