KŪKAI

First Chinese documentary on Master Kūkai • Aug 2026 • Best Documentary, 2025 London Independent Film Awards 日本語アカウント: @kukai_movie_jp

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Across Mountains and Seas: The Official Teaser of "KŪKAI" 🎬

A spiritual journey connecting the Tang Dynasty and Japan is about to unfold. Five years in the making, this documentary restores the inclusive spirit of the Tang Dynasty and the profound legacy of the monk Kūkai.

Winner of 8 international awards, including the Best Documentary Award at the London Independent Film Awards, the film captures Kūkai’s timeless spirit: “purity of heart” and “compassion for all beings”.

✨ Epic Soundtrack: The official teaser features a promotional theme by the legendary Kenji Kawai, whose music brings a profound spiritual depth to this cinematic journey.

#Kukai #TangDynasty #KenjiKawai #Documentary #CinematicExperience #CulturalExchange

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

"As a filmmaker, this film had a huge impact on me."

We are grateful for the warm embrace from our Southern California audience, especially the creative peers who resonated so deeply with the documentary KUKAI.

Follow along as we continue to share the light of Master Kukai.🌟

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

In Northern California, meditation is everywhere. But beyond stress relief lies a deeper question: what kind of inner discipline can truly steady a human life?

This April, experience KŪKAI — a documentary on Master Kūkai, whose profound meditation and spiritual practice shaped a life of stillness, insight, and compassion.

NorCal Preview Screenings + Q&A
4/23 12:00 PM Berkeley
4/24 06:00 PM Stanford
4/25 02:30 PM San Francisco
RSVP via link in bio.
#Kukai #Meditation #Documentary #BayArea

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Amidst the whispers of the Pacific in Rolling Hills Estates, rediscover the legend who shaped the soul of Japan. 🌊
1,200 years ago, the monk Kūkai crossed the turbulent seas to reach Chang'an, the world's cultural capital at the time. He returned not only with profound spiritual wisdom but with the very sparks of a flourishing civilization, from the mastery of calligraphy and architecture to a visionary compassion that would shape the Japanese identity for generations.

In his masterpiece The Landscape of Kūkai, the renowned author Ryōtarō Shiba describes Kūkai’s emergence as a defining turning point in Japanese cultural history. Kukai’s legacy became the cultural blueprint of a nation.

Produced by a Chinese team over 5 years of meticulous research, this film restores the true image of Kūkai and the inclusive spirit of the Tang Dynasty. With 8 international awards, including the Best Documentary Award at the London Independent Film Awards, it is a vivid portrayal of cultural fusion.

In an era of relentless hustle and digital noise, we often feel disconnected. The spirit of "Dōgyō Ninin" (traveling together) remains a sanctuary for those of us navigating life far from home.

On April 19, join us in Rolling Hills Estates for the final stop of our Southern California tour. Step out of the modern chaos and into a 90-minute journey of heritage, mission, and rediscovery.

🗓 Date: April 19 (Sun) | PM
📍 Venue: Regal Promenade, Rolling Hills Estates
🎟 Admission: Free Public Screening. RSVP via link in bio.

#Kukai #KoboDaishi #Documentary #SouthernCalifornia #LAEvents #RollingHillsEstates #Mindfulness #Zen #EasternWisdom #CinematicExperience

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Three venues. Three screenings. Not one of them ended on time. ✨

Oxford Union Society.
Odeon Tottenham Court Road.
Bush House, King’s College London.
After each 90-minute film, we planned an hour for Q&A —
the longest ran until nearly 10pm.
And even then, it didn’t really end…
we simply moved from the cinema to a restaurant,
and no one wanted the night to stop. 🌙

Across these UK preview screenings,
we received so many thoughtful reflections and generous words. ❤️
Now, carrying that warmth with us,
we’re on our way to the United States —
to Southern California, the heart of world cinema. 🎬🌴
And we truly can’t wait to meet you there.

📌Next stop: Southern California 🇺🇸
Exclusive preview screenings + Q&A ✨
Apr 10 · 7:00 PM | Pasadena
Apr 11 · 2:30 PM | DTLA
Apr 12 · 2:00 PM | Beverly Hills
Apr 17 · 7:00 PM | Orange County
Apr 18 · 2:30 PM | Irvine
Apr 19 · 2:30 PM | Rolling Hills Estates

We look forward to seeing you very soon ❤️

#Kukai #IndependentFilm #SouthernCalifornia #Documentary #LAEvents #FilmScreening

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

🔗 Register via the link in bio https://t.co/yNBvHxRBze

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

We’ve arrived in the United States 🇺🇸✨
A journey across the sea that connected two civilizations 🌊

