Happy Weekend
My coverage of Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023 has come to an end. I hope to be around to cover next year’s edition.
There are quite a few films released this weekend so this is a two-part trailer post. Come back tomorrow for more.
What are the first batch of films released this weekend?
Gridman Universe 
グリッドマン ユニバース 「Guriddoman Uniba-su 」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 118 mins
Director: Akira Amemiya
Writer: Keiichi Hasegawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Yuya Hirose (Yuta Hibiki), Yume Miyamoto (Rikka Takarada), Hikaru Midorikawa (Gridman), Soma Saito (Sho Utsumi), Chika Anza (Chie Asukagawa)
Animation Production: Trigger
This film is a crossover between SSSS.GRIDMAN and SSSS.DYNAZENON.
Synopsis: High school student Yuta Hibiki decides to confess his feelings to Rikka, a girl with tremendous powers, a connection to a monster, and a girl whose heart was saved by a hyper-agent named Gridman who appeared from another dimension. When a monster and Gridman appear, battles begin.
Gekijouban Argonavis AXIA 
劇場版アルゴナビス AXIA 「Gekijouban Arugonabisu AXIA」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 60 mins
Director: Shigeru Morikawa
Writer: N/A (Screenplay), Bushi Road (Original Creator)
Starring: Daisuke Hyuga (Yuto Goryo), Masahiro Itou (Ren Nanahoshi), Seiji Maeda (Wataru Matoba), Shohei Hashimoto (Banri Shiroishi), Jin Ogasawara (Nayuta Asahi),
Animation Production: Sanzigen
Synopsis: The band Gyroaxia have moved from Sapporo to Tokyo but since arriving they don’t get on and rumours are spreading that they will break up. While this is happening, vocalist Asahi looks back on his father who abandoned his family and begins to figure out why he stays with the band.
Lost Care 
ロストケア 「Rosuto Kea」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 114 mins.
Director: Tetsu Maeda
Writer: Tetsu Maeda, Yukari Tatsui (Screenplay), Aki Hamanaka (Original Novel),
Starring: Kenichi Matsuyama, Masami Nagasawa, Oji Suzuka, Rie Minemura, Akira Emoto, Chie Ayada, Maki Sakai,
Synopsis: When the dead bodies of an old man and a the director of a home-care centre are found, suspicions fall on Munenori Shiba, a carer. Prosecutor Hidemi Otomo begins digging and finds that the death rate at the care centre is high and that behind Shiba’s kind-hearted façade is a potential serial killer. When interrogated, he says he gave salvation to those he killed…
Kokoro no Basho 
ココロのバショ 「Kokoro no Basho」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 45 mins.
Director: Wako Motegi
Writer: Wako Motegi (Screenplay),
Starring: Rina Kado, Asami Shibuya, Atsuko Okamoto, Kana Ozone, Hisako Ohkata,
Synopsis: Yume is a woman with no self-confidence. She lives with her mother Kinuko, a religious zealot. To make sense of things, she writes down her thoughts in a letter to her mother. One day, she is drawn to a horse farm after seeing a poster of a horse. As Yume As an adult, Yume has always lacked self-confidence and has repeatedly made mistakes. Yume interacts with the horses, she begins to remember things about her mother.
Sancha no Poltergeist 
三茶のポルターガイスト 「Sancha no Poruta-gaisuto」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 82 mins.
Director: Tsuyoshi Goto
b N/A
Starring: Yukiko Sumi, Shoji Yokozawa, Mitsuru Yaku, Issei Ishida, Kokoro Ebino,
Synopsis: This is a documentary on a haunted place in Sangenjaya, Tokyo, where a film crew go undercover where psychic phenomena are frequently observed. Spooky things are caught on camera.
Brats Be Ambitious! 
雑魚どもよ、大志を抱け！ 「Zako-domo yo, Taishi o dake!」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 145 mins.
Director: Shin Adachi
Writer: Minoru Matsumoto, Shin Adachi (Screenplay), Shin Adachi (Original Novel),
Starring: Kiichi Shiraishi, Yukiya Ikekawa, Hikaru Tashiro, Shion Matsufuji, Shun Aoi,
Synopsis: Shun is an elementary student who lives in a provincial town. He loves hanging out with his friends as this helps him and them avoid their anxieties about cram schools, his mother’s cancer, and more things. However, when Shun ignores one of his friends being bullied, this puts a strain on the relationship in the group…
18-Sai, Tsumugimasu Watashi no Sotsugyou dai 4-ki
18歳、つむぎます 私の卒業 第4期 「18-Sai, Tsumugimasu Watashi no Sotsugyou dai 4-ki」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 117 mins.
Director: Hitomi Kitagawa
Writer: Akihiko Takaishi (Screenplay),
Starring: Himena Irei, Rio Takahashi, Haruto Yoshida, Neo Sato, Sota Uemura,
Synopsis: A film project dedicated to discovering new actors. 27 were selected from 1,000 auditioners. The story is centred on each of the characters considering what they will do with their lives after graduating from high school. The film is set in Fukuyama City.
Dog and People 
dog and people 犬と人の間にあるもの 「dog and people Inu to Hito no Ma ni Aru Mono」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 90 mins.
Director: Kazumi Matsumoto
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: This documentary looks at the different relationships the form between dogs and people. From rescue dogs, to guide dogs, therapy dogs, and friends, we get a whole range of canines living in places such as Saga Prefecture, Hyogo, Aichi, Fukushima, Tokyo, and Saitama.
Hypnosis Mic Division Rap Battle Rule the Stage Bad Ass Temple VS Asatenro Cinema Edit 
「ヒプノシスマイク Division Rap Battle」Rule the Stage《Bad Ass Temple VS 麻天狼》 Cinema Editt 「Hipunoshisu Maiku Division Rap Battle Rule the Stage Bad Ass Temple VS Asatenro 」
Release Date: March 24th, 2023
Duration: 128 mins.
Staging: Go Ueki
Writer: Shinjiro Kameda (Screenplay), Evil Line Records (Original Creator),
Starring: Ryota Hirona, Daigo Kato, Reito Aoyagi, Taiyo Ayukawa, Hirofumi Araki, Takuya Ide,
Hypnosis Microphone is a project featuring eighteen Japanese voice actors who make up teams of three emcees, each representing a famous district in Japan. These teams battle each other with rap battle albums, division songs, and occasional drama CDs. This film is a 2.5D stage version.
If you want to find out more about the anime/drama/game it is based on, head to this site.
Synopsis: This is the second film adaptation of one of the stageplays and it features Bad Ass Temple, a team from Nagoya, and Asatenro, from Tokyo.