Happy weekend, people!
I hope everyone is doing good!
This week has been spent doing overtime in work and overcoming exhaustion and illness at the same time. I had help from relaxing at home with lots of films, a yakuza film from 1958 and lots of shorts on Donation Theater. The campaign period is up and there’s just a week left to watch the remaining films so I’ve got my work cut out but I will do it! I also have work on an otome game and I have to get back into regular reviews again. I have started Japanese practice again, which is good. Prep for going back to the course at the end of the month. I have also done press work for the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival which launches at the same time. It’s all happening but I will make it!
I posted about the Japanese films at the BFI London Film Festival and a review of The Scythian Lamb.
What is released in Japan this weekend?
The Miracle of Crybaby Shottan 
泣き虫しょったんの奇跡 「Nakimushi Shottan no Kiseki」
Running Time: 127 mins.
Release Date: September 07th, 2018
Director: Toshiaki Toyoda
Writer: Ayako Kato (Screenplay), Shoji Segawa (Autobiographical Novel)
Starring: Ryuhei Matsuda, Yojiro Noda, Shota Sometani, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Takako Matsu, Hirofumi Arai, Kiyohio Shibukawa, Kento Nagayama, Kaoru Kobayashi, Jun Miho, Jun Kunimura, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Itsuji Itao, Shizuka Ishibashi, Yuya Endo, Chihiro Okamoto,
Synopsis: Shoji Segawa (Ryuhei Matsuda) was on the path from being a quit kid to a Shogi champion butwhen he hits the age of 26, he finds his time might be over and a new generation of shogi players are about to take over. However, with the support of his peers, he makes a comeback and a miracle happens…
Kasane 
累 ―かさね― 「Kasane」
Running Time: 112 mins.
Release Date: September 07th, 2018
Director: Yuichi Sato
Writer: Tsutomu Kuroiwa (Screenplay), Daruma Matsuura (Manga)
Starring: Tao Tsuchiya, Kyoko Yoshine, Yu Yokoyama, Rei Dan, Tadanobu Asano, Mariko Tsutsui, Tomoko Ikuta, Kunio Murai,
Synopsis: Kasane (Kyoko Yoshine) is the daughter of a famous actress and while she has impressive acting talent she has none of her mother’s good looks because her face is deformed by a giant scar. This led to the girl becoming extremely shy and hiding away. The situation changes when her mother dies and she leaves behind enchanted lipstick that allows the wearer the power to switch faces with whomever they kiss. Around this time, an old colleague of her mother, Habuta (Tadanobu Asano), connects Kasane with an extremely beautiful but extremely arrogant and talentless actress named Nina (Tao Tsuchiya) who seems to be the perfect person to use but the man has other plans...
Hatsukoi Sukecchi: Maitchingu Machiko Sensei 
初恋スケッチ まいっちんぐマチコ先生 「Hatsukoi Sukecchi: Maitchingu Machiko Sensei」
Running Time: 70 mins.
Release Date: September 08th, 2018
Director: Tomoyuki Kamimura
Writer: Shibuji Nagisawa (Screenplay), Takeshi Ebihara (Manga)
Starring: Reimi Osawa, Jun Murakami, Kazuma Ikeda, Yuka Masuda, Mariya Suzuki, Tomohiro Sekimachi, Asuka Hanamura, Yuno Mizusawa,
Synopsis: Kenta (Jun Murakami) is a manga artist living in Tokyo. When he’s contacted by his friend Kinzo (Kazumi Ikeda) who informs him that their high school will be demolished, the two head back to their home town where they get involved with a group trying to save the school and thinking about memories of their former teacher Machiko (Reimi Osawa).
Itsumo Tsukiyo ni Kome no Meshi 
いつも月夜に米の飯 「Itsumo Tsukiyo ni Kome no Meshi」
Running Time: 104 mins.
Release Date: September 08th, 2018
Director: Ayako Kato
Writer: Ayako Kato (Screenplay),
Starring: Aina Yamada, Soko Wada, Yumiko Takahashi, Yutaro Watanabe, Hiroyuki Nishiyama, Yuka Ogura, Mina Yamakawa,
Synopsis: Chiyori (Aina Yamada) was raised by a single-mother who runs an izakaya in Niigata but left to attend a high school in Tokyo with some bitterness left behind. When her mother Reiko (Yumiko Takahashi) disappears, Chiyori returns home and begins working at the izakaya with the chef Asada (Soko Wada).
