We recently had the chance to connect with Yuto Shimizu and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Yuto, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
In my daily life, I probably laugh more at silly, meaningless things. I’m not really the type the person who likes to praise myself, but if I had to mention something I’m proud of this time, it would be my second feature film, which is coming out in Japan this summer.
More than the release of the film, I’m proud that the cast and crew of my second feature film became a team that feels like family. The fact that we were able to build that kind of bond and create something together through filmmaking means a lot to me. It reminds me of my childhood, when I simply enjoyed making films with friends more than any kind of business or marketing.
During the filmmaking process — and even after it was completed — we would gather at a bar at night, talking about our dreams and our futures. Then during the day, we simply enjoyed the present moment together. There were no barriers between us, no walls created by age or background.
Through meeting these people, I rediscovered the joy of making films. At the same time, I felt a new sense of responsibility to keep writing the next script.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Yuto Shimizu, screenwriter and film director based in Tokyo, Japan, CEO of film production company called Arct’4 Film inc.
Born in Godo, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, he started making films in elementary school, gathering friends and creating movies together. There were always movies by his side, he decided to pursue filmmaking. At 17, he left high school and moved to Los Angeles, where he studied film productions and graduated from Santa Monica College.
In 2023, he returned to his hometown of Gifu Prefecture to write and direct his first feature film, “Falling into Silence (Boku no Naka ni Saku Hanabi). The film was theatrical released in Japan on August 30, 2025. In the summer of 2026, his second feature film “Tokyo Nightfall” will be coming soon in theaters.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
During my time in Los Angeles from 2020 to 2023, the world was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a period marked by isolation and limited human connection. During my internship, Dan taught me not only how to cooperate on film set or improve my technical skills — but also he taught me about professionalism, manners, and how to carry myself as a director.
At a time when I was struggling with loneliness brought on by the pandemic and the environment of living in a foreign language, Dan was the one who reached out to me through the power of cinema. Many of the films that have since become deeply important to me now were ones he recommended, simply telling me, “You have to watch this.”
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
To be honest, I’ve never thought about giving up. Filmmaking was once my dream, so even when things get difficult, that only becomes more fuel for me.
Even now, I don’t usually take days off. From morning to night, I’m always doing something related to film — writing scripts, developing new projects, or working on the distribution and promotion of the films we’ve already made. In fact, if I spend a day doing nothing, I probably start to feel restless and regretful, almost anxious, like I’m falling behind.
I’ve directed four short films and two theatrical feature films so far. From my experiences, the hardest part has always been raising the funds. It sounds noble to say, “I just want to tell this story,” but filmmaking that starts from an independent can sometimes feel self-indulgent — almost like it’s just for your own satisfaction. There are moments when I wonder how long I can keep doing something that feels so selfish. I sometimes wonder whether I’m truly a person of value in society.
So yes, I’m always in conflict with my negative side, more introverted emotions. That struggle never goes away.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
If you only look at the stories I write, they can seem very extreme and brutal. But what I want to convey isn’t the brutality itself.
I have a feeling that people who are in darkness often seek out horror films with cruel endings. I also used to have moments like that. When you’re struggling, immersing yourself in something that shares the same emotional frequency can be more comforting. It allows you to feel seen. It can create a space where your feelings are acknowledged instead of denied.
I don’t think that people who are truly suffering are only looking for tearful, uplifting human dramas with happy endings. Those films absolutely have their place. But when I was in darkness, the films that saved me weren’t the “beautiful” ones. I didn’t have the emotional space to accept a clean.
I was searching for something that resonated with my own darkness. By confronting those emotions within films, I could deal with those feelings safely through the story instead of letting them take over my real life.
I believe that types of films can sometimes carry positive power. They allow us to experience despair, fear, even death, within a contained space. And sometimes, that can prevent us from making irreversible decisions in reality.
I’ve been saved by many melancholic films. That’s why, in my own work, it’s important to accept the emotions of people who feel lost or broken. It sometimes would be dishonest to simply present “beautiful message” when reality itself is far more cruel.
In real life, we don’t get to escape so easily. Sometimes, allowing those emotions to exist in cinema is an act of compassion.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
I believe in karma, so I try not to treat people badly. I really think that whatever you put out into the world eventually comes back to you — good or bad, but I try not to expect anything in return for doing good.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://arct4film.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yutofromjapan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yuto.jp.filmmaker/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yutofromjapan
