Welcome to the second of three trailer posts.
You can find part one here and the final part of the week is tomorrow.
I have been running hot on different projects over the last few months. I had originally hoped to practice Japanese more thoroughly in preparation for a return to the country in 2025 but it’s all good because I believe this all contributes to my growth, building connections with others, and I find things fun.
The only films I have watched since the last post have been festival screeners!
What are some of the other films released?
Juvenile 
ジュブナイル 「Jubunairu」
Release Date: July 15th, 2000
Duration: 120 mins.
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Writer: Takashi Yamazaki (Screenplay),
Starring: Anne Suzuki, Shingo Katori, Miki Sakai, Kuniko Asagi, Yuya endo
This is the 4K digitally remastered version of Juvenile, the feature film debut of Takashi Yamazaki, the director Godzilla-1.0, (2023). It is an original story, which he wrote the screenplay for and created VFX in 2000. It has been released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Yamazaki’s debut.
Returner is also getting an upgrade!
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Yusuke and his classmates are camping in a forest which is where they encounter a robot named Tetra. Yusuke and Tetra become fast friends as the little robot creates all sorts of wonderful gadgets and Yusuke’s neighbour, a genius physicist researching time machines, tries to figure out Tetra’s origins. Around the same time, a huge fleet of mysterious alien spaceships appears above the Earth…
Gintama on Theatre 2D Kintama-hen 
銀魂オンシアター2D 金魂篇 「Gintama on shiata- 2D Kintama-hen」
Release Date: November 22nd, 2024
Duration: 97 mins
Director: Youichi Fujita
Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya (Screenplay/Series Composition), Hideaki Sorachi (Original Creator),
Starring: Tomokazu Sugita (gintoki Sakata), Yuuichi Nakamura (Kintoki Sakata), Daisuke Sakaguchi (Shinpachi Shimura), Rie Kugimiya (Kagura) Mikako Takahashi (Sadaharu), Omi Minami (Tama),
Animation Production: Bandai Namco Studios
Synopsis: This is the third instalment of Gintama on Theater 2D series of films where popular episodes from the TV anime series Gintama are re-edited into a compilation film. This one covers episodes 1–4 of the third season and features additional footage.
Fast Break 
ファストブレイク 「Fasuto Bureiku」
Release Date: November 22nd, 2024
Duration: 82 mins.
Director: Toru Hasegawa
Writer: Toru Hasegawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Motoki Nakazawa, Gaku Oshida, Ryota Kobayashi,yuki Nakayama, Chihiro Okutani,
Website Twitter: @fastbreak1122
Synopsis: Shundo Kusamura tries to leave behind his delinquent and enters a prestigious university. He is scouted by a member of the failing basketball club and decides to join and finds the experience so much fun that he practices hard, recruits new members, and makes friends. In the run-up to an official game, Shundo’s past comes back to haunt him and the club. He must take action to protect everything he has built since turning over a new leaf.
Henshin 
変身 「Henshin」
Release Date: November 22nd, 2024
Duration: 58 mins.
Director: Hokuin Akihara / Masatoshi Akihara
Writer: Uikie Ochiai (Hitomi Shiraishi) (Screenplay), Franz Kafka (Original Novel)
Starring: Motoya Izumi, Otora Ichikawa, Kenji Sakamoto, Steve Eto, Asako Taguchi,
Hokuin Akihara has recently made a lot of historically-themed films set in Japan but his latest film is based on Franz Kafka’s absurdist story “Metamorphosis.” However! the setting has been changed to Japan, circa the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573). Lead actor Motoya Izumi, is a Kyogen (comic theatre) actor who has appeared in many of Akihara’s films.
Synopsis: The time is the Muromachi period, a freak show that entertains the public with unusual performances is gaining popularity. Yutaka, a musician, works hard every day and spends all of the money he earns on his family. His younger brother, Yukisad wants to emulate his elder brother but he ends up going through a terrifying transformation…
Night Drifting 
夜のまにまに 「Yoru no mani mani」
Release Date: November 22nd, 2024
Duration: 116 mins.
Director: Teppei Isobe
Writer: Teppei Isobe, Kazuo Nagai (Screenplay),
Starring: Nairu Yamamoto, Amon Kabe, Hisao Kurozumi, Miru Nagase, Nagiko Tsuji,
Website Twitter: @nightdrifting_
Nairu Yamamoto is having quite a year considering she is appearing in many films On a Boat, Push Pause, Inch Forward, and SUPER HAPPY FOREVER. She is teaming up with Teppei Isobe for this Osaka-based story. I liked his film Cornflakes.
Miru Nagase, of the stellar short film Last Judgement, and Nagiko Tsuji, a superb creative/comic actor/director who has appeared in previous Isobe films and took the lead in The Melancholy of Nagi.
Synopsis: Shinpei, a serious and melancholy young man who has just broken up with his girlfriend, and Kasumi, a young woman who behaves unconventionally, meet at a movie theatre, hit it off and hang out throughout the night. Later, Kasumi starts working at the cafe where Shinpei has a part-time job. He is surprised to see her again, but Kasumi has a reason, she wants him to help her investigate her boyfriend’s infidelity. Thus, Shinpei ends up playing detective, albeit one pushed around by the pushy Kasumi, but he gradually finds himself falling for her…