KŪKAI is the first Chinese documentary to present the life and legacy of Kūkai — the Japanese monk who traveled to Tang China as part of the historic Kentōshi mission ⛩️

Filmed over five years across historic sites in China and Japan, the film combines breathtaking cinematography with an immersive visual journey, retracing his remarkable path and revealing a key chapter in cultural exchange — a story best experienced on the big screen 🍿✨

Southern California Preview Screenings · April 2026 📍

Session 1 · Pasadena
📍 Regal Paseo
🗓️ April 10 · 7:00 PM
Session 2 · Los Angeles (DTLA)
📍 Regal LA Live
🗓️ April 11 · 2:30 PM
Session 3 · Beverly Hills
📍 Fine Arts Theatre Beverly Hills
🗓️ April 12 · 2:00 PM
Session 4 · Orange County
📍 AMC Orange 30
🗓️ April 17 · 7:00 PM
Session 5 · Irvine
📍 Regal Irvine Spectrum
🗓️ April 18 · 2:30 PM
Session 6 · Rolling Hills Estates
📍 Regal Promenade
🗓️ April 19 · 2:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before each screening
Seats are limited🎫
🔗 Register via the link in bio

#california #losangeles #hollywood #laevents #chineseculture #documentary #irvine #filmcommunity #culturalexchange #indiefilm

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Kukai Today @ 2.30pm in Odeon Tottenham Court Rd.

Door opens at 2.00pm No ads !
See you in a bit 🫶🫶🫶
#kukai #thingstodoinlondon #odeontottenhamcourtroad

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

When people think of Japanese culture, they often think of exquisite calligraphy, refined architecture, and the influence of Zen. What many don’t realise is that much of this cultural foundation was carried to Japan over 1,200 years ago by one monk: Kukai.✨

More than a religious figure, Kukai was a remarkable bridge between cultures. In 804, he travelled to Tang China as part of the Japanese mission to the Tang court, and studied under Master Huiguo at Qinglong Temple in the capital, Chang’an. 🏯

He not only received the full lineage of Esoteric Buddhism but also brought back from Tang China a whole world of knowledge — from calligraphy, medicine, architecture, and education to art and aesthetics — helping shape the cultural foundations of Japan. Even in hardship, Kukai continued hand-copying scriptures with unwavering dedication, hoping these teachings could reach further and benefit others.

In some ways, the Japanese aesthetic we see today — even here in London — still carries the imprint of the golden age of the Tang dynasty, transmitted through Kukai’s journey from Chang’an to Japan.
Five years in the making, Kukai retraces this monumental journey in search of the Dharma. Join us at the screening and witness how Kukai, the master of Esoteric Buddhism, helped bring forth, through one man’s journey, a civilisational legacy that would endure for centuries.

📍KŪKAI has FREE preview screenings in London and Oxford this month.

🎫 Free registration via: https://t.co/ND4dMUXEhS

#chineseculture  #japaneseculture #tangdynasty #Kukai #londonevents #oxfordevents

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Full screening details:

Mar 27 — Oxford
📍 The Oxford Union Society
Frewin Court, Oxford OX1 3JB
Film starts 19:00

Mar 28 — London
📍 Odeon Tottenham Court Road
30 Tottenham Court Rd, London W1T 1BX
Film starts 14:30

Mar 29 — London
📍 Bush House Auditorium, King’s College London
30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG
Film starts 14:30

＊Doors open 30 minutes before the screening. We recommend arriving slightly earlier to allow time for entry.

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

In the noise and pace of London, anxiety, distraction, and inner exhaustion can begin to feel like part of everyday life. Meditation and related practices have taken root so deeply in the UK, offering a way to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the present. 🌿

The longing for presence and inner peace finds deep expression in the life and practice of Kukai. Kukai advocated rooting the heart in inner clarity and calm as a way of maintaining inner steadiness amid the turbulence and impermanence of life. His example of looking beyond the self and caring for others with enduring commitment offers a sense of grounding to those who feel lost in the modern world.

From the splendour of Chang’an to the stillness of Mount Koya, Kukai’s life reveals how focus can be sustained in times of turmoil, and how one may stay true to one’s deepest purpose amid the distractions of the world. Meditation is more than breathing exercises; they are a journey towards inner peace and a return to one’s true nature.

Now, a group of filmmakers from China has brought Master Kukai’s extraordinary life to the screen. Whether you are feeling worn down by study, work, or the pressures of modern life, we warmly invite you to step into the cinema. Through this documentary, may we turn to Kukai’s wisdom and find a quiet harbour for the soul. 

📍KŪKAI has FREE preview screenings in London and Oxford this month.

