Happy weekend, readers!
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The Tokyo International Film Festival launched this week and there are quite a few good-looking films. I should cover it but around this time of the year I am super busy. I’m also spending less time writing about films these days. I need to practice Japanese more so something has to get cut, not that I’m happy about it especially since I’m seeing anime and films I think are brilliant. For example, Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider has me hooked so I bought the book.
With that written, I posted on film review this week and it was for Happy Hour (2015) which I saw at the London Film Festival. It gets its release in Japan this December.
I went to see Sicario (2015) in a cinema yesterday and it was a well-crafted and tense film full of great performances. I am tempted to review it.
What’s released in Japan this weekend?
Dear Deer
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![Dear Deer Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/dear-deer-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
ディアーディアー「Dia Dia」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 107 mins.
Director: Takeo Kikuchi
Writer: Noriaki Sugihara (Screenplay),
Starring: Yuri Nakamura, Koji Kiryu, Yoichiro Saito, Rinko Kikuchi, Shota Sometani, Wakana Matsumoto, Yurei Yanagi,
Synopsis: When three siblings named Fujio (Kiryu), Yoshio (Saito) and Akiko (Nakamura) were children, they lived in a mountain village and saw the elusive “Ryoumou Deer,” but nobody believed them. As adults their paths have diverged. The eldest child Fujio still lives in the same village and runs small factory but he is in serious debt. The middle child, Yoshio is living in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. The youngest child, Akiko, lives Tokyo, having fallen in love with a man and ran away there. When their father becomes ill the three siblings reunite in their mountain village.
Galaxy Turnpike
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![Galaxy Turnpike Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/galaxy-turnpike-film-poster.jpg?w=213&h=300)
ギャラクシー街道「Gyarakushi Kaido」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 110 mins.
Director: Koki Mitani
Writer: Koki Mitani Screenplay),
Starring: Shingo Katori, Haruka Ayase, Shun Oguri, Yuka, Takanori Nishikawa, Sayaka Akimoto,
Koki Mitani is back and he has made the Japanese version of The Jetsons. Okay, that was a lie. This is an original sci-fi film from the Japanese master of comedy and it doesn’t look remotely funny. The signs for this looked bad from the promo pictures alone, never mind the trailer. The terrible costumes and makeup and the dodgy looking sets look worse in motion as is revealed by this review by Mark Schilling over at the Japan Times.
Synopsis: It is the year 2265 and a married couple, Noa (Katori) and Noe (Ayase), run the space diner Sandsand Burger which is 150 years old. Located on a path which connects Earth to a space colony located between Jupiter and Saturn, they get all sorts of customers including space pimps and space police, intergalactic mimes, aliens and more. Everything is fine until Noa’s alien ex-girlfriend (Yuka) shows up and tries to steal him from Noe who is the romantic target of a customer herself.
Kagura Me
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![Kagura Me Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/kagura-me-film-poster.jpg?w=300&h=204)
かぐらめ「Kagura me」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 112 mins.
Director: Yasuo Okuaki
Writer: Nozomu Namba (Screenplay), Yasuo Okuaki (Original Novel)
Starring: Rina Takeda, Ren Osugi Mariko Tsutsui. Tomomitsu Adachi, Keiko Shirasu, Masayuki Imai, Mei Kurokawa, Komai Se,
This one was at the Montreal Film Festival and it caught my eye because t seemed like a decent drama plus it stars the legend that is Ren Osugi and the shooting star that is Rina Takeda who continues to move between mainstream and indie with ease. The story is familiar but the actors are favourites of mine so it can work.
Synopsis: When Akine (Takeda) was a child, her mother was seriously ill and at the height of her mother’s illness Akine’s father, Kyoujiro (Osugi), went to perform a traditional dance called shishi kagura. Akine’s mother passed away. Since then, Akine has held a grudge against her father and as soon as she graduated from high school she left her hometown.
Five years later, Akine has returned to her hometown on the anniversary of her mother’s death and finds a woman who looks just like her mother with her father who is preparing to perform the traditional shishi kagura dance at a festival again. This will be his final performance. Unfortunately Kyoujiro falls ill. Will Akine step in to perform for him?
A Summer Day, Your Voice
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![A Summer Day, Your Voice Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/a-summer-day-your-voice-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
夏ノ日、君声「Natsu no hi kimi no koe」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 94 mins.
Director: Tomoyuki Kamimura
Writer: Tomoyuki Kamimura (Screenplay),
Starring: Chika Arakawa, Shono Hayama, Wakana Matsumoto, Reiya Masaki, Daisuke Nagakura, Seika Furuhata, Yuki Konoe, Maiko Kikuchu, Kengo Okuchi,
Synopsis: Tetsuo Togami (Hayama) is a high schooler who is in hospital after getting into a fight. He meets fellow patient Maiko Takashiro (Arakawa) who is deaf and has an incurable disease. Tetsuo doesn’t want anything to do with her at first but then they begin exchanging text messages and a relationship grows until Tetsuo pledges to take Maiko out on a date on her birthday but her condition worsens.
Only 4 You
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![Only 4 You Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/only-4-you-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 85 mins.
Director: Keisuke Toyoshima, Madoka Kumagai, Yu Katsumata, Yosuke Fujita,
Writer: N/A
Starring: Micro, Ayako Omura, Daiki Yamagaki, Satoshi Ogawa, Mina Yamakawa,
Synopsis: This is an omnibus film from four directors including Yosuke Fujita (Fuku-chan of Fukufuku Flats, Fine, Totally Fine), which has stories of “modest miracles encountered in daily life.” The stories revolve around music and the characters include rakugo artists and enka singers getting a new lease of life.
Ninja Hunter
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![Ninja Hunter Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/ninja-hunter-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
忍者狩り「Ninja-gari」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 102 mins.
Director: Seiji Chiba
Writer: Seiji Chiba (Screenplay), Missei Shirakawa (Original Novel)
Starring: Mitsuki Koga, Mei Kurokawa, Masanori Mimoto, Kazuki Tsujimoto, Kentaro Shimazu,
I think that my review of Seiji Chiba’s 2011 film Alien vs Ninja made clear that I am no fan. Everything I dislike about that film is evident in this trailer – the same non-descript cave and forest he uses for sets, the dull look and cheap aesthetics, the same the lack of ambition. It’s a shame because we need more hot-blooded ninja action!
Synopsis from Shochikufilms.com: In 1581 during a gruelling feud between 2 ninja clans, Tao, a ninja from the Iga Clan, wakes up with amnesia. 40 ninjas lie dead in front of him and off to one side lies a dead female ninja. He doesn’t remember how and why he got there. His assignment is to retrieve a document that will reveal the traitor’s identity. Who killed all the ninjas? Is one of them the traitor? Little by little Tao solves the mystery.
Halloween Nightmare 2
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![Halloween Nightmare 2 Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/halloween-nightmare-2-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
ハロウィンナイトメア 2 「Harouin Naitomea 2」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 62 mins.
Director: Yosuke Yamashita
Writer: Yosuke Yamashita (Screenplay), Ivory Dice (Original Work)
Starring: Rena Takeda, Mizuki Masuda, Chie Sasaki, Reiko Igarashi, Takako Kitagawa, Tetsuya Nakanishi,
Synopsis: Based on the free horror game, Halloween Nightmare 2 involves a mysterious murderer who wears a jack o lantern on his head and kills people on Halloween day. This time some cosplay girls are getting stalked…
Tobidasu PuriPara: Minna de Mezase! Idol☆Grand Prix
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![Tobidasu PuriPara Minna de Mezase Aidoru Guran Puri Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/tobidasu-puripara-minna-de-mezase-aidoru-guran-puri-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
とびだすプリパラ み~んなでめざせ!アイドル☆グランプリ「Tobidasu PuriPara: Minna de Mezase! Aidoru☆Guran Puri」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 60 mins.
Director: Nobutaka Yoda
Writer: Hitomi Mieno (Screenplay)
Starring: Miyu Kubota (Sophie Houjou), Himika Akaneya (Laala Manaka), Yui Makino (Aroma Kurosu), Chinatsu Akasaki (Falulu Vocaldoll), Yuki Wakai (Leona West),
This is the sequel to a PriPara film released in March where girls join idol units and perform in the PriPara amusement park. It’s a 3D feature for little girls who enjoy this sort of thing.
