Happy weekend, everyone.
I hope you are all well.
I’m leading in with politics because… After the crazy events of the last week at the US Capitol (and numerous state houses across America), I am not sure what to write other than this was the inevitable escalation of right-wing thought which is dominated by racism and a severe ignorance of history. None of this is new. People knew it was going to happen but nobody stopped it. Indeed, politicians encouraged it. And let’s not think that countries in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere are better or immune to this madness. I hope that we hold the leaders and commentators accountable and part of this is moderate conservatives need to own what has happened and stop this culture war/grievance culture BS they have initiated. This needs to lead to a paradigm shift in how we engage with politics and people and we see people inspired to organise against hatred and poverty otherwise this will escalate.
Society is only as strong as the measure of everyone’s engagement with it and for too long many people have been checked out or convinced that only certain people belong which leads to division. We need unity. I recommend watching Majority Report videos to get more perspective.
This week I reviewed the films Soul Music and The Sleeping Insect.
What is released this weekend? Lucky Chan-sil, one of the best films I saw in 2020!
Angry Rice Wives 
大コメ騒動 「Dai Kome Sodo」
Release Date: January 08th, 2021
Duration: 106 mins.
Director: Katsuhide Motoki
Writer: Kaori Tanimoto (Script), Hiroki Terai (Original Novel)
Starring: Mao Inoue, Takahiro Miura, Mari Natsuki, Shinosuke Tatekawa, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Renji Ishibashi, Rie Shibata,
Synopsis: Set in Toyoma Prefecture in 1918, we follow Ito Matsuura (Mao Inoue), a farmer’s daughter who married a fisherman (Takahiro Miura) and is now the mother of three children. When her husband and the other men in the village head out to fish off the coast of Hokkaido, she, like other women in the village, is left to support herself and her children on a small wage earned from carrying heavy bales of rice to ships. When the price of rice starts to soar, she and the other women try to stop the rice from leaving which leads to a “riot” which attracts the attention of all of Japan…
Adult’s Situation 
おとなの事情 スマホをのぞいたら 「Otona no Jijou: Smartphone wo Nozoitara」
Release Date: January 08th, 2021
Duration: 101 mins.
Director: Michio Mitsuno
Writer: Yoshikazu Okada (Script),
Starring: Noriyuki Higashiyama, Honami Suzuki, Takako Tokiwa, Toru Matsuoka, Hiromasa Taguchi, Haruka Kinami, Yasushi Fuchikami,
This is the Japanese version of the Italian comedy movie Perfect Strangers which has already been remade in 18 countries around the world.
Synopsis: A single man – Sanpei (Noriyuki Higashiyama) – and three married couples – Takashi (Toru Masuoka) & Eri (Honami Suzuki), a celebrity couple in their 50s, Reiji (Hiromasa Taguchi) & Kaoru (Takako Tokiwa), a couple in their 40s who are going through a dip, and Koji (Yasushi Fuchikami) & An (Haruka Kinami), a newlywed couple in their 30s – gather together for a dinner party once a year in the wake of a certain event. It was supposed to be a good time but when they decide to play a game, it all goes haywire. The rules are simple but invite disaster. To wit: they must all reveal the emails and phone calls that reach their smartphones to everyone in the room and since everyone has a secret that they want to hide, every incoming call spells chaos…
Gintama: The Final 
銀魂 THE FINAL 「Gintama: The Final」
Release Date: January 08th, 2021
Duration: 104 mins.
Director: Chizuru Miyawaki
Writer: Chizuru Miyawaki (Script), Hideaki Sorachi (Original Creator),
Starring: Tomokazu Sugita (Gitoki Sakata), Rie Kugimiya (Kagura), Daisuke Sakaguchi (Shinpachi Shimura), Akira Ishida (Katsura Kotarou), Kenichi Suzumura (Sogo Okita)
Animation Production: Bandai Namco Pictures
This is the third movie version of the anime Gintama and its story is based on the last part of the original comic, the Silver Soul Arc from chapter 687 – 704 along with some new material added. The manga reached its finale in June 2019.
Synopsis: As the countdown to the destruction of Earth (and the universe) approaches, former allies Gintoki, Takasugi, and Katsura struggle with their thoughts but their friends and a figure from the past will help them rally together.
Gekijouban Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Eternal 2 
劇場版 美少女戦士セーラームーンEternal 前編 「Gekijouban Bishoujo Senshi Se-ra- Mu-n Eternal Zenpen」
Release Date: January 08th, 2021
Duration: 80 mins.
