Australian production company Titantale Film is in the midst of filming the supernatural romance drama “Tanabata: The Evening of the Seventh,” starring Japanese actor Takayuki Yamada.
The project, fully funded by Australia and in collaboration with Japanese production services partners, spans three historical eras: Edo-era Japan, 1865 New South Wales and 2027 Australia, and follows the same soul’s three reincarnations through karmic cycles of love and possession. Writer and director Gillian Roberts will serve as executive producer along with producer Sabin Gunawari.
The lead role of Takayuki will be played by Yamada, who is known worldwide for his role in the Netflix series “Naked Director.” Australian actors Amelia Zadro and Kasper Hardakar play supporting roles as Kotli and Charumelae, respectively.
Production began with the first block and was completed in December 2025. The second block in Japan will start from May 20 this year, and the third block is scheduled for October in Australia.
“‘Tanabata: The Evening of the Seven Days’ comes from the belief that our inner world also exists in an outer world that moves across time, space, and dimensions,” Roberts said. “Tanabata, celebrated in Japan on July 7th, became the perfect emotional and spiritual centerpiece for a story about love, memory, and lifelong connections. The film takes place in Edo-era Japan, New South Wales in 1865, and Australia in 2027. Set in Tralia, it follows three souls whose lives leave behind their last emotional vestiges. I wanted to create a visually poetic romantic drama with a supernatural, sci-fi edge, where the landscape, ancestry, and unseen forces shape the characters’ emotions.
The logline focuses on the character of Yamada, a powerful Japanese tech tycoon in the film’s contemporary story, who finds a modern-day incarnation of the woman he has loved and strived to possess all his life. On the night of Tanabata, his obsession tears the portal apart, pulling them back into the cycle they were destined to escape.
“Tanabata is a rare opportunity to build a Japan-Australia feature of real scale, cultural specificity and international ambition,” Mr Gunawari said. “Takayuki Yamada brings an exceptional presence and profile to this project and his involvement gives this film a meaningful bridge between Japanese audiences and the wider global market. We hope this project will also help open the door for further creative and commercial collaboration between Australia and Japan.”
