Hello dear readers!
The line-up for the Cannes film festival was announced and there are a couple of Japanese films. There will be a whole week full of preview and trailer posts next week! I reviewed Disciples of Hippocrates (1980) and posted about Reel Japan, a Japanese film festival taking place in London. I also posted about the theatrical release of Our Little Sister (2015) which I am going to see at my local art house later this month. I watched a bunch of films, all for review and all a surprise.
What’s released in Japan this weekend?
Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare
名探偵コナン 純黒の悪夢（ナイトメア） 「Meitantei Conan: Junkoku no akumu (Naitomea)」
Running Time: 112 mins.
Release Date: April 16th, 2016
Director: Kobun Shizuno
Writer: Takeharu Sakurai (Screenplay)
Starring: Minami Takayama (Conan Edogawa), Wakana Yamazaki (Ran Mori), Rikiya Koyama (Kogoro Mori) Yuki Amami (Mysterious Woman),
Animation Production: TMS Entertainment, V1 Studio
Synopsis from Anime News Network: On a dark night, the Japanese police is raided by a spy and different countries’ intelligence agencies’ secret files are going to be taken, but public safety officers led by Tooru Amuro arrive just in time. The spy steals a car and escapes but is thwarted by FBI agent Shuichi Akai’s rifle bullet and falls of the roadway. The next day, Conan and his friends go to an aquarium in Tokyo and find an attractive woman alone and injured. Her left and right eyes are different colors and she suffers from amnesia. Conan and his friends promise to help her regain her memory, so they stay with her. Throughout all this, Vermouth is watching behind the scenes. Afterwards, she pulls out a silencer and speaks into an attached intercom, “It’s as planned, Gin.”
Crayon Shin-chan Movie 24: Bakusui! Yumemi World Dai Totsugeki
映画クレヨンしんちゃん 爆睡！ユメミーワールド大突撃 「Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Bakusui! Yumemi World Dai Totsugeki」
Running Time: 112 mins.
Release Date: April 16th, 2016
Director: Wataru Takahashi
Writer: Hitori Gekidan, Wataru Takahashi (Screenplay) Yoshito Usui (Original Creator)
Starring: Akiko Yajima (Shinnosuke Nohara), Keiji Fujiwara (Hiroshi Nohara), Miki Narahashi (Misae Nohara), Satomi Koorogi (Himawari Nohara),
Animation Production: Shin-Ei Animation
Synopsis from Anime News Network: Shin-chan’s town is trapped in a nightmare world. The movie will also feature the new character, Saki, a mysterious transfer student who is somehow connected to the dreams.
This Boy is a Professional Wizard.
この男子、魔法がお仕事です。 「Kono Danshi, Mahou ga Oshigoto Desu.」
Running Time: 29 mins.
Release Date: April 16th, 2016
Director: Soubi Yamamoto
Writer: N/A
Starring: Taku Yashiro (Toyohi Utsumi), Yuuki Ono (Chiharu Kashima),
Animation Production: CoMix Wave Films
Synopsis from Anime News Network: Chiharu is a wizard in charge of the magic department’s crisis counter-measure division. His days are hectic, but he meets a candid young man named Toyohi at his favorite bar, and the two hit it off. On their way home, Toyohi suddenly confesses to Chiharu. Chiharu is at first bewildered at his unexpected confession, but he starts to fall into Toyohi’s pace, and the two begin to spend more time together. However, after a mistake at work, Chiharu decides to devote himself to his work and pushes Toyohi away.
Kansai Johnnys’ Jr. no Mezase♪ Dream Stage!
関西ジャニーズJr.の目指せ♪ドリームステージ！ 「Kansai Johnnys’ Jr. no Mezase♪ Dori-mu Sute-ji!」
Release Date: April 16th, 2016
Running Time: 93 mins.
Director: Daiji Hattori
Writer: Takeshi Miyamoto (Screenplay)
Starring: Daigo Nishihata, Koji Mukai, Ryuseei Onishi, Ryuta Muro, Kazuya Ohashi,
Synopsis: The boys who make up Kansai Johnny’s Jr. star as a group of local idols working for the Public Relations Division doing menial roles. They seem to be faltering in their determination. Can they improve their situations?
Daku (Hug)
抱く（HUG）「Daku (Hug)」
Release Date: April 16th, 2016
Running Time: 69 mins.
Director: Tomoko Kana
Writer: N/A
Starring: Tomoko Kana
Synopsis: The director has made films about a variety of subjects but for this one she turns the camera on herself and her pregnancy which occurred after the 3/11 Earthquake and Tsunami. The film looks at what it is to live with the fear of the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the determination to have a healthy birth.
Minna Suitouto (Love You All)
みんな好いとうと♪「Minna Suitouto」
Release Date: April 16th, 2016
Running Time: 96 mins.
Director: Tadaaki Horai
Writer: Tadaaki Horai (Screenplay)
Starring: LinQ
Synopsis: LinQ are idols from Fukuoka and set about promoting their city in a film directed and shot by people who are also from Fukuoka. Here’s an interview with the director.
Kudaka Odyssey Part Three Kaze Akira
久高オデッセイ 第三部 風章 「Kudaka Odyssey Part Three Kaze Akira」
Release Date: April 16th, 2016
Running Time: 95 mins.
Director: Junichiro Oshige
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: This is the final chapter of a three-part series of documentaries that captures the “Island of God”, Okinawa Kudaka. The series has been over twelve years in the making and director Junichiro Oshige actually passed away during the process. The films showcase the people of the island who take fishing, living with the sea and nature and a certain local religion very seriously. There is a tradition where a woman takes on the role of “Izaiho” but due to a lack successors the tradition was broken. How will the islanders continue?
Japanese Movie Box Office Results for this Week:
Assassination Classroom: The Graduation (25/03/16)
Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Birth of Japan 2016 (2016/03/05)
Batman vs Superman Dawn of Justice (25/03/16)
Chihayafuru (2016/03/19)
The Town Where Only I Am Missing (2016/03/19)
The Good Dinosaur (2016/03/12)
The Masked Rider #1 (2016/03/16)
Room (2016/04/01)
Ayashii Kanojo (2016/04/08)
Eiga Precure All Stars: Minna de Utau Kiseki no Mahou! (2016/03/19)
