Happy Weekend
This is the second of a two-part trailer post. You can find the first part here.
This week saw the release of the newest Heroic Purgatory episode which is dedicated to the Michelle Yeoh films Yes, Madam! (1985) and Royal Warriors (1986), two of the foundational titles of the girls-with-guns genre.
In terms of what I watched, I started the week with We Couldn’t Become Adults (2021) and moved on to the South Korean film Peppermint Candy (2000), and the Thai film Chocolate (2008).
Next week, I have preview posts for the New York Asian Film Festival and Japan Cuts.
What else was released this weekend?
Tokyo Meoto Zenzai
東京夫婦善哉 「Toukyou Meoto Zenzai」
Release Date: June 24th, 2023
Duration: 86 mins.
Director: Isao Fujisawa
Writer: N/A
Starring: Minoru Hoshino, Yayoi Hoshino,
Synopsis: This is a documentary about a couple in their 70s, Minoru and Yayoi Hoshino, and their relationship, which comes to an end when Minoru passes away. Their history is displayed, from their first meeting during student protests to their final years together with their adult children and their pet cat. From the images, we see that they still have disputes but, when Minoru is diagnosed with stomach cancer, the two realise their love for each other.
Michi no Michinori 
みちのみちのり 「Michi no Michinori」
Release Date: June 24th, 2023
Duration: 70 mins.
Director: Yohei Kogi
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: This is a documentary about a road development project in Saito City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The building mission was to preserve the ancient landscape of giant trees, rice paddies, streams, and ruins, which has connections to the Hyuga myths recorded in the Kojiki and Nihonshoki. The specific focus is an hour-long walking path named “Kiki no Michi” that connects culturally significant places and the way locals and authorities worked together and even won awards.
MOON and GOLDFISH 
みちのみちのり 「Michi no Michinori」
Release Date: June 24th, 2023
Duration: 70 mins.
Director: Toshu Iizuka
Writer: FOUR SEAS BROTHERS (Screenplay),
Starring: Amon Hirai, Sakura Minehira, Yu Oinuma, Tokio Kanbayashi, Taichi Fujii, Ichiro Kusakabe, Sho Fukumoto, Masanori Honda,
Synopsis: In this musical coming-of-age ensemble drama, the lives of a foundry worker, a street busker, some Vietnamese factory workers, and more, meet in Yokohama and Yokosuka.
Gekijouban CollarxMalice Deep Cover Kouhen 
劇場版 Collar×Malice deep cover 後編 「Gekijouban CollarxMalice deep cover Kouhen 」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 57 mins
Director: Hiroshi Watanabe
Writer: Sayaka Harada (Screenplay) Otomate (Original Creator)
Starring: Daisuke Namikawa (Takeru Sasazuka), Kaede Hondo (Ichika Hoshino), Masakazu Morita (Aiji Yanagi), Yuuki Kaji (Kei Okazaki), Soma Saito (Mineo Enomoto)
Animation Production: Studio DEEN
This is based on an Otomate otome visual novel that was first released in Japan in August 2016 on PlayStation Vita (a fine console!). Aksys Games later released an English version in 2017. Since then Collar×Malice and its spin-off stories were released on the Nintendo Switch. This film is the second of a two-part anime adaptation released in cinemas.
Synopsis: In the year 20XX, Shinjuku has become a dangerous area of Tokyo. Things become even more dangerous after a terrorist attack that becomes known as the “X-Day Incident.” It turns out that the people behind the attack, the Adonis organization, fitted a police officer named Ichika Hoshino, with a poison collar. However, five mysterious strangers who are already investigating this case, help her out while Inspector Mitsuru of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, takes charge of the investigation.
Koudan no Osomatsu-san
講談のおそ松さん 「Koudan no Osomatsu-san」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: N/A
Director: N/A
Writer: Fujio Akatsuka (Original Creator)
Starring: Jun Fukuyama (Ichimatsu), Daisuke Ono (Jushimatsu), Hiroshi Kamiya (Choromatsu), Miyu Irino (Todomatsu), Takahiro Sakurai (Osomatsu), Yuichi Nakamura (Karamatsu), Aya Endo (Totoko),
Animation Production: Pierrot
Synopsis: This release sees the Matsuno sextuplets perform Koudan (storytelling). This had backing by a professional koudan storyteller.
Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out 
青春ブタ野郎はおでかけシスターの夢を見ない 「Seishun Buta Yarō wa Odekake Sister no Yume o Minai 」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 73 mins
Director: Souichi Masui
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani (Screenplay) Hajime Kamoshida (Original Creator)
Starring: Asami Seto (Mai Sakurajima), Kaito Ishikawa (Sakuta Azusagawa), Yurika Kubo (Kaede Azusagawa), Sora Amamiya (Uzuki Hirokawa), Maaya Uchida (Nodoka Toyohama),
Animation Production: CloverWorks
Synopsis: Sakuta Azusagawa is about to finish his second year of high school and that means that he doesn’t have much time left with his girlfriend Mai, a junior at the school. Meanwhile, Sakuta’s sister, Kaede, is slowly building her confidence up and venturing outdoors and she has plans to attend her brother’s high school. Is that what she wants? How can Sakuta support her?
Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Next Sky 
ラブライブ！虹ヶ咲学園スクールアイドル同好会 NEXT SKY 「Rabu Raibu! Nijigasaki Gakuen Suku-ru Aidoru Doukou-kai」
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Duration: 30 mins
Director: Tomoyuki Kawamura
Writer: Jin Tanaka (Screenplay) Hajime Yatate (Original Creator)
Starring: Ayumi Onishi (Ayumu Uehara), Akari Kito (Kanata Konoe), Akina Homoto (Lanzhu Zhong), Moeka Koizumi (Shioriko Mifune),
Animation Production: Sunrise
Synopsis: Love Live! is about high school girls doing idol stuff in school. This one sees a student return from London with an exchange student/wannabe idol in tow. The girls aim to make that dream come true and create a set of activities.