# Mishima Yukiko's 'Two Cigarettes, Three Nights' Enters Tokyo International Film Festival Competition

> Mishima Yukiko's new film 'Two Cigarettes, Three Nights' competes at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, featuring Matsuoka Mayu and Narita Ryo in a story of friendship and desire.

- Publisher: Briefzora (https://briefzora.com)
- URL: https://briefzora.com/mishima-yukikos-two-cigarettes-three-nights-enters-tokyo-international-film-festival-competition
- Published: 2026-10-31T11:40:15+05:00
- Author: Briefzora Desk (https://briefzora.com/author/briefzora-desk)
- Section: Technology
- Topics: Tokyo International Film Festival, Mishima Yukiko
- Image: https://briefzora.com/uploads/2026/10/ozu-shapes-mishima-yukikos-tokyo-competition-title-two-cigarettes-t-ha8dsy.webp

## Key points

- Mishima Yukiko's film "Two Cigarettes, Three Nights" is in competition at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
- The story is based on Chihaya Akane's 2014 novel and stars Matsuoka Mayu as Kanna and Narita Ryo as Haseo.
- Filming took place in Kyoto, Hiroshima and Toyama Prefecture, avoiding typical tourist shots.
- Mishima cites Ozu Yasujiro as a major influence on her visual style and character positioning.
- The film blends comedy and drama, ending with an open-ended interpretation centered on Kanna's final painting.

## Why it matters

The competition entry showcases Mishima Yukiko's shift from dark dramas to a nuanced blend of comedy and intimacy, affecting fans of Japanese cinema and festival audiences.

## Article

Director Mishima Yukiko, known for the award-winning 2017 drama "Dear Etranger," has entered her latest film "Two Cigarettes, Three Nights" in competition at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.

The picture, adapted from Chihaya Akane's 2014 novel, follows Kanna (Matsuoka Mayu), a picture-book illustrator tired of her bland live-in boyfriend (Inoue Yuki) and entangled with a cynical married lover (Nakajima Ayumu).

After a seven-year gap, Kanna's college friend Haseo (Narita Ryo) returns as a single drug-company salesman and occasional womanizer, remaining a platonic confidant.

Filmed across Kyoto, Hiroshima and Toyama Prefecture, the movie gives screenwriter Sawai Kaori's dialogue-heavy script visual energy while steering clear of tourist clichés; the leads walk along riverbanks and railway tracks instead of posing by temples.

"When deciding on a location, it's not just about picking a 'pretty' spot," Mishima told reporters at Tokyo Midtown, the festival's main venue. "Rather it's more about choosing a place where the scene comes to life."

She added that although the novel places many scenes inside a coffee shop, the film shows Kanna and Haseo walking for most of its duration, recalling her own past walks with a male friend.

The dialogue carries a bantering, unfiltered tone, and Mishima deliberately kept the characters from facing each other directly until a later point, having them sit side-by-side looking the same way in a ramen shop, on buses and trains.

Ozu Yasujiro's influence is evident, as Mishima noted his habit of filming characters side by side and moving in unison, creating a larger narrative from intimate moments.

While the first act hints at sex comedy, Mishima cast Matsuoka and Narita for their comic timing, yet the story evolves into a more intimate, ambiguous conclusion.

She emphasized that comedy rhythm was vital for the long dialogue scenes, stating it makes a "huge difference."

The film does not shy away from unlikable behavior; Mishima believes movies should portray all kinds of people and that audiences will recognize their own emotions in the characters.

Supporting roles include a surly bartender close to Haseo and Kanna's college friend who confesses to cheating, adding layers to the narrative.

Mishima explained that the Japanese title "The Male Friend" gradually shifts focus to Kanna's personal growth, culminating in a final painting that reflects her revelations in Hiroshima.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the Japanese title of Mishima Yukiko's new film?

The Japanese title is "The Male Friend," which gradually shifts focus to Kanna's personal journey.

### Where was "Two Cigarettes, Three Nights" filmed?

The movie was shot in Kyoto, Hiroshima and Toyama Prefecture.


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