Happy Weekend, everyone!
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Time to relax unless you have a weekend job.
Only one film watched and that was the Italian zombie movie Burial Grounds which was not that great. Plenty of Japanese practise and I did a bit more overtime this week and during that period where I was just escorting a contactor around, I managed to read a book by Ernest Hemingway. I published reviews for Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution and Penguin Highway.
What is released this weekend? A lot…
i -Documentary of the Journalist- ![i -Documentary of the Journalist- Film Poster]()
i -新聞記者ドキュメント- 「I – shinbun kisha dokyumento –」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 120 mins.
Director: Tatsuya Mori
Writer: N/A
Starring: Isoko Mochizuki
Tatsuya Mori is a documentarian famous for the films A (1998), 311 (2011) and Fake (2016). He also acted as producer on The Journalist (2019) which is based on a book by the real-life female journalist, Isoko Mochizuki. She forms the centre of this film as she pursues the truth. It won an award at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Synopsis: Traditional news media is in a spin as social media, financial forces and political tribalism batter them around. Maybe film documentary might be the best place for news if not for some of brave journalists still working for newspapers who are unafraid to look for the truth. Isoko Mochizuki of The Tokyo Shimbun is one of them as she asks all the awkward questions that keep those in power on their toes and ferrets out the truth. This in a country which is still patriarchal, in an industry which is male-dominated, in a media environment that prefers not to challenge those in power lest they lose access to government press conferences. Here’s an article about her in The New York Times (written by Motoko Rich) which gives an excellent overview of the environment she works in.
He Won’t Kill, She Won’t Die ![He Won't Kill She Won't Die Film Poster]()
殺さない彼と死なない彼女 「Korosanai Kare to Shinanai Kanojyo」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 123 mins.
Director: Keiichi Kobayashi
Writer: Keiichi Kobayashi (Screenplay), Seikimatsu (Novel)
Starring: Shotaro Mamiya, Hinako Sakurai, Yuri Tsunematsu, Mayu Hotta, Yutaro, Ryo Sato, Aimi Satsukawa, Yumena Yanai,
Website IMDB
Keiichi Kobayashi directed indie movies About the Pink Sky and Bon Lin and I’m pleased to see him back with another film!
Synopsis: Rei is an apathetic highschooler who is bored and lives a boring existence. When he sees his class-mate Nana bury a dead bee with care and respect he becomes interested in her and that is when Nana confides in him that she has no will to live and is harming herself…
Wings Over Everest ![Wings Over Everest Film Poster 2]()
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 110 mins.
Director: Fay Yu
Writer: Fay Yu (Screenplay),
Starring: Koji Yakusho, Jingchu Zhang, Po-Hung Lin, Victor Webster, Noah Dalton Danby, Babak Haleky, Graham Shiels,
IMDB
Synopsis: When a plane carrying important documents crashes in the Death Zone of Mount Everest, two men claiming to work for India’s research and analysis department offer a large sum of money to Team Wings to take them up to recover them.
Last Ninja: Blue Shadow
下忍 下忍 青い影 「 Genin Aoi Kage」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 88 mins.
Director: Yoshitaka Yamaguchi
Writer: Ichiro Ryu (Screenplay),
Starring: Kanichiro, Kosei Yuki, Kanji Tsuda, Mayu Yamaguchi,
Website
The first of a two-part ninja movie series, it features action direction from Tak Sakaguchi (Re:born).
Synopsis: It is the end of the Edo period and the samurai of the Satsuma domain are threatening to plunge Japan into a crisis by overthrowing the shogunate. Sho (Kousei Yuki), a Ryukyu martial arts expert, has drifted into Edo and comes into conflict with Ryu (Kanichiro), a lowly member of a ninja clan who is on a mission is to capture Shizu (Mayu Yamaguchi), a princess of the Satsuma Domain who is due to be wed to a samurai. The strong-willed Shizu and the lowly ninja Ryu find themselves pursued by Sho…
Kyofu Ningyo ![Fear Doll Film Poster]()
恐怖人形 「Kyofu Ningyo」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 86 mins.
Director: Taro Miyaoka
Writer: Yuta Okuyama (Screenplay),
Starring: Nao Kosaka, Riku Hagiwara, Mario Kuroba, Kyoka Minakami, Yuusuke Kondo, Ruka Ishikawa, Asuka Kurosawa,
Website
Synopsis: Yuri is a female college student who receives an invitation to a party from an acquaintance. Although it seems a little dubious, she heads there with her friend and meets a group of people, mostly the same age as her except a middle-aged guy. Once gathered together, the group head to a seemingly idyllic campsite where a terrifying child-sized doll literally rocks up at the doorstep of their cabin and starts stalking them.
Tennis no Oujisama BEST GAMES!! Fuji vs Kirahara ![Tennis no Oujisama BEST GAMES!! Fuji vs Kirahara Film Poster]()
テニスの王子様 BEST GAMES!! 不二vs切原 「Tennis no Oujisama BEST GAMES!! Fuji vs Kirahara」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 43 mins.
