Happy weekend, everyone!
I hope you are well!
It has been an intense week knocking down proofreading projects, writing reviews, doing PR, and doing my regular day job and practising Japanese but I think I’m on top of everything. The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2019 has started but I won’t be going to the London leg of it because of a lack of time. That’s a bit of a shame because there are friends I would like to see. I’ve been fortunate to watch films that are fresh from 2018 as well as some from 2016 during this week and hope to continue.
I posted a review for Naomi Kawase’s 2016 drama Hikari and I posted about the films at this year’s Glasgow International Film Festival and the opening film of this year’s Osaka Asian Film Festival.
What is released this weekend in Japan?
Snow Flower 
雪の華 「Yuki no hana」
Running Time: 125 mins.
Release Date: February 01st, 2019
Director: Kojiro Hashimoto
Writer: Yoshikazu Okada (Screenplay),
Starring: Hiroomi Tosaka, Ayami Nakajo, Saki Takaoka, Kenta Hamano, Seiichi Tanabe, Yumena Yanai,
Synopsis: Miyuki Hirai (Ayami Nakajo) has been physically weak since she was a child and things get even more grim when she is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Just when things seem to hit rock bottom she is the victim of crime and cannot fight back. The only positive thing she has going for her is the dream of going to Finland to see the Northern Lights. This is when a handsome young glass craftsman named Yusuke Watabiki (Hiroomi Tosaka) appears in front of her…
Whistleblower 
七つの会議 「Nanatsu no Kaigi」
Running Time: 119 mins.
Release Date: February 01st, 2019
Director: Katsuo Fukuzawa
Writer: Kentaro Ushio (Screenplay), Jun Ikeido (Novel)
Starring: Mansai Nomura, Teruyuki Kagawa, Yo Yoshida, Aki Asakura, Shingo Fujimori, Mitsuhiro Oikawa, Tao Tsuchiya,
Synopsis: Tamio Yasumi (Mansai Nomura) works as a subsection chief for a company but he doesn’t work as hard as his colleagues. When Banji Harashima (Mitsuhiro Oikawa) is assigned to work as the new vice manager in the department, a company secret is exposed...
Akai Yuki Red Snow 
赤い雪 「Akai Yuki Red Snow」
Running Time: 106 mins.
Release Date: February 01st, 2019
Director: Sayaka Kai
Writer: Sayaka Kai (Screenplay),
Starring: Masatoshi Nagase, Nahana, Arata Iura, Yui Natsukawa, Koichi Sato, Ken Yoshizawa,
Synopsis: A young boy’s brother disappears and his memory of the event leads to a confused investigation. Despite this, the police arrest someone with a pretty bad criminal record so it seems like justice has been done. Not quite. 30 years later, an investigative reporter finds anomalies and the boy, now a man, has his own doubts. The two meet and are brought into contact with the suspect’s daughter and something unexpected happens…
Korasho no Kaitei Wakuwaku Daibouken! 
映画 コラショの海底わくわく大冒険！ 「Korasho no Kaitei Wakuwaku Daibouken! 」
Release Date: February 02nd, 2019
Running Time: 60 mins.
Director: Yoshiaki Okumura
Writer: Mitsutaka Hirota (Screenplay),
Starring: Yoshio Kojima (Note), Akemi Okamura, Ikue Otani, Kenji Hamada, Satomi Moriya, Yuki Masuda,
Animation Production: TMS Entertainment
Synopsis from Anime News Network: The character Korosho, a spirit of a randsell backpack, is from Benesse’s “Shinken Zemi Shogaku Kouza” correspondence course for early elementary schoolers. The film is a collaboration with the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Team Kuroshio, a team of researchers and engineers dedicated to studying the ocean floor.
Gekijouban Rikei ga Koi ni Ochita no de Shōmei Shite Mita 
劇場版 リケ恋 理系が恋に落ちたので証明してみた。 「Gekijouban Rikei ga Koi ni Ochita no de Shōmei Shite Mita」
Running Time: 85 mins.
Release Date: February 01st, 2019
Director: Sayaka Kai
Writer: Sayaka Kai (Screenplay), Alifred Yamamoto (Manga)
Starring: Nana Asakawa, Shun Nishime, Yuka Yano, Tom Fujita, Karin Ogino,
Synopsis: Ayame Himuro (Nana Asakawa) is a scientist in love with her colleague Shinya Yukimura (Shun Nishime) but before he accepts her emotions, he wants to prove that their love can be scientifically proven, quantified, and expressed factually otherwise he won’t tell Ayame he loves her. Ayame tries experiments to prove her love.
Gan ni naru mae ni shitte okukoto 
がんになる前に知っておくこと 「Gan ni naru mae ni shitte okukoto」
Running Time: 108 mins.
Release Date: February 02nd, 2019
Director: Ryu Miyake
Writer: N/A
Starring: Fumihiko Wakao, Noriyuki Katsumata, Eiko Yamauchi, Etsuko Aruga,
Synopsis: A documentary on the theme of “cancer” where 15 health professionals such as a surgeon, a radiation oncologist and others with cancer experiences, all talking about the disease and how best to face it.
Koi no Buta 
恋の豚 「Koi no Buta」
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: August 25th, 2018
Director: Hideo Jojo
Writer: Hideo Jojo, Ai Suzuki (Screenplay),
Starring: Tomok0 Namiki, Yuri Hana, Umi Mitoma, Fumio Moriya, Kakumaru Yoshida, Sosuke Yamamoto, Keichan,
Synopsis: A big girl named Marie meets a skinny guy and it works out.
Documentertainment AD-LIVE 
ドキュメンターテイメント AD-LIVE 「Dokyumenta-deimento AD-LIVE」
Running Time: 90 mins.
Release Date: February 02nd, 2019
Director: Kenjiro Tsuda
Writer: Kenjiro Tsuda (Screenplay)
Starring: Kenichi Suzumura, Masaki Terasoma, Kosuke Toriumi, Yuichi Nakamura, Tomokazu Seki,
Synopsis: A documentary based on the popular improvisation play “AD-LIVE (ad lib)” which celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2018. Many popular voice actors appear on the stage to perform in front of a massive crowd. Audiences get to see this and the behind-the-scenes meetings and preparation.
Nemuru Mura 
眠る村 「Nemuru Mura」
Running Time: 96 mins.
Release Date: February 02nd, 2019
Director: Junichi Saito, Reika Kamata,
Writer: N/A
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai (Narration)
Synopsis: The mystery of the “Nabari poison grape case” involves a man named Masaru Okunishi who was convicted of killing five women and making twelve others ill with wine poisoned with pesticide. It happened in the rural town of Nabari, Mie Prefecture in 1961. Okunishi was the perpetrator because he was seen delivering the wine and his wife and his lover were two of the women killed. He was sentenced to death. There has been a lot of dispute over whether he was the real perpetrator because his confession was taken after he was tortured and evidence was shaky. His sister fought for his release but despite beating being on death row, he died in jail. It has been 57 years since the incident and director Junichi Saito has investigated the case before in drama form with Tatsuya Nakadai portraying Okunishi in prison in the film The Lifetime of Poison Wine in Nabari Incident. This is his latest investigation.