I had a binge session with movies watching lots over the course of the week. I got to watching plenty of Italian horror/giallo films and some random Asian ones that have been on my to-watch list since last year. The list includes Demons (ITA/GER, 1985), Deep Red (ITA,1971), Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 (ITA, 1988), Black Coal, Thin Ice (CHN, 2014), Broken (KOR, 2014), Inferno (ITA/USA1980) and a whole bunch of Hong Kong films.
I’ll have to start watching Japanese films again… I have lots building up. Plus there’s that season of Studio Ghibli films over March and April screening on Film4.
The only thing I posted this week was a review of the Japanese film My Little Sweet Pea (2013).
What’s released in Japan this weekend?
Ashita ni Nareba
Japanese: あしたになれば。
Romaji: Ashita ni Nareba
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 98 mins.
Director: Mitsuhiro Mihara
Writer: Maki Komori, Mitsuhiro Mihara (Screenplay), Io Sakisaka (Original Manga),
Starring: Yuta Koseki, Yuina Kuroshima, Shono Hayama, Koki Ogawa, Misa Shimizu, Takumi Yamagata, Eriko Tomiyama, Hidekazu Akai,
High schooler Daisuke Matsui (Koseki) is a baseball star who decides to dabble in a cookery contest with his friends and some girls from a different school. One of these girls is called Miki and soon feelings between the two develop…
Assassination Classroom
Japanese: 暗殺教室
Romaji: Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 98 mins.
Director: Eiichiro Hasumi
Writer: Tatsuya Kanazawa (Screenplay), Yusei Matsui (Original Manga),
Starring: Ryosuke Yamada, Kippei Shiina, Masaki Suda, Miku Uehara, Masanobu Takashima, Wakana Aoi, Seishiro Kato,
I have not read the original manga or watched the anime adaptation but I hear nothing but good things about it. The trailer looks suitably
The moon has been destroyed! Or at least 70% of it. It’s the work of an alien octopus named Koro with bizarre powers and super strength and he promises that the Earth is next. However, before we get to that, he has some demands and that is he becomes the homeroom teacher at a junior high school and is given the chance to teach a class of misfits! The situation seems pretty bizarre and it gets weirder for the kids because his students must destroy him to save the Earth. However, Koro proves to be a great teacher and very popular…
Superhero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3-go
Japanese: スーパーヒーロー大戦GP 仮面ライダー3号
Romaji: Su-pa Hi-ro- Taisen GP: Kamen Raida- 3 Go
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 95 mins.
Director: Takayuki Shibsaki
Writer: Shoji Yonemura (Screenplay), Shotaro Ishinomori (Original Manga),
Starring: Kento Handa, Ryoma Takeuchi, Yu Inaba, Yuichi Nakamura, Tetsuo Kurata, Hironari Amano, Rei Yoshii,
I could try translating this but I won’t because it would be a terrible thing to read and fans deserve better which is why I’ll point them to scifijapan.com who usually cover the Kamen Rider films and more on the cult edge of cinema. That’s where I copied the synopsis and trailer from.
February 10, 1973. The evil organization Shocker is defeated by Masked Riders 1 and 2, and peace was… supposed to come to the world. But the mysterious warrior Kamen Rider No. 3 — the strongest Rider that Shocker ever created — suddenly appears and kills Riders 1 and 2. In that moment, history is changed.
In 2015, the whole world is under Shocker’s domination. Shinnosuke Tomari (Ryoma Takeuchi) is a member of Shocker, tasked with hunting down the last remaining Kamen Riders, who are either destroyed or brainwashed to serve the organization. But he hesitates when he witnesses Shocker using children as human shields during a fierce battle. The hostages are rescued by Kotaro Minami, Masked Rider Black (Tetsuo Kurata), whose words, “Protect the dreams of children, shine the light of hope. That is Kamen Rider!” pierce Shinnosuke’s heart. “Something is wrong…”
Shinnosuke brings his concerns to Kamen Rider No. 3, Kyoichiro Kuroi (Mitsuhiro Oikawa), and the two partner to find the surviving Riders, defeat Shocker and restore justice. But Shinnosuke is unaware that No. 3 is the warrior of darkness who defeated Masked Riders 1 and 2, and he has now set a brutal trap for Shinnosuke and his allies.
