Hello dear readers!
I am feeling very, very tired today. I attended a film festival last night and watched Cesium and a Tokyo Girl (2015) and then attended an after-party where I met the director and his translator and had a few drinks – mostly apple juice! I didn’t get home until late and that was after heading to a Chinese take-away and didn’t get to sleep until past midnight. I’m staying up late again to write this after wasting a whole Saturday. Tomorrow… I go to see Ran (1985) in a cinema. This week, I posted about the DVD/Bluray release of Uzumasa Limelight (2014) and the screening of Adrenaline Drive (1999) at the Japanese embassy.
What’s released in Japan this weekend?
I Am a Hero
アイアムアヒーロー「Ai amu a hi-ro-」
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Running Time: 127 mins.
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Writer: Akiko Nogi (Screenplay), Kengo Hanazawa (Original Manga)
Starring: Yo Oizumi, Masami Nagasawa, Kasumi Arimura, Miho Suzuki, Yu Tokui, Yoshinari Okada, Nana Katase,
I Am a Hero was first published in 2009 and in the years since it was launched it has over 4 million copies in print. My review of the manga shows how much I like it and I have been half-anticipating half-dreading seeing what the film will turn into. The trailer has left me relieved. I like what I see. Here’s a preview I wrote for the film.
Synopsis: Hideo Suzuki (Yo Oizumi) is a manga artist assistant who is struggling to get his own manga made. As he struggles with life a mysterious virus spreads throughout Japan and the rest of the world. People with the virus are known as ZQN and they turn into zombies with super speed and strength and attack other people. One of the victims of the virus is Hideo’s girlfriend Tetsuko (Nana Katase) who comes down with the virus and attacks him. Hideo flees Tokyo and heads out into the country.
During his escape he meets a high school girl named Hiromi Hayakari (Kasumi Arimura) but she has been bitten by a ZQN, a baby without teeth, so her infection isn’t as bad. During their escape they head to a mall where a group of survivors lead by NEETs are hiding on the roof. There they meet Nurse Yabu (Masami Nagasawa) who hopes she can draw an antibody from Hiromi.
Sharing
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Running Time: 111 mins.
Director: Makoto Shinozaki
Writer: Makoto Shinozaki, Zenzo Sakai (Screenplay),
Starring: Asuka Hinoi, Kinuo Yamada, Ryudai Takahashi, Tomoki Kimura, Kumi Hyodo, Takuji Suzuki,
Sharing has toured the international film festival circuit having cropped up at this year’s Rotterdam International Film Festival and the 2014 Vancouver International Film Festival amongst other places. It is now hitting cinemas in Japan and it looks interesting and was described as psychological Cronenberg-like film which is a description that you almost never see to describe contemporary Japanese films. It’s different and different is good. The lead is played by Kinuwo Yamada and she has appeared in Villain (2010), Confessions (2010) and There’s Nothing to Be Afraid of (2013).
Synopsis: Eiko (Kinuo Yamada) is a psychology teacher in a university. She lost her husband in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and this pushes her to research cases of individuals who claim to have had precognitive dreams about the disaster. One of her students, Kaoru (Asuka Hinoi), is a member of the drama club, and is writing a stage a play about the disaster. The two become so engaged in their projects that it pushes friends and colleagues away from them as they become more extreme n their work…
Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita: Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai
ずっと前から好きでした。 告白実行委員会 「Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita: Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai」
Running Time: 112 mins.
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Director: Tetsuya Yanagisawa
Writer: Yoshimi Narita (Screenplay), HoneyWorks (Original Creator)
Starring: Haruka Tomatsu (Natsuki Enomoto), Kana Asumi (Akari Hayasaka), Hiroshi Kamiya (Yuu Setoguchi) Aki Toyosaki (Mio Aida),
Animation Production: Qualia Animation
Synopsis from Anime News Network: The Kokuhaku Jikkō Iinkai ~Renai Series~ project centers around such popular songs as “Kokuhaku Yokō Renshū” (Confession Rehearsal), “Hatsukoi no Ehon” (The Picture Book of the First Love), and “Yakimochi no Kotae” (The Answer to Jealousy). HoneyWorks has released three albums, Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita. (I’ve Always Liked You.) in January 2014, Boku Ja Dame Desu ka? in November 2014, and Naru Sono Shunkan o (That Moment I Fell in Love) on July 15.
