Welcome to the first trailer post of the week.
Image may be NSFW.
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There are just two so come back tomorrow for the next one.
This week and next week are a little calmer for releases, which is a relief because I’m back to doing full-time hours plus overtime at my workplace. I’ve managed to squeeze in more films thanks to waking up (too) early in the morning.
What are the first batch of films?
My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Image may be NSFW.
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山田くんとLv999の恋をする 「Yamada-kun to Lv999 no joisuru」
Release Date: March 28th, 2025
Duration: 118 mins.
Director: Yuka Yasukawa
Writer: Anna Kawahara (Screenplay), Mashiro (Original Webcomic)
Starring: Mizuki Yamashita, Ryuto Sakuma, NOA, Rui Tsukishima, Mizuki Kayashima,
Website Twitter: @yamada999_movie IMDB
This is a live-action adaptation of a hit romance manga that has already been turned into a TV anime, which ran in 2023. It is directed by Yuka Yasukawa. She has previously helmed The Nighthawk’s First Love (2022), