“All of a Sudden” finally lands in North America.

Fresh off its Best Actress win at the Cannes Film Festival this May, All of a Sudden has finally arrived in North America. Last week at the New York Film Festival.

Sitting here today, I am recalling that the original book was published on September 25, 2019, just two months after Makiko passed away. Back then, I was still numb with confusion over what had happened that month and had no idea how to move forward. I was desperately struggling with my future—especially since it had already been decided that I would lose my university teaching position the following year.

At the time, I could never have imagined that our book would be adapted into a film, win Best Actress at Cannes, and eventually land in North America. It was there that I was first introduced to cultural anthropology—a field that not only defined the core of my career, but continues to shape how I view the world today.

Life always takes turns far beyond my imagination.