Hello dear audience!
I posted quite a few articles this week including one about a film screening at the Japanese Embassy in London – Acacia Walk, a series of Events Commemorating the Anniversary of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami at the Japan Society New York and a review of the Takeshi Kitano film Dolls. I watched plenty of other films for fun this week including In the House (2012, Dir: Francois Ozon), and The Witch (2015, Dir: Robert Eggers).
What’s released this weekend?
Chihayafuru
ちはやふる 上の句「Chihayafuru Kami no ku」
Running Time: 111 mins.
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Director: Norihiro Koizumi
Writer: Norihiro Koizumi (Screenplay), Yuki Suetsugu (Original Novel)
Starring: Suzu Hirose, Shuhei Nomura, Mackenyu, Mayu Matsuoka, Miyui Matsuda,
Hiroya Shimizu
I have read a lot about Chihayafuru in my years reading anime and manga. It’s the sort of series that flies under the radar of many manga fans but people who read it love it a lot. It’s a series I feel I should have started if only because the card game that the main character plays looks like a lot of fun. I can slap cards out of people’s hands! Oh, and poster 2 looks so much better.
Synopsis: Chihaya Ayase (Suzu Hirose) is a high school student who plays the card game karuta. She picked it up in elementary school when she met Arata Wataya who transferred into her school from another in Fukui Prefecture. The two parted ways when Arata returned to Fukui but only Chihaya continued to play karuta, something which she wants to change which is why she starts a karuta club at her high school in order to find Arata again.
The Town Where Only I Am Missing
僕だけがいない街「Boku Dake ga Inai Machi」
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Running Time: 120 mins.
Director: Yuichiro Hirakawa
Writer: Noriko Goto (Screenplay), Kei Sanbe (Orginal Manga)
Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Kasumi Arimura, Yuriko Ishida, Tetta Sugimoto, Seiji Fukushi, Kento Hayashi, Tamae Ando, Tsubasa Nakagawa,
I’m currently enjoying the anime of Boku Dake ga Inai Machi. It’s the sort of thriller you get addicted to watching thanks to the involved story and cliff-hanger endings. I don’t know how the story will fit into a movie considering it’s based on a long-running manga,
Synopsis: Satoru Fujinuma (Tatsuya Fujiwara) is a struggling manga artist who keeps his distance from people. He works dead-end part-time delivering pizzas but he has a secret. Satoru Fujinuma has the ability to travel back in time. This ability is called “revival.” With “revival” Satoru can go back in time before terrible incidents occurred so he can prevent bad things from happening. After a series of events involving kidnapped and murdered children and the death of his mother who confronted the killer, Satoru travels back to his childhood when a serial murder case took place with the victims being children. When Satoru does travel back his adult mind inhabits his body at the age of an elementary school student.
Jogging Wataridori
ジョギング渡り鳥「Jogingu Wataridori」
Running Time: 157 mins.
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Director: Takuji Suzuki
Writer: Takuji Suzuki (Screenplay)
Starring: Yukari Nakagawa, Toshio Furuya, Yurie Nagayama, Hiromi Furukawa, Mayumi Sakaguchi, Akane Chaen, Atsushi Oda, Keiko Furuuchi,
Synopsis: A group of aliens searching for God find themselves stranded on Earth when their mothership breaks down. They begin to observe people in a town through cameras and microphones. The aliens do not have concepts of “I” and “you,” face the human concept of “I am not you.” Will the aliens finally meet God?
Tsumugu
つむぐもの「tsumugu mono」
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Running Time: 109 mins.
Director: Kazutoshi Inudo
Writer: Yusuke Moriguchi (Screenplay)
Starring: Saburo Ishikura, Kim Kkot-bi, Riho Yoshioka, Yojin Hino, Chika Uchida, Yuki Morinaga, Shohei Uno,
This one played at the Osaka Asian Film Festival where it was amongst a number of intriguing-looking films. It has a solid story and cast.
Synopsis: Takeo (Saburo Ishikura) is a widower who lives in Fukui Prefecture. He works as a traditional paper maker who lives and works alone. He has a brain tumour which causes him to fall and be incapacitated. He needs help but he is unwilling to open his heart to anyone.
A Korean girl named Yona (Kim Kkobi) is in Japan on a working holiday and works with Takeo. Despite his abusive language and prejudice, she is determined to help Takeo.
They may be from different countries, different generations, and have different genders but their hearts and souls learn to communicate.
Convenience Store Yume Monogatari
コンビニ夢物語「Konbini yume monogatari」
Running Time: 94 mins.
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Director: Hideji Matsuoi, Shu Okada,
Writer: Yu Orihara (Screenplay) Yumiko Himei (Original Novel)
Starring: Atsumi, Jiro Sato, Ayane, Kumiko Fujiyoshi, Yuki Akimoto, Akiko Nishina, Shion Machida,
Synopsis: After his father suffers a heart attack, Koichi returns to his small home town to look after the family liquor store. His friends from school pay a visit and he discovers new and old emotions reawaken.
Kaikou
邂逅「Kaikou」
Running Time: 82 mins.
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Director: Jacky Woo
Writer: Yuki Sato (Screenplay)
Starring: Hironobu Nomura, Noriko Arai, Haru Nagata, Masumi Amakawa, Honoka Yonegawa,
Synopsis: A family on the verge of collapse head to the Philippines after the father Soichi gets a work transfer. His wife Kazuko doesn’t trust him and his daughter Airi is bullied at school and it looks like Soichi might be n trouble in work. As all seems lost some of Japan’s lost soldiers from World War II appear and the family are confronted with the dead. Can this chance encounter heal the rifts in the family?
Easter Nightmare shi no Easter Bunny
イースターナイトメア 死のイースターバニー 「I-suta- naitomea shi no i-suta- bani- 」
Running Time: 63 mins.
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Director: Wataru Hiranami
Writer: Wataru Hiranami (Screenplay)
Starring: Sayaka Tomaru, Nanaka Kawamura, Haruka Wameiku, Ryousuke Kouno, Taiki Yoshida,
Synopsis: The Halloween Nightmare movie series gets an Easter spin-off and it’s written and directed by Wataru Hiranami, a guy more used to working on dramas. His story is about a high school girl named Kanako who is being stalked. She prays to God and she is given a murderous Easter Bunny…
Kaze no Hamon
風の波紋「Kaze no Hamon」
Running Time: 99 mins.
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Director: Shigeru Kobayashi
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: A family moved from Tokyo to a remote mountain village in Niigata prefecture and built their own house and grow their own rice. This documentary captures their day-to-day lives.
Hana no you ni aru ga mama ni
花のように あるがままに「Hana no you ni aru ga mama ni」
Running Time: 78 mins.
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Director: Kenjiro Minato
Writer: N/A
Starring: Bae Ewha
Synopsis: Bae Ewha is a woman with Korean ancestry who lives and works as a dancer in Kyoto. Her parents did the same thing during the war and she has followed in their footsteps but instead of being forced to entertain troops Bae Ewha challenges stereotypes and prejudices held against Koreans.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Introductory Chapter
甲鉄城のカバネリ序章「Koutetsujou no Kabaneri Joshou」
Release Date: March 18th, 2016
Running Time: N/A
Director: Tetsuro Araki
Writer: Ichiro Okouchi (Screenplay/Series Composition),
Animation Production: Wit Studio
Starring: Tasuku Hatanaka (Ikoma), Sayaka Senbongi (Mumei), Mamoru Miyano (Biba), Maaya Uchida (Ayame), Yuuki Kaji (Takuma), Mariya Ise (Yukina),
From the makers of the hit anime Attack on Titan comes an anime that closely resembles Attack on Titan. The story involves humans cowering in cities, under siege from zombie-like enemies with a mysterious origin. The director is Tetsuro Araki (Attack on Titan), the music is by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan), some of the voice actors are in Attack on Titan, the animators work for Wit Studio who are most famous for Attack on Titan. You get the picture. There’s a lot of hype behind this show and it looks good from the PVs but can lightning strike twice? Anime fans in Japan get this special preview.
