The screening of one of the films in the “Special Invitation” section of the 10th Okinawa International Movie Festival was very much a homecoming for the cast and crew. The romantic drama Jimami Tofu was shot at locations around Okinawa, as well as Singapore, the home country of its two directors. Okinawan-born actress Rino Nakasone noted that she often sees films at Sakurazaka Theatre, and was thrilled to see herself on the screen there. Star and co-director Jason Chan recalled “when we first came here two years ago to film, there were so many things about Okinawa we fell in love with. The movie is our love letter to Okinawa.” Co-director Christian Lee said he was thrilled to learn that the Japanese premiere screening sold, as did screenings in Singapore and Hawaii, but was quit to add that this was not because of the creative team, but because of “your culture, your history, everything about Okinawa.”

Chan plays Ryan, a Singaporean chef who is introduced to what Okinawans call “life medicine,” meaning good home-style cooking, by Nakasone’s character Nami. Having studied trendy cooking in Tokyo, Ryan is intrigued by the “elegant but understated” presentation of Okinawan food. He becomes an apprentice to the restaurant’s owner Sakumoto, played by another Okinawan actor, Masane Tsukayama. Nami falls for Ryan, but he cannot get over his ex-girlfriend, the successful restaurant critic Yuki (Mari Yamamoto).

The film is named after a dish served at the restaurant in the film, a kind of tofu made with peanuts. Chan explained that he thought the name “jimami tofu” is cute, but also thought it is meaningful because it is a dish that is only made in Okinawa. It also reflects Okinawa’s history as a trade hub, because peanuts came to Japan from China. Like the character he plays on the screen, Chan learned that Okinawan food ties the present to the past and connects people with their memories.

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