BIFF 2025 'BAKA's Identity' shines spotlight on youth poverty in Japan

Director Nagata Koto, left, poses with actor Yuta Hayashi, center, and producer Akira Morii during a press conference for their movie “BAKA’s Identity” at Busan International Film Festival in Busan, Friday. Yonhap

BUSAN — Japanese movie director Nagata Koto said she aimed to sound the alarm on the problem of poverty and its psychological ramifications for younger generations in her country with her new film "BAKA's Identity."

"Many foreign tourists visiting Japan seem to have the impression that Japan is a peaceful, beautiful and clean country. However, polarization is intensifying within Japanese society. Young people, in particular, are struggling with poverty," Nagata said during a press conference at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Busan, Friday.

"Not only are they suffering financially, but they are also having a difficult time due to psychological poverty. Many Japanese people are unaware of this reality, so I wanted to make a film that addresses that issue."

"BAKA's Identity" was selected for the newly established Competition section at this year's BIFF.

Based on Nishio Jun's novel "Orokamono no Mibun," the drama follows Takuya (Takumi Kitamura), Kenji (Go Ayano) and Mamoru (Yuta Hayashi) as they navigate poverty and the criminal underworld.

From left, actors Yuta Hayashi, Takumi Kitamura and Go Ayano in a scene from “BAKA’s Identity” / Courtesy of Busan International Film Festival

BIFF programmer Karen Park described the film as "a complex human psychological drama, a poignant story of three young men grappling with the weight of adulthood, and a sobering self-portrait of a modern metropolis where violence has deeply penetrated reality."

The director shared her feelings on attending the first overseas premiere of the film.

"This is my first experience with a world premiere in a country other than Japan for this film. I was nervous, but I was grateful to be able to show the film to the audience without any issues."

Producer Akira Morii said it was a "great pleasure to meet the audience on the stage of the 30th film festival," adding that they "received a big round of applause from the audience after the premiere."

Hayashi described his character, Mamoru, as someone who is abused but does not give up on life.

"The strength I felt from Mamoru was an image I carried with me throughout the filming. A change of heart occurs for Mamoru in the latter half of the film, and I wanted to express the sense of loss he feels when he loses his only happiness during this process," he said.