Happy Weekend
I hope you are well
This is the first of a two-part trailer post. Come back tomorrow for more trailers.
What are the first bunch of films released this weekend?
Karada Sagashi 
カラダ探し「Karada Sagashi」
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Duration: 102 mins.
Director: Eiichiro Hasumi
Writer: Harumi Doki (Script), Katsutoshi Murase, Welzard (Original Web Novel),
Starring: Kanna Hashimoto, Gordon Maeda, Maika Yamamoto, Fuju Kamio, Kotaro Daigo, Tasuku Emoto, Naomi Nishida,
This is based on a mobile game that was adapted into a manga. It is brought to the screen by the director of Wild 7.
Synopsis: Asuka Morisaki and her high school companions are trapped in a time loop by a mysterious young girl who demands that they search for her body. Said girl kills them until they find the dismembered body.
Whisper of the Heart (Live Action) 
耳をすませば「Mimi o Sumaseba」
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Duration: 114 mins.
Director: Yuichiro Hirakawa
Writer: Yuichiro Hirakawa (Script), Aoi Hiiragi (Original Manga),
Starring: Nana Seino, Tori Matsuzaka, Runa Yasuhara, Yuki Yamada, Mtsubasa Nakagawa, Rio Uchida, Takashi Kobayashi, Yoko Moriguchi,
This is the live-action film adaptation of Aoi Hiiragi’s classic manga which many will know as being the basis for Studio Ghibli’s popular animated film of the same name. It stars Nana Seino and Tori Matsuzaka in a part where the protagonists reunite ten years in the future.
Synopsis: Shizuku Tsukishima, a bookworm and budding author, meets Seiji Asakawa, a fellow schoolmate who she first finds disagreeable but later comes to admire as they share their dreams with each other.
Ten years later, Shizuku has given up her dream and now works as an editor for a publishing company that specializes in children’s books while Seij is abroad and still pursuing his dream.
Itsuka, Itsumo…… Itsumademo. 
いつか、いつも……いつまでも。「Itsuka, Itsumo…… Itsumademo.」
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Duration: 113 mins.
Director: Shunichi Nagasaki
Writer: Yumi Yazawa (Script), Aoi Hiiragi (Original Manga),
Starring: Mahiro Takasugi, Nagisa Sekimizu, Kaori Mizushima, Renji Ishibashi, Kozo Sato, Ayumu Nakajima, Yuriko Ono,
Shunichi Nagasaki, director of Shikoku, takes on this drama.
Synopsis: Toshihide works as a doctor with his grandfather at a clinic by the sea. When he meets Ako, he falls for her because she looks like his dream girl. Reality isn’t so easy as she is complicated. When she begins living with Toshihide’s warm-hearted family, they both begin to change.
Motto Chouetsu Shita Tokoro e. 
もっと超越した所へ。「Motto Chouetsu Shita Tokoro e.」
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Duration: 113 mins.
Director: Santa Yamagishi
Writer: Shuko Nemoto (Script/Original Story/Stageplay),
Starring: Atsuko Maeda, Fuma Kikuchi, Shuri, Yudai Chiba, Marika Ito, Reiji Okamoto, Rei Kurokawa, Takahiro Miura,
A relationship comedy-drama starring Atsuko Maeda (Seventh Code). Shuri (Love at Least) and Reiko Kurokawa (Ito).
Synopsis: Four women with bad boyfriends finally get the gumption to break up with them. They are Machiko, a designer who is dating an aspiring band member; Suzu, a former child actress and variety TV personality who is dating a cute but frivolous boy; Miwa, a blond gal, who is dating a FREETER; and Nanase, a sex worker who is dating a proud former child actor.
Barber Mukouda 
向田理髪店「Mukouda Rihatsu-ten」
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Duration: 108 mins.
Director: Toshiyuki Morioka
Writer: Toshiyuki Morioka (Script), Aoi Hiiragi (Original Story),
Starring: Katsumi Takahashi, Itsuji Itao, Jin Shirasu, Yoshimasa Kondo, Makoto Ashikawa, Kaira, Miwako Kakei, Yasuko Tomita,
Synopsis: Yasuhiko Mukoda runs a small barbershop he inherited from his parents in a small coal mining town that is in decline. His son, Kazumasa, returns from Tokyo with the intention of taking on the barbershop and starts working their and at a nearby transportation company part-time to earn money for barber school. Yasuhiko is troubled and things come to a head when they get involved in plans surrounding the town’s revitalization.
Okamuro-san 
オカムロさん「Okamuro-san」
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Duration: 73 mins.
Director: Yukito Matsuno
Writer: Yukito Matsuno (Script), Masakazu Hara (Original Story),
Starring: Ryoka Yoshida, Yuuki Byrnes, Yukito Matsuno, Saori Izawa, Hirotaka Uchida, Karen Ishikawa,
Yukito Matsuno made a name for himself with a short film at last year’s Kanazawa Film Festival with Zenshin Hanzai-sha and it looks like this is his debut feature and it is based on an urban legend.
Synopsis: Five university students are beheaded by Okamuro-san, a headhunter. The case is known as the “Campsite Mass Headhunting Murder.” Suzu, a survivor, is left hellbent on taking revenge.
Guardy Girls 
ガディガルズ「Gadi Garuzu」
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Duration: 78 mins
Director: D-Key
Writer: D-Key (Screenplay/Original Creator)
Starring: Machico (Laurie), Rin Aira (Fumi), Yui Ninomiya (Silvia), Akane Matsunaga, Ayaka Ohashi, Tomokazu Seki, Ibuki Kido,
Animation Production: Kachidoki Studio
This is the debut feature-length animated film by D-Key, a self-taught filmmaker. Inspired by American comic books, D-Key took charge of planning, characters, and setting, as well as scriptwriting and more.
Synopsis: Set in a world similar to our own, we watch the exploits of three amazing girls who don’t quite fit into normal society. They include super-strong Silvia, gun-girl Laurie, and the scientific magical girl Fumi. Together, they have formed the Guardy Girls, a brand new team of heroes and they face off with weird and wacky villains.
Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita! Precious Friends 
私に天使が舞い降りた！プレシャス・フレンズ「Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita! Pureshasu Furenzu」
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Duration: 67 mins
Director: Daisuke Hiramaki
Writer: Yuka Yamada (Screenplay), Nanatsu Mukunoki (Original Creator)
Starring: Akari Kito (Noa Himesaka), Maria Sashide (Hana Shirosaki), Reina Ueda (Miyako Hoshino), Naomi Ozora (Kanon Konomori), Rika Nagae (Hinata Hoshino),
Animation Production: Doga Kobo
This film is based on a yon-koma manga of the same name and it follows the 2019 TV anime.
Synopsis: Hana, Hinata, Noa, and Koyori are friends in fifth grade who are enjoying a sweets party thrown by Hinata’s older sister, a college student named Miyako. When the topic turned to Hana’s hair clip, which resembles the shape of a cookie, the children learned that it comes from Hana’s grandmother and the girls decide to visit her.