Boku wa Bosan
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![Boku wa Bosan Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/boku-wa-bosan-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
ボクは坊さん。「Boku wa Bosan」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 114 mins.
Director: Yukinori Makabe
Writer: Kenya Hirata (Screenplay), Missei Shirakawa (Original Novel)
Starring: Atsushi Ito, Mizuki Yamamoto, Junpei Mizobata, Gaku Hamada, Miyuki Matsuda, Issey Ogata, Yoneko Matsukane,
Synopsis: Koen Shirakawa (Ito) is shocked by the death of his grandfather, a priest at a local temple. This event makes him reassess life so he quits his job at a bookstore and becomes a monk at a temple.
Tanemaki usagi Fukushima ni mukiau seishun
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![Tanemaki usagi Fukushima ni mukiau seishun Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/tanemaki-usagi-fukushima-ni-mukiau-seishun-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
種まきうさぎ フクシマに向き合う青春「Tanemaki usagi Fukushima ni mukiau seishun」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 87 mins.
Director: Yasuyuki Mori
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: The Great East Japan Earthquake has been covered from numerous angles in documentaries from animals to surveying the wreckage, farmers removed from their land to the rescue operations and reuniting people with their saviours to anti-nuclear protestors. Here’s another doc but it focusses on teaching high schoolers from Fukushima about nuclear energy from the 3/11 disaster to Hydrogen bombs and the Cold War and the way people are opposed to nuclear energy around the world.
Nihon zero nen: fukushima kara no kaze dai 2 sho
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![Nihon zero nen fukushima kara no kaze dai 2 sho Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/nihon-zero-nen-fukushima-kara-no-kaze-dai-2-sho-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
日本零年 フクシマからの風 第二章「Nihon zero nen: fukushima kara no kaze dai 2 sho」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 91 mins.
Director: Tetsu Kato
Writer: Tetsu Kato (Screenplay),
Starring: Hinako Saeki, Mitsunori Furusawa, Otowa Kidoguchi, Miori Kiuchi, Rinne Konno, Sayuri Sakaguchi, Atsumi Sakurai,
Synopsis: The protagonist of the film (called “shujinko S” “main character S” in English) lives in Tokyo and when the meltdown in Fukushima occurs his wife Sakiko (Saeki) disappears with their child. It turns out that Fukushima is where Sakiko is from so the main character searches for her and finds the place is a disaster zone.
Trash
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![Trash Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/trash-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
TRASH トラッシュ「TRASH TORASSHU」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 88 mins.
Director: Hajime Gonno
Writer: Masao Iketani (Screenplay),
Starring: Elly, Kaname Endo, Yuya Endo, Masayasu Yagi, Yuri Nakamura, Kosei Amano,
Synopsis: TRASH stars ELLY of the dance vocal unit “The third J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE”, and he takes the role of Kent Hondo, a musclebound fighter who flits between his hometown and Tokyo with an old flame in tow. The two find themselves being pursued by gangsters.
Koryu Minatoya IN-TUNE
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![Koryu Minatoya IN-TUNE Film Poster](http://genkinahito.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/koryu-minatoya-in-tune-film-poster.jpg?w=212&h=300)
港家小柳IN-TUNE「Minatoya Koryu IN-TUNE」
Release Date: October 24th, 2015
Running Time: 33 mins.
Director: Atiqa Kawakami
Writer: N/A
Starring: Koryu Minato, Toyoko Sawamura,
Synopsis: This documentary records a performance by Koryu Minato. She has been a storyteller from her first performance in 1969 and she displays her skills in this 33 minute performance which is accompanied by a shamisen player.
Japanese Movie Box Office Results for this Week:
Library Wars – The Last Mission (2015/10/10)
The Intern (2015/10/10)
Bakuman (Release: 2015/10/03)
Heroine Shikkaku (Release: 2015/09/19)
John Wick (2015/10/16)
UFO Gakuen no Himitsu (2015/10/10)
Gamba: Gamba to Nakama-tachi (2015/10/10)
The Anthem of the Heart (Release: 2015/09/19)
Attack on Titan: End of the World (Release: 2015/09/19)
Fantastic Four (Release: 2015/10/09)
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