Sound! Euphonium the Movie: Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band
劇場版 響け！ユーフォニアム～北宇治高校吹奏楽部へようこそ～ 「Gekijouban Hibike! Euphonium: Kitauji Koukou Suisouraku-Bu e Youkoso」
Running Time: 103 mins.
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
Writer: Jukki Hanada (Screenplay) Ayano Takeda (Original Creator)
Starring: Ayaka Asai (Hazuki Kato), Chika Anzai (Reina Kousaka), Moe Toyota (Sapphire Kawashima), Tomoyo Kurosawa (Kumiko Oumae),
Animation Production: Kyoto Animation
Synopsis from My Anime List: After swearing off music due to an incident at the middle school regional brass band competition, euphonist Kumiko Oumae enters high school hoping for a fresh start. As fate would have it, she ends up being surrounded by people with an interest in the high school brass band. Kumiko finds the motivation she needs to make music once more with the help of her bandmates, some of whom are new like novice tubist Hazuki Katou; veteran contrabassist Sapphire Kawashima; and band vice president and fellow euphonist Asuka Tanaka. Others are old friends, like Kumiko’s childhood friend and hornist-turned-trombonist Shuuichi Tsukamoto, and trumpeter and bandmate from middle school, Reina Kousaka.
However, in the band itself, chaos reigns supreme. Despite their intention to qualify for the national band competition, as they currently are, just competing in the local festival will be a challenge—unless the new band advisor Noboru Taki does something about it.
Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions
劇場版 遊☆戯☆王 THE DARK SIDE OF DIMENSIONS 「Kono Danshi, Mahou ga Oshigoto Desu.」
Running Time: 130 mins.
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Director: Satoshi Kuwabara
Writer: Kazuki Takahashi (Script/Original Creator)
Starring: Shunsuke Kazama (Yugi Muto), Kenjiro Tsuda (Seto Kaiba), Hidehiro Kikuchi (Hiroto Honda), Kana Hanazawa (Sera),
Animation Production: CoMix Wave Films
Synopsis from Anime News Network: In the past Yūgi Yami and Kaiba have clashed many times. Yami Yūgi, who resides in Yūgi Mutō’s body, and Kaiba will have a duel that bets their prides and accepts each other’s mutual experience. “Kaiba and Aigami, who seek to obtain the Millennium Puzzle, finally duel!,” “The duel field turns into dimensional terrain through Aigami’s power!,” and “Kaiba’s monsters become powerless…!”
For the sake of his motives, Aigami spies on Yugi and his friends as they live their everyday lives. However, after coming in contact with Kaiba, and because their goals conflict, they begin a duel. To combat Kaiba, a skilled and powerful duelist, Aigami employs frightening tactics…!
The Sun
太陽 「Taiyou」
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Running Time: 129 mins.
Director: Yu Irie
Writer: Yu Irie (Screenplay), Tomohiro Maekawa (Original Play)
Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mugi Kadowaki, Yuki Furukawa, Toshiki Ayata, Kouki Mizuta, Shingo Tsurumi, Yoko Nakamura, Jun Murakami,
Synopsis: Biological terrorism has almost wiped humanity out but there are survivors and they are split into two different kinds of human survivors. There are the Nokusu who were infected with the virus but survived and now they carry an antibody. These are a unique breed of human because most of them are young, healthy and have high intelligence, but they are sensitive to ultraviolet rays and so they are active mostly during the night. The other group are the Kyurio, people who have survived by never having been infected by the virus. The Kyurio are discriminated against and live in pverty. One such Kyurio is Tetsuhiko Okudera (Ryunosuke Kamiki) and he wishes he could be a Nokusu. Yui Ikuta (Mugi Kadowaki) is Tetsuhiko’s childhood friend.
