Happy Easter! I hope you are all good.
It’s the Easter season so I hope everyone is going to have a great time and get into the spirit of the season and make some positive changes to their life.
I’m writing this late on a Friday evening because I have been rather silly and left it to the last moment. On Good Friday last year I watched Rentaneko (2012) and relaxed since the trailer post was done early!
I took a short break from work had a bit of a lazy week in terms of actual work done on this blog (only one post an that’s about the release of Han-gong Ju, a drama by Third Window Films). I started the week finishing off a preview for the new anime airing on Japanese television over the next twelve weeks (here’s part one and part two). After that I spent time re-arranging books and putting into order a year’s worth of notes made during Japanese lessons. That’s where I got a bit lazy because part of the process was putting my Teach Yourself Japanese and Japanese for Busy People onto my phone so I can listen to the exercises when I commute to and when I am in work. I then put some Japanese elctro-pop (Aira Mitsuki), anime (Master Keaton, Disgaea) and the Final Fantasy XII soundtracks onto my phone and in my computer’s music library so that took time because I started listening to the albums…
I got my chance to watch a few Ghibli films which were on Film4 (Whisper of the Heart, The Cat Returns, and Kiki’s Delivery Service – three of my top five Ghibli films!) and I watched some live-action films, Looper (2012), Dream House (2011), The Light Shines Only There (2013), The Amazing Mr Blunden (1972) and I watched the final episodes of many anime like Death Parade, Yurikuma Arashi, and Tokyo Ghoul. I also watched the final episode of live-action shows I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse and The Walking Dead (I feel sad to see all these great television shows go but there’s the new season of anime to look forward to (linking back up with the first paragraph)!
There’s a reason I keep coming back to the anime because over the last week the first episodes of various new series have been screened at cinemas in Tokyo before they launch on television… The power of otaku…
The latest season of Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love Revolutions was previewed at screenings at TOHO Cinemas Nichigeki in Tokyo over March 27th-29th. Attendees had the chance to meet cast members.
I watched some of the first episodes back when I did First Impressions of anime…
Episode one of Show by Rock!! was previewed at Sanrio Puroland on March 28, 2015, and at Shinjuku Piccadilly on March 29.
Episodes 1, 2, and 3 of Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works was previewed at a screening at Shinjuku Wald 9 in Tokyo on March 28.
Episode 1 of Hibike! Euphonium was previewed at a screening at MOVIX Kyoto on March 28.
Episode 1 of Mikagura Gakuen Kumikyoku was previewed at a screening at Yurakucho Asahi Hall in Tokyo on March 29.
.Episode 1 of Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru was previewed at a screening at TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi on March 28.
The first season of this was one of my favourite anime of 2013.
What’s released in Japanese cinemas this weekend?
April Fools
Japanese: エイプリルフールズ
Romaji: Eipuriru Furuzu
Release Date: April 01st, 2015
Running Time: 120 mins.
Director: Junichi Ishikawa
Writer: Ryota Kosawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Erika Toda, Tori Matsuzaka, Nanao, Yusuke Santamaria, Sayaka Yamaguchi, Masanobu Takashima, Susumu Terajima, Eiko Koike, Masato Yano,
April Fools has a huge cast and each of the 27 people in the main roles gets a gag like the clumsy kidnapper, student who believes in aliens and the two friends, one gay, one not. It all starts with Ayumi Nitta (Toda), a cleaner at a hospital who suffers anthropophobia (extreme shyness & fear of people) who has a one night stand with surgeon Wataru Makino (Matsuzaka) who is addicted to sex and is soon off with flight attendant named Reiko (Nanao). Alas, Ayumi is pregnant and she’s about to burst his bubble.
Persona 3 The Movie #3 Falling Down
Japanese: Persona 3 The Movie #3 Falling Down
Romaji: Persona 3 The Movie #3 Falling Down
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: N/A
Director: Keitaro Motonaga
Writer: Jun Kumagai (Screenplay),
Starring: Akira Ishida (Makoto Yuki), Megumi Toyoguchi (Yukari Takeba), Miyuki Sawashiro (Elizabeth/Chidori Yoshino), Hikaru Midorikawa (Akihiko Sanada),
Makoto and the other members of S.E.E.S. are nearing the end of their battles with the Shadows and find new meaning in their lives but when a mysterious transfer student named Ryoji Mochizuki appears the gears of fate begin to turn.
