Welcome to the second trailer post of the week.
You can find the first post here while the last one comes tomorrow.
This trailer post is split between anime and two films that are out around the time of the Great Hanshin Earthquake that happened on January 17th, 1995.
The week started out with an earthquake in southwest Japan, strangely enough.
I hope everyone remains safe.
What are the selection of trailers here?
The Harbor Lights 
港に灯がともる 「Minato ni akari ga tomoru」
Release Date: January 17th, 2024
Duration: 119 mins.
Director: Mojiri Adachi
Writer: Mojiri Adachi, Amami Kawashima (Screenplay),
Starring: Miu Tomita, Marika Io, Yuzu Aoki, Suzu Yamanouchi, Kentaro Tamura, Kaho Tsuchimura, Yumi Aso, Makiko Watanabe,
Website Twitter: @minatomo117 IMDB
This film was screened at the 2024 edition of the Tokyo International Film Festival and comes from Mojiri Adachi, a man with a long career in TV who has covered the Great Hanshin Earthquake in various forms.
The drama here follows a third-generation Zainichi Korean woman, born in Kobe the month after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and the impact that her family’s ethnic background and the aftermath of the disaster had on them.
Synopsis: Akari is a third-generation Zainichi Korean from Kobe born the year of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. She suffers with depression which makes it hard for her to live life, the source of which is her status as a Zainichi Korean and the trauma of the Earthquake on her family, particularly on the parents who are going through a divorce, the father especially bitter because he lost his job due to the earthquake and has struggled to work since. Meanwhile, Akari’s sister is getting married and becoming a naturalised Japanese citizen. This process can aid them in overcoming discriminatory barriers encountered by their legal status and the whole family begin it as a result, except for the father who only feels further ostracized by their decision and so conflict keeps increasing.
“I barely feel like a Korean resident, and don’t recall the disaster. The earthquake, family, nationality – What do I even want?”
Akari struggles with her mental health and, thus, in her work and social life, but soon starts to find relief during the Covid pandemic.
Sono machi no kodomo gekijouban 
その街のこども 劇場版 「Sono machi no kodomo gekijouban」
Release Date: January 15th, 2011
Duration: 83 mins.
Director: Tsuyoshi Inoue
Writer: Aya Watanabe (Screenplay),
Starring: Mirai Moriyama, Eriko Sato, Kanji Tsuda, Mitsuko Nakagawa,
Website Twitter: @teki_movie JFDB IMDB
This is the theatrical version of a NHK special drama, which stars Mirai Moriyama and Eriko Sato (Daihachi Yoshida’s lead in Funuke Show Some Love, You Losers!). The two actually experienced the earthquake.
The drama was first broadcast on January 17, 2010, the 15th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The theatrical version, released a year later, was re-edited with new footage added. This is now getting re-screened on the 30th anniversary of the disaster.
Synopsis: Yuji, a businessman, gets off the Shinkansen at Kobe and meets a young woman named Mika. They both live in Tokyo now but both come from Kobe and experienced the earthquake as children. It is the day before a memorial service is to be held and time together in the leadup.
Kidou Senshi Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- 
機動戦士Gundam GQuuuuuuX Beginning 「Kidou Senshi Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-」
Release Date: January 17th, 2025
Duration: 60 mins
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: Yoji Enokido, Hideaki Anno (Screenplay/Series Composition), Hajime Yatate, Yoshiyuki Tomino (Original Creator),
Starring: Yui Ishikawa (Nyaan), Tomoyo Kurosawa (Amate Yuzuriha / Machu), Shimba Tsuchiya (Shuji Ito),
Animation Production: Sunrise, Khara
Website Twitter: @G_GQuuuuuuX ANN MAL
This is an advance theatrical screening of the TV series. Episodes were edited together.
Synopsis: Amate Yuzuriha, a high school girl living peacefully in a space colony who becomes involved in an illegal mobile suit duelling competition after she meets a war refugee girl named Nyaan. She pilots the state-of-the-art mobile suit GQuuuuuuX. She encounters an unidentified mobile suit “Gundam” and its pilot, a young boy named Shuji, who is being hunted by both the space forces and the police.
Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can’t Sing 
劇場版プロジェクトセカイ 壊れたセカイと歌えないミク 「Project Sekai Movie: Kowareta Sekai to Utaenai Miku」
Release Date: January 17th, 2025
Duration: 60 mins
Director: Hiroyuki Hata
Writer: Yoko Yonaiyama (Screenplay),
Starring: Saki Fujita (Hatsune Miku), Ai Furihata (Airi Momoi), Akina (Kohane Azusawa), Asami Shimoda (Kagamine Len, Kagamine Rin), Yui Ogura (Minori Hanasato), Reina Ueda (Honami Mochizuki),
Animation Production: P.A. Works
Website Twitter: @pjsekai_movie ANN MAL
The popular app game “Project Sekai Colorful Stage. feat. Hatsune Miku” has been adapted into a theatrical anime by P.A. WORKS, an animation studio popular for Shirobako.
Synopsis: Ichika Hoshino works together with Hatsune Miku after the digital singer sees Ichika singing live in a street performance. Miku’s mission is to deliver her songs to more people and she hopes Ichika and her friends can help.