Dodgeball no Shinri 01
ドッジボールの真理 code01 伝説のレッドブルマー 「Dojjibo-ru no shinri koudo 01 densetsu no redo buruma-」
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Running Time: 60 mins.
Director: Yoichiro Hayama
Writer: Yoichiro Hayama (Original Story/Screenplay)
Starring: Azusa Togashi, Saki Funaoka, Tomona Morioka, Lisa Hotta, Eri Wada, Marika Fukunaga, Mai Yasuda,
Synopsis: Rei and Mari have gained supernatural powers from playing dodgeball and these powers serve them well when they enter a private high school and take part in a tournament with a beautiful girl who also has strange powers.
Death Forest Kyoufu no Mori 4
デスフォレスト 恐怖の森4「Desu Foresuto Kyoufu no Mori 4」
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Running Time: 65 mins.
Director: Yasutake Torii
Writer: Satoshi Okonogi (Screenplay), Kazz (Original Game Creator)
Starring: Julia Tomita, Mitsuki Kimijima, Cyborg Kaori, Kouta Kosugi,
More death forest films… I never thought it would turn into a series. Here’s what I wrote for the second one and I think the comment still stands:
I never thought that the first Death Forest (released last December) would get a sequel but the Japanese film industry will adapt anything (because original ideas are too dangerous to bet on). The reason for my cynicism? These Death Forest films are based on a free downloadable game where people get chased by a big white headed thing. Japanese let’s players have tackled this in a number of videos. The new film looks worse than the first.
Synopsis: Characters played by J-pop idols and actors from previous films team up toface the huge fac monsters again. Their journey takes them to a suspicious hospital and a haunted forest…
The next two films are from Nepal but directed by a Japanese person
Katomanzu ni Chiruhana
カトマンズに散る花「Katomanzu ni Chiruhana」
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Running Time: 96 mins.
Director: Toshiaki Itoh
Writer: Toshiaki Itoh, Narayan Raj Panda, (Screenplay)
Starring: Ganesh Man Lama, Sharmila Gurung, Jagat Rajthala, Apsara Karki, Santosh Lama, Late Gopal Bhutani, Saujanya Subba, Sasundhara Bhusal,
Synopsis from Wikipedia entry on the novel: 45 years old Suyogbir is the main male protagonist. An ex-army serviceman Suyog fought against Japan in the second world war but being poor hearted was not even able to kill a single soldier and had not received any medal. Although his village is in hills, he lives in Kathmandu valley. His daily routine has become to drink alcohol in the evenings in the bar. He brutally raped and murdered several indigenous girls and he remembers several incidents during the war.
He meets and becomes friend with Shivaraj in the bar. Shivaraj has three sisters: Mujura, Sakambari and Sanu. Suyogbir unknowingly becomes near to them all and falls in love with Sakambari but he finds difficult to tell her. One day finding her alone, he kisses her revealing his love towards her.
Later, Suyogbir stops visiting Shivaraj and his family. He later knows Sakambari was ill and one day he comes to know Sakambari has committed suicide.
Syuog concludes even one sided love kills.
Kathputali: The Angel of the Himalayas
カタプタリ 風の村の伝説「kataputari-fū no mura no densetsu」
Release Date: April 23rd, 2016
Running Time: 51 mins.
Director: Toshiaki Itoh,
Writer: Toshiaki Itoh
Starring: Ganesh Man Rama
Japanese Movie Box Office Results for this Week:
Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare (2016/04/16)
Crayon Shin-chan Movie 24: Bakusui! Yumemi World Dai Totsugeki (2016/04/16)
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)
Spotlight (2016/04/15)
The Good Dinosaur (2016/03/12)
The Town Where Only I Am Missing (2016/03/19)
The Masked Rider #1 (2016/03/16)