Fooly Cooly Alternative 
フリクリ オルタナ 「Furikuri Orutana」
Release Date: September 07th, 2018
Running Time: 135 mins.
Chief Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro, Director: Kiyotaka Suzuki, Yutaka Uemura
Writer: Hideto Iwai (Screenplay),
Starring: Inori Minase (Hidomi), Megumi Hayashibara (Haruha Rahary), Jun Fukuyama (Ide), Kikuko Inoue (Hinae), Reiko Suzuki (Tami Hanae), Miyuki Sawashiro (Jinyu),
Animation Production: Production I.G, NUT, Revoroot,
Synopsis: The reboot of the FLCL series starts with this film, the first of two OVAs which tell the story of 14-year-old Hidomi, her classmate Ide, and two otherworldly beings, “Jinyu” and “Haruha Raharu,” who will unlock their hidden potential whilst dodging an all-powerful force known as “ATOMSK” by way of a gorgeous vintage car and a certain Vespa Scooter.
The Departure 
Running Time: 87 mins.
Director: Lana Wilson
Writer: Lana Wilson, David Teague (Screenplay),
Starring: Ittetsu Nemoto
This is an American documentary about a Japanese subject. It is Lana Wilson’s second film following one about abortion clinics that have come under attack in America.
Synopsis: Ittetsu Nemoto is a Buddhist priest with an interesting past. He was a punk rocker who used to work at a Tokyo McDonald’s. Despite taking on priestly vows, he still loves Prince, his motorcycle and dancing in clubs. He has become famous in Japan for his extraordinary success in inspiring suicidal men and women to keep on living but when a crisis hits Nemoto, will he be able to take his own advice and keep on living?
Endoka isan sensou
遠藤家遺産戦争 「Endoka isan sensou」
Running Time: 90 mins.
Release Date: September 07th, 2018
Director: Tetsuya Takehora
Writer: TohoVocal (Screenplay),
Starring: Hana Kano, Shijimi, Yuuko Shiraki, Kojiro Iida, Takuya Sakurai,
Synopsis: Three brothers and sisters fight each other over the late mother’s legacy.
Crying Free Sex 
クライング フリー セックス 「Kuraingu Furi- Sekkusu」
Running Time: 15 mins.
Release Date: September 07th, 2018
Director: Tomohiko Iwasaki
Writer: Tomohiko Iwasaki (Screenplay),
Starring: Allen Ai, Michael Fanconi, Kousuke Takaki, Yosjie Suzuki, Bueno, Keisaku Kimura,
Synopsis: Two secret agents, Naomi (Allen Ai), and Cobra (Michael Fanconi), are busy infiltrating a secret base when they decide to infiltrate each other’s pants. When their genitals get stuck together, the clock refuses to stop, and the pressure mounts because the mission has to continue. Can they overcome their sticky situation and reach a successful climax?
Eiga Okaasan to Issho Hajimete no Dai Bouken 
映画 おかあさんといっしょ はじめての大冒険 「Eiga Okaasan to Issho Hajimete no Dai Bouken」
Running Time: 70 mins.
Release Date: September 07th, 2018
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Atsuko Ono, Yuichiro Hanada, Yoshihiro Kobayashi, Risa Uehara, Shinnosuke Mitsushima,
Synopsis: The NHK children’s programme, Okaasan to Issho gets its first film since it began broadcasting in 1959. Yuichiro-oniisan, Atsuko-oneesan, Yoshio-oniisan, and Risa-oneesan leave the studio and go to various places on a big adventure.
Gekijouban Hontou ni atta kowai hanashi 2018 
劇場版ほんとうにあった怖い話2018 「Gekijouban Hontou ni atta kowai hanashi 2018」
Running Time: 66 mins.
Release Date: September 08th, 2018
Director: KANEDA, Takayuki Hosonuma,
Writer: KANEDA, Wataru Inoue, Shinzu Tokuya,
Starring: Mariri Sugimoto, Ruto, Nana Owada, Hitomi Sakagami, Arisa Koike, Hirona Murata, Asami Kinoshita, Natsume Mito, Gyo Miyamoto,
Synopsis: This is a film with three vignettes based on scary internet posts including one about a student who lives next to an apartment where people committed suicide. She hears music and voices from that room…