【SAMANSA】Announces New Short Film Lineup for the First Week of May! This Month Features a Plethora of Japanese Films! Releasing Three Titles, from a Human Drama about a Blind Young Man Who Wants to Be a Chef to an Anime Depicting Hotcake Thief Mojappi!
Short film streaming service "SAMANSA" will begin distributing three new Japanese films from May 1, 2026. The lineup includes 'still dark,' a human drama about a blind young man, 'Saru Saru,' depicting a brothers' journey, and 'Mojappi ~Itadaki! Hotcake~,' an anime about a hotcake thief. 'Saru Saru' is particularly noteworthy as a collaborative work by the "three brothers": Yamagen of "Nekonisuzu," his brother Shun Yamamoto, and director Tamaki Yamamoto.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 12:36 (4 min after Collected)
SAMANSA Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Yuichi Iwanaga) is pleased to announce that it will begin distributing three new short films, 'still dark,' 'Saru Saru,' and 'Mojappi ~Itadaki! Hotcake~,' on May 1, 2026 (Friday), through its short film streaming service "SAMANSA."
This month's new releases are all Japanese films. As the second installment of SAMANSA's first-ever initiative, this week will feature three titles: from a human drama about a blind young man who aspires to be a chef, to an anime depicting the adorable hotcake thief Mojappi!
Please enjoy these short films brimming with possibilities.
◆ New Releases Introduction
① 'still dark'
Synopsis:
Yuuki, a blind young man aspiring to be a chef, is captivated by the Neapolitan pasta at a certain restaurant. Impressed by his passion, the head chef hires him as an apprentice. He confronts his dreams while connecting with Kenta, a talented senior of the same age. Yuuki's challenge to overcome unseen barriers in a demanding kitchen begins.
Director: Yusuke Takahashi
Runtime: 40 minutes 19 seconds
② 'Saru Saru'
Synopsis:
The rental car's overdue fees swelled to 790,000 yen, yet the brothers continued to drive aimlessly. Along the way, the younger brother, quenching his thirst with tap water, sees his own absent self happily drinking cola. Where will these two, who have continuously averted their eyes from their extreme reality, end up?
Director: Tamaki Yamamoto
Runtime: 14 minutes 59 seconds
③ 'Mojappi ~Itadaki! Hotcake~'
Synopsis:
The sweet and happy scent of hotcakes drifts through a peaceful forest. However, a dark shadow targets this tranquil time... It's the mischievous trio of rascals, Mojappi. Wanting to monopolize the delicious hotcakes, they start playing tricks on their friends in various ways...?
Director: Nijitaro
Runtime: 3 minutes 11 seconds
《Comment from the Staff》
This week's recommended film is 'Saru Saru.'
As some of you may have noticed after watching this film, the lead roles are played by Yamagen of the comedy duo "Nekonisuzu" and his younger brother, actor/creator Shun Yamamoto. Furthermore, the director is Shun's twin brother, Tamaki Yamamoto, who made his commercial directorial debut last year with 'Kono Natsu no Hoshi wo Miru.' This marks a collaborative production by "three brothers."
The natural interactions and overlapping breaths that only brothers can bring out. The time and emotions they have shared are condensed within. Although the story's development is unpredictable, you will surely lose track of time, engrossed in the gentle atmosphere.
Why not spend a relaxing time this weekend with the film 'Saru Saru'?
◆ What is SAMANSA?
SAMANSA is a streaming service specializing in short films.
For 490 yen per month, it offers carefully selected works from around the world, currently distributing over 500 short films (as of October 2025). With runtimes under 30 minutes, it enables a cinematic experience tailored to various daily life scenes, such as commute times or spare moments.
Furthermore, by directly licensing with creators worldwide, SAMANSA delivers a diverse range of works that cannot be seen on other domestic VOD services. We aim to create a new culture where movies can be enjoyed more freely and accessibly.
Name: Short Film Streaming Service 'SAMANSA'
Browser App Site: https://samansa.com/
iOS Version (App Store): https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/samansa/id1600425602
Android Version (Google Play): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samansa
◆ Company Overview
Company Name: SAMANSA Inc.
