Isao Yukisada has collaborated with filmmakers in Asia on his films Camellia and Five Minutes to Tomorrow. For this project he chose Penang, Malaysia, which is home to many Japanese retirees. The story revolves around a lonely old man (Masahiko Tsugawa) who keep pigeons. The discord with his son (Masatoshi Nagase) and interaction with his helper (Sharifah Amani) are portrayed along with his distant memories of the Pacific War. The young woman played by Amani is called Yasmin, Yukisada's homage to late, great Malaysian director Yasmin Ahmad (Sepet), whom he loves and respects. Woo Ming Jin, Edmund Yeo and other young filmmakers in Malaysia assisted in filming in George Town, a world heritage site in Penang.

Set in Penang, Malaysia, where Michisaburo Tanaka lives in a big two-storied house with helpers. He keeps pigeons on the roof terrace. His son Masao comes to visit him from Japan every month but he is disinterested and does not stay long. One day a new helper Yasmin comes to look after Michisaburo. Through various problems a bond starts to form between the two. With the help of Yasmin and Alif, her boyfriend, Michisaburo goes to the beach where his brothers were killed during the war and sets the pigeons free.

Michisaburo Tanaka: Masahiko Tsugawa

Masahiko Tsugawa made his debut in 1956, starring in the Nikkatsu youth classic Crazed Fruit, directed by Ko Nakahira. The thespian is known for his wide range, portraying both leading men and villains, appearing in such works as Kichitaro Negishi’s Hitohira no Yuki (1985), Juzo Itami’s A Taxing Woman (1987), Kaneto Shindo’s The Strange Tale of Oyuki (1992), Kinji Fukasaku’s Crest of Betrayal (1994), Shunya Ito’s Pride (1998), Momoko Ando’s 0.5 mm (2014), Izuru Narushima's Solomon's Perjury 2 (2015), Yasuo Tsuruhashi's Gosaigyô no Onna (2016) and Yoshinari Nishikôri's Tatara Samurai (to be released in 2017). He has also directed many films under the name of Masahiko Makino, including A Hardest Night!! (2006), Samurai Gangsters (2008) and Asahiyama Zoo Story: Penguins in the Sky (2009).

Yasmin: Sharifah Amani

Sharifah Amani is an award-winning Malaysian actress, director and writer who is best known as the muse of the late, great Malaysian director Yasmin Ahmad, in Sepet (TIFF 2005), Gubra (TIFF 2006), Mukhsin (TIFF 2006) and Muallaf (TIFF 2008). She was an assistant director for Ahmad's last feature film Talentime (TIFF 2009). She has also directed Sangkar, Kampung Bangsar and Eve (all of these are shorts). Amani's roles also include Psycho Pencuri Hati (Dir:Nam Ron), Nova/Terbaik Dari Langit (TIFF 2014) and Pekak(2016). Amani has also starred in a Japanese film, Redemption Night (2013), directed by Takato Hosoi.

Masao Tanaka: Masatoshi Nagase

Masatoshi Nagase debuted in Shinji Sōmai's P.P.Rider (1983), and attracted worldwide attention for his role in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train (1989). He has received many awards, including major Japan Academy Prizes, among others, for his roles in Yôji Yamada's Musuko (1991), Gakko II (1996) and The Hidden Blade (2004), and Takao Okawara's Yûkai (1997). He has performed in over 90 films. The "Shiritsu Tantei Hama Mike" series was popular both in film and on TV. More recently he was nominated for the Golden Horse Award Best Male Actor for the first time as a non-Chinese speaking actor for his role in Kano (2014, Ma Chih Hsiang). He also starred in Naomi Kawase's Sweet Bean (2015),an official selection in the Cannes Film Festival, Shô Igarashi's The Cross (2016), Gakuryû Ishii's Bitter Honey (2016), Takahisa Zeze's 64: Part 1 and 2 (2016), and Yasuo Tsuruhashi's Gosaigyô no Onna (2016). Jim Jarmusch's Paterson and SABU's Happiness are yet to be released. He has also shown a number of photos as a photographer.