JQ Magazine: ‘Homecoming: The Tokyo Series,’ TWICE, Paul Gilbert’s ‘WROC’
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.
Stay warm this winter with some hot local events featuring an exciting new baseball documentary, Academy Award-nominee screenings, and a live K-pop performance you won’t want to miss.
This month’s highlights include:
Feb. 23-24
Various theaters
Various prices
A Fathom Entertainment exclusive! Homecoming: The Tokyo Series is a 2026 documentary directed by Jason Sterman that uses Major League Baseball’s 2025 Tokyo Series as a lens through which to explore Japan’s deep and enduring relationship with baseball. While the film follows the season-opening games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome, it is far more interested in the culture, traditions, and people surrounding the sport than in the games themselves.
The documentary centers on the homecoming of five Japanese MLB stars: Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki of the Dodgers, along with Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga of the Cubs. Returning to Japan as internationally recognized athletes, they represent the growing influence of Japanese baseball on the global stage. Their presence in the Tokyo Series creates excitement throughout the country, as fans welcome them back to the places where their baseball journeys began.
Rather than presenting a straightforward recap of the games, the film weaves together multiple stories from across Japan. One of its most memorable narratives follows a youth baseball program in Osaka, led by dedicated coaches who see baseball as a way to teach kindness, discipline, respect, and perseverance. Through practices, family interactions, and local competitions, the documentary shows how the sport functions as an educational tool that shapes character as much as athletic ability.
As the Tokyo Series approaches, viewers are introduced to fans, parents, craftsmen, and community members whose lives are connected to baseball. The film highlights the care and craftsmanship that surround the game, from handmade equipment to the meticulous preparation of playing fields. These scenes reinforce the idea that baseball in Japan is not merely entertainment but an expression of broader cultural values such as dedication, precision, and pride in one’s work.
A recurring theme throughout the film is cultural exchange. Baseball may have originated in the United States, but Japan has embraced and transformed the sport into something uniquely its own. The documentary argues that the relationship now flows in both directions, with Japanese players, traditions, and values influencing Major League Baseball just as much as MLB has influenced Japan.
Ultimately, Homecoming: The Tokyo Series is less about professional baseball than about community, heritage, and the universal power of sport. By combining the spectacle of the Tokyo Series with intimate stories from everyday life, the film paints a rich portrait of a nation whose love for baseball has become an important part of its cultural identity. The result is a thoughtful and emotionally resonant documentary about how a game can connect families, inspire dreams, and bridge cultures across the world.
Mascot Label Group
Available Feb. 27
Paul Gilbert’s upcoming album WROC is a bold, genre-defying concept record inspired by George Washington’s Rules of Civility, marking his first vocal album since 2016’s I Can Destroy. Rather than waxing a straightforward blues-rock release, Gilbert (of Mr. Big and Racer X fame) challenged himself to transform 16th-century etiquette guidelines into melodic, musically adventurous songs—many using the original text word for word—creating what he calls one of his most listenable and melody-driven works to date. Recorded live in just four days with Nick D’Virgilio, Doug Rappoport, and Timmer Blakely, the 13-track album blends classic rock, metal, pop sophistication, odd time signatures, and vintage influences ranging from AC/DC and Black Sabbath to Burt Bacharach and the Beatles. Sparked by inspiration following Mr. Big’s recent farewell tour (which wrapped at Tokyo’s Budokan last year), WROC finds Gilbert expanding his songwriting horizons, prioritizing melody over guitar flash, and embracing unpredictability in a project he describes as deeply personal, musically ambitious, and creatively liberating. Pre-order now and receive a limited edition PG guitar pick, while supplies last!
© 2025 “KOKUHO” Film Partners
Opens Thursday, Feb. 5
Angelika Film Center New York, 18 West Houston Street
$19
This historic hit broke a 22-year-old record in late November, becoming the highest-grossing live-action film of all time in Japan with over 12.3 million tickets sold to date, surpassing $111 million USD. In December, it was shortlisted for two Oscar categories — Best International Feature, in addition to Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, 14-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, Kikuo decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theatre. Across decades, the two young men grow and evolve together – from acting school to the grandest stages – amid scandals and glory, brotherhood and betrayals, as each pushes to become the greatest living Kabuki master. Directed by Sang-il Lee (Hula Girls). Written by Satoko Okudera (Wolf Children) and Shûichi Yoshida (original novel). Starring Ryo Yoshizawa (Kingdom), Ryusei Yokohama (Your Eyes Tell) and Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai).
© Sony Pictures Classics
Opens Friday, Feb. 6
Various theaters
Various prices
Includes special IMAX screenings! From visionary Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai) comes a powerful, time-bending animated adventure about Scarlet, a medieval-era, sword fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in the Otherworld that exists somewhere between life and death, she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage. When confronted again by her father's killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle: can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge? “As we witness heartbreaking conflicts around the world, I believe that finding love and choosing to live together in unity is what will lead us towards something better. That’s why I want to share this new film with the world — now more than ever,” explains director Hosoda.
Courtesy of Ubsarena.com
Feb. 18, 20-21
TWICE – This Is For World Tour
UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike (Elmont)
From $74.20
For the first time, global K-pop superstars TWICE will perform in-the-round on a 360-degree stage, transforming arenas into immersive spaces where fans can experience the show from every angle Most recently, TWICE released their 4th full length album, THIS IS FOR, which debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the group’s seventh consecutive entry on the chart. The girl group also contributed to the official soundtrack for Netflix’s hit film KPop Demon Hunters. Members JEONGYEON, JIHYO, and CHAEYOUNG recorded a special version of the original track “TAKEDOWN,” featured during the film’s powerful end sequence and accompanied by exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the recording studio. Their rendition of the song went on to reach #58 on the Billboard Hot 100, while TWICE’s hit single “STRATEGY,” also included on the film’s soundtrack, achieved notable success on the Hot 100 as well. These accomplishments set the stage for TWICE’s highly anticipated 10th anniversary this October - a celebration of a decade of groundbreaking success, artistic evolution, and global impact. Members Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu will deliver their all-new production and a career-spanning setlist featuring hits like “The Feels,” “More & More,” “FANCY,” and “STRATEGY” to arenas worldwide.
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