“Yamagata Renaissance Project” is aiming to introduce the culture and charms of Yamagata and support local filmmakers by offering chances to shoot films.

We produce short documentary films every year based on the culture and traditions of Yamagata City.

Two films produced in 2025 were just released on our official YouTube channel, Yamagata City of Film.

These two films won the Grand Prize and Excellence Award in the Regional Promotion Content Category at the Tohoku Film Festival 2025, and were screened at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2025.

You can watch them on our official YouTube channel, Yamagata City of Film

■ Note on watching ■

• Please watch in a stable internet or Wi-Fi environment.
• Please check your PC, smartphone and internet environment in advance.
• Please note that we cannot provide individual technical support, connection problems, or support for app issues.

INTRODUCTION OF WORKS

The writers in Dewa

(Director: Koichi SATO/2025/22min)

Yamagata city has a terroir to nurture “literature.”

Yamagata city, which has turned out many famous writers. As one of the reasons attracted attention for this is the “Yamagata Novelist and Writer’s Course” held by a private initiative. Since started in 1997, the course is still full of enthusiasm with people who want to experience the joy of ‘writing’, as well as those who aspire to make their debut as writers.

Why has such course taken root in Yamagata city and why has it continued to produce bearers of literature? This documentary explores these questions through interviews with the people involved in the course, while also showing Yamagata city’s literature-related activities.

Sunny spot – Story of a beloved local supermarket

(Director: Hiroaki NAGAOKA/2025/11min)

The miraculous story of “Gesoten”

“Endo” – small supermarket is located in Naga-machi, Yamagata city. “Gesoten,”(Deep Fried Squid Legs) Yamagata’s soul food, has become a hot topic, attracting customers not only from the local area but also from outside the prefecture and even from overseas. “Gesoten” is not the only reason why so many people love there. Local elderly women have well-side meetings, local summer festivals are held, and a kids’ cafeteria is open. It has truly become a “sunny spot” in the community.

What do you see in this scene where people from all walks of life gather at a small supermarket in town? This documentary focuses on the “local treasure” nurtured by the soul food “Gesoten”.

Organized by: Yamagata city, Yamagata Creative City Promotion Council

Supported by: the Agency for Cultural Affairs Government of Japan Fiscal Year 2024