Happy Weekend
Well, this is a delayed trailer post. It features a bunch of shorts and a documentary and a continuation of a TV series. Tomorrow’s post features lots of anime, two of which are a continuation of a TV series.
What are the first bunch of films to get released last weekend?
Me no Mienai Shiratori-san, Art wo mi ni iku 
目の見えない白鳥さん、アートを見にいく 「Me no Mienai Shiratori-san, Art wo mi ni iku」
Release Date: February 16th, 2023
Duration: 107 mins.
Director: Daisuke Miyoshi, Ario Kawauchi
Writer: Taiga Maki (Screenplay), Ario Kawauchi (Original Non-Fiction Book)
Starring: Kenji Shiratori, Maiko Sato, Ario Kawauchi, Junko Moriyama, Masaharu Hoshino,
Synopsis: This documentary is based on a non-fiction book by Ario Kawauchi about the daily life of a blind man who visits and examines art with friends. His name is Kenji Shiratori and, after visiting an art museum for the first time on a date with his girlfriend and listening to the descriptions of the art, he thought that he could enjoy art through conversation even if he cannot see it. He has been exploring art with his friends and museum workers and others for the past 20 years.
The museum I work at also has audio description.
Shylock’s Children 
シャイロックの子供たち 「Shairokku no Kodomotachi」
Release Date: February 17th, 2023
Duration: 122 mins.
Director: Katsuhide Motoki
Writer: Michio Tsubaki (Screenplay), Jun Ikeido (Original Novel)
Starring: Sadao Abe, Aya Ueto, Yuta Tamamori, Akira Emoto, Tetta Sugimoto, Yoko Moriguchi, Wakana Sakai,
A continuation of a 2022 TV series from the director of Angry Rice Wives (2021) and Samurai Hustle (2014). The TV series is based on a novel.
Synopsis: Masahiro Nishiki (Sadao Abe) has spent a long time working at the Nagahara branch of Tokyo Daiichi Bank and he is called in to investigate missing cash with a team, a process that will uncover a scandal that will hit the bank hard…
New Directions in Japanese Cinema
The next four short films come under the New Directions in Japanese Cinema initiative to help young filmmakers gain experience. These films were all produced in 2022.
Utsubuse no mama Odoritai 
うつぶせのまま踊りたい 「Utsubuse no mama Odoritai」
Release Date: February 17th, 2023
Duration: 30 mins.
Director: Masaya Okamoto
Writer: Masaya Okamoto (Screenplay),
Starring: Akari Fukanaga, Nanami Kusaka,
Synopsis: Meiko Yamada spends her days idly working at a coffee shop and composing tanka poems. When a customer sees one of these poems, they force Meiko out of her comfort zone while also seeing it as a chance to change their own life and escape their past.
Ra Mahi 
ラ・マヒ 「Ra Mahi」
Release Date: February 17th, 2023
Duration: 25 mins.
Director: Miyaka Naruse
Writer: Miyaka Naruse (Screenplay),
Starring: Maria, Sumire Natsu, Rydeen Hagane, Akari Natsume, Misaki Nakano,
Synopsis: Ai Ogino has avoided doing anything out of the ordinary to avoid trouble but when she is reunited with her classmate Tsukiko, all of that changes since Tsukiko is a professional wrestler. Ai aspires to be one too but she has to break out of her shell first.
Debriz 
デブリーズ 「Deburi-zu」
Release Date: February 17th, 2023
Duration: 30 mins.
Director: Taiga Maki
Writer: Taiga Maki (Screenplay),
Starring: Kazuma Yamane, Yuusaku Mori, Shinsuke Kato,
Synopsis: A director named Wada and his team go to a scrap factory to shoot an advertisement only to find themselves transported to an alien planet where they meet a race of people who live off the cast-off junk from Earth.
Saboten to Kaitei 
サボテンと海底 「Saboten to Kaitei」
Release Date: February 17th, 2023
Duration: 30 mins.
Director: Taiga Maki
Writer: Taiga Maki (Screenplay),
Starring: Kazuma Yamane, Yuusaku Mori, Shinsuke Kato,
Synopsis: Yoshinori is an actor in his mid-30s whose career has hit the skids. He works as a stand-in, doing preparation work on behalf of the actors before shooting movies and commercials. One such actor, who has become popular, helps him get a gig.