Synopsis from Anime News Network: On the island country Hinomoto, humans hide themselves in fortresses called “stations” against the threat of zombie-like beings with steel hearts known as “Kabane.” Only armored locomotives known as “Hayajiro” go between the stations. Ikoma, a boy who lives in the Aragane station and helps to build Hayajiro, creates his own weapon called Tsuranukizutsu in order to defeat the creatures. One day, as he waits for an opportunity to use his weapon, he meets a girl named Mumei, who is excused from the mandatory Kabane inspection. During the night, Ikuma meets Mumei again as he sees Hayajiro going out of control. The staff on the locomotive has turned into the creatures. The station, now under attack by Kabane, is the opportunity Ikoma has been looking for.
Eiga Precure All Stars: Minna de Utau Kiseki no Mahou!
映画プリキュアオールスターズ みんなで歌う♪奇跡の魔法！「Eiga Purikyuae O-ru Suta-zu: Minna de Utau Kiseki no Mahō!」
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Running Time: 70 mins.
Director: Yutaka Tsuchida
Writer: Isao Murayama (Screenplay), Izumi Todo (Original Creator)
Animation Production: Toei Animation
Starring: Yu Shimamura (Haruka Haruno/Cure Flora), Rina Kitagawa (Yuko Omori/Cure Honey), Haruka Tomatsu (Iona Hikawa/Cure Fortune), Megumi Han (Hime Shirayuki/Cure Princess), Ai Maeda (Karen Minatsuki/Cure Aqua), Ai Nagano (Komachi Akimoto/Cure Mint),
Synopsis from Anime News Network: Mirai and Rico come to the human world to play, but are separated when the witch Sorciere and her servant Torauuma suddenly appear. Their aim is to acquire the tears of the 44 Precure girls, using them for her “Most Evil Magic.” Only the friendship of all 44 Precure girls will allow them to protect the world.
School of Nursing
スクール・オブ・ナーシング 「Sku-ru obu na-shingu」
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Running Time: 116 mins.
Director: Satoshi Adachi
Writer: Hideki Kojima (Screenplay), Kaoru Yamazaki (Original Book),
Starring:
Synopsis: The problems of modern Japanese society – an ageing population, shortages of healthcare workers – is tackled in this human drama where a group of aspiring nurses work hard to be the best and live up to the ideals they hold despite personal problems such as cheating husbands.
Tenshi ni “I’m Fine”
天使に“アイム・ファイン”「Tenshi ni “Aimu Fainu”」
Running Time: 144 mins.
Release Date: March 19th, 2016
Director: Utsuhito Sonoda
Writer: Ryuho Okawa (Originl Novel), Utsuhito Sonoda (Original Screenplay,
Starring: Kirara, Yoshimi Ashikawa, Noboru Kaneko, Kazuki Shimizu, Miki Aika, Nanako Ookouchi,
Synopsis: Five people suffering crises call upon angels for help. One is a schoolgirl bullied by classmates, the other is an actress who gets the news she has terminal cancer, another is a politician on the verge of losing his job, and father/son greengrocers find their dreams of a brighter future dashed when a nuclear accident taints their crop. An angel descends from heaven to help them.
Japanese Movie Box Office Results for this Week:
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Birth of Japan 2016 (2016/03/05)
The Good Dinosaur (2016/03/12)
Everest: The Summit of the Gods (2016/03/12)
What a Wonderful Family! (2016/03/12)
I’m Not Just Going to Do What Kurosaki-kun Says (2016/02/27)
The Martian (2016/02/05)
Nobunaga Concerto (2016/01/23)
The Big Short (2016/03/04)
PriPara Mi~nna no Akogare Let’s Go PriPari (2016/03/12)
Ultraman X The Movie: Here Comes! Our Ultraman (2016/03/12)
