Yusuke KINOSHITA

Japan, 1945. Mamoru is the secret son of a man who rules a vast industrial empire. Longing to be loved, he tries to live by the family creed: “Be strong.”

His brother, believed dead, returns mentally broken from a war zone overseas. His arrival threatens Mamoru’s place as heir, but the boy is drawn to the sorrowful beauty of his violin. Through the music, Mamoru encounters the grief, guilt and memories his brother cannot put into words.

As adults scheme to protect their interests in the aftermath of war, Mamoru senses the quiet voices being erased. Within a mansion turned prison, he is torn between his family’s values and his own emerging sense of morality. The film traces his loss of innocence and emotional coming-of-age journey.

Born in Tokyo, Yusuke Kinoshita spent his elementary school years in Australia.

His independent film Bird Cage won awards at the 2003 Pia Film Festival. Through the PFF Scholarship program, he directed his first feature, Water Flower. It premiered at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival. It was released theatrically across Japan, beginning at Eurospace.

In 2012, he directed NOTHING UNUSUAL, produced by UPLINK.

In 2018, he directed Mischievous Alliance, a segment of the omnibus film Ten Years Japan, executive produced by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The international project with Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan. Premiered at the Busan International Film Festival, and released theatrically across Japan, beginning at Theatre Shinjuku, as well as in Hong Kong and South Korea.

He has participated in international co-production workshops and markets, including Ties That Bind, Talents Tokyo, and Golden Horse Film Project Promotion.

His current project, Children of the Empire, was selected for the VIPO Film Lab NY Script Workshop and ATMOVIE GLOBAL TRACK.

In 2026, he founded spectra Co., Ltd.