Welcome to the first of three trailer posts
Come back tomorrow and the day after for more
I’m feeling the need to up my Japanese language intake so I’ll be restricting any video game activity to my commute to and from work. This makes the Nintendo DS, ideal since it can be carried easily and put on standby. There are also Japanese-language games, too. I will probably go back to watching nothing but Japanese films and listening to Japanese-language podcasts, too.
What is the first lot of films?
Dear Family 
ディア・ファミリー 「Dia Famiri-」
Release Date: June 14th, 2024
Duration: 116 mins.
Director: Sho Tsukikawa
Writer: Tamio Hayashi (Screenplay), Hidetoshi Kiyotake (Original Novel),
Starring: Yo Oizumi, Miho Kanno, Riko Fukumoto, Rina Kawaei, Miu arai, Kasumi arimura, Ken Mitsuishi,
Website Twitter: @dear_family_ JFDB IMDB
This is a drama about the true story of the man who created the Intra-aortic Balloon Pumping (IABP) therapy, a balloon catheter that helps the heart pump more blood and is said to have save 170,000 lives worldwide.
The screenplay was written by Tamio Hayashi (Ito) and was based on extensive interviews by nonfiction writer Hidetoshi Seitake, who has been friends with Nobumasa Tsutsui, the model for the main character, for over 20 years. It was directed by Sho Tsukikawa (Let Me Eat Your Pancreas).
Synopsis: The story begins in the 1970s when Nobumasa Tsuboi, a man who runs a small factory, and his wife Yoko are told by doctors that their daughter, Yoshimi, was born with a heart condition and she only has 10 years to live. Not wanting to lose her, Nobumasa and Yoko decide to create an artificial heart despite not having any knowledge on the subject.
Serpent’s Path (2024) / Le chemin du serpent 
蛇の道 「Hebi no Michi」
Release Date: June 14th, 2024
Duration: 116 mins.
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Writer: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Hiroshi Takahashi (Screenplay),
Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Ko Shibasaki, Damien Bonnard, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Munetaka Aoki,
Website Twitter: @Funnys_movie JFDB IMDB
Kiyoshi Kurosawa remakes his own film Serpent’s Path (1998) and sets it in Paris and casts French actors alongside Kou Shibasaki (who came to fame two years later with Battle Royale), who speaks French in her role.
Synopsis: A freelance journalist named Albert Bachelet seeks to avenge his 8-year-old daughter, who was brutally murdered. He is aided by a mysterious psychiatrist named Sayoko Niijima, who is willing to help him abduct people with connections to a shady organisation…
A Few Moments of Cheers 
数分間のエールを 「Suufunkan no E-ru o」
Release Date: June 14th, 2024
Duration: 68 mins
Director: POPREQ
Writer: Jukki Hanada (Screenplay/Series Composition), Cygames (Original Creator),
Starring: Kei Sugawara (Yuu Orie – singing voice), Mariya Ise (Yuu Orie – speaking voice), Natsuki Hanae (Kanata Asaya), Fuuka Izumi (Moemi Nakagawa), Yuuma Uchida (Daisuke Tonosaki),
Animation Production: 100Studio, Hurray!
Website Twitter: @yellmovie_2024_PR ANN MAL
Synopsis: Kanata Asaya is a high school boy who lives in Ishikawa Prefecture and who loves making music videos. One night, while working on his latest video, he is beguiled by the singing voice of a woman performing on the street in the rain, and desires to make a music video for the song he heard. It turns out that it is the new teacher at his school, Yuu Orie, a woman who had given up on pursuing a career in music.
Ramen Akaneko 
ラーメン赤猫 「Ramen Akaneko」
Release Date: June 14th, 2024
Duration: 65 mins
Director: Histoshi Shimizu
Writer: Toru Kubo (Screenplay/Series Composition), ANGYAMAN (Original Creator),
Starring: Kenjiro Tsuda (Bunzo), Kurumi Orihara (Tamako Yashiro), Michiyo Murase (Sabu), Noriaki Murase (Sasaki), Rie Kugimiya (Hana), Saori Hayami (Krishna),
Animation Production: E&H production
Website Twitter: @ramenakaneko ANN MAL
The first three episodes of a new TV anime will be shown in cinemas for two weeks ahead of its broadcast date in July.
Synopsis: Tamako has gone for a part-time job at Ramen Akaneko “Ramen Red Cat,” a restaurant run entirely by cats. When asked during an interview if she likes cats, she admits that she is more of a dog person. Despite this, she is hired immediately to work in the restaurant to take care of the cats.
Aki wa Haru to Gohan wo Tabetai 2 Haime! 
アキはハルとごはんを食べたい2杯目！ 「Aki wa Haru to Gohan wo Tabetai 2 Haime!」
Release Date: June 14th, 2024
Duration: 97 mins.
Director: Koji Kawano
Writer: Koji Kawano (Screenplay), Makoto Taji (Original Manga),
Starring: Ryotari Akazawa, Kensuke Takahashi, Hiroki Sana, Yuuki Sakurai, Seina Takeuchi, Hikaru Aoyama, Rie Shibata,
Website Twitter: @akiharumovie
Synopsis: This is the second live-action film adaptation of the BL manga of the same title about Akiyoshi Junta (Aki) and Fujishiro Harutsugu (Haru), two high school classmates who graduated and then went to different universities. Despite this, they live in the same house and enjoy sharing food together. Friends and family join in. Meanwhile, they are trying to find their way in life as Haru pursues photography and Aki is still undecided.
Aki and Haru are now in their fourth year of university and Haru gets a job offer at a photography studio while Aki gets a job offer at an interior goods company. It seems like the beginning of the end as Aki has to move to Osaka and this prompts the couple become aware that their feelings for each other go beyond friendship.
Tsukiuta. Gekijouban RABBITS KINGDOM THE MOVIE 
「ツキウタ。」劇場版 RABBITS KINGDOM THE MOVIE 「Tsukiuta. Gekijouban RABBITS KINGDOM THE MOVIE」
Release Date: June 14th, 2024
Duration: 94 mins
Director: Masayoshi Ozaki
Writer: Ryuuichirou Henmi (Screenplay), Fujiwara (Original Creator),
Starring: Kosuke Toriumi (Hajime Mutsuki), Ryohei Kimura (Shun Shimotsuki), KENN (Aoi Satsuki), Kensho Ono (Iku Kannazuki), Yuuki Kaji (Kakeru Shiwasu), Toshiki Masuda (Haru Yayoi),
Animation Production: E&H production
Website Twitter: @tsukiuta_movie ANN
Synopsis: This is the first theatrical version for a media mix project “Tsukiuta,” which depicts the activities of idols belonging to the fictional entertainment agency “Tsukino Entertainment Production” (Tsukipro). The film adapts the fifth stage production, which told a “what-if” story taking place in a fantasy land involving rabbit kingdoms.