Production is underway in Tokyo on Mayumi Yoshida’s directorial debut drama feature Akashi, with filming also set to take place in Vancouver.

Principal photography on the coming-of-age love story started on Monday (Dec. 11), according to a news release. The film is produced by Yoshida and Nach Dudsdeemaytha through their B.C.-based banner Musubi Arts and Tyler Hagan of Experimental Forest Films (also B.C.-based), in partnership with Tokyo-headquartered Flag Inc.

Akashi is written and directed by Vancouver-based Yoshida, who also stars. The film is inspired by her short that won Outstanding Writer at NBCUniversal Short Film Festival.

Akashi follows a woman who returns home to Tokyo for the funeral of her grandmother, where she rekindles a romance and uncovers a family secret.

The cast also includes Hana Kino, Ryo Tajima, Chieko Matsubara and Kunio Murai. Japanese casting is handled by Rikiya Takano and Ruriko Takahashi at Kaiju Inc., while Ciarra Cook, Megan Bayliss and Rebecca Davidson are handling the Canadian casting.

The film is produced with the support of Telefilm Canada, in association with Crave, Hollywood Suite, and the Tokyo Film Commission.

“Taking on the roles of actor, writer, and director for my debut feature film has been a unique experience, especially with the added challenge of shooting in two different countries and in multiple languages,” said Yoshida in a statement.

Pictured (L-R): Mayumi Yoshida by Kristine Cofsky; Ryo Tajima by Keita Haginiwa; Kunio Murai by Toshiaki Nozawa; Kino Hana by Norihiko Okimura; and Chieko Matsubara by Kayoko Asai