Head Office Location: Okazaki Building 603, 2-14-13 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director: Yuichi Iwanaga
Co-Representative: Takayuki Toyama
Establishment Date: April 2021
Business Activities: Operation of the short film streaming service 'SAMANSA'
Corporate Site: https://about.samansa.com/
Service Site URL: https://lp.samansa.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@samansajp/about
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samansajp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samansajpn/
X: https://x.com/samansajpn/
X (PR): https://x.com/s
This month's new releases are all Japanese films. As the second installment of SAMANSA's first-ever initiative, this week will feature three titles: from a human drama about a blind young man who aspires to be a chef, to an anime depicting the adorable hotcake thief Mojappi!
Please enjoy these short films brimming with possibilities.
◆ New Releases Introduction
① 'still dark'
Synopsis:
Yuuki, a blind young man aspiring to be a chef, is captivated by the Neapolitan pasta at a certain restaurant. Impressed by his passion, the head chef hires him as an apprentice. He confronts his dreams while connecting with Kenta, a talented senior of the same age. Yuuki's challenge to overcome unseen barriers in a demanding kitchen begins.
Director: Yusuke Takahashi
Runtime: 40 minutes 19 seconds
② 'Saru Saru'
Synopsis:
The rental car's overdue fees swelled to 790,000 yen, yet the brothers continued to drive aimlessly. Along the way, the younger brother, quenching his thirst with tap water, sees his own absent self happily drinking cola. Where will these two, who have continuously averted their eyes from their extreme reality, end up?
Director: Tamaki Yamamoto
Runtime: 14 minutes 59 seconds
③ 'Mojappi ~Itadaki! Hotcake~'
Synopsis:
The sweet and happy scent of hotcakes drifts through a peaceful forest. However, a dark shadow targets this tranquil time... It's the mischievous trio of rascals, Mojappi. Wanting to monopolize the delicious hotcakes, they start playing tricks on their friends in various ways...?
Director: Nijitaro
Runtime: 3 minutes 11 seconds
《Comment from the Staff》
This week's recommended film is 'Saru Saru.'
As some of you may have noticed after watching this film, the lead roles are played by Yamagen of the comedy duo "Nekonisuzu" and his younger brother, actor/creator Shun Yamamoto. Furthermore, the director is Shun's twin brother, Tamaki Yamamoto, who made his commercial directorial debut last year with 'Kono Natsu no Hoshi wo Miru.' This marks a collaborative production by "three brothers."
The natural interactions and overlapping breaths that only brothers can bring out. The time and emotions they have shared are condensed within. Although the story's development is unpredictable, you will surely lose track of time, engrossed in the gentle atmosphere.
Why not spend a relaxing time this weekend with the film 'Saru Saru'?
◆ What is SAMANSA?
SAMANSA is a streaming service specializing in short films.
For 490 yen per month, it offers carefully selected works from around the world, currently distributing over 500 short films (as of October 2025). With runtimes under 30 minutes, it enables a cinematic experience tailored to various daily life scenes, such as commute times or spare moments.
Furthermore, by directly licensing with creators worldwide, SAMANSA delivers a diverse range of works that cannot be seen on other domestic VOD services. We aim to create a new culture where movies can be enjoyed more freely and accessibly.
Name: Short Film Streaming Service 'SAMANSA'
Browser App Site: https://samansa.com/
iOS Version (App Store): https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/samansa/id1600425602
Android Version (Google Play): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samansa
◆ Company Overview
Company Name: SAMANSA Inc.
Head Office Location: Okazaki Building 603, 2-14-13 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director: Yuichi Iwanaga
Co-Representative: Takayuki Toyama
Establishment Date: April 2021
Business Activities: Operation of the short film streaming service 'SAMANSA'
Corporate Site: https://about.samansa.com/
Service Site URL: https://lp.samansa.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@samansajp/about
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samansajp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samansajpn/
X: https://x.com/samansajpn/
X (PR): https://x.com/s