Happy Weekend
I hope you are well!
This is the first of a two-part trailer post since there are ten Japanese movies released this weekend. Just a reminder, you can watch a plethora of Japanese films for free at these sites:
DAFILMS – 10 documentaries from the history of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.
Cinematheque Francaise – a mixture of critically acclaimed features and shorts that are normally only available via festivals.
What are the first batch of films released this weekend?
Adieu Galaxy Express 999 
さよなら銀河鉄道999 アンドロメダ終着駅 「 Sayonara Ginga Tetsudo 999 Andoromeda- Shuuchakueki」
Release Date: August 01st, 1981
Duration: 129 mins
Director: Rintaro
Writer: Hiroyasu Yamaura (Screenplay), Leiji Matsumoto (Original Creator)
Starring: Masako Ikeda (Maetel), Masako Nozawa (Tetsuro Hoshino), Kaneta Kimotsuki (Conductor), Hidekatsu Shibata (Count Mcha), Goro Naya (Doctor Ban), Makio Inoue (Captain Harlock), Reiko Tajima (Emeraldas),
Animation Production: Toei Animation
This is the second movie based on Leiji Matsumoto’s Galaxy Express 999 manga.
Synopsis: Following the destruction of the machine planet, Tetsuro Hoshino returns to Earth on the Galaxy Express 999 and finds the planet has become a battleground in the war between humanity and the machine empire. Tetsuro joins the human resistance but soon gets a message from his former travelling companion Maetel who summons him to board the Galaxy Express 999 train again. His journey is fraught and full of danger as he encounters a “Ghost Train” and the mysterious black knight Faust. Also, Maetel is missing and the ultimate destination of the 999 is unknown…
The Midnight Maiden War 
真夜中乙女戦争「Mayonaka Otome Senso」
Release Date: January 21st, 2022
Duration: 113 mins.
Director: Ken Ninomiya
Writer: Ken Ninomiya (Script), F (Original Novel),
Starring: Ren Nagase, Elaiza Ikeda, Tasuku Emoto, Makiko Watanabe, Mayu Yamaguchi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdAHhVYUcVA
Synopsis: Ren Nagase plays “I”, a university student who has moved to Tokyo and started living alone. With no connections to others, his life becomes depressing until he meets a ruthless and intelligent “Senpai” (Elaiza Ikeda) in a “hide-and-seek club” and becomes attracted to her. He also meets a mysterious and highly charismatic man named “Black Suit” (Tasuku Emoto). Their encounters are playful at first but become deadly serious when they begin to develop a plan to destroy Tokyo called the “Midnight Maiden War.
Sagasu 
さがす「Sagasu」
Release Date: January 21st, 2022
Duration: 123 mins.
Director: Shinzo Katayama
Writer: Kazuhisa Kotera, Ro Takada (Script),
Starring: Jiro Sato, Misato Morita, Aoi Ito, Hiroya Shimizu, Toru Shinagawa,
Synopsis: Satoshi and his junior high school daughter Kaede live in downtown Osaka. He is fond of saying “If you catch me, you can get three million yen.” To Kaede, her father’s words seem silly but then he disappears. With the police reluctant to help and after meeting a young man who shares the same name as her father but who may be a serial killer, Kaede is plunged into a desperate search that is no joke as it leads to dark mysteries being uncovered…
Tiger and Bunny: The Beginning 
劇場版Tiger & Bunny The Beginning 「Gekijouban Tiger & Bunny The Beginning」
Running Time: 93 mins.
Release Date: September 22nd, 2012
Director: Yoshitomo Yonetani
Writer: Masafumi Nishida (Screenplay), Hajime Yatate (Original Creator)
Starring: Hiroaki Hirata (Kotetsu T. Kaburagi/Wild Tiger), Masakazu Morita (Barnaby Brooks, Jr.), Mariya Ise (Pao-Ling Huang/Dragon Kid), Minako Kotobuki (Karina Lyle/Blue Rose), Go Inoue (Keith Goodman/Sky High)
Animation Production: Sunrise
Has it really been 10 years since TIGER & BUNNY set screens on fire? For their 10th Anniversary, both of the anime film will be released in theatres with the 4DX treatment.
Synopsis: Kotetsu T. Kaburagi is one of a number of heroes who protect Sternbild city. These heroes all belong to corporations and are akin to athletes in the way they are sponsored by corporate advertising and compete on Hero TV. After being forced by a merger to work for a new company, our hero, a veteran named Wild Tiger, is assigned a cocky partner named Barnaby Brooks, Jr. and the two must capture a thief who threatens the reputations of all heroes.
Miyuki Nakajima Live History – 2007-2016 Utatabi Enkai Hajimekai 
中島みゆき 劇場版 ライヴ・ヒストリー 2007-2016 歌旅～縁会～一会「Nakajima Miyuki Raibu Hisutori- 2007-2016 Utatabi Enkai Hajimekai」
Release Date: January 21st, 2022
Duration: 85 mins.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Miyuki Nakajima
Synopsis: Miyuki Nakajima is a massively popular folk singer whose concerts are often sold out. This is the latest in a series of movie compilations of her live performances. For it, 15 songs from three live performances were selected.