Happy Weekend
I hope you are well.
I’m covering the Osaka Asian Film Festival (which I also work for but I will give honest reviews) so here is what I have published already:
The Sound of Light / North Shinjuku 2055 / My Sister / Bagmati River / Out of Tokyo 202X
More reviews on the way!
What else is happening? The Japan Academy Awards announced its winners and Drive My Car took him many awards. That film is very much an outlier as to what is released on average every weekend. The truth is below!
What are the films released this weekend?
Wedding High 
ウェディング・ハイ 「Ueddingu Hai」
Release Date: March 12th, 2022
Duration: 117 mins.
Director: Akiko Ohku
Writer: BAKARHYTHM (Script)
Starring: Ryoko Shinohara, Tomoya Nakamura, Nagisa Sekimizu, Osamu Mukai,
Akiko Ohku, the director of Tremble All You Want and Hold Me Back, has a new film out about the comedy surrounding weddings.
Synopsis: A brilliant wedding planner must work flat out to provide a memorable event for a couple. That includes dealing with guests and staff who are over the top and also exes and other party-crashers who want in on the action.
Eiga Shimajirou to Kirakira Oukoku no Ouji-sama 
映画しまじろう しまじろうと キラキラおうこくの おうじさま 「 Eiga Shimajirou to Kirakira Oukoku no Ouji-sama」
Release Date: March 11th, 2022
Duration: 60 mins
Director: Takamitsu Kawamura
Writer: Koji Miura (Screenplay),
Starring: Omi Minami (Shimajiro Shimano), Chafurin (Shimataro Shimano), Hiro Shimono (Maron), Junichi Suwabe (Koron), Shoko Nakagawa (Queen Emeralda),
Animation Production: The Answer Studio Co. Ltd.
Synopsis from Anime News Network: Pearl, the prince of the Glitter Kingdom, who is preparing to become king. After he leaves the kingdom to go to Challenge Island, a situation causes the kingdom to lose its precious glitter. Shimajiro and friends set out with Pearl, who lacks self-confidence, on an adventure to find three keys to save the kingdom.
Watashi Datte Surun Desu 1 
私だってするんです1 「Watashi Datte Surun Desu 1」
Release Date: March 11th, 2022
Duration: 73 mins.
Director: Kenji Araki
Writer: Kimihiko Nakamura (Script) Marin Kotani (Original Manga),
Starring: Tomoko Kato, Shunsuke Nishikawa, Noma Seishi, Kanna Nanao, Nagisa Kihara,
Synopsis: Ringo Komai is caught pleasuring herself in an empty classroom with a picture of her crush as a prompt. When her crush actually shows up on the scene, embarrassment turns into perversion as she agrees to help him complete his research into masturbation at the school and get details on methods others use for records put down in a notebook. Ringo agrees and when she hears certain methods, she tries them herself…
JO1 THE MOVIE “Mikansei” GO to the TOP 
JO1 THE MOVIE 「未完成」 GO to the TOP 「JO1 THE MOVIE 「Mikansei」 GO to the TOP」
Release Date: March 11th, 2022
Duration: 108 mins.
Director: Tetsuro Inagaki
Writer: N/A
Starring: The J01 boys: Ren Kawashiri, Ruki Shiroiwa, Keigo Sato, Sho Yonashiro, Issei Mamehara, Takumi Kawanishi,
Synopsis: This documentary follows JO1, an 11-member global boy group that saw the release of their debut single happen just before the Covid-19 pandemic. What happened during those to years? They trained in singing, dancing, and did promo events in the lead-up to their first live audience performance in November 2021. Fortunately for them, a lot of people like to pretend the pandemic is over.
#Alice’s Judgement 
#アリスの裁き 「#Arisu no Sabaki」
Release Date: March 11th, 2022
Duration: 83 mins.
Director: Tsucchi
Writer: Naoto Harasawa (Script)
Starring: Yoshino Furuya, Shiori Nagaki, Karin, Kasumin, Ryoji Takarabe,
This is the first film directed by Tsucchi, the force who runs the YouTube channel “2200 TV,” which has over 120,000 channel subscribers.
