Hi, this is Izumitani from the Ehime Film Commission (Ehime FC).
The Ehime Film Commission is a member of the Japan Film Commission (JFC), a national network of film commissions across Japan. I also serve as its chairperson. Every year, JFC hosts “Block Seminars” in 10 different regions across the country, and for the Shikoku Block, we held our session on December 19.
Each year, the Shikoku Block rotates hosting duties among the four prefectures. This time, Kagawa Film Commission took the lead, and the event was held in Takamatsu City.
・Last year: Hosted by Tokushima Prefecture
・Next year: Scheduled to be hosted by Kochi Prefecture
A Packed Day of Training & Discussions
The seminar brought together 30 participants, including members from:
・Kagawa Film Commission
・Tokushima Location Service
・Kochi Film Commission
・Shodoshima Film Commission
・Ehime Film Commission
・Officials from Takamatsu City & Tonosho Town
The four-hour session covered three main topics.
Session 1: Maximizing JLDB (Japan Location Database) Usage
JLDB is a nationwide database managed by the Japan Film Commission under contract with the National Film Archive of Japan. It contains over 12,000 location entries nationwide and is an essential tool for production teams looking for filming locations.
With over 180,000 visits per month, the database is continuously expanding, featuring English and Chinese versions. To enhance its usability, participants engaged in hands-on training, learning how to:
・Identify popular filming locations
・Register and optimize search keywords
Session 2: Drone Filming – Preparations & Key Considerations for FC
With increasing drone filming requests, it’s crucial to stay updated on legal regulations and best practices. Recent law amendments meant that we had plenty to learn
At Ehime FC, we regularly support drone shoots, but even we picked up some new insights from this session
For instance, aviation laws often come to mind when thinking about drone filming. However, we must also be aware of the Act on Prohibition of Flight of Small Uncrewed Aircraft, which places additional restrictions. Accepting a filming crew’s response of “It’s all right” isn’t enough—we need to verify compliance ourselves.
Session 3: Shikoku Block Meeting
This was a chance for the film commissions from all four Shikoku prefectures to share updates and recent activities.
・Kochi Film Commission discussed upcoming TV dramas set to air.
・Tokushima Location Service talked about a seminar they organized with Japan FC.
・Kagawa FC & Ehime FC reflected on projects they collaborated on together.
Although we regularly keep in touch, having in-person discussions is invaluable. There are always things that can’t be fully conveyed over email or phone, and the seminar ended on a strong note with a renewed commitment to strengthening our Shikoku network.
Day 2: Location Tour – Teasing Master Takagi-san
One unique feature of the Shikoku Block Training is that Day 2 is dedicated to a location tour hosted by the local film commission. This time, the Shodoshima Film Commission planned a tour of filming locations from Teasing Master Takagi-san!
Looking forward to seeing how the filming locations are being used!
Bonus: Udon Break
Oh, and before the seminar started, we had some delicious udon! Kagawa is famous for it, after all.