Peace Osaka’s Weekend Cinema
Peace Osaka screens international films that explore war, human rights, memory, and reconciliation. Each month brings a new story—and a new reason to visit one of Osaka’s most overlooked museums.
Tucked beside Osaka Castle Park, Peace Osaka hosts one of the city’s most quietly enduring cultural programs. Weekend Cinema brings international films to local audiences each month, using stories from around the world to explore themes of conflict, justice, human rights, memory, and reconciliation. The program reflects the museum’s broader mission of encouraging visitors to think about the consequences of war and the importance of peace through personal stories and lived experiences.
The June 2026 screenings feature the film Hermano (黙して契れ), an award-winning Venezuelan drama directed by Marcel Rasquin. Presented in Spanish with Japanese subtitles, the film follows two brothers whose dreams of escaping poverty through football are threatened by violence and difficult choices within their community. While set far from Japan, its themes of hardship, opportunity, family, and social conflict reflect many of the questions explored throughout the Weekend Cinema series. A different film is presented each month on Saturdays as part of the museum’s ongoing educational program.
Located beside Osaka Castle Park, Peace Osaka (Osaka International Peace Center) is dedicated to preserving the memory of war and promoting peace through education. Opened in 1991 and renewed in 2015, the museum examines the impact of war on Osaka and its residents while encouraging visitors to consider contemporary issues affecting communities around the world.
Permanent exhibitions trace Osaka’s wartime experience through photographs, personal testimonies, artifacts, and historical records. Visitors can learn about daily life during the war, the devastating air raids that struck the city in 1945, and the challenges of postwar reconstruction. Exhibits also explore broader themes of peace, human rights, and international understanding, connecting Osaka’s history with ongoing global issues.
Weekend Cinema extends that mission beyond the museum galleries. By presenting films from different countries and cultures, the program encourages visitors to engage with stories that explore conflict, discrimination, resilience, and reconciliation through the personal experiences of individuals and communities.
For visitors seeking a quieter cultural experience near Osaka Castle, Peace Osaka offers an opportunity to explore both local history and global perspectives. Combined with the museum’s permanent collection, Weekend Cinema provides a unique way to reflect on the past while considering the challenges facing the world today.
THE SCENE: FAQ’s
ACCESS
Address:
2-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0002
Nearest Stations
Osaka Metro Chuo Line / Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line → Morinomiya Station
Exit 1 → Approx. 3 minutes on foot
JR Osaka Loop Line → Morinomiya Station
North Exit → Approx. 5 minutes on foot
Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line / Chuo Line → Tanimachi 4-chome Station
Approx. 15 minutes on foot
The museum is located on the eastern side of Osaka Castle Park and can be easily combined with a visit to Osaka Castle and the surrounding grounds.
SCHEDULE
This Month’s Film
Hermano (黙して契れ)
Screening Dates:
June 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2026
Screening Time:
14:00
Runtime:
97 minutes
Country:
Venezuela
Language:
Spanish
Subtitles:
Japanese
Admission:
Included with regular museum admission
The film follows two brothers whose dreams of escaping poverty through football are threatened by violence and difficult choices within their community.
Next Film
Officer and a Spy
Screening Dates:
July 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2026
Screening Time:
14:00
Runtime:
131 minutes
Country:
France / Italy
Language:
French
Subtitles:
Japanese
Admission:
Included with regular museum admission
Based on the Dreyfus Affair, the film explores injustice, prejudice, political power, and the pursuit of truth in late nineteenth-century France.
TICKETS
Museum Admission
Adults: ¥250
High School Students: ¥150
Junior High School Students & Younger: Free
Visitors Aged 65 and Older: Free (with identification)
Visitors with Disabilities and One Caregiver: Free
Weekend Cinema Admission
Weekend Cinema screenings are included with regular museum admission.
Official Information
Peace Osaka
https://www.peace-osaka.or.jp/
Weekend Cinema
https://www.peace-osaka.or.jp/weekendcinema/
THE EXPERIENCE
Weekend Cinema offers a different way to engage with Peace Osaka’s mission. Rather than learning through artifacts and exhibits alone, visitors experience stories of conflict, resilience, discrimination, and reconciliation through films from around the world.
- Watch international films selected to complement the museum’s peace education mission.
- Discover stories that connect global issues with themes explored throughout the museum.
- Experience films in their original language with Japanese subtitles.
- Combine a screening with the museum’s permanent exhibitions on Osaka’s wartime history.
- Explore perspectives on conflict, justice, memory, and human rights through cinema.
- Enjoy one of Osaka’s longest-running recurring museum film programs.
Together, the screenings and exhibitions create a deeper understanding of how conflict affects individuals, families, and communities across different cultures and historical periods.
INFO & TIPS
Peace Osaka is often overlooked by visitors heading to Osaka Castle, yet it offers one of the city’s most thoughtful museum experiences. Weekend Cinema adds another reason to visit, providing regular opportunities to engage with international films that expand on themes explored throughout the museum.
- Arrive early if you plan to visit the museum before the 14:00 screening.
- Films are screened in their original language with Japanese subtitles unless otherwise noted.
- Admission to Weekend Cinema is included with regular museum admission.
- Allow additional time to explore the permanent exhibitions before or after the film.
- Check the official Weekend Cinema page each month for updated screening schedules and film selections.
- Combine your visit with Osaka Castle Park, which is only a short walk away.
For visitors interested in history, human rights, international affairs, or documentary and world cinema, Weekend Cinema offers a unique cultural experience that is difficult to find elsewhere in Osaka.
