Happy Weekend
Only one trailer post this weekend!
I have had a decent week with regards to media. I completed The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky and I will pack up my PSP and its games and put them in safe storage. I’ve restarted reading Madame Bovary. I watched a bunch of films and series including Remain in Twilight, the fantastic A Fugitive from the Past, and the fun Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre.
I reviewed Otogirisou and Stare.
What is released this weekend?
Dreaming in Between 
逃げきれた夢 「Nigekireta Yume」
Release Date: June 09th, 2023
Duration: 96 mins.
Director: Ryutaro Ninomiya
Writer: Ryutaro Ninomiya (Screenplay),
Starring: Ken Mitsuishi, Miyu Yoshimoto, Haruka Kudo, Maki Sakai, Yutaka Matsushige, Rei Okamoto,
This played at Cannes Film Festival 2023.
Synopsis: Shuhei Suenaga is a vice principal of a high school and he is becoming forgetful. It becomes obvious when he forgets to pay for a meal in a restaurant where an ex-student works. He begins to worry and begins to consider what his life was like before he felt his memories fading. He knows he is on bad terms with his wife Akiko and his daughter Mayu. He has also become distant with his friend Keiji. He decides to make a change in his life by repairing his relationships.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos the Movie 
劇場版 美少女戦士セーラームーンCosmos 前編 「Gekijouban Bishoujo Senshi Se-ra- Mu-n Cosmos Zenpen」
Release Date: June 09th, 2023
Duration: 80 mins.
Director: Tomoya Takahashi
Writer: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (Script), Naoko Takeuchi (Original Creator/Supervision),
Starring: Kotono Mitsuishi (Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon), Ai Maeda (Setsuna Meioh/Sailor Pluto), Ami Koshimizu (Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter), Hisako Kanemoto (Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury), Rina Satou (Rei Hino/Sailor Mars), Sayaka Ohara (Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune),
Animation Production: Studio DEEN, Toei Animation,
The first part of a two-part theatrical film depicting the “Shadow Galactica Arc” of Sailor Moon.
Synopsis: Usagi Tsukino’s most difficult task in her peaceful days is saying goodbye to her boyfriend Mamoru as he embarks upon studying in America. Those peaceful days are shattered when Shadow Galactica, led by Sailor Galaxia, the Warrior of Destruction, and the Sailor Star Lights, appear before Usagi and her friends.
The Water Flows to the Sea 
水は海に向かって流れる 「Mizu wa Umi ni Mukatte Nagareru」
Release Date: June 09th, 2023
Duration: 123 mins.
Director: Tetsu Maeda
Writer: Satomi Oshima (Screenplay), Retto Tajima (Original Manga)
Starring: Riku Ohnishi, Suzu Hirose, Kengo Kora, Junki Tozuka, Maki Sakai, Ami Touma,
Synopsis: Naotatsu is about to begin high school and has decided to live with his uncle, Shigemichi, and commute to school from Shigemichi’s house. What Naotatsu and his parents didn’t know before making that decision, however, is that Shigemichi gave up his job to become a manga-ka and the house is now a share house where a motley bunch of guests will be Naotatsu’s housemates. This includes Chisa Sakaki, an office lady, Hayate Izumiya, a fortune-teller who dresses as a woman, and Kenzo Naruse, a university professor. Naotatsu develops a crush on Chisa…
Mentai Piriri – Flower of Pansy 
映画めんたいぴりり パンジーの花 「Eiga Mentai Piriri Panji- no Hana」
Release Date: June 09th, 2023
Duration: 99 mins.
Director: Kan Eguchi
Writer: Kenji Higashi, Kan Eguchi (Screenplay),
Starring: Hanamaru Hakata, Yasuko Tomita, Yu Saito, Yuuki Morinaga, Kimiko Yo,
Five Fukuoka-based broadcasting stations work with Fukuoka-born director Kan Eguchi (The Fable, The Fable 2) to make a Fukuoka-centric story where the first sellers of Mentaiko (cod roe) play a big role. (Source)
Synopsis: Toshiyuki and his wife, Chiyoko, run a store named “Fukunoya” in Fukuoka. They become friends with a takoyaki (octopus dumpling) stall owner named Tsuru and try to help her out, as does the rest of the kind-hearted community.
Magone — A Study on “The Crossroads of Fate” by Tsuchida Yasuhiko 
マゴーネ 土田康彦「運命の交差点」についての研究 「Magone Tsuchida Yasuhiko “Unmei no Kousaten” ni Tsuite no Kenkyuu」
Release Date: June 09th, 2023
Duration: 96 mins.
Director: Atsushi Tanabe
Writer: Atsushi Tanabe (Screenplay),
Starring: Yasuhiko Tsuchida, Karin Miyawaki, Yukari Otomo, Dai Yoshihiko, 403 architecture[dajiba], TERU,
This has played at a variety of festivals like this one.
