Happy Weekend
This is the first of a two-part trailer post, so come back tomorrow for more.
What are the first batch of films released this weekend?
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village 
「鬼滅の刃」上弦集結、そして刀鍛冶の里へ 「”Kimetsu no Yaiba” Jougen Shuuketsu, Soshite Katana kaji no Sato e」
Release Date: February 03rd, 2023
Duration: 110 mins
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Writer: ufotable (Screenplay), Koyoharu Gotouge (Original Creator)
Starring: Natsuki Hanai (Tanjiro Kamado), Akari Kito (Nezuko Kamada), Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu Agatsuma). Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Inosuke Hashibira),
Animation Production: ufotable
The third series of Kimetsu no Yaiba will be aired in April 2023 and so episodes 10 and 11 of the second season and the first episode of the new series will be screened in cinemas. The entire film has been 4K up-converted, and the music has been re-mixed for the cinema screenings.
Synopsis: Taisho-era Japan is beset by demons and it is up to a special order of swordsmen to fight back. We follow Tanjiro Kamado and his half-demon sister Nezuko who he is trying to turn back into a human. They are prepping for a big battle in the Infinity Castle.
Shikakenin Fujieda Baian: Part 1 
仕掛人・藤枝梅安 「Shikakenin Fujieda Baian」
Release Date: February 03rd, 2023
Duration: 76 mins.
Direction: Shunsaku Kawake
Writer: Sumio Omori (Screenplay), Shotaro Ikenami (Original Story)
Starring: Etsushi Toyokawa, Ainosuke Kataoka, Toshiro Yanagiba, Yuki Amami, Miho Kanno, Ryo Ono, Atsuko Takahata, Kaoru Kobayashi, Denden,
The first part of a two-part film adaptation of Shotaro Ikenami‘s best-selling historical novel series “Shikakenin Fujieda Baian” for the 100th anniversary of Shotaro Ikenami’s birth. There have been other adaptations, one starring Ken Ogata and another, in the 90s, starring Ken Watanabe.
Synopsis: Fujieda is an acupuncturist who lives in Edo. He may be a doctor but his needles allow him to double as an assassin to get rid of people who threaten the public good. When he meets his next target, a woman, he is reminded of his own dark background.
Scroll 
スクロール 「Sukuro-ru」
Release Date: February 03rd, 2023
Duration: 117 mins.
Direction: Yasuhiko Shimizu
Writer: Sumio Omori (Screenplay), Shunki Hashizume (Original Novel)
Starring: Takumi Kitamura, Taishi Nakagawa, Mayu Matsuoka, Kotone Furukawa, Riko, Nobuaki Kaneko, MEGUMI,
Synopsis: I (boku) and Yusuke are been friends from school. When they learn that another friend, Mori, has committed suicide it opens the floodgates for I and Yusuke to address issues in their own lives. Power harassment, love, difficulties in fitting in and Yusuke’s relationship with a young woman named Naho who seeks to get married.
Ikitete Gomennasai 
生きててごめんなさい 「Ikitete Gomennasai」
Release Date: February 03rd, 2023
Duration: 107 mins.
Direction: Yasuhiko Shimizu
Writer: Yasuhiko Shimizu, Aura Yamashina (Screenplay),
Starring: Mario Kuroba, Moeka Hoshi, Rena Matsui, Shunpei Yasui, Ami Tomite, Koki Osamura,
Synopsis: Shuichi Sonoda works hard in the editorial department of a publishing company but once harboured dreams of being a novelist. He lives with a woman named Rina who struggles with responsibilities. When she gets fired from her job, she spends a lot of her time at home but she catches the eye of someone Shuichi works for and ends up working alongside him. The sight of people pampering Rina makes Shuichi jealous and his attitude towards her turns cold.
Ukabu 
浮かぶ 「Ukabu」
Release Date: February 03rd, 2023
Duration: 85 mins.
Direction: Natsumi Yoshida
Writer: Natsumi Yoshida (Screenplay),
Starring: Haruka Imou, Jun Nakahara, Tatsuhiro Yamaoka, Kaori Takeshita, Reiko Tanaka, Shuri Suwa, Chise Niitsu,
Synopsis: A young woman named Yui lives in a town that was once surrounded by a large forest. It was said that a god concealed by a tengu was in the forest. Nowadays, the forest has been cut down and the last remnants are on the chopping block. It is at this time that Yui remembers that her older sister was hidden by the gods in the forest. She decides to step into the last of the forest as if lured inside by something…
Totsugeki! Tonari no UFO 
突撃！隣のUFO 「Totsugeki! Tonari no UFO」
Release Date: February 03rd, 2023
Duration: 77 mins.
Direction: Minoru Kawasaki
Writer: Minoru Kawasaki, Nobuyuki Hori (Screenplay),
Starring: Yonesuke, Tatsuomi Hamada, Yuna Hattori, Hollywood Zakoshisyoh, Eagle Mizokami,
Minoru Kawasaki makes low-budget parody movies featuring big monster mashups and what not. Here, he has made a comedy featuring aliens.
Synopsis: At the UFO Research Laboratory (URL), a private organisation that investigates UFO incidents there is Taki, an investigator whose wife and child were abducted. At the sight of the abduction, a golden rice scoop was found. This rice scoop gives Taki the strength to fight back Thanks to the magical power of the golden rice scoop, Taki is no longer afraid of UFOs and tracks down the ones that abducted his family.