Director: Chiaki Kon
Writer: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (Script), Naoko Takeuchi (Original Creator/Supervision),
Starring: Kotono Mitsuishi (Usagi Tsukino/SailorMoon), Ai Maeda (Setsuna Meioh/Sailor Pluton), Ami Koshimizu (Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter), Hisako Kanemoto (Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury), Rina Satou (Rei Hino/Sailor Mars), Sayaka Ohara (Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune),
Animation Production: Studio DEEN, Toei Animation,
The first of a two-part movie continuation of the fourth season of the TV anime Sailor Moon Crystal. It is directed by Chiaki Kon and was made under the supervision of the original author, Naoko Takeuchi.
Synopsis: During a solar eclipse, Tsukino Usagi and Chibiusa meet a Pegasus named Helios in a dream and Helios is looking for two “maidens” to break the seal of the Golden Crystal. At the same time, a mysterious group called Dead Moon Circus appears in Juban city with the goal of scattering nightmare incarnations called Lemures across the world and obtaining the Legendary Silver Crystal so they can rule the Earth and Moon, and later the universe, something which the Sailor crew fight against.
Gekijouban Iwago Mitsuaki no Sekai Neko Aruki Aru ga Mama ni, Mizu to Daichi no Neko Kazoku 
劇場版 岩合光昭の世界ネコ歩き あるがままに、水と大地のネコ家族 「Gekijouban Iwago Mitsuaki no Sekai Neko Aruki Aru ga Mama ni, Mizu to Daichi no Neko Kazoku」
Release Date: January 08th, 2021
Duration: 98 mins.
Director: Mitsuaki Iwago
Writer: N/A
Starring: Mitsuaki Iwago, Narration: Tomoya Nakamura
Synopsis: This is the second film version of the NHK BS Premium programme “Mitsuaki Iwago’s World Cat Walk”, in which animal photographer Mitsuaki Iwago shoots cats on the streets of the world from the perspective of a cat. Set in two lands, Myanmar and Hokkaido, it depicts the families of cats running during the flow of seasons.
Epok no Atorie Sugaya Shinichi ga Tsukuru Record Jacket 
エポックのアトリエ 菅谷晋一がつくるレコードジャケット 「Epokku no Atorie Sugaya Shinichi ga Tsukuru Reko-do Jakketto」
Release Date: January 08th, 2021
Duration: 96 mins.
Director: Michitoshi Nanbu
Writer: N/A
Starring: Shinichi Sugaya, Hiroto Komoto, Masatoshi Mashima, Katsuya Kobayashi, Katsuji Kirita,
Synopsis: A documentary in a similar vein to book-paper-scissors insofar as it captures the work of a person who does the covers of something. The subject of the film is Shinichi Sugaya, a designer who works on record jackets such as The Cro-Magnons and OKAMOTO’S. Sugaya’s background as a designer and his production process are documented with interviews and commentary from him and people involved in making the music for which he designs covers, and those who assist in creating his unique visions.
Otenmon no Hen 
応天門の変 「Otenmon no Hen」
Release Date: January 09th, 2021
Duration: 69 mins.
Director: Hokuin Akihara
Writer: Yukie Ochiai (Script),
Starring: Shingo Yanagisawa, Sakura, Kyoya Kimura, Hibiki Emoto, Motoya Izumi,
The “Otenmon no Hen” or Otenmon Incident is given a lively cinematic depiction via a mystery/historical drama fantasy comedy that comes from director Masatoshi Akihara who picked up the picture scroll called Ban Dainagon Ekotoba (The Picture-narrative of Great Minister Ban) which depicts the event that took place during the Heian period (866 to be exact) and features a mystery character that nobody can identify.
Synopsis: The destruction of the main gate (Ōtenmon) of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto is pinned on Minamoto no Makoto by his political rival Tomo no Yoshio but in various twists and turns it is Tomo no Yoshio who ends up getting the blame but there is a mystery figure in the scroll, a man wearing black who might be involved...
Musubi no Shima 
結びの島 「Musubi no Shima」
Release Date: January 09th, 2021
Duration: 108 mins.
Director: Masayuki Mizobuchi
Writer: N/A
Starring: Hitoshi Okahara,
Synopsis: A documentary that follows Hitoshi Okahara, a doctor who runs a clinic and a long-term care facility in Suooshima, Yamaguchi Prefecture, where one in two people in its population of 17,000 is elderly. The documentary offers insights into how to deal with an ageing population through looking at Okahara’s work.