Director: Keiichiro Kawaguchi
Writer: Mitsutaka Hirota (Series Composition), Takeshi Konomi (Original Creator)
Starring: Junko Minagawa (Ryoma Echizen), Junichi Suwabe (Keigo Atobe), Ryotaro Okiayu (Tezuka Kunimitsu),
Animation Production: M.S.C
Website ANN
Synopsis: This is the third in a series of OVAs which feature pivotal matches from the Prince of Tennis franchise. The match is between Shusuke Fuji and Akaya Kirihara from the Kanto Tournament.
Inochi Sketch ![Inochi Sketch Film Poster]()
いのちスケッチ 「Inochi Sukecchi」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 100 mins.
Director: Naoki Segi
Writer: Yuu Sakudo (Screenplay),
Starring: Kanta Sato, Izumi Fujimoto, Tateto Serizawa, Ren Sudo, Mari Hayashida, Tomoya Maeno,
Website
This drama is set in a real zoo in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, which is attracting worldwide attention as a zoo specialising in animal welfare.
Synopsis: Ryota Tanaka, who moved to Tokyo to become a manga artist but didn’t reach his dream in the big metropolis and had to return to his hometown in Fukuoka. His friend introduces him to a part-time job at a local zoo where there is an emphasis on “animal welfare”. Ryota finds the work fulfilling and inspirational as he comes to understand its value by working with the staff and puts his feelings on the page when he starts drawing again.
Yuuyake Kodomo Club! ![Yuuyake Kodomo Club! Film Poster]()
ゆうやけ子どもクラブ! 「Yuuyake Kodomo Kurabu!」
Release Date: November 16th, 2019
Duration: 112 mins.
Director: Yoko Ide
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Website
Synopsis: Documentary of Yuyake Children’s Club in Kodaira City, Tokyo, which has been in oepration since 1978. The place offers holiday and after-school activities for children from elementary school to high school age and the kids are a diverse bunch, some with disabilities and learning difficulties. They get the chance to play and learn with dedicated adult staff and parents. The film was shot over a long time for the audience to get to know everyone.
Find ![Find Film Poster]()
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 112 mins.
Director: Shinpei Yamasaki
Writer: Yuu Sakudo (Screenplay),
Starring: Moe Tsurumi, Fuka Kumazawa, Hana Hanamiya, Rei Asahina, Rana Masui, Risa Aizawa, Miyu Mochizuki, Juna Kanda,
Website
Synopsis: A bunch of girl gathered at an abandoned church in a forest find themselves stalked and attacked by a frightening masked man…
Mio on the Shore ![Mio on the Shore Film Poster]()
わたしは光をにぎっている 「Watashi ha hikaru o nigitte iru」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 96 mins.
Director: Ryutaro Nakagawa
Writer: Ryutaro Nakagawa, Harumi Uraki, Keitaro Sakon (Screenplay),
Starring: Honoka Matsumoto, Daichi Watanabe, Eri Tokunaga, Kaito Yoshimura, Shugo Oshinari, Ken Mitsuishi, Fumie Kashiyama,
Website IMDB
Synopsis: Mio (Honoka Matsumoto) is 20-years-old and lives in Nagano with her grandmother. Mio lost her parents as a child and was raised by the woman at a traditional Japanese inn. However, when her grandmother is hospitalised, Mio travels to Tokyo to find a new job. She ends up living with her father’s old friend Kyosuke and working at the public bathhouse he runs in an old shopping district. Initially bewildered by Tokyo, by interacting with the people in the area, she begins to find her way in life but just ass things are turning around for her, she hears that the shopping district will be demolished…
Hell Girl ![Hell Girl Film Poster]()
地獄少女 「Jigoku Shoujo」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 107 mins.
Director: Koji Shiraishi
Writer: Koji Shiraishi (Screenplay), Hiroshi Watanabe (Manga)
Starring: Tina Tamashiro, Manami Hashimoto, Raiku, Akaji Maro, Nana Mori, Sawa Nimura, Mina Oba, Tomu Fujita, Hazuki Kimura,
Website IMDB
Synopsis: Miho (Nana Mori) is a high school student who is drawn into the occult world of an artist known as the Devil (Tomu Fujita). He draws girls into his live performances and when one girl named Haruka (Sawa Nimura) gets involved, Miho discovers that the live performances include a section about sacrifices! Undaunted, Miho digs deeper to discover more and uncovers the “Hell Correspondence” website where a person can input someone’s name and that person will be sent to Hell. In return, the other person will be sent to Hell at the end of their life. Hell Girl Ai (Tina Tamashiro) is the one that comes to collect.
Shadowfall ![Shadowfall Film Poster]()
影踏み 「Kagefumi」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 112 mins.
Director: Tetsuo Shinohara
Writer: Tomoe Kanno (Screenplay), Hideo Yokoyama (Novel)
Starring: Masayoshi Yamazaki, Machiko Ono, Takumi Kitamura, Kenichi Takito, Shingo Tsurumi, Shinobu Otake, Pistol Takehara, Yuri Nakamura, Ryoko Fujino, Akiyoshi Nakao,
Website IMDB
Synopsis: When a thief enters a house late at night, he disturbs a murder/arson attempt by a woman in the place. The thief stops her and gets drawn into a crime that occurred 20 years ago…
Curtain Call ![Curtain Call Film Poster]()
カーテンコール 「Ka-ten Ko-ru」
Release Date: November 16th, 2019
Duration: 65 mins.