What fate awaits the Kamen Riders? Will the heart of justice be forever stilled ? Can the correct past be restored? The outcome will be decided by the first-ever “Kamen Rider Grand Prix” between the Shocker Riders and the Justice Riders. The racing battle to determine the strongest and fastest Rider begins!!
The 3.11 Tsunami Mirai e no Kioku
Japanese: 大津波 3.11 未来への記憶
Romaji: Tsunami 3.11 Mirai e no Kioku
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 80 mins.
Director: Atsunori Kawamura
Writer: Atsunori Kawamura (Screenplay),
Starring: N/A
Just after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami struck, a special 3D camera was taken into the disaster area to record things in 3D. In the intervening years a lot of work has taken place to create a narrative about the aftereffects of the disaster, the people displaced by the disaster and their efforts to get back on their feet.
Spitz Yokohama Sunset 2013 Movie
Japanese: スピッツ 横浜サンセット2013 劇場版
Romaji: Supittsu Yokohama San Setto 2013 Gekijouban
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 130 mins.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Masamune Kusano (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Tetsuya Miwa (lead guitar), Akihiro Tamura (bass guitar), and Tatsuo Sakiyama (drums)
Spitz is a rock band new to me but according to Wikipedia they have been going for quite a while. They get a documentary for a performance on September 14th, 2013 at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Square for a recently released album.
Eating Crabs
Japanese: カニを喰べる。
Romaji: Kani wo Taberu
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 84 mins.
Director: Yasutaka Mori
Writer: Yasutaka Mori (Screenplay),
Starring: Shingo Mizusawa, Tomoru Akazawa, Toshiyuki Someya, Ayu Higashi, Hiromi Nakazato, Chiaki Taniguchi
I have not read the original manga or watched the anime adaptation but I hear nothing but good things about it. The trailer looks suitably
Two guys who were friends in junior high school and on the same baseball team hook up and take off in a van doing odd jobs as they travel around. They meet a woman named Tomoko and take her along with them….
Gaia Symphony No 8
Japanese: 地球交響曲 ガイアシンフォニー 第八番
Romaji: Kani wo Taberu
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 115 mins.
Director: Jin Tatsumura
Writer: Jin Tatsumura (Screenplay),
Starring: N/A
Jin Tatsumura has been making lots of Gaia Symphony films according to IMDB and a Youtube video, TEDxTokyo gives a good overview of them. This is the eighth in the series and more wise people connected to the Earth and the environment give their opinions and show how they cope with nature. This one has elements about the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami as well as ancient tries in Nara Prefecture and threats to oyster agriculture. So we see Noh masks at a temple and violins made from the trees that were swamped by tsunami water and some strange tree art.
Shuchu Nikki
Japanese: 酒中日記
Romaji: Shuchu Nikki
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 99 mins.
Director: Makoto Naito
Writer: Ken Naito (Screenplay), Tsubouchi Yuzo (Original Story),
Starring: Yzuo Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Shigematsu, Masaya Nakahara,
Do you drink alcohol? How do you drink it? Why? In this documentary the director gathers together a bunch of essayists and literary types in different bars in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai district to analyse social interactions in watering holes.
Super Local Hero
Japanese: スーパーローカルヒーロー
Romaji: Su-pa- Ro-karu Hi-ro-
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 91 mins.
Director: Toshinori Tanaka
Writer: Toshinori Tanaka (Writer),
Starring: Katsuhiko Nobue, EGO-WRAPPIN’, Kazumi Nikaido, Morerythm, Osaka Monaurail,
This is a 3.11 documentary and the film’s website has an English language version which is where I got the synopsis:
Nobue is owner of CD shop ‘Reikoudou’ in Onomichi. Delivering newspapers before dawn, and once the sun’s up moving about to do good for the people and society. He’s even too busy to open his shop, so friends offer to mind the shop for him.
His love for all forms of life, nature and music inspires many people. An episode realized by indie label musicians proved all this.
In January of 2009, Nobue had to have one of his toes amputated following and accident that occurred in a waste treatment facility. Nobue who until then, looked straight ahead (or perhaps he had no other choice) became totally discouraged and considered shutting down the shop. But then many musicians got together to cheer him up and organized a concert in Aoyma, Tokyo. All the profits were donated to Nobue.
It was a way for the musicians to show their gratitude to Nobue, who until then had organized so many concerts for them, even paying out of his own pocket when there wasn’t enough profit, as well as setting entrance fees so that families could afford to come with their children.
