The Winter 2013 anime season is approaching its end as shows enter their 11th and 12th episodes. I have a series of posts lined up about it including one about the most exciting shows in the Spring 2014 season based on some articles I wrote for Anime UK News. I’m approaching a Japanese exam so expect fewer posts from me as I spend less time writing about films and more time actually practicing Japanese. I’m in the middle of my long week at work so time is rather scarce and I need to focus. Remaining on the topic of work, I met a girl there who is utterly charming and a fellow fan of film critic Mark Kermode and we chatter endlessly about films which makes the day easier. Another member of staff is trying to get me to watch Italian films but I’m hesitant because the title he selected is six-hours long. I wish I had six hours to do stuff! It certainly wouldn’t be anything related to Italy!
In blogging terms, I posted information about a Yoshitaro Nomura season – I’ll be watching some of these films – and a trailer for a new “Ju-On.” In film and television terms I watched “I’ll Give it My All Tomorrow” last Saturday and further episodes of “Watashi no Kirai Tantei”. Enough about me, here are the trailers.
The Snow White Murder Case 
Japanese: 白ゆき姫殺人事件
Romaji: Shiro Yuki Hime Satsujin Jiken
Running Time: 126 mins.
Release Date: March 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura
Writer:Tamio Hayashi (Screenplay), Kanae Minato (Original Novel)
Starring: Mao Inoue, Gou Ayano, Misako Renbutsu, Nanao, Shihori Kanjiya, Nobuaki Kaneko, Erena Ono, Mitsuki Tanimura, Shota Sometani, Katsuhisa Namase, Dankan,
I have reviewed two Yoshihiro Nakamura movies here like The Foreign Duck, and See You Tomorrow, Everyone. I loved the former and hated the later. His latest project looks absolutely deliciously dark. He teams up with his usual writer Tamio Hayashi (See You Tomorrow, Everyone, Shield of Straw) for a murder tale full of hot young actors.
The Show White Murder Case sees victim Noriko Miki (Nanao), the best looking girl at a cosmetics company, murdered and her co-worker Miki (Inoue) coming under suspicion. The media frenzy begins as television shows interview Miki’s friends, family and anybody even vaguely associated with her. Soon rumours of her being a wicked woman emerge. Are they true?
Team Batista Final Kerberos’s Portrait 
Japanese: チーム・バチスタFINAL ケルベロスの肖像
Romaji: Chimu Bachisuta Final Keruberosu no Shozo
Running Time: 127 mins.
Release Date: March 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Kazunari Hoshino
Writer:Noriko Goto (Screenplay), Takeru Kaido (Original Novel)
Starring: Atsushi Ito, Toru Nakamura, Mirei Kiritani, Tori Matsuzaka, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Chiaki Kuriyama, Katsuhisa Namase,
The Team Batista franchise gets a new instalment and the major names from the staff on previous series of the TV drama are back in the directing and writing positions.
Kohei (Ito) and Keisuke (Nakamura) are working on a system that determines a person’s cause of death for Tojo Medical University. They receive a letter warning them that the University will be blown up. In another part of town, a group of people die. Kohei and Keisuke investigate.
Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai 
Japanese: 平成ライダー対昭和ライダー 仮面ライダー大戦 feat.スーパー戦隊
Romaji: Heisei Raidā Tai Shōwa Raidā Kamen Raidā Taisen feat. Sūpā Sentai
Running Time: 93 mins.
Release Date: March 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Takayuki Shibasaki
Writer:Shoji Yonemura (Screenplay),
Starring: Gaku Sano, Shunya Shiraishi, Renn Kiriyama, Masahiro Inoue, Hiroshi Fujioka, Jun Shison, Ryo Ryusei
Kamen Rider fas and Super Sentai fans rejoice ecause we get decades woth of former actors reprising roles from 1971 all the way to the present set of pretty-boys. The film features a battle between the Kamen Riders from the Shōwa period of Japanese history with the Kamen Riders from the Heisei period, orchestrated by the evil Kamen Rider Fifteen of the Badan Empire who has the powers of the 15 Heisei Kamen Riders at his disposal. The warriors of the Super Sentai Series also enter the fray.
Negative Happy Marriage Parts 1 & 2 
Japanese: ハッピーネガティブマリッジ Part1 / ハッピーネガティブマリッジ Part2
Romaji: Happī Negatibu Marijji Part 1 / Happī Negatibu Marijji Part 2
Running Time: 93 mins.
Release Date: March 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Kenji Yokoi
Writer:Ryuta Amazume (Original Manga)
Starring: Takashi Nagayama, Saki Seto, Shota Minami, Taro Suwa, Nana Nanaumi
A simple Google search for Happy Negative Marriage revealed loads of images from the erotic romance manga it is based upon. The story is about the virginal salaryman Keitaro Sato. He is about to hit 31 which means that he’ll miss out on getting company housing due to being unmarried so he turns to an omiai to use their matchmaking skills to secure him a bride. The lucky guy gets a gorgeous babe named Shimako (Seto) but his lack of experience with women leads to confusion…
Geki × cine “ZIPANG PUNK Goemon Rock III” 
Japanese: ゲキ×シネ「ZIPANG PUNK 五右衛門ロックIII」
Romaji: Geki × shine `ZIPANG panku goemonrokku III’
Running Time: 183 mins.
Release Date: March 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Arata Furuta, Haruma Miura, Yu Aoi, Kenji Urai, Yumiko Takahashi
A cool looking stage show based on the legend of Master thief Goemon (the Japanese Robin Hood) who was a thorn in the side of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He’s usually portrayed as a bit of a ninja who sacrificed himself for his family and the people. He met a rather horrible end.
Dream Doctor of Cattle 
Japanese: 夢は牛のお医者さん
Romaji: YUME WA USHI NO OISHASAN
Running Time: 86 mins.
Release Date: March 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Yoshiaki Tokita
Writer:N/A
Starring: Tomomi Maruyama, Yui Yokoyama
AKB48 Team A Captain Yui Yokoyama narrates the story of cattle who were brought to a school and the inspiration it had on the children, one in particular, a girl who grew up to become a vet.
Tsu mu gu orijin wa kaze no michi o yuku 
Japanese: つ・む・ぐ 織人は風の道をゆく
Romaji: Tsu mu gu orijin wa kaze no michi o yuku
Running Time: 98 mins.
Release Date: March 29th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Toshiro Yoshioka
Writer: Toshiro Yoshioka (Screenplay),
Starring: Usaburo Sato, Takashi Funato, Yae
In this documentary we see three successful people quit their jobs and go on to do other things: a fashion designer named Usaburo Sato relinquished his career as a glamorous haute couture designer to live and work in Thailand; a doctor named Takashi Funato resigned his hospital post as a surgeon to care for the terminally ill; and a singer named Yae terminated her contract with a major record company and turned to living off the land. The film has footage stretching back seven years and the English language website has more information.
