STAR SANDS

STAR SANDS (株式会社スターサンズ) is a Japanese independent film company headquartered in Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. It was founded on 15 July 2008 by film producer Mitsunobu Kawamura, and its name derives from 'star sand' (hoshi no suna). The company's registered capital is 10 million yen. Its business scope covers the planning, production and sale of films, music, educational films, records, master recordings, cassette tapes and videotapes; the planning, production, manufacture and sale of video software; the planning, production, editing, sale, distribution and import/export of theatrical films, home video and television broadcast video; and the management of directors, actors and talent. STAR SANDS began as a distributor of foreign films, then moved into producing and distributing its own titles. Its early distribution work included the Korean film 'Breathless' (2010), co-distributed with Bitters End, which won numerous Japanese film awards and topped the Kinema Junpo Best Ten. In 2012 it produced and distributed Yang Yong-hi's 'Our Homeland' (かぞくのくに), which also topped the Kinema Junpo Best Ten and was selected as Japan's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Its biggest commercial success came in 2019 with 'The Journalist' (新聞記者), based on the book by Isoko Mochizuki, which won Best Picture at the 43rd Japan Academy Prize and grossed over 600 million yen. The company is also known for its legal battle over a public arts grant for the film 'From Miyamoto to You' (宮本から君へ). After the Japan Arts Council cancelled its grant, STAR SANDS sued; the Tokyo District Court ruled in its favour in June 2021, the Tokyo High Court reversed in March 2022, and in November 2023 the Supreme Court overturned the appellate ruling, finalising a reversal win for STAR SANDS. Founder Mitsunobu Kawamura died in 2022, and Takashi Shinomiya, who had led the legal team, became president in 2023. In 2024 the company produced and distributed Shiori Ito's directorial debut 'Black Box Diaries', which screened at many festivals and received award nominations. STAR SANDS remains a privately held, independent player in Japanese cinema, active in production, distribution and talent management.

STAR SANDS was founded on 15 July 2008 by film producer Mitsunobu Kawamura. The company name comes from 'star sand' (hoshi no suna). In its early years it focused on distributing foreign films. In 2010 it distributed the Korean film 'Breathless' (息もできない) together with Bitters End; the film won numerous awards in Japan and topped the Kinema Junpo Best Ten. In 2012 the company produced and distributed Yang Yong-hi's 'Our Homeland' (かぞくのくに), which also topped the Kinema Junpo Best Ten, won many domestic awards, and was selected as Japan's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2019 STAR SANDS produced and distributed 'The Journalist' (新聞記者), based on the book of the same name by Isoko Mochizuki. It won Best Picture at the 43rd Japan Academy Prize and became the company's biggest hit, grossing over 600 million yen. That same year, on 23 October 2019, the company filed a lawsuit seeking the grant for 'From Miyamoto to You' (宮本から君へ) after the Japan Arts Council cancelled its decision to award the subsidy. On 21 June 2021 the Tokyo District Court ruled that the cancellation was illegal, but on 3 March 2022 the Tokyo High Court reversed the first-instance ruling and dismissed the plaintiff. On 17 November 2023 the Supreme Court overturned the appellate decision and finalised a reversal win for STAR SANDS. In 2022 founder and president Mitsunobu Kawamura died. In 2023 Takashi Shinomiya, who had served as head of the legal team since the first instance, became Representative Director and President. In 2024 the company produced and distributed 'Black Box Diaries', the directorial debut of journalist Shiori Ito, which was submitted to many film festivals and nominated for film awards. The company continues to produce and distribute films, and in 2025 launched the Jigen-TV subscription service and announced new projects such as 'mentor' (slated for autumn 2026).

• Founded by film producer Mitsunobu Kawamura

• Distributed Korean film 'Breathless' with Bitters End; won Kinema Junpo Best Ten first place

• Produced and distributed 'Our Homeland'; won Kinema Junpo Best Ten first place and selected as Japan's Oscar entry

• Produced and distributed 'The Journalist'; won Best Picture at the 43rd Japan Academy Prize and grossed over 600 million yen

• Filed lawsuit over cancellation of grant for 'From Miyamoto to You'

• Tokyo District Court ruled grant cancellation illegal

• Tokyo High Court reversed first-instance ruling, plaintiff lost

• President Mitsunobu Kawamura died

• Takashi Shinomiya became Representative Director and President

• Supreme Court overturned appellate ruling, finalising STAR SANDS's reversal win

• Produced and distributed 'Black Box Diaries', directorial debut of Shiori Ito

• Launched Jigen-TV subscription service

• Announced film 'mentor' with double leads Isomura Hayato and Suezawa Seiya, slated for autumn 2026

Independent Japanese film production and distribution company focused on socially conscious and award-winning cinema.

Product categories. Theatrical films · Documentary films · Home video releases · Film distribution services · Talent management

1. 1STAR SANDS official websitestarsands.com
2. 2COMPANY - STAR SANDSstarsands.com
3. 3STAR SANDS - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4スターサンズ - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org