Nobue’s life changed again after March 11 2011. He started helping those who moved to Onomichi from areas nearer to Fukushima, organized study sessions, visited newspapers, assisted newcomers to settle down, and planned holidays for children during the school vacation.
When asked how he was going to manage financially, he replies, “I will raise funds.” And to the further question of if there isn’t enough funds, he answers promptly “I will pay from my pocket, or borrow from someone”. He also argues “I’ll think about money later. If we worry too much about money, we won’t be able to save any children”. Through the interviews of musicians and friends in Onomichi, we gradually get to capture the image of this super local hero!
The next three trailers show snippets of three films for a special screening of the titles on the same night.
Super Rotation
Japanese: スーパーローテーション
Romaji: Su-pa- Ro-Te-shon
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 77 mins.
Director: Hisashi Saito
Writer: Hitomi Kase (Screenplay),
Starring: Kyoko Shimomura, Toshi Fujiwara, Masaomi Koizumi, Keigo Nakamura Hiro Ando,
Hisashi Saito, writer of Tokyo Fist (1995) and director of films like There’s Nothing to be Afraid Of (2013) has this film screened today as part of three from the same company. This one came out in 2011 and is about the love life of a young woman who drifts around with her friends. It’s the third film on the trailer.
Damn Life
Japanese: ダムライフ
Romaji: Damu Raifu
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 84 mins.
Director: Hitoshi Kitagawa
Writer: Hitoshi Kitagawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Keita Kasatsugu, Yoshiko Sugawara, Takahiro Ono, Tetsuro Takei, Shintarou Yonemoto,
This film also came out in 2011 but is irected by Hitoshi Kitagawa, and it won the grand prize at the PIA Film Festival that year. Here’s an interview where he discusses taking it around festivals. “Damn Life” deals with a drowning of the main character’s sibling and the main character’s reaction to it which is to shed all human emotions. He begins working on the construction of a dam and witnesses bullying and friendship. How will he change? It’s the first trailer.
Tsumasaki
Japanese: つまさき
Romaji: Tsumasaki
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Running Time: 102 mins.
Director: Hitomi Kase
Writer: Hitomi Kase (Screenplay),
Starring: Sakura Kono, Tomoko Ogawa, Minami Matsui, Makiko Kuno,
Hitomi Kase, writer of There’s Nothing to be Afraid Of (2013) makes her directorial debut with this show about a thirteen girl who is hospitalised with anorexia.
Death Forest Kyoufu no Mori 2
Japanese: デスフォレスト 恐怖の森2
Romaji: Desu Foresuto Kyoufu no Mori 2
Running Time: 70 mins.
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Director: Kazumi Masataka
Writer: Tsutomu Ogawa (Screenplay), Kazz (Original Game Creator)
Starring: Yuka Kuramochi, Chiharu Tomita, Madoka Shimogaki,
I never thought that the first Death Forest (released last December) would get a sequel but the Japanese film industry will adapt anything (because original ideas are too dangerous to bet on). The reason for my cynicism? These Death Forest films are based on a free downloadable game where people get chased by a big white headed thing. Japanese let’s players have tackled this in a number of videos. The new film looks worse than the first.
The sequel stars Yuka Kuramochi, a popular idol and her character goes to a high school located close to a scary forest and while she does drama club with her friends strange things happen like those big white headed monsters chasing people around corridors. That’s certainly strange!
Grey Crow
Japanese: 灰色の烏
Romaji: Haiiro no Karasu
Running Time: 70 mins.
Release Date: March 21st, 2015
Director: Nao Shimizu
Writer: Nao Shimizu, Yuki Kimura (Screenplay), Eri Nishida (Illustrated Book)
Starring: Eri Nishida, Sayo Ampo, Luna Ichikawa, Kaho Kobayashi, Misaki Saito, Takashi Nishina, Tatsuya Nakayama, Shungiku Uchida, Uran,
Eri Nishida is a singer-songwriter who has adapted her own picture book which is about a girl who has suffered such serious trauma that she redirects it into hatred aimed at her mother. It takes place at a camp for girls on a mountain where a tengu was supposed to have lived and the cast play junior high school students
This was a rushed trailer post (like, really last minute) with terrible translations and it was all written to music that would make me type faster… my music video of the week:
