Happy weekend, dear readers!
Welcome to the first trailer post of 2016. It’s a long one but I got it done over the course of two evenings. I’ve watched five films since the year started, most of them spaghetti westerns from the Sartana series and the 1969 film And God Said to Cain… I have watched two Japanese films – Yakuza Apocalypse and Uzumasa Limelight, both from 2015. I’ve also played Fallout 4 although I have stopped that because my Japanese lessons start next week. Anyway…
I posted news on the theatrical release of Yakuza Apocalypse, Attack on Titan, and the Blu-ray release of Hana-bi. 2016 has started off pretty well for fans of Japanese cinema!
What’s screening in Tokyo’s cinemas this weekend?
Kizumonogatari I: Tekketsu-hen
傷物語I 鉄血篇「Kizumonogatari I: Tekketsu-hen」
Release Date: January 08th, 2016
Running Time: 60 mins.
Chief Director: Akiyuki Shimbo, Director: Tatsuya Oishi
Writer: N/A (Screenplay), NisiOisin (Original Creator),
Animation Production: SHAFT
Starring: Hiroshi Kamiya (Koyomi Araragi), Maaya Sakamoto (Shinobu Oshino), Yui Horie (Tsubasa Hanekawa), Takahiro Sakurai (Meme Oshino),
I’ve watched different strands of the Monogatari anime adaptations but I need a guide to put it all in order since they were animated out of synch.
Synopsis from ANN: Kizumonogatari is the third volume in NisiOisin’s Monogatari book series and is a prequel to Bakemonogatari. The novel tells the story of how protagonist Koyomi encounters the female vampire that would turn him and his journey to return to his normal life.
Garakowa -Restore the World- / Vitreous Flower & Destroy the World D.backup
ガラスの花と壊す世界「Glass no Hana to Kowasu Sekai」
Release Date: January 09th, 2016
Running Time: 67 mins.
Director: Masashi Ishihama
Writer: Fumihiko Shimo (Screenplay), Otono Shimura, Suyuli Hiraume (Original Creator),
Animation Production: A-1 Pictures
Starring: Ayane Sakura (Dorothy), Risa Taneda (Dual), Yumiri Haamori (Remo),
Synopsis from MAL: A floating space without gravity where an infinite number of lights shine in different colors: The “Box of Wisdom.” Inside of this box, there are multiple worlds, multiple timelines, and there used to be many different people. This is where Dual and Dorothy were fighting with enemies called “Viruses.” Worlds infected by viruses must be erased. That is the duty, the job of these girls. However, one day, Dual and Dorothy feel the presence of a new Virus. Arriving at the scene, they see a girl being attacked by Viruses. After saving the girl, the duo wait for her to awaken so they can ask who she is, where she came from, and where she is going. Finally, when the girl opened her eyes, she gave her name, Rimo, and whispered only one sentence… “I must return to the flower patch…”
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm
Release Date: January 09th, 2016
Running Time: N/A
Director: Masakazu Hishida
Writer: Jou Aoba
Animation Production: Avex Pictures
Starring: Tetsuya Kakihara (Koji Mihama), Tomoaki Maeno (Hiro Hayami), Toshiki Masuda (Kazuki Nishina), Shinichiro Miki (Jin Norizuki),
Synopsis from ANN: The Prism Show unit Over The Rainbow succeeds in its debut. Aiming to become like the boy band, more students enroll in Edel Rose. Hiro and the others begin practice for the Prism King Cup, an event that is held once every four years. However, a rival called “Schwarz Rose” appears… The boys fight to become Prism King, the one who can make girls’ hearts throb the most.
Kumagawa Tetsuya K-Ballet Company “Swan Lake” in Cinema
熊川哲也 Kバレエ カンパニー 「白鳥の湖」 in Cinema「 Kumagawa Tetsuya K-Bare Kanbani- “hakuchou no mizuumi” in Cinema」
Release Date: January 09th, 2016
Running Time: 135 mins.
Artistic Director: Tetsuya Kumagawa
Writer: N/A
Starring: Sachiko Nakamura (Odette/Odile), Yusuke Osozawa (Siegfried),
No trailer
Synopsis: Another of Tetsuya Kumagawa’s ballet troupe’s performances is captured for audiences who want to watch it in a cinema. This one is “Swan Lake” and the performance was filmed last year.
Isha Sensei
いしゃ先生「 Isha Sensei」
Release Date: January 09th, 2015
Running Time: 105 mins.
Director: Jiro Nagae
Writer: Mika Abe (Screenplay),
Starring: Aya Hirayama, Takaaki Enoki, Yukiko Ikeda, Yuka Ueno, Kaito Hoshino, Emi Shirasaki,
Synopsis: Chikako Shida (Aya Hirayama) is the daughter of a school principal named Sojiro (Takaaki Enoki) in a small village. She lost her mother at birth because their small village didn’t have a doctor and this tragedy sparked the dream in Sojiro that Chikako becomes a doctor. Chikako achieves this dream and returns home.
Jinsei no Yakusoku
人生の約束「 Jinsei no Yakusoku」
Release Date: January 09th, 2015
Running Time: 120 mins.
Director: Kan Ishibashi
Writer: Mika Abe (Screenplay),
Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Toshiyuki Nishida, Yosuke Eguchi, Yutaka Takenouchi, Eiko Koike, Akira Emoto, Tori Matsuzaka, Yuka,
Synopsis: Yuma Nakahara (Yutaka Takenouchi) works in the IT field and has made a success of himself through hard work but when he is called by his former friend and co-worker, Yuma is drawn back to his small hometown and his life changes as he gets involved in a festival.
Pink and Gray
ピンクとグレー「 Pinku to gure-」
Release Date: January 09th, 2015
Running Time: 119 mins.
Director: Isao Yukisada
Writer: Ryuta Horai, Isao Yukisada (Screenplay), Shigeaki Kato (Original Novel)
Starring: Yuto Nakajima, Masaki Suda, Kaho, Yuya Yagira, Yukino Kishii, Makita Sports, Jingi Irie,
Synopsis: Rengo Shiraki (Yuto Nakajima) and Daiki Kawata (Masaki Suda) have been friends since childhood and they both love movies so they go into acting. Rengo becomes popular and Daiki gets left behind. Despite tension they remain in contact and it turns out that when Rengo dies Daiki sees it. Questions arise as to whether Rengo committed suicide or if he was murdered and now that Daiki is becoming popular due to the scandal, did he have something to do with it…
Rouhei banka ikyou ni ikiru
老兵挽歌 異郷に生きる「 Rouhei banka ikyou ni ikiru」
Release Date: January 09th, 2015
Running Time: 103 mins.
Director: Masayuki Hayashi
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
No trailer
Synopsis: This documentary looks at the lives of the veterans who fought against the Chinese communists to secure the independence of Taiwan and all the controversies that entails.
Their Distance
知らない、ふたり「 Shiranai, futari」
Release Date: January 09th, 2015
Running Time: 106 mins.
Director: Rikiya Imaizumi
Writer: Rikiya Imaizumi (Screenplay),
Starring: Ren, Fumiko Aoyagi, Hanae Kan, Minhyun, JR, Tateto Serizawa, Haruka Kinami,
Synopsis: Leon (Ren) is a young man who earns his living as a shoemaker. Shy and keen to avoid others, he spends his days working although he does go out to a park he loves. This is where he sees a Korean woman named Sona (Hanae Kan) passed out and sleeping on a bench. This is a case of love at first sight because Leon keeps thinking about the girl but his co-worker at the shoe shop, Kokaze (Fumiko Aoyagi), has feelings for him…
Song Dreamers
ソングドリーマーズ☆「 Songu dori-ma-zu」
Release Date: January 09th, 2016
Running Time: 98 mins.
Director: Shintaro Sakurai
Writer: Takaaki Ezura (Screenplay), Koki Yoshizawa (Original Story)
Starring: Shinichi Hashimoto, Keisuke Minami, Toshiyuki Someya, Ryu Kiyama, Yuya Noda, ZiZi, Shunya Ohira,
Synopsis: Uta no Prince-sama is real in this movie about cute guys goin to talent school to become idols for legions of female fans. Lead character Seiji (Shinichi Hashimoto) signs up to the agency that runs popular male idol group “4U” and undergoes lessons in singing and dancing to become an idol!!!
Yakuza and the Constitution
ヤクザと憲法「 Yakuza to Kenpou」
Release Date: January 02nd, 2016
Running Time: 96 mins.
Director: Takouji Hijikata
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: This documentary follows members of the Azuma-gumi yakuza group which is in Osaka for Tokai TV and exposes the world of these guys. It was originally broadcast in March last year.
Shinjuku Midnight Baby
新宿ミッドナイトベイビー「 Shinjuku Middo Naito Beibi-」
Release Date: January 09th, 2015
Running Time: 104 mins.
Director: Kazuhiro Teranishi
Writer: Kazuhiro Teranishi (Screenplay/Original Novel),
Starring: Haruna Yabuki, Tomoko Nakajima, Britney Hamada, Yukimi Watanabe, Hidetsugu Ohara, Shimako Iwai,
Synopsis from the Montreal Film Festival: Akira, son of government minister Machiko, is in a gay relationship with Toru, one of her political supporters. These two young men have decided to undertake the first same-sex marriage in Japan, despite a rigidly enforced legal ban. They are guided through this political and emotional minefield by Masaru, a hard-of-hearing lawyer who stands firmly behind them. But who exactly is Masuru and what is his relationship with the intrepid duo?
Two short films come next and they use the same trailer.
Binetsu
微熱「 Binetsu」
Release Date: January 09th, 2016
Running Time: 30 mins.
Director: Masato Ozawa
Writer: Masato Ozawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Mikan Ogino, Sasaki Yuma, Ayami Yamano
I met and interviewed director Masato Ozawa before the screening of his film Remiges (2013) but I didn’t write up my notes or publish the articles. He’s a nice chap which stands in contrast to the films he makes which are all about hard issues…
Synopsis: Toshio was a marathon runner in college but his dream was shattered due to a training accident. Now he spends his time gambling, driving his family to misery. Yuu, Toshio’s daughter, dreams of playing the piano but she is abused by her father and her mother displays no emotions. What will become of these three?
Zenryoku! E n ja michi.
全力！えんじゃ道。「 Zenryoku! E n ja michi.」
Release Date: January 09th, 2016
Running Time: 23 mins.
Director: Yukihisa Shichiji
Writer: Yukihisa Shichiji (Screenplay),
Starring: Akira Ichimura, Yoshihisa Shiazaki, Kai Sakamoto, Naoto Nishi,
Synopsis: A group of guys question their future.
Japanese Movie Box Office Results for this Week:
Star Wars The Force Unleashed (2015/12/18)
Eiga Youkai Watch: Enma Daioh to Itsutsu no Monogatari da Nyan! (2015/12/19)
Orange (2015/12/11)
Haha to Kuraseba (2015/12/11)
007 Spectre (2015/12/04)
Eiga Chibi Maruko-chan – A Boy from Italy – (2015/12/23)
Sugiara Chiune (2015/12/05)
Creed (2015/12/23)
Girlz und Panzer der Film (2015/11/21)
Kamen Rider X Kamen Rider Ghost & Drive: Super Movie War Genesis (2015/12/11)
