Anant Singh and South Africa’s Ambassador to Japan, Her Excellency Dr. Mohau Pheko / Videovision Entertainment (p)

Anant Singh and Masato Mizuno (Former Chairman of the Mizuno Corporation and CEO of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bid Committee / Videovision Entertainment (p)

Producer, Anant Singh launched the internationally acclaimed film Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom in Japan on Friday, 25 April at the Freedom Day Reception celebrating South Africa’s 20 Years of Democracy in Tokyo, hosted by the South African Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Mohau Pheko. Speakers at the event included Mr. Hirotaka Ishihara, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mr. Natsuo Yamaguchi, President of the New Komeito Party.

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom was launched as part of the formal proceedings of the Freedom Day event. The release of the film in Japan will follow on 24 May at more than 150 cinemas through Disney.

Speaking about Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, Ambassador Pheko said, “Tonight we are very proud to be showing you the new film on Nelson Mandela. I want all Japanese people to see this film with their families, especially with their children. This film, symbolises for us a reminder that we have to be agents of change in our own societies. We have an iconic figure, Nelson Mandela who rose up to the challenge. The movie is so important for the Japanese people to understand how to take action, using your voice to transform people’s lives and to ensure that human rights are enjoyed by everyone.”

In his address, Mr. Hirotaka Ishihara said, “This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first presidential election which took place in 1994 in which all races participated for the first time. It means, in our Japanese terms, those who were born in the era of the birth of the new South Africa are celebrating the coming of age ceremony this year. I am sure that every single one of us here hopes to strengthen this relationship between Japan and South Africa as best as we can, to understand each other and to work together. I would like to commemorate this Freedom Day by thinking of the long walk to freedom that South African people had taken for a brighter future and to celebrate with you and Mr. Anant Singh, the producer of the film Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom based on former President, Nelson Mandela’s autobiography.”

Commenting from Tokyo, Anant Singh said, “It is an exceptional honour to have our film launched in Japan during the special celebrations for South Africa’s 20 years of democracy. Madiba and South Africa are held in high regard in Japan where Madiba visited three times. I am also very pleased with the positive responses to the film from Japanese journalists who have already viewed the film.”

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom is currently available on Blu-ray and DVD at all major retailers in South Africa.