A new inspirational film from Japan, Twiceborn, will open in Manhattan on October 16. The film is based on the life of Ryuho Okawa, the founder of Happy Science, Japan’s fastest-growing and most influential spiritual movement, which now has 12 million members across 100 countries. 

Twiceborn tells the story of Satoru Ichijo, a highly successful businessman who relinquishes everything to pursue his true calling, the happiness of humankind. The film opens with Satoru lecturing to more than 50,000 people in Tokyo Dome in 1991. A flashback then covers his final months in college, where he was a top scholar and athlete and began receiving messages from the spiritual world. 

After college graduation, Satoru is invited to join a renowned international trading firm, where he quickly becomes very successful and is positioned for a vault to the executive suite. Meanwhile, he is spending all his leisure time reading spiritual philosophers, recording the messages and insights he is constantly receiving from his spirit guides, and coming to terms with the astounding and overwhelming message the guides have for him: “Your mission as the Buddha reborn is to save all people by spreading the Truth.”

For locations and times, visit TwicebornMovie.com.