Director: Ryo Moroe
Writer: Ryo Moroe (Screenplay),
Starring: Shinobu Mogi, Miyuu Omori, Kechon, Miku Yoshida, Yui Fujimoto, Ayaka Morikawa,
Website
Synopsis: Yuina (Shinobu Mogi) and Ran (Miyuu Omori) are members in the drama club at Haruyama High School who are working on a play based on their school’s female baseball team. On the way to the camp, their bus gets into an accident and things take a supernatural twist as the theatre club become ghosts. Despite this, the show must go on…
Angel Sign ![Angel Sign Film Poster]()
エンジェルサイン 「Enjeru Sain」
Release Date: November 15th, 2019
Duration: 105 mins.
Director: Kamila Andini, Masatsugu Asahi, Tsukasa Hojo, Nonzee Nimibutr, Ken Ochiai, Ham Tran
Writer: N/A
Starring: Nao Matsushita, Dean Fujioka, Momoko Kikuchi, Jiro Sato, Mikako Yoshida, Naoto Ogata, Sayako Sakai,
Website IMDB
Synopsis: Two musician lovers dream of composing a melody that will move the world. This is part of a live-action omnibus work and is directed by Tsukasa Hojo, a manga artist known for City Hunter.
Dream of Euglena/Midori mushi no Yume ![Midorimushi no Yume Film Poster]()
ミドリムシの夢 「Midori mushi no Yume」
Release Date: November 16th, 2019
Duration: 86 mins.
Director: Mikiya Sanada
Writer: Yoshinari Ota (Screenplay),
Starring: Takuya Fuji, Hiroki Horikawa, Yoshino Imamura, Nahoko Yoshimoto, Kazuma Sano, Shiiko Utagawa, Tomoharu Hasegawa, Masahiro Toda,
Website IMDB
Screened at Skip City
Synopsis: Two parking attendants, Makoto, a straight arrow, and Shige, a loose cannon, endure days and nights of facing people’s ire and on one particular late-night shift, they get involved in an unexpected incident.
Scene in the Dark ![Scene in the Dark Film Poster]()
そこにあるもの 「Soko ni aru mono」
Release Date: November 16th, 2019
Duration: 68 mins.
Director: Keiichiro Sawa
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Website IMDB
Synopsis: A documentary that captures the daily lives of blind people at a nursing home in Tokyo. We see their daily routines such as radio exercises and club activities and we try and understand their world where visual information is hidden away.
Toumei ningen ☆ Tamura Toru ![Toumei ningen ☆ Tamura Toru Film Poster]()
透明人間☆田村透 「Toumei ningen ☆ Tamura Touru」
Release Date: November 16th, 2019
Duration: 37 mins.
Director: Kota Yoneyama
Writer: Kota Yoneyama (Screenplay),
Starring: Fumihito Endo, Hiroki Kono, Nana Ishida, Sawako,
Synopsis: Ever since Toru was a high schooler he was mostly ignored. He considers himself a “transparent person” and he has accepted the reality to lead a peaceful high school life. When he goes on to university, a girl “sees” him and starts to have fun…
Shiro to Kuro no Dousoukai ![Shiro to Kuro no Dousoukai Film Poster]()
白と黒の同窓会 「Shiro to Kuro no Dousoukai」
Release Date: November 16th, 2019
Duration: 72 mins.
Director: Yozo Hatanaka
Writer: Taizo Ienaka (Screenplay),
Starring: Yuu Kikawa, Reina Fujie, Kyoka, Marina Nagasawa, Aika Oota, Remu Tamagawa,
Website
Synopsis: A woman named Erina is attending two alumni associations, one consisting of former junior high school classmates and the other former high school classmates, and experiences the troubles between people who have reunited after a long time when both events happen at the same place! Popular in high school but a reject in junior high school, she finds this dissonance affecting her behaviour as her past comes back to haunt her.
Gekijouban hontou ni atta kowai hanashi 2019 fuyu no tokubetsu-hen ![Gekijouban hontou ni atta kowai hanashi 2019 fuyu no tokubetsu-hen Film Poster]()
劇場版ほんとうにあった怖い話2019 冬の特別篇 「Gekijouban hontou ni atta kowai hanashi 2019 fuyu no tokubetsu-hen」
Release Date: November 16th, 2019
Duration: 75 mins.
Director: Yasutake Torii
Writer: Tokuya Niitsu, Risa Nishino (Screenplay),
Starring: Haruna Iikubo, Nana Komaki, Yasutaka Torii, Shohei Hashimoto,
Synopsis: Theatrical version of the popular spiritual omnibus horror series. “Trick or Treat” shows male college students trying out the rituals found at an occult site, “Phantasm” shows what seemed just mischief caused children during Halloween balloon into something horrific, and “The Door” sees a girl haunted by an older foreign woman.