The beginnings of the Japanese film festival Nippon Connection go back to 1999. The two film science students Marion Klomfaß and Holger Ziegler, both of whom are passionate about Asia and experienced in cinema and festivals respectively, had the idea of showing some Japanese films at Frankfurt’s Goethe University. At the first Nippon Connection Film Festival in April 2000, a total of 13 films were shown over four days. Instead of the hoped-for 1,500 visitors, around 10,000 came to the festival.

The great demand spurred the organizing team to continue the festival. After a one-year break, the second Nippon Connection Festival took place in 2002. In 2013 the festival moved from the Studierendenhaus to the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm and the Theater Willy Praml in the Naxoshalle. Other venues in Frankfurt am Main include the German Film Museum, the Mal Seh’n Kino and the Eulengasse exhibition space. Nippon Connection has become the world’s largest platform for current Japanese film, with over 16,500 viewers and around 100 short and feature-length films screened annually. Most of the films celebrate their German, European or international premiere at the festival.

An important concern of the festival is to promote the exchange between audience and filmmakers. Every year, many directors, actors and producers present their films in person and answer questions from the audience. Among the guests present so far have been many greats of Japanese cinema, including Kaori MOMOI, Koji YAKUSHO, Koji WAKAMATSU, Kiyoshi KUROSAWA, Shinya TSUKAMOTO, Shinsuke SATO, Yukihiko TSUTSUMI, Nobuhiro YAMASHITA, Ryuichi HIROKI, Kazuyoshi KUMAKIRI, Sakura ANDO, Masaharu TAKE, Miwa NISHIKAWA, Akira OGATA, Toshiaki TOYODA, Tomorowo TAGUCHI, Koji YAMAMURA or Yuki TANADA.

The academic study of Japanese cinema has also played an essential role since its founding. The festival regularly offers events in cooperation with the Goethe University. Numerous international Japan film experts provide the audience with insights into Japanese filmmaking in lectures and discussion events. In 2007 and 2015, the festival hosted the Kinema Club Conference, one of the most important international academic events on film and media from Japan.

In Japan, the success of Nippon Connection has not gone unnoticed. In July 2013, festival director Marion Klomfaß was honoured by the Japanese Foreign Minister for her services to Japanese-German cultural exchange (Gaimu Daijin Hyosho).

Despite the size of the Nippon Connection Festival, the organizing team works mostly on a volunteer basis. The team now consists of around 70 people, ranging from students to professionals. During the festival the team is supported by over 100 volunteers.