Racist Counter
Japanese: レイシスト・カウンター
Romaji: Reishisuto Kaunta-
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: N/A
Director: Rintaro Watanabe
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Racism in Japan is an issue that comes up on so many different sites dedicated to Japanese pop culture but it seems that nobody (including myself) has any real idea of the reality of it. Perhaps this documentary will serve to illuminate such a serious topic. Director Rintaro Watanabe’s exploration centres on counter racist activities started by people offended by right-wing attacks on Koreans and others. By attacks, what I mean is that when they held street protests in Korean-town in Shinjuku they shouted hate speech and started brawls. The guys in this documentary organised counter-marches and decided to fight fire with fire by shouting abuse back. Some of these protestors are known as Reishisuto wo Shibakitai (Corps of Racist Bashers). Here’s an interview with the founder.
There’s also a look at a group from the Korean community, the Shibaki Corps. Just typing Shibaki Corps into Google can give you a glimpse of how heated things get with videos like this (from a right-wing nationalist) floating around. There’s a lot of this stuff floating around, actually, and some of it is made by Westerners…
A Farewell to Jinu
Japanese: ジヌよさらば ~かむろば村へ~
Romaji: Jinuyo Saraba ~ Kamuroba Mura e
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: 121 mins.
Director: Suzuki Matsuo
Writer: Suzuki Matsuo (Screenplay), Mikio Igarashi (Original Manga),
Starring: Ryuhei Matsuda, Fumi Nikaido, Sadao Abe, Takako Matsu, Toshiyuki Nishida, Hairi Katagiri, Seminosuke Murasugi, Suzuki Matsuo Shima Ise, YosiYosi Arakawa, Yuko Nakamura, Suzuki Matsuo,
The first time Matsuo Suzuki directed actor Ryuhei Matsuda was for the hilarious otaku love-story Koi no Mon (2004). That was over ten years ago. They have been on screen together in other films but we’re interested in comedies and this looks very funny.
Takeharu Takami (Matsuda) worked as a bank teller until he became allergic to money. In an effort to avoid using money at all Takeharu moves to a small village in the Tohoku region. This place is peopled by some strange characters.
Kakashi to Racket
Japanese: 案山子とラケット 亜季と珠子の夏休み
Romaji: Kakashi to Raketto Aki to Tamako no Natsu Yasumi
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: 100 mins.
Director: Haruo Inoue
Writer: Yasutoshi Murakawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Yuna Taira, Karen Otomo, Megumi Seki, Hosshan, Maki Kubota, Ryusei Saito, Taro Suruga,
After a certain incident Aki (Taira) moved from Tokyo to stay with her father Masaya (Koichi) on a rural island. She left behind a mother and sister. At her new school she meets Tamako (Otomo) and makes friends with her. Aki was a member of the soft tennis club back in Tokyo and Tamako asks Aki to teach her soft tennis but there is no tennis court on the island. This won’t stop Aki who is now raring to play again.
Tokyo Yamimushi: 2nd Scenario – Pandora
Japanese: 東京闇虫パンドラ
Romaji: Tokyo Yamimushi Pandora
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: N/A
Director: Sakichi Sato
Writer: Sakichi Sato (Screenplay), Yuuki Honda (Original Manga),
Starring: Ai Shinozaki, Tetsuya Makita, Kyosuke Yabe, Yuuri Kikuchi, Yuichi Asai, Haruka Momokawa, Kosuke Toyohara
Yuuki Honda’s Tokyo Yamimushi manga were the basis of two films released in 2013 and this is the third. The stories revolve around young people working to pay off debt. Gravure idol Ai Shinozaki plays Yui, a runaway girl who stays at the net cafe Onizuka. She earns a living through compensated dating but she has a debt to pay and there are yakuza involved.
