Welcome to the second trailer post of the week.
You can find the first trailer post here.
I have managed to get on top of my screener list by watching everything assigned to me. I will take up a few more but I have some reviews to finish up before the end of the year is upon us.
My intention now is to focus down on Japanese studies in preparation for a return to Japan – five years since my last visit. I’ll be saving up money with my new job for that. I still haven’t played any of the Dragon Quest games I had intended to and still haven’t finished Fire Emblem: Awakening, so I’ll dip into that before starting anything new.
What are the rest of the films released this weekend?
The World with You 
きみといた世界 「Kimi to ita sekai」
Release Date: December 14th, 2024
Duration: 103 mins.
Director: Kazuyoshi Masanari
Writer: Arawaka, Kazuyoshi Masanari (Screenplay/Original Story),
Starring: Kana Nakagawa, Arata Takahashi, Rei Hozaki, Kaisei Abe, Tomohisa Yuge,
Website Twitter: @kimitoitasekai
This is an original coming-of-age science fiction love film directed by Kazuyoshi Masanari, a freelance film director, who co-wrote the story/screenplay with the illustrator arakawa, his childhood friend. A manga version by arakawa will be distributed on SNS so check out the Twitter account.
Synopsis: Taku Mizuno is a quiet high school boy who struggles to communicate. He is secretly in love with his classmate Hekiie Yoshikawa, but since she is popular, she is always surrounded by her best friends and cheerful boys. One day, the two wander into a mysterious world where no one else exists. Suddenly, a mysterious man appears and tells them that they need to “unite their hearts” in order to return to their original world. Taku, who has struggled to connect with others, begins to try repeatedly through trial and error.
Theatrical -Kara Juro to Gekidan Karagumi no Kiroku 
シアトリカル 唐十郎と劇団唐組の記録 「Shiatorikaru Kara juro to Gekidan karagumi no kiroku」
Release Date: December 01st, 2002
Duration: 102 mins.
Director: Arata Oshima
Writer: Arata Oshima,
Starring: Juro Kana
Website Twitter: @nazekimi2020 JFDB
This documentary was the debut film of Arata Oshima, the second son of Nagisa Oshima. More recently, he has directed political documentaries.
Synopsis: This documentary follows the work of Juro Kara, a playwright 67 at the time) who has been working in the theatrical world in Japan for more than 40 years. It tracks his efforts, from writing a play, starting in November 2006, until the first day of performance on stage, at the Red Canvas (Aka Tent). Oshima records him and the the 14 people in the theatre troupe, Kara Gumi, who are not just actors but also involved in aspects of the production, like art, lighting, and sound. At points, Kara even involves Oshima’s crew during the 40-day prep and performance which happened in the spring of 2007.
アイヌプリ 「Ainu Puri」
Release Date: December 14th, 2024
Duration: 81 mins.
Director: Takeshi Fukanaga
Writer: N/A
Starring: Shigeki Amanai, Aika Amanai, Motoki Amanai, Yoshiki Amanai, Ryutaro Hirasawa, Satoru Shindo, Fujiko Uchiyama,
Website Twitter: @AinuPuri_movie IMDB
Takeshi Fukunaga is a filmmaker based in Tokyo and New York and he came to prominence with second and third feature films, Ainu Mosir (2020) and Mountain Woman (2022) – interview. Recently, he directed episodes for the TV shows Tokyo Vice (2024) and Shogun.
This was at Busan 2024.
Synopsis: This documentary looks at the life of an Ainu family living in Shiranuka, Hokkaido. Viewers see the quotidian aspects of their lives and how Ainu culture are still alive in their actions. Sequences include father, Shigeki Amanouchi (Shige), go Marek fishing with his 10-year-old son Motoki. This involves using traditional rods, praying to the gods, and preparing the meal with the family. This traditional method of salmon fishing, the “Ainupuri (Ainu way)” is part of their daily lives.
Gekijouban JUJU 20th ANNIVERSARY「YOUR REQUEST」
劇場版 JUJU 20th ANNIVERSARY「YOUR REQUEST」 「GekijoubanJUJU 20th ANNIVERSARY「YOUR REQUEST」」
Release Date: December 13th, 2024
Duration: 109 mins.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: JUJU
Website Twitter: @JUJUinfo
Synopsis: Singer-songwriter JUJU, celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut, will release a video recording of her performance at Saitama Super Arena on August 25th, 2024, the date of her debut. The concert was the final leg of her nationwide arena tour in 2024. Fans were asked what songs they wanted to hear from JUJU, and works ranged from her original music to covers of Western and other Japanese songs.
Symphony of Smouldering Chaos 
くすぶりの狂騒曲 「Kusuburi no kyoso kyoku」
Release Date: December 13th, 2024
Duration: 107 mins.
Director: Shinsuke Tatsukawa
Writer: Genki Nakamura (Screenplay),
Starring: Masato Wada, Ryusuke Komakine, Nagiko Tsuji, Yoshimi Tokue, Yoshinori Okada,
Website Twitter: @kusuburi_movie
This looks like a self-referential movie utilising Yoshimoto Kogyo’s comedy roster.
Synopsis: In 2014, struggling comedians in Tokyo were gathered at the Raccoon Omiya Yoshimoto Theater, which opened in Saitama City, and they formed the comedy unit “Omiya Seven” in an attempt to liven up the theatre. It has been tough going, not least because of Covid, but success came at the R-1 and M-1 Grand Prix. However, some members were still struggling to make a mark on the comedy world…
Koi o suru nara nidome ga joto Special Edition 
恋をするなら二度目が上等 special edition 「Koi o suru nara nidome ga joto」
Release Date: December 13th, 2024
Duration: 125 mins.
Director: Yuka Yasukawa
Writer: Yuka Yasukawa, Aya Watanabe (Screenplay), Keiko Kinoshita (Original Creator)
Starring: Makoto Hasegawa, Robin Furuya, Riko Nagase, Shunya Shiraishi, Aloha Takamatsu, Haruki Mochizuki,
Website Twitter: @koi_nido IMDB
Yuka Yasukawa (Kamata Prelude) directed four entries in a six-episode TV drama based on a boys’ love manga by Keiko Kinoshita. It now has a film compilation.
Synopsis: Akihiro Miyata is the business editor of a magazine and has a lovely girlfriend. He seeks a column from a successful university professor named Takashi Iwanaga but when they meet, Miyata is shocked to discover that Iwanaga was his first love in high school, it’s just now he has a different last name. Iwanaga is still as beautiful and a smooth talker as he once was and he is excited to reconnect and so he pursues Miyata despite the fact that Miyata has struggled to move on from the trauma Iwanaga put him through in high school…
Matsutoya Yumi THE JOURNEY 50th ANNIVERSARY Concert Tour movie 5.1ch/4K 
松任谷由実 THE JOURNEY 50TH ANNIVERSARY コンサートツアー movie 5.1ch/4K 「Matsutoya Yumi THE JOURNEY 50th ANNIVERSARY Konsa-to tsua- movie 5.1ch/4K」
Release Date: December 13th, 2024
Duration: N/A
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Yumi Matsutoya
Synopsis: This is a recording of singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya’s concert tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of her debut. This tour lasted from May to the end of December 2023 and consisted of 54 concerts in 15 cities. It has since been released on DVD and Blu-ray and will now be screened at three cinemas, 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku, 109 Cinemas Nagoya, and 109 Cinemas Osaka ExpoCity, for a special limited screening.