Production / Distribution
Films
Feature Film “A Matter of Sharing” (2023)
A rigid father, estranged from his gay son, is forced to confront his own prejudice when life in a share house challenges his beliefs and opens his heart to reconciliation.
The film is selected as a
“Tokyo Metropolitan Recommended Film”.
Director: Shinjiro Kuma
Screenplay: Akiko Iwase
Executive Producer: Hiroki Ohwada
Producers: Naotaka Yanagawa, Akiko Iwase, Hideaki Asayama
Cast: Takehiko Ono, Shiori Kanjiya, Yoshiko Miyazaki, Kohdai Asaka, Machiko Washio, Akiko Iwase, Hirota Otsuka, Moeko Koyama, Nami Uehara, Junichi Uchiura, Morihiro Yamaguichi, Seimu Iwamoto, Chukichi Kubo, and others
Synopsis
In the heart of Tokyo, the Haruyama residence stands as a vibrant mosaic of life—a home renovated into a share house where people of all ages, professions, and nationalities coexist. While the kind-hearted Kiyoko manages the house with maternal warmth, a sudden accident leaves her hospitalized, forcing her husband, Hideo, to take the reins.
Unlike his wife, Hideo is a man of rigid prejudices who detests socializing. His cold demeanor alienates the residents and has deeply scarred his relationship with his son, Takashi, whose identity as a gay man Hideo refuses to accept. However, when he is thrust into the residents’ chaotic lives—including a crisis involving Miho, a cabaret club hostess—Hideo’s armor begins to crack. This moving human drama explores the arduous but beautiful journey of a man learning to dismantle his own biases and rediscover the power of compassion.
Mid-length Film “Lunar Maria” (2021)
In aging Japan, a mother and her daughter-in-law—bound not by blood but by devotion—redefine what family truly means through love and sacrifice.
Director: Koji Hagiuda
Screenplay: Akiko Iwase
Cast: Akiko Iwase, Yoko Yano, Takanobu Kaneko, Ichiruko Domen, Naoaki Kenmochi, Takeshi Homma, Minori Ihara, Nnami Yamamoto, Yuki Miyauchi
Synopsis
Five years have passed since Shizuko Yuzuki’s husband vanished without a trace. In his wake, she was left with the crushing duty of caring for his mother, Harue, whose mind is slowly being erased by dementia. To Harue, Shizuko is now a stranger—just a shadow in the house as she continues her frantic, daily wandering to find her missing son.
But the suffocating stillness is shattered when Daiki, a wounded burglar on the run, breaks into their home. What begins as a terrifying home invasion takes a surreal turn; as Shizuko fights for her life and Harue wanders into the fray, a single, unexpected word from the elderly woman changes everything. In the presence of a predator, this fractured family finds a strange, flickering light of hope.
Feature Film “Inside Water” (2022)
Set in Senzan Inunaki, Izumi—the birthplace of Shugendō in Osaka—this film was shot entirely on a smartphone.
Director & Screenplay: Masaki Inoue
Cast: Irina Inoue, Akiko Iwase, Masaya Kato, Osamu Yamamoto, Tsukasa Matoba
Trailer
Synopsis
Olivia lost her young son and husband in a fire. Overwhelmed by grief, she travels to Inunaki in Japan, a sacred mountain site that meant something special to her husband.
There, at a temple by a waterfall, she meets Mizuho, who has also lost her son. Through her, Olivia meets Ryūnosuke, a yamabushi who guides people carrying deep sorrow.
He suggests she stay at a small lodge where broken hearts come to heal. Surrounded by nature, her pain begins to soften.
But the fire that took her family still burns inside her, and the waves of grief feel almost impossible to bear.
Theater
Theatre Company “Bion”
Founded in 2008, Bion Theatre Company is led by actor, producer, and playwright Akiko Iwase.
The company has earned a reputation for masterfully weaving profound social themes—such as war and discrimination—into narratives that balance humor with deep emotional resonance.
Our storytelling invites audiences to both laugh and cry, and it is the enduring warmth that lingers long after the final curtain that truly defines our work. Our productions continue to captivate and touch the hearts of theatergoers across all generations.
Company Overview
| Company Name | Bion Entertainment Inc. |
|---|---|
| Representative Director | Akiko Iwase |
| Address | Tokyo, Japan |
| Established | May 2016 |
| Business Operations | Management of actors and playwrights Planning and production of theatrical performances Planning and production of films /domestic and international distribution Production and sales of posters, programs, publications, toys, and other materials related to theatrical, film, and other entertainment productions Promotion, secondary use, videogram sales, television broadcast distribution, and online streaming of film, theatrical, and other visual works |