Happy Weekend
This is the first of a two-part trailer post. Come back tomorrow if you want more.
I’ve been getting a lot out of Netflix at the moment with The Days and a Monster rewatch. I’ve also been writing reviews of Hong Kong and Japanese films. Speaking of Japanese films…
What are the first batch of films released this weekend?
We’re Broke, My Lord 
大名倒産 「Daimyou Tousan」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 120 mins.
Director: Tetsu Maeda
Writer: Kentaro Ushio, Kazuhiro Inaba (Screenplay), Jiro Asada (Original Novel)
Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Hana Sugisaki, Fumiyo Kohinata, Kenichi Matsuyama, Aoi Miyazaki, Koichi Sato, Tadanobu Asano, Midoriko Kimura,
These Edo-era films all have the same poster designs. Who is the designer???
Synopsis: In Edo-period Japan, Koshiro has lived a quiet life as a commoner but all of that changes when he discovers that he is the son of the lord and said lord has gone into hiding leaving Koshiro as the heir of the realm and the responsibility of handling a massive debt. If Koshiro cannot come up with repayment, he will have to commit seppuku…
Ai no Komura Gaeri 
愛のこむらがえり 「Ai no Komura Gaeri」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 108 mins.
Director: Masaya Takahashi
Writer: Masato Kato, Teruo Abe, Tatsurou Mishima (Screenplay), Masato Kato, Teruo Abe (Original Work)
Starring: Sayaka Isoyama, Kouya Yoshibashi, Akira Emoto, Nahana, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Tooru Shinagawa, Takeo Ito,
Synopsis: Kaori Sato was so moved by an indie movie she watched at a film fest, she quit her job as a local government official and moved to Tokyo where she lives with the film’s director, Kohei. Eight years pass and their relationship isn’t so hot but a new script that Kohei has written inspires her to ensure that a film will be made based on it.
Ato no Sekai 
アトのセカイ 「Ato no Sekai」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 83 mins.
Director: Hiromitsu Amano
Writer: Hiromitsu Amano, Noriko Mita (Screenplay),
Starring: Takuya Tsuchida, Natsumi Ishizaki, Shuugo Nagashima, Kazuya Miura, Noa Kawazoe,
Synopsis: An ensemble drama about a group of former high school friends who meet for the first time since the death of their old teacher. They look back on their high school days while the emotions from that time reawaken…
Umareru 
うまれる 「Umareru」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 33 mins.
Director: Satoshi Tanaka
Writer: Satoshi Tanaka (Screenplay),
Starring: Hitomi Ando, Ami Tamotsu, Haruka Shibuya, Tomomi Kogure, Kumi Yoshida,
Synopsis: A short film that looks a little similar to Confessions as a woman, whose daughter was being bullied and died in terrible circumstances, takes on the school and the culprits in a search for justice.
Insomniacs After School 
君は放課後インソムニア 「Kimi wa Hokago Insomunia」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 33 mins.
Director: Chihiro Ikeda
Writer: Chihiro Ikeda, Izumi Takahashi (Screenplay), Makoto Ojiro (Original Manga)
Starring: Daiken Okudaira, Nana Mori, Yuki Sakurai, Minori Hagiwara, Masato Hagiwara, Denden, Megumi, Tomoko Tabata,
This is a live-action adaptation of the same-named manga.
Synopsis: Ganta and Magari, two high school students in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, suffer from insomnia. Ganta and Magari discover their shared predicament when they try to catch a few winks in the school’s unused observatory. They become friends and decide to resurrect the astronomy club.
NO LIMIT, YOUR LIFE 
NO LIMIT, YOUR LIFE ノー リミット，ユア ライフ 「No- Rimitto, Yua Raifu」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 99 mins.
Director: Tetsuya Mouri
Writer: N/A
Starring: Masatane Mutou, Yuuko Mutou
Synopsis: This is a documentary about Masatane Mutou and his wife Yuuko. He was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) at the age of 27 and has lost control of his muscles. Instead of giving up on life, he began raising awareness about it in public even as he continues to lose what control he has left. Both husband and wife show how love and dedication help them overcome the disease and live positively.
Paraphilia Circle 
パラフィリア・サークル 「Parafiria Sa-kuru」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 91 mins.
Director: Masatsugu Asahi
Writer: Haru Mitsunobu (Screenplay), Misa Ohkatsu (Original Work)
Starring: Yuuki Tamaki, Shota Kawakami, Keita Sato, Gouki Agata, Aika Sonoda,
Synopsis: A novelist named Kento Tamagawa hasn’t had a hit since his debut but meeting a person from the internet who claims to be a psychopath hunter offers him the chance at recharging his career. Kento is introduced to a cast of very nasty characters…
Mujou no Sekai 
無情の世界 「Mujou no Sekai」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 115 mins.
Director: Dai Sako, Kentaro Yamagishi, Masashi Komura
Writer: Dai Sako, Masashi Komura (Screenplay),
Starring: Yuuki Tamaki, Shota Kawakami, Keita Sato, Gouki Agata, Aika Sonoda,
Synopsis: An omnibus film by three filmmakers:
Kiss Me at Dead of Night – Dir: Dai Sako, Cast: Erika Karata, Eishin, Rina Ono, Motohiro Niina,
A woman named Yui and a man named Yuji have committed a crime and are laying low at a family restaurant in the middle of the night.
Imitation Yakuza – Dir: Kentaro Yamagishi, Cast: Ryuhei Watabe, Shunsuke Tanaka, Anon Shiina, Takamitsu Nonaka
An actor whose career has consisted of bit parts in yakuza movies risks his life in reality and gets an unexpected opportunity.
In Our Own Little World – Dir: Masashi Komura, Cast: Yua Shiraishi, Ritsu Otomo, Joji Shibue, Michiyuki Kikuta, Chika Uchida
A chance meeting between students from two classes, one, a self-defence course for women and on the other a dating course for men, leads to a love full of the unexpected…
River, Nagarenaide yo 
リバー、流れないでよ 「Riba-, Nagarenaide yo」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 86 mins.
Director: Junta Yamaguchi
Writer: Makoto Ueda (Screenplay), Makoto Ueda (Original Work)
Starring: Riko Fujitani, Yuuki Torigoe, Munenori Nagano, Takashi Sumita, Yoshifumi Sakai,
This is the second film from theatre company “Europe Kikaku,” the guys who came up with Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes. It is about a group of people staying at an inn near a shrine who realise that they are stuck in a two-minute time loop.
Synopsis: Mikoto works as a waitress at a ryokan named Fujiya in Kibune, Kyoto. She realises that time is repeating and they keep their memories and so they work together to find the cause of the time loop.