Happy weekend, people!
I hope everyone is feeling fine.
I’ve just finished a six-day working week at my regular job and I’m in the middle of film festival work for Kotatsu. I finished crafting PR stuff weeks ago but getting it set in motion is happening now. Since the last trailer post, I watched ten films and written about Third Window Films’ release of Suffering of Ninko, posted a review for The Path Leading to Love and posted an interview with the director of that film, Takayama Kohei.
What is released this weekend in Japan?
Bleach 
Running Time: 108 mins.
Release Date: July 20th, 2018
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Writer: (Screenplay), Tite Kubo (Original Story),
Starring: Masami Nagasawa, Miyavi, Hana Sugisaki, Erina Mano, Sota Fukushi, Ryo Yoshizawa, Yosuke Eguchi,
This one is playing at Japan Cuts in New York and will be screened twice on July 28th.
Synopsis: Ichigo Kurosaki (Sota Fukushi) has the ability to see spirits. Thanks to this, he meets a “Soul Reaper” (shinigami) by the name of Rukia Kuchiki (Hana Sugisaki), who transfers her powers to him after being injured by an evil spirit known as a “Hollow.” Under Rukia’s guidance, Ichigo trains to harness his newfound Soul Reaper abilities in the battle against Hollows while Rukia does her best to fit in as a human high school girl.
Mirai of the Future 
未来のミライ 「Mirai no Mirai」
Running Time: 100 mins.
Release Date: July 20th, 2018
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Mamoru Hosoda (Screenplay/Original Work)
Starring: Haru Kuroki (Mirai-chan), Moka Kamishiraishi (Kun-chan), Gen Hoshino (Father), Koji Yakusho (Father), Kumiko Aso (Mother), Mitsuo Yoshihara (Mysterious Man), Yoshiko Miyazaki (Grandmother)
Animation Production: Studio Chizu
Probably film of the week by a long-shot. The reviews from this year’s Cannes film festival paint this to be a home-run for Mamoru Hosoda.
Synopsis: A family living in a small house in a corner of a Yokohama dotes on a spoiled four-year-old boy named Kun-chan. When he gets a little sister named Mirai, he feels that his new sister stole his parents’ love from him. Jealousy and resentment well up until he meets an older version of Mirai, who has come from the future and takes him on an adventure.
Ame no kubi furizaka 
雨の首ふり坂 「Ame no kubi furizaka」
Running Time: 93 mins.
Release Date: July 21st, 2018
Director: Shunsaku Kawake
Writer: Sumio Oomori (Screenplay), Shotaro Ikenami (Original Work)
Starring: Baijaku Nakamura, Takahiro Miura, Akiyoshi Nakao, Shigeru Izumiya, Ren Osugi, Sei Ashina,
Synopsis: Baijaku takes the lead in a film where he has to dodge pursuit from a hostile gang whilst also helping out a family of innocent people who run a noodle store. I think. More importantly, this was one of Ren Osugi’s last films.
スティルライフオブメモリーズ 「Sutiru Raifu obu Memori-zu」
Running Time: 107 mins.
Release Date: July 21st, 2018
Director: Hitoshi Yazaki
Writer: Masa Asanishi, Akira Ito (Screenplay), Inuhiko Yomota ‘Eizo Yori’ (Original Novel),
Starring: Masanobu Ando, Natsuko Haru, Rima Matsuda, Vivienne Sato, Kiyomi Ito, Inuhiko Yomota,
Hitoshi Yazaki is an indie veteran whose return is being greeted with anticipation and his latest film will get people hot under the collar since it is all about a photography shoot which may, or may not, be erotic. It is inspired by Henri Maccheroni’s scandalous relationship with his lover/muse which became the collection of work, ‘Cent photographies choisies dans la serie Deux mille photographies du sexe d’une femme’.
I saw it at the Osaka Asian Film Festival, made notes, prepped a review, but didn’t feel inspired to write about it despite the fact it was well-shot. I didn’t get it on a first viewing I guess.
Synopsis: Haruma is an up-and-coming photographer who is getting full exposure at a photo exhibition in a Tokyo photo gallery. Rei, a beautiful curator at the Yamanashi Prefectural Art Museum, is fascinated by the photos she sees and calls Haruma to request a photo-shoot with an intimate part of herself as the subject. The only rules to this shoot are that no questions must be asked and Rei will be given the negatives. Haruma is initially surprised but goes along with the job, however the job becomes something of an obsession for the photographer…
Engine Sentai Go-Onger: 10 Years Grand Prix 
炎神戦隊ゴーオンジャー 10 YEARS GRANDPRIX 「Enjin Sentai Gōonjā Ten Iyāzu Guran Puri)」
Running Time: 53 mins.
Release Date: July 21st, 2018
Director: Katsuya Watanabe
Writer: Sho Aikawa (Screenplay), Shotaro Ikenami (Original Work)
Starring: Yasuhisa Furuhara, Shinwa Kattaoka, Rina Aizawa, Masahiro Usui, Kenji Ebisawa, Hidenori Tokuyama, Yumi Sugimoto,
Website IMDB Power Rangers Wiki
Synopsis:Made to commemorate the 10th anniversary since the broadcast of the first episode of the Go-Onger sentai run, this one picks up the story at a time when sentai teams are banned and a suicide bomber disrupting the peace in response to the ban.
Anna (Kidnapper) 
誘拐アンナ 「Yuukai Anna」
Release Date: July 21st, 2018
Running Time: 30 mins.
Director: Kaichi Sato
Writer: Kaichi Sato (Screenplay),
Starring: Hana Takeda, Toshiyuki Morikawa,
Animation Production: Studio DEEN
Synopsis: The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968) is getting screened in certain cinemas and a3DCG anime was created as a tribute to continue the story.
Sukabro 
スカブロ 「Sukaburo」
Running Time: 101 mins.
Release Date: July 21st, 2018
Director: Junichi Yagi
Writer: Junichi Yagi (Screenplay),
Starring: Shunsuke Kubozuja Rueed, Aisha, Marika Fukunaga, Kan Muto, Sho Uesugi,
Synopsis: Here we have a crime drama about an older brother named Ryosuke (Shunsuke Kubozuka) who returns from a sluggish acting career in Tokyo to Yokosuka where his younger brother is a musician. They get caught up in a quiet to deliver a letter from a father to a son and some criminals get involved along the way.
I don’t remember Yokosuka being like this… Anyway, local actors and crew have made this
Sorry about the poor job this weekend, I’ve been hyperactive in my day job and exhausting myself. I discovered this hype track last night to change my mood.