Synopsis: Alice Nomura, the leader of the three-member idol group “Sherlock,” commits suicide. The remaining members, Shiori and Karin, are left distressed by the media coverage and online trolls. When an SNS account purporting to be run by Alice is launched, all sorts of revelations about the situation come to light…
Munjuru Kasa, Sesoko Shima no Kasa 
むんじゅる笠 瀬底島の笠 「Munjuru Kasa, Sesoko Shima no Kasa」
Release Date: March 11th, 2022
Duration: 92 mins.
Director: Asami Shiroma
Writer: Asami Shiroma (Script) Gakuya Nomura (Original Story),
Starring: Zenyu Oshiro
Synopsis: This documentary follows Zenyu Oshiro, a craftsman who makes traditional Okinawan hand-knitted straw hats called “Munjuru kasa” on Sesoko Island, a remote island in Okinawa Prefecture. Until the island was connected to the main island of Okinawa by a bridge, the islanders were living in poverty and made hats for a living. The hats were once in demand but are now mostly used as a motif for festivals and dances and so the number of hat-makers has decreased over time, and Oshiro is now the only one on Sesoko Island.
Kamen Rider OOO 10th: Core Medal of Resurrection 
仮面ライダーオーズ 10th 復活のコアメダル 「Kamen Raida- O-zu 10th Fukkatsu no Koamedaru」
Release Date: March 12th, 2022
Duration: 58 mins.
Director: Ryuta Tasaki
Writer: Nobuhiro Mouri (Script) Shotaro Ishinomori (Original Novel),
Starring: Shu Watanabe, Ryosuke Miura, Riho Takada, Hiroaki Iwanaga, Asaya Kimijima, Mayuko Arisue, Marie Kai,
This is the first new V-Cinema work in 10 years from Masked Rider OOO, a series that aired from September 2010 to August 2011.
Synopsis: In the year 2021, Eiji Hino, aka Masked Rider OOO, returns from a journey to revive his partner, Ankh to fight the ancient OOOs who have risen from their 800-year slumber and resurrected the Greedo’s Uva, Kazari, Mesur, and Gamel. It looks bleak for humanity but something happens to the “cracked core metal” and Ankh is revived.
DEATH DAYS 
Release Date: March 12th, 2022
Duration: 48 mins.
Director: Makoto Nagahisa
Writer: Makoto Nagahisa (Script)
Starring: Go Morita, Shizuka Ishibashi, Koh Maehara, Himi Sato, Himi Sato, Shinsuke Sato, Mamoru., Semeru.
Makoto Nagahisa of We Are Little Zombies fame is back with a mid-length film.
Synopsis: In a world where people know the day they will die (their “death day”) from the time they are born, but do not know at what age that death day will come, one man eventually works out when the exact moment will come and deals with the resulting emotions through conversations with his girlfriend and friends.
Umareyuku Hibi
生まれゆく日々 「Umareyuku Hibi」
Release Date: March 12th, 2022
Duration: 50 mins.
Director: Tatsuya Yamanishi
Writer: N/A
Starring: Makoto Nagahisa, Ryoko Shinohara, Tomoya Nakamura, Nagisa Sekimizu, Osamu Mukai,
Synopsis: A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of DEATH DAYS and reveals the The film shows director Makoto Nagahisa’s true nature as he free-spiritedly dances on the set and sings the songs in the film, and the way he quietly lounges in a corner of a room. This film will be released together with DEATH DAYS.
Watashi Datte Surun Desu 2
私だってするんです2 「Watashi Datte Surun Desu 2」
Release Date: March 11th, 2022
Duration: 73 mins.
Director: Kenji Araki
Writer: Kimihiko Nakamura (Script) Marin Kotani (Original Novel),
Starring: Tomoko Kato, Shunsuke Nishikawa, Noma Seishi, Kanna Nanao, Nagisa Kihara,
Synopsis: This is the second instalment of Ringo’s misadventures as she and Sosei work together to create a “masturbation notebook.” In this instalment, Ringo sees a drawing of Sose doing it with another boy and her mind is blown by Boys Love manga thanks to her friend who is a fan and was the one who drew the picture. Meanwhile, at school, Principal Togo investigates what is going on…