Synopsis: This is a documentary about Yasuhiko Tsuchida and his work. He is a world-renowned Venetian glass artist and he has a studio on the island of Murano, a place where he creates his art and other artists gather to look at his work. Over the course of eight years, director Atsushi Tanabe also visited Tsuchida and discovered that the man is also a chef and he uses his glassware as dishes to serve food on. Viewers can see all of this and the many visitors that Tsuchida hosts.
Gunbuster 2: Diebuster 
トップをねらえ2！ 「Toppu o Nerae 2!」
Release Date: June 09th, 2023
Duration: 173 mins
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: Yoji Enokido (Screenplay) Kazuya Tsurumaki (Original Concept)
Starring: Yukari Fukui (Nono), Maaya Sakamoto (Lal’C Melk Mark), Miyuki Sawashiro (Tycho Science), Kiyoshi Kawakubo (Admiral Dhorasoo), Mitsuo Iwata (Nichola Vacheron),
Animation Production: GAINAX
A six-episode OVA sequel to Gunbuster was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the animation studio GAINAX. Called Diebuster, it was released between 2004 and 2005.
For the 35th anniversary of the Gunbuster franchise, the Gunbuster OVA was released in cinemas a couple of weeks ago and now Diebuster will be screened with the OVA divided into two parts.
Synopsis: Well, that war with the aliens didn’t end with Gunbuster. It continues here and the solar system is continually under threat. The best defence comes from the elite pilots of a team named “Topless” who fly Buster Machines, humanoid vehicles of war. Nono, a waitress from a country town, dreams of becoming a space pilot and that dream is set in motion to becoming reality when she meets Lal’C Melk Mark, a member of “Topless”.
Rental x Family 
レンタル×ファミリー 「Rentaru x Famiri-」
Release Date: June 10th, 2023
Duration: 107 mins.
Director: Takehito Sakamoto
Writer: Atsushi Tanabe (Screenplay),
Starring: Shun Shioya, Nanami Kawakami, Yua Shiraishi, Aki Kawamochi, Fumina Suzuki, Sachiro Nomoto, Denden,
This is a solid drama based on a book written by Yuichi Ishii, the man at the heart of Werner Herzog’s docudrama Family Romance, LLC.
Synopsis: A single mother rents a father for her young daughter and the girl grows up believing he is her father. When the mother dies, the girl discovers that the man she considered a father is just an actor. Later, she goes to meet him in Tokyo where we see others who use his services.
SEE HEAR LOVE Mienakute mo Kikoenakute mo Itoshi Teru 
SEE HEAR LOVE 見えなくても聞こえなくても愛してる 「SEE HEAR LOVE Mienakute mo Kikoenakute mo Itoshi Teru」
Release Date: June 10th, 2023
Duration: 107 mins.
Director: John H. Lee
Writer: John H. Lee (Screenplay), NASTY CAT (Original Manga)
Starring: Tomohisa Yamashita, Yuuko Araki, Mahiro Takasugi, Maika Yamamoto, Motoki Fukami,
This one is on Amazon Prime in Japan so check your local service to see if it is available for you.
Synopsis: Shinji Izumoto is a manga artist whose career looks set to go next level as his work will get a film adaptation. However, when he learns that he has a disease that will make him blind, he has to give up on manga. Having been his grandmother’s carer, he faces difficulties fulfilling that role, too. As life seems to be collapsing for him, he attempts suicide but a fan named Hibiki saves his life. She has been deaf from birth and her perspective offers him another way of seeing life when everything looks bleak.
Eikyuu Shounen Eternal Boys Next Stage 
永久少年 Eternal Boys NEXT STAGE 「Eikyuu Shounen Eternal Boys NEXT STAGE」
Release Date: June 09th, 2023
Duration: 69 mins
Director: migmi
Writer: Kimiko Ueno (Series Composition), ma2 (Original Creator)
Starring: Jun Fukuyama (Haru Asai), Daisuke Hirakawa (Kentaro Sanada), Daisuke Namikawa (Tsuyoshi Imagawa), Toshiyuki Morikawa (Daisuke Yamanaka), Katsuyuki Konishi (Naoki Ishida), Hiroki Touchi (Nicolai Asakura)
Animation Production: LIDEN FILMS
Synopsis: When Kentaro Sanada’s company goes bankrupt, he struggles to find employment due to being middle aged. Due to a misunderstanding, he finds himself joining an old-man idol group by the name of “Eternal Boys” and meets a bunch of other “old men” from various walks of life, including an ex-teacher, an ex-child actor, and an ex-football player. Together, they take to the stage!
In this feature film sequel to the TV anime, the group have completed their live performance at the Budokan and are set to appear on TV a number of times, including on a variety show with their new song and in a TV drama featuring the national idol group “Gentlemen.” However, unexpected setbacks threaten to upset their plans.