Happy postponed weekend!
This should have come out two weekends ago but I was busy writing for a film festival and I am going to continue being busy for the next two months so please bear with me if you like the trailer posts. I posted a few things since the last trailer post:
Japanese Films at the Glasgow Film Festival
Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival
Programme Announcement for the Osaka Asian Film Festival 2020
What was released last weekend?
The Book of Shadow 
影裏 「Eiri」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 134 mins.
Director: Keishi Ohtomo
Writer: Shinsuke Numata (Story)
Starring: Gou Ayano, Ryuhei Matsuda, Mariko Tsutsui, Tomoya Nakamura, Ken Yasuda, Jun Kunimura,
Synopsis: Konno (Gou Ayano) and Hiasa (Ryuhei Matsuda) live and work in Iwate and are best buds who do everything together but when Hiasa quits the job, the two drift apart and Hiasa disappears. Konno goes looking for him and discovers a secret…
Goodbye: Life Comedy of Starting From a Lie 
グッドバイ 嘘からはじまる人生喜劇 「Guddobai: Uso kara Hajimaru Jinsei Kigeki」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 106 mins.
Director: Izuru Narushima
Writer: Satoko Okudera (Script), Keralino Sandrovich (Original Novel)
Starring: Yo Oizumi, Eiko Koike, Ai Hashimoto, Tae Kimura, Nobue Iketani, Asami Mizukawa, Yoji Tanaka, Gaku Hamada, Yutaka Matsushige,
Synopsis: Post-war Japan, Shuji Tajima (Yo Oizumi) is the chief editor for a literary magazine and a bit of a ladies man who is having trouble breaking up with his girlfriends. Enter Kinuko Nagai (Eiko Koike), a woman left devastated by the war and in dire need of cash who he hires to act as his wife.
Roar 
轟音 「Gouon」
Release Date: February 15th, 2020
Duration: 99 mins.
Director: Ryo Katayama
Writer: Ryo Katayama (Script),
Starring: Ryo Anraku, Mie Oota, Shoji Oomiya, Mari Kishi, Takuya Nakayama,
Synopsis: The first feature film directed by Kei Katayama (he had his short screened at Cinema Rosa earlier this month) and it’s about a guy named Makoto whose brother committed a crime and whose father tried to commit suicide, ON THE VERY SAME DAY, no less! Makoto has nowhere to turn to so turns on himself as he goes on a self-destructive journey but things change when he encounters a tramp. The main character is played by Ryo Anraku, who directed and starred in the movie Hitori Dansu for which Katayama wrote and appeared.
Thank You for Coming 
サンキューフォーカミング 「Sankyu- Fo- Kamingu」
Release Date: February 15th, 2020
Duration: 93 mins.
Director: Mayuka Yoshida
Writer: Mayuka Yoshida (Script),
Starring: Giko, Akemi Nagaoka, Taeko Kanai, Daichi Tomioka, Futoshi Imaya,
Synopsis: The first feature film directed by Mayuka Yoshida after a career of making short films is about a 28-year-old woman named Mei who has followed her parents commands her entire life. One day, when her father learns that Mei has been sexually harassed by her boss, he forces her to quit her job. After working part-time at a boutique in the neighbourhood, Mei happens to meet a former senior from university and the two hit it off despite the fact he is married and the two have an affair which leaves Mei pregnant…
Gekijouban seiyuu danshi desu ga…? Kore kara no seiyuu jinsei no hanashi o shiyou 
劇場版 声優男子ですが…？ これからの声優人生の話をしよう 「Gekijouban seiyuu danshi desu ga…? Kore kara no seiyuu jinsei no hanashi o shiyou」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 91 mins.
Director: Ayumi Suzuki
Writer: Gorgeous Someya, Hajime Nasa (Script),
Starring: Yuuto Uemura, Yuuichiro Uehara, Keisuke Kawamoto, Yuusuke Kobayashi, Yusuke Shirai, Yutaro Honjo, Kazutomi Yamamoto,
Synopsis: A theatrical version of the Seiyuu danshi desu ga…? (Even Though I’m a Male Voice Actor…?) a TV variety show featuring male voice actors training, working, and undertaking various physical challenges. The boys go camping in this film…
Hanshin Tigers THE MOVIE: The Great Tiger Myths 
阪神タイガース THE MOVIE 猛虎神話集 「Hanshin Taiga-su The Movie Mouko Shinwashu」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 97 mins.
Director: Hideo Ishibashi
Writer: N/A
Starring: Koji Ishizaka (Narrator)
Synopsis: This is the team’s first official documentary movie produced to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the founding of the “Hanshin Tigers”. Various legendary moments throughout the team’s history are looked back upon as well as interviews with players past and present.
The Dignified Death of Shizuo Yamanaka 
山中静夫氏の尊厳死 「Yamanaka Shizuo-shi no songenshi」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 109 mins.
Director: Akio Murahashi
Writer: Akio Murahashi (Script), Keishi Nagi (Original Novel)
Starring: Baijaku Nakamura, Kanji Tsuda, Misato Tanaka, Miyoko Asada, Atsuko Takahata,
Synopsis: 62-year-old Shizuo Yamanaka was told he had terminal cancer and one month left to live so he returned to his hometown to face the end. He admits himself to the hospital, thinking only about dying peacefully without pain. Imamura, a doctor who watches over Shizuo’s last stage, suffers from depression because he has seen too many deaths and yet he continues to think about the possibility of a dignified death for human beings.
MAN WITH A MISSION THE MOVIE TRACE the HISTORY 
阪神タイガース THE MOVIE 猛虎神話集 「Hanshin Taiga-su The Movie Mouko Shinwashu」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 81 mins.
Director: Tsukagoshi Chenko
Writer: N/A
Starring: Man with a Mission: Tokyo Tanaka, Jean-Ken Johnny, Kamikaze Boy, DJ Santa Monica, Spear Rib,
Synopsis: The first documentary of the five-member rock band “MAN WITH A MISSION” who suddenly appeared on the music scene in 2010 and have since gone on worldwide tours, made anime themes and played at Nippon Budokan. Expect interviews, performance footage and behind-the-scenes.
Sei no gekiyaku 
性の劇薬 「Sei no gekiyaku」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 89 mins.
Director: Hideo Jojo
Writer: Hideo Jojo (Script), Yuki Mizuta (Original Manga)
Starring: Sho Watanabe, Takashi Kitadai, Seiki Chiba, Ruri Shinato,
Synopsis: Katsuragi was once an elite office worker but after his career fell apart and he attempted suicide, he became the sex slave of a seriously depraved man named Yoda…
Bye Bye Vamp 
バイバイ、ヴァンプ！ 「Bai Bai, Banpu!」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 107 mins.
Director: Takashi Ueda
Writer: Takeshi Ueda, Kei Nakamura (Script), Yuki Mizuta (Original Manga)
Starring: Kento Hiramatsu, Mio Kudo, Aya Marsh, Nene Mitsuki, Kairu Takano, Raiga Terasaka,
Jocular Synopsis: A horror movie starring the Matsuri 9 boys from Nagoya who play a bunch of lads who go to a high school in Ibaraki, Japan where a vampire is taking over by turning everyone gay…
Serious voice: A petition to get this film pulled from cinema due to its “anti-LGBTQ” storyline was launched a week ago. The Matsuri 9 boys will be sentenced at a later date…
ACCA 13-Territory Inspection Department Regards 
ACCA13区監察課 Regards 「ACCA Jusanku Kansatsuka Regards」
Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Duration: 107 mins.
Director: Shingo Natsume
Writer: Tomohiro Suzuki (Script), Natsume Ono (Original Manga)
Starring: Hiro Shimono (Jean Otus), Aoi Yuuki (Lotta), Atsuko Tanaka (Mauve), Aya Suzaki (Elder), Megumi Sato (Atri), Mamoru Miyano (Prince Schwan),
Production: Madhouse
This OVA takes place a year after the TV anime.
Synopsis from MAL: Jean and the rest of the ACCA department are preparing for the one-year anniversary of the establishment of the new order. For the characters — caught between rumors of unrest, unchanging days, new crossroads, gazes remembered in memories, and days of new beginnings — time once again begins to move forward.
Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai The Clouds Gather 
囀る鳥は羽ばたかない The clouds gather「Saezuru Tori wa Habatakanai: The Clouds Gather」
Release Date: February 15th, 2020
Duration: 85 mins.
Director: Kaori Makita
Writer: Hiroshi Seko (Script), Kou Yoneda (Original Manga)
Starring: Tarusuke Shingaki (Yashiro), Wataru Hatano (Doumeki), Akimitsu Takase (Hirata), Yuuki Ono (Kuga), Takuya Sato (Ageya),
Production: GRIZZLY
Synopsis: Yashiro is the young leader of the Shinseikai yakuza gang but this tough guy is a deviant and a masochist which is revealed to one of his bodyguards, Doumeki Chikara, whom Yashiro cannot resist. Yashiro makes advances toward Doumeki and abuses his power just to abuse himself but Doumeki tries to resist…