Hello dear readers!
I did say I would take a break but I had a spare hour and started writing previews and thought, ‘why stop now? I did say I would try and keep the previews going…’ My serious studying starts next week (honest), I have one or two more festival films to review and possibly a DVD and Blu-Ray. I rushed this post so apologies.
What did I post this week? A preview of the Japanese films at the New York Asian Film Festival and the next film to be screened at the Japanese Embassy in London which is Summer Every Day.
What’s released this weekend?
Natsumi’s Firefly
植物図鑑 「Shokubutsu Zukan」
Release Date: June 04th, 2016
Running Time: 108 mins.
Director: Ryuichi Hiroki
Writer: Sho Kataoka, Takehiko Minato (Screenplay), Akio Morisawa (Original Novel)
Starring: Kasumi Arimura, Asuka Kudo, Yasushi Fuchikami, Nijio Murakami, Kaoru Kobayashi, Ken Mitsuishi,
Synopsis: Natsumi (Kasumi Arimura) follows in her father’s footsteps on a path to become a photographer and heads to a forest to take a picture of a certain type of firefly. She encounters a family that live there and thinks back on her childhood.
Eternal Maria
エターナル・マリア 「Ita-naru Maria」
Release Date: June 08th, 2016
Running Time: 70 mins.
Director: Takehito Sakamoto
Writer: Takehito Sakamoto, Itarou Nakaa (Screenplay),
Starring: Mana Sakura, Rika Hoshimi, Yuki Itano, Tsugumi Muto, Emiri Okazaki, Shizu Hasegawa, Lemon,
Synopsis: AV Film
64: Part 2
64 ロクヨン前編 「64 Rokuyon Kohen」
Running Time: 119 mins.
Release Date: June 08th, 2016
Director: Takahisa Zeze
Writer: Shinichi Hisamatsu, Takahisa Zeze (Screenplay), Hideo Yokoyama (Original Novel)
Starring: Koichi Sato, Gou Ayano, Nana Eikura, Eita, Masatoshi Nagase, Kippei Shiina, Tomokazu Miura, Eiji Okuda, Yui Natsukawa
Synopsis from IMDB: 1989 is the 64 Shouwa year in the Japanese calendar, thus the unsolved case of a girl who was kidnapped and murdered is called “64 (rokuyon). It has hung over the Criminal Investigation Department in the Prefectural Police Department for fourteen years and the statute of limitations is approaching it. In 2002, Yoshinobu Mikami, an ex-detective who was the lead investigator on the “Rokuyon” works as a Public Relations Officer in the Police Affairs Department and finds his department dealing with a new case connected to the “Rokuyon” case.
Sabuibo Mask
サブイボマスク 「Sabuibo Masuku」
Release Date: June 11th, 2016
Running Time: 114 mins.
Director: Naoto Monma
Writer: Lion Hitoshizuku (Screenplay),
Starring: Funky Kato, Teppei Koike, Airi Taira, Yoichi Nukumizu, Asako Ito,
Synopsis: A young guy sings to bring life back to his small town which has been deserted by people seeking work elsewhere.
Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu! the Movie
白鳥麗子でございます！ THE MOVIE 「Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu! the Movie」
Release Date: June 11th, 2016
Running Time: 92 mins.
Director: Shinji Kuma
Writer: Shinji Kuma (Screenplay)
Starring: Mayuko Kawakita, Masaru Mizuno, Shunsuke Tanaka, Ayaka Ohnishi, Yuka Ueno, Lisa Naito,
Synopsis: The group Boys and Men all play guys chasing after MAyuko Kawakita
Lost Serenade
月光 「Gekkou」
Release Date: June 11th, 2016
Running Time: 111 mins.
Director: Masato Ozawa
Writer: Masato Ozawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Nori Sato, Uwa Ishibashi, Kentaro Furuyama, Asuka Kurosawa, Yota Kawase, Jun Miho,
Synopsis from IMDB: Human rights for sexual assault and child abuse victims are global concern that is not only in addressed in Japan but throughout the world. From his debut, Director Masato Ozawa has continued to create films which shine a light on these serious social issues. In his previous work “Remiges,” Ozawa expressed the struggles of a girl and a boy who have been victims of violence with a fresh perception and won “Best Picture Prize” at the 14th Jeonju International Film Festival. With his works Ozawa have quickly gathered acclaim as one of Japan’s up-and-coming director. For “Lost Serenade” Ozawa challenged to depict original sin and redemption through a direct approach towards sexual violence also known as the ‘soul murder.’ Starring rising stars, Nori Sato and Uwa Ishibashi who poured their heart and soul into their characters, actors who shared Ozawa’s passion in this theme, Yota Kawase, Asuka Kurosawa and Jun Miho also supported the film.
Shiranai Machi
知らない町「Shiranai Machi」
Release Date: June 11th, 2016
Running Time: 99 mins.
Director: Shingo Ohuchi
Writer: Shingo Ohuchi (Screenplay),
Starring: Yuko Hosoe, Yuya Matsuura, Shigeki Yanagisawa,
Synopsis IMDB: Yuji Itabashi works for investigating to make maps. One day, a woman who he never know visits his room. She says she came to visit Goto, a boyfriend she lived together, and come to pick up the thing that she left behind. Later on, Yuji’s friend, Kosuke Nishida; a junk dealer, who was with Yuji when the strange woman came, starts to make a fuss saying he saw Ghost in the room while he was alone. What was the Ghost the Nishida saw?
Moratorium Cut-up
モラトリアム・カットアップ 「Moratoriamu Kattoappu」
Release Date: June 11th, 2016
Running Time: 38 mins.
Director: Taro Shibano
Writer: Taro Shibano (Screenplay),
Starring: Tetsuya Kobayashi, Fumiya Moritoshi, Tsukasa Sugiyama,
Sato ni kitara eeyan
さとにきたらええやん 「 Sato ni kitara eeyan」
Release Date: June 11th, 2016
Running Time: 100 mins.
Artistic Director: Yoshiki Shigee
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: A documentary following kids in Osaka with disabilities who all stay or visit a special children’s house which is a home away from home. It offers them and their parents some time to rest.
SING LIKE TALKING LIVE MOVIE Strings of the night
Release Date: June 11th, 2016
Running Time: 106 mins.
Director: Shinya Noda
Writer: N/A
Starring: The band SING LIKE TALKING
Synopsis from IMDB: The band Sing Like Talking celebrate their 30th anniversary with a concert featuring many fans and fellow musicians.
Japanese Movie Box Office Results for this Week:
Evergreen Love (2016/06/04)
Zootopia (2016/04/23)
Deadpool (2016/06/01)
Wolf Girl and Black Prince (2016/05/28)
The Kodai Family (2016/06/04)
64: Part 1 Prequel (2016/05/07)
If Cats Disappeared From the World (2016/05/14)
The Magnificent Nine (2016/05/28)
Snow White and the Huntsman Winter’s War (2016/05/27)
Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare (2016/04/16)