Tamayura: Sotsugyou Shashin Part 1 – Kizashi
Japanese: たまゆら 卒業写真 第1部 芽 きざし
Romaji: Tamayura: Sotsugyou Shashin Part 1 – Kizashi
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: N/A
Director: Junichi Sato
Writer: Reiko Yoshida, Yuka Yamada, Sayaka Harada (Screenplay), Junichi Satto (Original Creator),
Starring: Kana Asumi (Kaoru Hanawa), Mayu Iizuka (Suzune Maekawa), Yuko Gibu (Maon Sakurada), Yuka Iguchi (Norie Okazaki),
There are four Tamayura films planned and they all revolve around the daily lives of high school girls Fū, Kaoru, Norie, and Maon and recently graduated Kanae who are all in the photography club. The club gets two new members but despite new friends, their lively daily life remains unchanged. Yet, the four third-year students are slowly thinking about their own future dreams and paths as they face graduation in about a year.
Bar Kamikaze Gomakashi Doraibu
Japanese: BAR神風 誤魔化しドライブ
Romaji: Bar Kamikaze Gomakashi Doraibu
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: 80 mins.
Director: Shojii Kubota
Writer: Shojii Kubota (Screenplay),
Starring: Shinpei Takagi, Kumi Takiuchi, Reiya Masaki, Toshiyui Someya, Shota Takasaki, Ren Yagami, Mizuki Kuwabara, Miho Kanazawa,
Shuhei (Takagi) runs a small bar full of patrons who bicker. No trailer.
Revival
Japanese: 蘇生
Romaji: Sosei
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: 90 mins.
Director: Tetsu Shiatori
Writer: N/A
Starring: Teruo Higa, Ichiro Iiyama, Shunsuke Funase, Izumi Masukawa, Kei Tanaka, Akira Matsushita, Ryuhei Watanabe, Yosuke Saito,
No trailer.
This is a documentary that explores pollution and radioactivity and their effect on the natural world and how microorganisms revive the environment that humanity wrecks. University professors give us information on how these things work. The following synopsis is taken from the English language story page on the website:
Documentary of the journey to Reviving the Mother Earth
Japanese film director Tetsu Shiratori’s fourth documentary film 「蘇生」(SOSEI – Revival) reveals the power of microorganisms who are the oldest living organisms known on earth.
The film takes a scientific journey to prove how beneficial microorganisms, especially Yeast, Lactic Bacteria and Photosynthetic Bacteria could help restore the environment and the whole ecosystem that have long been polluted by the human activities.
Radioactive contamination is not an exception.
Today, more than 120,000 residents are still taking shelter due to Fukushima nuclear accident in East Japan.
Not only that, mega-typhoons, floods, drought, heavy snowfalls… Natural disasters are increasing in numbers and their magnitudes are rising. Something is happening to the biosphere of the earth.
We have the responsibilities to the future of our children.
Will humans ever stop polluting the earth?
What are the necessary actions to take?
The film 「蘇生」 (Revival) casts a vital question that would determine the future path of humanity.
We are REDS! The Movie minna minna minna
Japanese: We are REDS! The Movie みんな みんな みんな
Romaji: We are REDS! The Movie minna minna minna
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: 90 mins.
Director: Ito Shujin
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
This is the second documentary about the Urawa Red Diamonds, a J-League club. We see how they performed in 2014 and some of the crises they had to navigate and the future they envision for themselves.
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet -Meguru Koro, Kohen–
Japanese: 翠星のガルガンティア めぐる航路、遥か 後編
Romaji: Suisei no Gargantia -Meguru Koro, Kohen–
Release Date: April 04th, 2015
Running Time: N/A
Directors: Kazuya Murata
Writer: Gen Urobuchi, Daishiro Tanimura (Screenplay)
Starring: Kaito Ishikawa (Ledo), Hisako Kanemoto (Amy), Ai Kayano (Saaya), Kana Asumi (Melty), Tomokazu Sugita (Chamber), Sayaka Ohara (Ridget),
This is the second of two OVAs getting a release in the cinema (the first was shown in the awesome month of September last year) that continues the story of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet and features the return of staff and cast from the TV anime. Since I still haven’t finished watching the TV anime (that’s two years since I watched episode five…), I’ll link to Anime News Network
and their news bit which does have the synopsis.
Music videos of the week:
