This is the second part of my trailer post for this week. Normally I would publish one a week to capture the films getting shown in cinemas in Tokyo but there were too many to fit into one post – 25 embedded YouTube videos will derail an average browser with lots of tabs open. So yesterdayI posted a bunch of trailers for great looking films released this weekend. Today’s post is packed full of documentaries and while it looks larger than the first, there are fewer trailers due to the distributor of some of the 3/11 documentaries not releasing any clips. A look at next week’s release schedule shows that I’ll have to split up the weekly trailer post again.
What was my soundtrack for this post? This music and this music! Nostalgia for the 80′s, a time I barely remember.
The Tiger Mask 
Japanese: タイガー マスク
Romaji: Taiga Masuku
Running Time: 91 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Ken Ochiai
Writer: Ken Ochiai (Screenplay), Ikki Kajiwara (Original Manga)
Starring: Eiji Wentz, Natsuna Watanabe, Sho Aikawa, Mao Miyaji, Aya Hirano
Ikki Kajiwara’s hugely popular Tiger Mask manga undergoes the movie treatment following the adaptation of his other major hit, Ai to Makoto. The film stars Eiji Wentz (Kitaro films) and the brilliant Sho Aikawa (Serpent’s Path, Eyes of the Spider, License to Live).
Naoto Date was once an orphan selected by the mysterious organisation Tiger’s Cae to become a villainous wrestler and earn big money. Naota survived the harsh training to become the fearsome Tiger Mask but rebels against Tiger’s Cave to prevent other orphans facing the same fate. Not only that, he donates all of his earnings to the orphan he grew up in. Considered a threat, Tiger’s Cave send assassins! Something tells me that these assassins are wrestlers and don’t pack guns!
Patema Inverted 
Japanese Title: サカサマ の パテマ
Romaji: Sakasama no Patema
Running Time: 99 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Yasuhiro Yoshiura
Writer: Yasuhiro Yoshiura (Screenplay/Original Creator)
Starring: Yukiyo Fujii (Patema), Nobuhiko Okamoto (Age), Shintarou Oohata (Porta), Shinya Fukumatsu (G), Masayuki Katou (Lagos),
Yasuhiro Yoshiura is the director/creator of the wonderful Time of Eve, a futuristic drama about androids in a café and the humans that visit them. It was a whimsical show full of great details and gorgeous animation and do you know what was best of all? The characters were relatable and funny. This is his latest film and it looks to be just as good. I love that poster!
The story takes place in an underground world where the inhabitants exist in tunnels and confined spaces and must wear protective clothing. Despite this, these underground people still enjoy life, especially Patema, the princess of her underground village who loves to explore. Her fascination with exploration leads her to a forbidden area where she meets a boy named Age who operates under different gravitational circumstances. The two may come from very different societies but will face strange situations together!
Tokyo Newcomer 
Japanese: 東京 に 来た ばかり
Romaji: Toukyou ni Kita Bakari
Running Time: 100 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Qinmin Jiang
Writer: Qinmin Jiang (Screenplay)
Starring: Chieko Baisho, Hao Qin, Hideo Nakaizumi, Junning Zhang, Shunsuke Kubozuka, Toru Kazama, Yuan Tian, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
There’s an actual company called China-Japan Cooperation? Really? Chinese and Japanese politicians might be at loggerheads over certain issues but the film industries of the two nations are working together and this is yet another example.
A young Chinese man named Xiang (Hao) arrives in Japan to train in the board game Go but he doesn’t speak Japanese and become embarrassed. When he drops his Go stones he meets an old Japanese woman named Kimie Igarashi (Baisho) interested in the game and the Chinese man moves in with the old woman and her grandson Shoichi (Nakaizumi).
Undressed Minako 
Japanese: ハダカ の 美奈子
Romaji: Hadako no Minako
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Toshiyuki Morioka
Writer: Toshiyuki Morioka (Screenplay), Minako Hayashishita (Original Novel)
Starring: Tomoko Nakajima, Tetsuya Sugaya, Natsumi Hirajima, Ami Tomite, Ai Miyoshi, Ruri Shinato, Kuisu Natsumi
Apparently this is connected to a documentary TV show called Tsuukai! Big Daddy! Which followed the lives of Kiyoshi Hayashishita and his family. It’s connection is derived from the fact that the film follows Hayashishita’s ex-wife Minako and tells the story of her life including her time with an abusive father and a teenage pregnancy.
Sunk into the Womb 
Japanese Title: 子宮に沈める
Running Time: 95 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Takaomi Ogata
Writer: Takaomi Ogata (Screenplay),
Starring: Emiko Izawa, Kino Tsuchiya, Eiki Tsuchiya, Momoka Nishina, Aoi Tatsumi,
Holy crap, I reviewed a Japanese film before it hit Japanese cinemas? Working for a film magazine is awesome! That’s right, I reviewed this for Gigan magazine and, to put it bluntly, thought it was a slightly inferior version of Nobody Knows. It was a tragic tale of child neglect which was sometimes ponderous, sometimes harrowing but ultimately not without areas I could praise such as the performances. I wanted to know more about Yukiko’s character not least because she was played by the foxy Emiko Izawa.
When Yukiko’s (Izawa) husband she finds it a struggle to raise their two children (Kino Tsuchiya, Eiki Tsuchiya) while studying and working a part time job. She begins to feel isolated from life and soon takes to visiting host clubs leaving her kids alone at home…
Hinata no Aoshigure 
Japanese: 陽なたのアオシグレ
Romaji: Hinata no Aoshigure
Running Time: 18 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Hiroyasu Ishida
Writer: Hiroyasu Ishida (Screenplay)
Starring: Anju Inami (Hinata), Saori Hayami (Shigure)
Hiroyasu Ishida’s first ever project was a two-minute short called Fumiko’s Confession and it was a wild hit amongst anime fans when Ishida released it online when he was still a student at university. His latest short will be playing in cinemas alongside another short anime called Shashinkan. It might be worth heading to the YouTube channel of the animation production house Colorido to see what else they have.
Hinata is very good at drawing but poor at talking to people which means that when he falls in love with his classmate, Shigure he finds it difficult to talk to her. When Shigure’s family move to another town, Hinata says to himself, “I must tell her my feelings!” and starts to chase after the train which is taking Shigure away. Will his drawings aid him?
Shashinkan 
Japanese: 寫眞館
Romaji: Shashinkan
Running Time: 18 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Takeshi Nakamura
Writer: Takeshi Nakamura (Screenplay)
Starring: N/A
Playing alongside the above film is this one by Takeshi Nakamura (Fantastic Children) called Shashinkan – shashin photograph – kan – hall, Shashinkan – photograph museum?
The story takes place before World War II in a photo studio run for generations by the family of the main character. When a married couple visits the studio, the shy wife is a shy wife keeps facing her head down, but by various means the photographer is able to get her to smile for the camera. A year later, the couple come back with their stern-faced daughter. The photographer then tries desperately to get the young girl to smile. No voice actors just the music of Chopin.
Gachiban Z Proxy War 
Japanese Title: ガチバン Z 代理戦争
Romaji: Gachiban Z Dairi Sensou
Release Date: November o9th, 2013
Running Time: 75 mins.
Director: Takashi Motoki
Writer: Masao Iketani (Screenplay),
Starring: Reiya Masaki, Shuzunosuke, Kyosuke Yabe, Ryo Kato, Yuya Matsuura,
Another entry in the Yankee franchise. I’ve lost count… Not that I ever started counting these things but it seems like one a month.
Miyuki Nakajima “Ball Vol 17 2/2” The Movie 
Japanese: 中島みゆき「夜会 VOL.17 2/2」劇場版
Romaji: Nakajima Miyuki ‘Yakai Vol. 17 2/2’ Gekijouban
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Miyuki Nakajima, Yoko Ueno, Chiaki Kosaka, Yoichi Kohiyama
This is a film based on popular singer. song-writer and radio personality Miyuki Nakajima and a series of performances from 1989 drawing on experimental theatre.
The next four films are documentaries about 3/11
Singer 
Japanese: うたうひと
Romaji: Utau Hito
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Ryusuke Yamaguchi, Kou Sakai
March 11th, 2011 will be remembered due to the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Keeping the memory current are documentary and drama filmmakers like Ryusuke Yamaguchi and Kou Sakai who have made a trilogy of films. This documentary collects the interactions between Kazuko Ono who collects historical and sociological fragments like dialect, folklore and from the victims of the disasters,
The Sound of Waves
Japanese: うたうひと
Romaji: Utau Hito
Running Time: 142 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Ryusuke Yamaguchi, Kou Sakai
In this first part of a documentary trilogy the director journeys from Taro all the way down south visiting people affected by the disaster such as an old lady and her sister who remember other natural disasters. As the director listens to the people he questions why anyone would want to live in the region.
Voice of Waves Kesennuma
Japanese: なみ の こえ 気仙沼
Romaji: Nami no Koe Kesennuma
Running Time: 142 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Ryusuke Yamaguchi, Kou Sakai
This is another part of a trilogy of documentary films put together by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Kou Sakai and it follows on from Sound of the Waves as they shoot a collection of sequences showing the tsunami damage in Miyagi prefecture and follow a group of people and their recovery efforts.
Voice of Waves Shinchi Town
Japanese: なみ の こえ 新地町
Romaji: Nami no Koe Kesennuma
Running Time: 103 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Ryusuke Yamaguchi, Kou Sakai
This is another part of a trilogy of documentary films put together by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Kou Sakai and it follows on from Sound of the Waves Kesennuma as they shoot a collection of sequences showing the tsunami damage in Fukushima prefecture and follow a group of people and their recovery efforts. This is the most recent entry since its production year is marked as 2013.
Watch Rakugo on the Cinema Screen: “Master Storytellers of the Showa 
Period 6”
Japanese Title: スクリーンで観る高座 シネマ落語「落語研究会 昭和の名人 六」
Romaji: Sukuri-n de Miru Kōza Shinema Rakugo ‘Rakugo Kenkyūkai Shōwa no Meijin Go’
Release Date: November 09th, 2013 (Japan)
Running Time: 123 mins.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Yanagiya Kosan, Kokontei Shinshō, Katsura Bunraku
This is the sixth in a series of films focussing on Rakugo, a form of verbal entertainment where a lone storyteller sits on a stage and depicts a long and complicated comical story with nothing but a paper fan and a small cloth for props and a change in pitch and tone in voice to provide life to different characters. The film shows us three such entertainers: Yanagiya Kosan, Kokontei Shinshō and Katsura Bunraku. The last one was way back in May.
Seiza 
Japanese: 星座
Romaji: Seiza
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Shutaro Oku
Writer: Shutaro Oku (Screenplay)
Starring: Ikuyo Kuroda, Fabien Prioville, Fusako Urabe
Ikuyo Kuroda is a leading figure in the world of dance and this film is full of dancing and drama. It’s a story of a deaf-mute woman who falls for an illegal immigrant who may be a criminal. The police are after him but wil she give him up? I know nothing about dancing and dread being asked to dance (it does happen) but this looks good.
Tightrope 
Japanese: タイトロープ アウトサイダーという生き方
Romaji: Taito Roupu Autosaidaa to iu Ikikata
Running Time: 95 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Masahiro Honda
Writer: N/A
Starring: Koji Kikkawa (Narration), Dagurasu, Teppei Hori, Kintaro, Takahiro Kuroishi, Masaya, Takaaki, Syusaku Wada, Keinosuke Yoshinaga
A documentary that follows a group of men who are involved in mixed martial arts. These are semi-professional guys ranging in age from the young to the old (35) and each has different jobs.
Takamiy Melodic Metal History 2007 – 2013 “Steel Angel’s Feast” 
Japanese: Takamiy Melodic Metal History 2007 – 2013 鋼鉄 天使 の 宴
Romaji: Takamiy Melodic Metal History 2007 – 2013 Koutetsu Tenshi no Utage
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Toshihiko Takamizawa aka Prince Takamiy
The weekly music documentary is here and it’s following a guy named Takamiy and his band THE ALFEE with scenes from live performances and Takamiy narrating. Here’s an English language fan site so you can learn more!
Neo Ultra Q Special Screening Part 1 
Japanese: ネオ・ウルトラQ 特別上映 part I
Romaji: Neo Urutora Q Tokubetsu Jouei Part 1
Running Time: 138 mins.
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
Director: Gakuryu Ishii, Yu Nakai, Yu Irie, Kiyotaka Taguchi
Writer: Koki Mitani (Screenplay)
Starring: Rin Takanashi, Seiichi Tanabe, Hiroyuki Onoe, Shota Sometani
I found information for this on Sci-fi Japan
Three people: a psychologist doing research on the supernatural, a young beautiful journalist with an inquisitive mind and a bartender who has sympathy towards other forms of life. Together the trio set out to look into the paranormal and futuristic phenomena that confront our life and society.
– Tsuburaya Productions publicity materials for NEO ULTRA Q
This is the latest in a series of a popular sci-fi project created by Eiji Tsuburaya, special effects director on Godzilla, about three characters who investigated supernatural and alien phenomena. Apparently the show ran for 28 episodes from January to July in 1966, received a radio drama and movie edition. This latest one is a collection of 12 episodes from the TV sequel and features excellent actors like Rin Takanashi (Goth: Love of Death) and Shota Sometani (Himizu) and has the director Gakuryu Ishii (Isn’t Anyone Alive?). Each movie will collect three episodes and be released on the 9th day of each month which will now be known as “Q Day”. Furthermore, each screening has a Q&A. Sounds and looks fun.
Dragon Force 
Japanese: ドラゴン フォース
Romaji: Doragon Fo-su
Running Time: N/A
Release Date: November 09th, 2013
General Director: N/A Director: Tommy Wong
Writer: Tommy Wong (Screenplay)
Starring: Yuki Ono, Junichi Suwabe, Yuichi Nakamura, Jun Fukuyama, Aya Uchida
China-Japan Cooperation again? Well here’s an anime produced by them. The only problem with it is that it’s in CG. Bad CG at that. The more I look at it, the more it hurts. I shouldn’t make fun of other people’s works but this is worse than that Final Fantasy movie starring Hollywood actors. It actually features pretty good voice actors who take on the roles of a secret unit named Dragon Force who are out to stop an alien invasion. Expect giant robots.
Unseen World of Childcare 
Japanese: こどもこそミライ まだ見ぬ保育の世界
Romaji: Kodomo Koso Mirai Mada Minu Hoiku no Sekai
Running Time: 84 mins.
Release Date: November 10th, 2013
Director: Katsuhiko Tsutsui
This is a documentary following children in Yokohama who are about to graduate from kindergarten. Some of these children are handicapped and yet they are allowed to play freely with others… I think
