Welcome to the first trailer post of the week
Come back for the next one tomorrow
I’m late on doing these because I have been writing synopses for the Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024. It was intense but rewarding and I’ll be cranking up coverage over the next few months so stick around! I’m excited to get into the details!
In terms of games, it’s still Bravely Default. Over the course of a month and a couple of days, I have played 21 hours and levelled my characters to 30 while jobs such as Black Mage stand at 9.
There’s also Persona 3 Reload. I wasn’t going to get it after playing the PSP version last year but watching people play it on Twitch, hearing the music… I want to dive back in and meet the characters all over again.
What are the first batch of films released this week?
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Kizuna no Kiseki Soshite Hashira Geiko e 
「鬼滅の刃」絆の奇跡、そして柱稽古へ 「”Kimetsu no Yaiba” Kizuna no Kiseki Soshite Hashira Geiko e」
Release Date: February 02nd, 2024
Duration: 103 mins
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Writer: ufotable (Screenplay), Koyoharu Gotouge (Original Creator)
Starring: Natsuki Hanai (Tanjiro Kamado), Akari Kito (Nezuko Kamada), Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu Agatsuma). Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Inosuke Hashibira),
Animation Production: ufotable
Website Twitter: @kimetsu_off ANN MAL
The fourth season of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, -Hashira Training Arc-, will air in Japan soon and so there is a theatrical screening of the first episode of that season, a one-hour instalment. It is preceded by the final episode of season 3, Swordsmith Village Arc. This is a compilation film, in effect.
Synopsis: Following his battle with Hantengu, Tanjiro goes to see the Stone Hashira, Himejima, in order to train for the battles to come.
After the Fever
熱のあとに 「Netsu no ato ni 」
Release Date: February 02nd, 2024
Duration: 127 mins.
Director: Akira Yamamoto
Writer: Lee Na-won (Screenplay),
Starring: Ai Hashimoto, Taiga Nakano, Mai Kiryu, Maki Sakurai, Hana Kino, Yui Narumi, Koshi Mizukami,
Website Twitter: @After_the_Fever IMDB
This film was inspired by the attempted murder of a Shinjuku host in 2019. It stars Ai Hashimoto, Taiga Nakano (All the Things We Never Said), and Mai Kiryu (Grown-ups). The film was screened in the New Currents section at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 2023 and in the Competition section at the 24th TOKYO FILMeX.
Synopsis: Sanae has spent six years in prison after attempting to murder her boyfriend, a host. Even though he still influences her, she has an arranged marriage with a forestry worker named Kenta. He accepts her past but then a mysterious woman shows up and Sanae and Kenta’s relationship becomes difficult…
Kamen Rider 555 20th: Paradise Regained 
仮面ライダー555（ファイズ） 20th パラダイス・リゲインド 「Sono Kodo ni Mimi o Ateyo」
Release Date: February 02nd, 2024
Duration: 65 mins.
Director: Ryuta Tasaki
Writer: Toshiki Inoue (Screenplay), Shotaro Ishinomori (Original Story),
Starring: Daiji Asakawa, Rei Fujita, Rumika Fukuda, Yuria Haga, Kento Handa, Rui Yanagawa,
Website Twitter: @555_20th IMDB
This is a V-cinema production of Masked Rider 555, which originally aired for one season in 2003. The cast are reuniting to depict the story “after” the TV series.
Synopsis: Mari Sonoda and Masato Kusaka fight against Smart Brain and their campaign to annihilate all Orphnoch life. This operation is led by Kitazaki and Reina Kurumi/Kamen Rider Muse and Takumi Inui/Kamen Rider NEXT Faiz .
Omuro-ke dear sisters 
大室家 dear sisters 「 Omuro-ke dear sisters」
Release Date: February 02nd, 2024
Duration: 43 mins
Director: Naoyuki Tatsuwa
Writer: Masahiro Yokotani (Screenplay/Series Composition), Namori (Original Creator)
Starring: Chiwa Saito (Nadeshiko Omuro), Emiri Kato (Sakurako Omuro), Rina Hidaka (Hanako Omuro), Aoi Yuki (Miho Yaeno), Nao Toyama (Ai Miwa),
Animation Production: Passione, Studio Lings
Website Twitter: @omrk_movie ANN MAL
Synopsis: This is the first in a series of two medium-length anime spin-off films of the “YuruYuri” manga. The focus is the daily lives and misadventures of junior high school student Sakurako Omuro and her older and younger sister.
Tsumi to Aku 
罪と悪 「Tsumi to Aku」
Release Date: February 02nd, 2024
Duration: 115 mins.
Director: Yuki Saito
Writer: Yuki Saito (Screenplay),
Starring: Kengo Kora, Shunsuke Daito, Jun Murakami, Takuya Ishida, Kippei Shiina, Koichi Sato,
Website Twitter: @tsumitoaku_mov
An excellent selection of veteran actors support Kengo Kore (Being Good, A Story of Yonosuke) in the noirish drama.
Synopsis: The body of a 13-year-old boy named Masaki is discovered dumped under a bridge in the centre of a town. Rumours fly around that he was murdered by an old man named On-san. This leads Haru, Akira, and Saku, three of Masaki’s classmates, to On-san’s home where a physical struggle ensues and the man dies. After setting fire to the house, the boys leave and the case is closed…
22 years later, Akira has grown up to be a detective in a big city but returns home upon his father’s death. Saku works in his father’s business. Haru runs a small construction company that gets involved with dodgy dealings. When a boy’s body is found again under the same bridge and it seems like Haru has a connection, the incident they had buried in their mind is unearthed…
Kamisama Matte! Ohana ga Saku kara 
神さま待って！お花が咲くから 「Kamisama Matte! Ohana ga Saku kara」
Release Date: February 02nd, 2024
Duration: 96 mins.
Director: Katsuya Matsumura
Writer: Kenichi Watanabe (Screenplay), Shoka Morikami (Original Story),
Starring: Seina Niikura, Rie Kitahara, Azusa Watanabe, Toshikazu Fukawa, Reika Ozaki,
Website Twitter: @kamisama_life
The drama is based on Shoka Morikami, a real person who passed away after a brave battle with cancer.
Synopsis: Shoka Morigami is an 11-year-old girl who has struggled with cancer all of her life. On the advice of her doctor, she returns to school but finds her class in chaos and the teacher too timid to keep control. Believing in miracles, Shoka uses her positivity to bring happiness and unity to those around her.