Finding Hope Behind the Camera: How a Ugandan Asylum Seeker is Making a Samurai Film in Japan

For more than 15 years, Sunday, a Ugandan asylum seeker, has navigated a life of uncertainty in Japan. Having previously faced detention at the Shinagawa immigration centre, he is now required to report regularly to the authorities and depends entirely on charity to feed his children. With recent changes to Japan’s immigration laws, the threat of deportation looms heavily over him.

Refusing to let his identity be reduced to a mere statistic, Sunday embarks on an unexpected creative journey: directing a samurai film inspired by Yasuke, historically recognized as Japan’s first Black samurai. For Sunday, this filmmaking endeavor transforms into a profound act of survival, dignity, and hope. Sunday in Japan is a documentary film created by Antonio Rui Ribeiro, Leo Nelki, and Golriz Kolahi.