Happy Weekend
Just one trailer post this week due to the fact that the number of Japanese films released has come under 10!
With the approach of Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023, I’ve been prepping festival work to cover a number of titles that caught my eye while I was writing the English language section of the programme. Expect coverage to kick off from next week as the festival runs from March 10th – March 19th.
In terms of what I have watched in the meantime, I’ve been repeating titles recently but new ones include Radio Days (1987), The Getaway (1972), Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1966), The Resurrected (1991), Somebody’s Flowers (2021),
In terms of reviews, I covered Torso. This is a fine drama starring Makiko Watanabe and Sakura Ando and directed by Yutaka Yamazaki, cinematographer for Hirokazu Kore-eda and Naomi Kawase.
What are the films released this weekend?
And Yet, You Are So Sweet 
なのに、千輝くんが甘すぎる。 「Nanoni, Chigira-kun ga Amasugiru」
Release Date: March 03rd, 2023
Duration: 98 mins.
Director: Takehiko Shinjo
Writer: Haruka Okita (Screenplay), Kujira Anan (Original Manga),
Starring: Kyohei Takahashi, Mei Hata, Rihito Itagaki, Riko, Ryousuke Sota, Yumena Yanai, Miu Suzuki,
Takehiko Shinjo is a director who has adapted manga into live-action movies. One of his most notable was Your Lie in April (2016).
Synopsis: Maaya is a second year high schooler who is suffering a broken heart after confessing her love to a boy for the first time and being rejected. When popular handsome athlete Chigira suggests they play a “one-sided love game” where the rules are he does not find out and that she does not really like him, she agrees and finds her heart healed in the process. Then she begins to wonder about his true feelings for her…
Doraemon the Movie 2023: Nobita’s Sky Utopia 
映画ドラえもん のび太と空の理想郷（ユートピア） 「 Eiga Doraemon Nobita to Sora no Risoukyou (Utopia)」
Release Date: March 03rd, 2023
Duration: 107 mins
Director: Takumi Douyama
Writer: Ryota Kosawa (Screenplay), Fujiko F. Fujio (Original Creator)
Starring: Wasabi Mizuta (Doraemon), Megumi Ohara (Nobita), Yumi Kakazu (Shizuka), Inori Minase (Hanna), Marina Inoue (Marimba),
Animation Production: Shin-Ei Animation
This is the 42nd Doraemon movies, screened a year after the last one. It was penned by Ryota Kosawa, a man who has worked extensively on live-action dramas and films.
Synopsis: Nobita, Doraemon, and friends head to a mysterious crescent-shaped island in the sky in their airship “Time Zeppelin” and discover a dreamlike paradise where everyone can become perfect. There is, however, a big secret lurking underneath everything.
Cleopatra in Cinema 
クレオパトラ in Cinema 「Kureopatora in Cinema」
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: March 03rd, 2023
Director: Tetsuya Kumagawa
Writer: N/A
Starring: Nozomi Iijima, Masaya Yamamoto, Kei Sugino, Yuka Iwai, Shuhei Yoshida,
The last Kumagawa adaptation of Cleopatra was in 2018.
Synopsis: This is the 18th K Ballet cinema release. It showcases Tetsuya Kumagawa’s ballet company and his staging. This is a restaging of the Cleopatra production where the famous woman, known as one of the most beautiful women of all time, mediates between factions in the Egyptian court and the Roman Empire under Julius Caesar. The recording took place in 2022 at Bunkamura Orchard Hall.
Hashire! Hashire Hashire Merosu 
走れ！走れ走れメロス 「Nanoni, Chigira-kun ga Amasugiru」
Release Date: March 03rd, 2023
Duration: 53 mins.
Director: Shinichiro Origuchi
Writer: N/A
Starring: Shogo Soda, Hiroki Tsunematsu, Ryuusei Sato, Yoshihiro Kameo, Keisuke Ishitobi,
This film won four awards at the 14th Shimokitazawa Film Festival, including the Special Jury Award and the Audience Award, and was selected for the Tokyo Documentary Film Festival 2022.
Synopsis: This is a documentary about four high school students from a small school in Shimane Prefecture (where there is a student body of 70 kids) who tried their hand at theatre. The film looks at the teens, their relationships and how they regard themselves and the world and their guidance under a teacher who is taking them through Osamu Dazai’s story “Run, Melos”. The film follows them as they take part in a regional high school drama competition and the Covid-19 pandemic and if they could stage their play after all.
This is a programme of works by director Chitaro called “Ai to Seikatsu” which is running in the late-night slot at Cinema Rosa in Ikebukuro.
Cherry Rendezvous
桜桃らんでぶー 「Outou Rendebu-」
Release Date: November 11th, 2016
Duration: 41 mins.
Director: Chitaro
Writer: N/A
Starring: Dawoon Lee, Hiroto Kanai, Kazuya Okada,
Winner of the Jury Prize at the 2016 Ueda Castle Town Film Festival Independent Film Contest.
Synopsis: Tanaka falls in love with fellow university student Mio after the two meet following them reading the novel “Sakuracho” (Cherry Blossoms). Alas, Mio is in love with someone else and so Tanaka pines away. Then, one day, Mio quits university and travels back to her parent’s home. Tanaka travels there to find out why.
Kiniro no Keshiki
金色の景色 「Kiniro no Keshiki」
Release Date: March 03rd, 2023
Duration: 22 mins.
Director: Chitaro
Writer: N/A
Starring: Mitsuki Hoshi, Taisei Ehara, Junya Asada, Asami Fukuchi,
Synopsis: This is the story of university student Hiroshi Tanaka and his love for fellow student Shino Kanehara.
Mienai, Hikari
見えない、光 「Mienai, Hikari」
Release Date: February 11th, 2017
Duration: 28 mins.
Director: Chitaro
Writer: N/A
Starring: Hiroki Sato, Minami Obata, Yogetsu Morikawa, Takashi Matsumoto, Kiichi Yoshitake,
This was winner of the Grand Prix at the 8th Isesaki Film Festival.
Synopsis: Hiroki works for a cleaning company. He meets Miki, a woman who hums a tune that catches his ear, while he is at work. Love is born at the garbage dump without anyone noticing.
Ropeway
ロープウェイ 「Ro-puwei」
Release Date: February 11th, 2017
Duration: 18 mins.
Director: Chitaro
Writer: N/A
Starring: Mitsue Terasaka, Yushun Orita, Yogetsu Morikawa, Kazuko Toyomura, Mireho Misaki,
This film won awards at various film festivals, including the Grand Prix at the Tsurukawa Short Movie Contest in 2016 and the Grand Prix in the Short Film Division at the Fukui Film Festival in 2017.
Synopsis: Kayo is a part-time cleaner who lives with her elderly father who does nothing to help around the house. Making ends meet is tough so she begins selling her possessions to make money but, eventually, she runs away from home.