It has been a pretty slow week but it has been enlivened by the end theme of “Humanity Has Declined” which I have started watching again.
Longer hours away from the computer and more time revising for Japanese were enlivened by the song. In order to relax a little more, I played “The Walking Dead: 400 Days” in preparation for starting the second season. I also kept watching anime because the Spring 2014 season is underway. “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” has proven to be the stand out so far. In posting terms, I relayed news on the Terracotta Far East Film Festival’s short film competition and I posted about news on the release of “The Story of Yonosuke” and I reviewed that film last year following the last Terracotta festival.
What Japanese films are released in Japan this weekend?
Crows Explode 
Japanese: クローズ EXPLODE
Romaji: Kuro-zu EXPLODE
Running Time: 129 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Toshiaki Toyoda
Writer: Kosuke Mukai, Rikiya Mizushima, Takashi Hasegawa (Screenplay), Hiroshi Takahashi (Original Novel)
Starring: Masahiro Higashide, Taichi Saotome, Ryo Katsuji, Takanori Iwata, Kenzo, Kento Nagayama, Yuya Yagira,
A new generation of actors take on the challenge of making the “Crows” franchise including Masahiro Higashide (“The Kirishima Thing”) and Kento Nagayama (“Crime or Punishment?!?”). It looks pretty flashy and quite surprisingly, it is directed by Toshiaki Toyoda, the man behind “9 Souls” and “Monsters Club.” Perhaps, in making that comment, I haven’t watched as many of his films as I should have.
Gachiban Ultra Max 
Japanese: ガチバン ULTRA MAX
Romaji: Gachiban Utra Max
Running Time: 75 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Takashi Motoki
Writer: Yuko Matsuda (Screenplay), Ayu Watanabe (Original Novel)
Starring: Yamada Yuki, Kubota Masataka, Arai Atsushi,
The “Gachiban” series regularly pops up in these trailer posts (this is the 20th) and now I have found a blog which lists every entry in the series since it bag in 2008! Apparently, the series started out as a satire of “Crows Zero” but has “obtained its own fan following with both action fans, and fan-girls that love to see ikemen boys beating the crap out of each other.”
L-DK 
Japanese: L-DK
Romaji: L-DK
Running Time: 113 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Yasuhiro Kawamura
Writer: Yuko Matsuda (Screenplay), Ayu Watanabe (Original Novel)
Starring: Ayame Gouriki, Kento Yamazaki, Rei Okamoto, Akiyoshi Nakao, Ren Kiriyama, Anna Ishibashi, Miho Shiraishi, Seiji Fukushi
This is the live-action adaptation of Ayu Watanabe’s ongoing shoujo manga of the same name which has been running since 2009. L-DK is a pun on the abbreviation LDK – “Living Room, Dining Room and Kitchen” and follows a high school girl named Aoi (Gouriki) who ends up living with the most popular guy in school, Shusei (Yamazaki) when his apartment suffers damage from a sprinkler going off.
Kazuya 
Japanese: Kazuya
Romaji: Kazuya
Running Time: 96 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Kozo Tamura
Writer: N/A
Starring: Kazuya
What happens when a potential rock star fails to make the big time? KAZUYA (Kazuya Watanabe) was the frontman of the band “PHOOL” who were popular in Sapporo in the 90’s but broke up. KAZUYA didn’t give in. He went solo. Only he hasn’t sold that many records and now he is in his 50s…
What Comes Along With Love 
Japanese: 恋につきもの
Romaji: Koi ni Tsukimono
Running Time: 103 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Daichi Masui
Writer: Daichi Masui, Kohei Igarashi (Screenplay), Fumiko Fumi (Original Novel)
Starring: Kana Matsumoto, Sairi Ito, Shono Hayama, Hiekazu Mine, Ran Taniguchi, Shuri, Hiroshi Takahashi, Yuri Aikawa
“Koi no Tsukimono” is the live-action adaptation of Fumko Fumi’s manga which is a collection of short stories. The shorts getting adapted are Ibara no Bara (Rose With Thorns), Tōfu no Ie (House of Tofu), and Koi ni Tsukimono.
Shiba Jōmonken no Yume 
Japanese: シバ 縄文犬のゆめ
Romaji: Shiba Jōmonken no Yume
Running Time: 99 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Shinichi Ise
Writer: N/A
Starring:Terui Mitsuo
The Shiba Inu is a Japanese dog. It first came to fame in the Jomon period when it was bred for hunting. At one point, the entire existence of the breed was under threat, but it has bounced back. Terui Mitsuo runs the Shiba Inu Preservation Society and this documentary is about his work and the dog.
Bright Audition 
Japanese: ブライト オーデイション
Romaji:Buraito O- dishon
Running Time: 76 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Kazuhisa Yusa
Writer: Dai Sako
Starring:Yoshihide Sasaki, Hisanori Sato, Shintaro Akutsu, Takuya Negishi, Airi Nakajima, SAORI, Nanako Yamashita, Mao Ishikawa, Kyoko Ochiai, Ami Ishii, Kozo Sato
Am I reading this correctly? Dai Sako, director of the interesting sounding “Running on Empty” (2010) and writer of even more interesting sounding “Vacation” (2008) is the scriptwriter for this fluff for pretty boy singer Yoshihide Sasaki and other pretty models and singers where they are part of a deadly judging process to become the model for a famous fashion magazine?
White Feather “Light from Phony” 
Japanese: 白い羽 “Light from Phony”
Romaji: Shiroi Hane “Light from Phony”
Running Time: 31 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Yusuke Maeno
Writer: Rei Kimura (Screenplay),
Starring: Shogo Okamoto, Tokiko Manabe
This short film is about a boy who worries a lot about his mother who is often away at work. He hears tales of an angel who lives in the park and decides to look for it. No trailer.
HIGH★LIGHTZ★LITTLE★UNIVERSE
Japanese: HIGH★LIGHTZ★LITTLE★UNIVERSE
Romaji: HIGH★LIGHTZ★LITTLE★UNIVERSE
Running Time: 101 mins.
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Yusuke Maeno
Writer: N/A
Starring: Kentaro Oka, Susumu Ikeda, Mariko Yoshitake
This 2007 youth drama is screened alongside White Feather.
Route 42 
Japanese: ルート 42
Romaji: Ru-to 42
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: April 12th, 2014 (Japan)
Director: Naoki Segi
Writer: N/A (Screenplay)
Starring: Akiko Kikuchi, Sosuke Takaoka, Mayumi Ono, Kohei Takeda
Route 42 is also called the Tropical Route and connects Hamamatsu, Shizuoka and Wakayama, Wakayama in Japan and crosses the Ise Bay via ferry. On this route are three young people, namely Tatsuya who lost a lover in a car accident, Yoko who is meant to be getting married but is on the run, are on this route…