🎫 Free registration via: https://t.co/ND4dMUYc7q

#meditation #documentary #innerpeace #londonevents #oxfordevents #kukaimovie

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Full screening details:

Mar 27 — Oxford
📍 The Oxford Union Society
Frewin Court, Oxford OX1 3JB
Film starts 19:00

Mar 28 — London
📍 Odeon Tottenham Court Road
30 Tottenham Court Rd, London W1T 1BX
Film starts 14:30

Mar 29 — London
📍 Bush House Auditorium, King’s College London
30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG
Film starts 14:30

＊Doors open 30 minutes before the screening. We recommend arriving slightly earlier to allow time for entry.

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

This weekend, a journey across civilizations comes to the screen. The documentary KŪKAI will be presented in a series of preview screenings from this Friday to Sunday in 📍Oxford and London.

Following a journey from Japan to Tang China, the film explores a search shaped not by distance, but by a deeper inquiry into mind, knowledge, and the nature of being.

🎞️Filmed over five years across China and Japan, it brings together a rich visual language with a way of seeing that unfolds slowly — through landscapes, architecture, and the spaces that hold memory and meaning.

These images offer a first glimpse of the venues where the film will be shared in the days ahead.🔍

Register now for free👇
https://t.co/GLcQnVQxki

#Kukai #Documentary #CultururalExchange #LondonEvents #OxfordEvents

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

7 days to go⏳

🏆An award-winning documentary is coming to preview in London and Oxford.🇬🇧

Documentary KŪKAI traces a journey across China and Japan — following a life shaped by study, travel, and reflection, whose echoes are still felt today.

Mark your calendars and make sure you’re There！

📍 Oxford — Mar 27
The Oxford Union Society
🕖 19:00
📍 London — Mar 28
Odeon Tottenham Court Road
🕑 14:30
📍 London — Mar 29
King’s College London (Bush House Auditorium)
🕑 14:30

Doors open 30 mins early — arrive a little before ✨
Free entry. Limited seats.🎫

Register now！⬇️
https://t.co/GLcQnVR59Q

#Documentary #CultualExchange #LondonEvents #OxfordEvents #thingstodolondon

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Full screening details:

Mar 27 — Oxford
📍 The Oxford Union Society
Frewin Court, Oxford OX1 3JB
Film starts 19:00

Mar 28 — London
📍 Odeon Tottenham Court Road
30 Tottenham Court Rd, London W1T 1BX
Film starts 14:30

Mar 29 — London
📍 Bush House Auditorium, King’s College London
30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG
Film starts 14:30

＊Doors open 30 minutes before the screening. We recommend arriving slightly earlier to allow time for entry.

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

💛On International Day of Happiness, here’s a question:
How do we find peace without turning away from the world?🫂🫂
More than a thousand years ago, the Japanese monk Kūkaioffered one answer: ✨not escaping life, but meeting it with clarity, calm, and a steadier heart.
📍KŪKAI has FREE preview screenings in London and Oxford this month.

🎫 Free registration via: https://t.co/ND4dMUYc7q

💗We would love to welcome you there.
#InternationalDayOfHappiness   #LondonEvents #OxfordEvents

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Full screening details:

Mar 27 — Oxford

📍 The Oxford Union Society

Frewin Court, Oxford OX1 3JB

Film starts 19:00

Mar 28 — London

📍 Odeon Tottenham Court Road

30 Tottenham Court Rd, London W1T 1BX

Film starts 14:30

Mar 29 — London

📍 Bush House Auditorium, King’s College London

30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG

Film starts 14:30

＊Doors open 30 minutes before the screening. We recommend arriving slightly earlier to allow time for entry.

[KŪKAI @kukaimovie]

Preview screenings confirmed: KŪKAI

Earlier this year we had to postpone our January previews due to venue circumstances. Thank you for your patience — we’re glad to share the new UK screening dates.

Filmed over five years across historic sites in China and Japan, the documentary offers breathtaking cinematography and an immersive visual journey through one of the earliest chapters of China–Japan cultural exchange — a story best experienced on the big screen.

KŪKAI follows the journey of the Japanese monk who travelled to Tang China in search of knowledge, studying classical culture and philosophy before bringing these traditions back to Japan, shaping culture for centuries.

📍 London
Mar 28 — Odeon Tottenham Court Road
Mar 29 — King’s College London

📍 Oxford
Mar 27 — The Oxford Union Society

Free registration via link🔗:
https://t.co/GLcQnVR59Q

Details in the pinned comment.

#LondonEvents #LondonCinema #DocumentaryFilm #CulturalExchange #EastAsia #ThingsToDoLondon