This is not a war movie, but rather a story of love. “Jun-Ai” means “True Love”.

Summer.  1945.  And the end of a long world war.
Most of the young Japanese who had gone to settle in China had been left behind.
The dreams that carried them there had been crushed the moment Japan surrendered.
Ai, Shunsuke and the other settlers were hanging in a balance of life and death as
most Chinese villagers had lost loved ones to the Japanese military.
Shanron and his aging mother helped these two Japanese, accepting them unconditionally.
Inside of each of them was the beginning of a friendship beyond borders,
the start of a love worth risking one’s life for.
This film is not an attempt to show the tragedies of war.
This film’s theme is a true love that is eternal despite the changes of time.

Eight years in the making, “Jun-Ai” is part of a citizens’ project to create films and schools.

K’ project 1 (Jun-Ai Project) was started in 1999 centered around Keiko Kobayashi (executive producer and the main character, ‘Ai’) .  The circle grew from citizen volunteers to include film staff, actors and artists.  It became a bridge between people from Japan and China.
In 2004, with a portion of the reserve funds from the film production, the Kobayashi Keiko Foundation, Kibo (Hope) Elementary School was opened at the foot of Mt. Tai in Shandong Province, China.
Over 600 enthusiastic children now attend this school.
Since the release of Jun-Ai, our project philosophy has been to “cultivate movies” and “create schools”.  Film proceeds are used both to fund future films and to benefit the world’s children through the Kobayashi Keiko Foundation.

Why is the film industry creating films and schools as a social project?

At the same time that Jun-Ai evokes deep emotions for love and life in the hearts of those watching it, this film also has the power to convey past events between Japan and China.  By using a portion of the ticket proceeds for the world’s children, these emotions do not just end as mere emotions, but serve a social purpose away from the screen.   In doing this, we are creating a new film industry structure that cultivates movies, makes profits and applies the revenue toward further movie-making as well as using funds to support the children of our world.  Although movie production is under “Keis’ Company Ltd.” and school building is carried out by “Kobayashi Keiko Foundation”, both are operated with Keiko Kobayashi at the center. “K’ project 1” is a citizens’ project that grew naturally through relationships among project members.  It is not affiliated with any specific religion, ideology or for-profit organization.  Individuals and organizations belonging to this project maintain neutral and friendly relations.

2007 ANGEL FILM AWARDS - Monaco International Film Festival
The Significance of December 8

On December 8, 2007, The Angel Film Awards - Monaco International Film Festival will be the first opportunity for people from around the world　to see Jun-Ai and to learn about the existence of our project.
December 8 is the date that Japan launched World War II, the stage for Jun-Ai.  It is also the day that John Lennon left this earth for heaven, and for the Roman Catholic community, it is The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We feel that it is no coincident that this is the date that Jun-Ai will be seen by an international audience.  We sincerely hope that this will be an 　opportunity to meet like-minded people in order to share, spread and cultivate the film “Jun-Ai” and our project to create films and schools.

Keiko Kobayashi
Executive Producer, Scriptwriter, Lead Actress
Shogo Okuyama
Executive Project Chair (Distribution, Promotion)
November 2007

For more information (English, Japanese)
angel@azabu.net