Happy New Year!
I hope that 2022 is a fantastic year where many great things happen!
If I have any resolutions for the new year, it is practising Japanese more and being a better person. Maybe learn how to cook more. And write more.
I’ve been watching a lot of films this week, the best of which are the Japanese ones at Cinematheque Francaise which are free to view and have English/French subtitles. My recommendations are Domains and Jujuba. You have a limited time to watch them – Touching the Skin of Eeriness leaves on January 04th!
In terms of what I am watching outside of this, it’s Vinland Saga, which I started after I finished Wolf’s Rain. You can also hear me talk about Tokyo Godfathers with the latest episode of Heroic Purgatory as host John and I covered a Christmas film.
What are the films released this weekend in Japan? This covers the last of 2021 and the first of 2022!
BanG Dream! the Movie “Poppin’ Dream!” 
BanG Dream! ぽっぴん’どりーむ！「BanG Dream！Poppin’ Dori-mu！」
Release Date: January 01st, 2022
Duration: 71 mins.
Director: Koudai Kakimoto
Writer: Yuniko Ayana (Screenplay/Story)
Starring: Ayasa Itou (Arisa Ichigaya), Aimi Terakawa (Kasumi Toyama), Ayaka Ohashi (Saaya Yamabuki), Sae Ootsuka (Tae Hanazono), Rimi Nishimoto (Rimi Ushigome),
Animation Production: Sanzigen Animation Studio
BanG Dream! is a project in which the voice actors acting the characters actually form a band to play musical instruments and sing.
Synopsis: This film depicts the story of the final episode of the third season of the TV anime BanG Dream!, which was broadcast in 2020. The girls from the “Poppin’Party” team have completed their performance at the Budokan Live and now fly overseas to the next stage!
The End of the Pale Hour 
明け方の若者たち 「Akegata no Wakamonotachi」
Release Date: December 31st, 2021
Duration: 116 mins.
Director: Hana Matsumoto
Writer: Kazuhisa Kodera (Script), Masahiko Katsuse (Original Novel),
Starring: Takumi Kitamura, Yuina Kuroshima, Raiku, Mari Hamada, Aimi Satsukawa, Yuki Inoue,
Synopsis: A young man, “I” in the film, lives in Tokyo and meets the love of his life with “her.” As the two grow togethr, thy grow apart and “I” is devastated whn his ideal future falls apart…
99.9 Criminal Lawyer: The Movie 
99.9 刑事専門弁護士 THE MOVIE 「99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi: The Movie」
Release Date: December 30th, 2021
Duration: 120 mins.
Director: Hisashi Kimura
Writer: Hayato Miura (Script),
Starring: Jun Matsumoto, Teruyuki Kagawa, Hana Sugisaki, Ittoku Kishibe, Nana Eikura, Munetaka Aoki, Tsurube Shofukutei, Fumino Kimura,
Synopsis: The popular TV drama gets a movie adaptation wherein a team from Madarame Criminal Law Firm investigate various cases. Hiroto Miyama (Jun Matsumoto) is joined by rookie lawyer Honoka Kono (Hana Sugisaki), new for the film, and their boss Atsuhiro Sada (Teruyuki Kagawa) to investigate a case that took place 15 years ago in a small village that involved poisoned wine… What is the deal with 99.9% of the title? The characters don’t give up until they solve the last 0.1% of criminal cases.
Eiga Engeki Success-So: Shinryakusha S to Nishi Ogikubo no Kiseki 
映画演劇 サクセス荘 侵略者Sと西荻窪の奇跡 「 Eiga Engeki Sakusesu So: Shinryakusha S to Nishi Ogikubo no Kiseki」
Release Date: December 30th, 2021
Duration: 95 mins.
Director: Keita Kawajiri
Writer: Tokuo Koji (Script), Makoto Matsuda (Original Story),
Starring: Masanari Wada, Kensuke Takahashi, Akira Takano, Shun Takagi, Mario Kuroba,
This is the movie adaptation of the TV Tokyo drama series “TV Play: Success-so,” in which actors from stage plays, 2.5-dimensional actors – 2.5-dimension being th designation for stage adaptations of manga – take on the challenge of one-shot performances.
Synopsis: The residents of “Success-so,” an apartment building where young people who dream of success live, face off against a rival apartment building called “Glory Tower Residence”.
Honoka 
帆花 「 Honoka」
Release Date: January 02nd, 2022
Duration: 95 mins.
Director: Yuugo Kunitomo
Writer: N/A
Starring: Masanari Wada, Kensuke Takahashi, Akira Takano, Shun Takagi, Mario Kuroba,
Synopsis: This documentary focuses on the life of Honoka, a girl diagnosed as being “near brain death”, and her parents. The director first heard of them after reading a book written by Honoka’s mother, Risa Nishimura, in which she records Honoka’s daily life. from the time was three years old until she entered elementary school. With this film we see the closeness of the family in various moments such as how they go on trips to various places and spend time at home reading picture books.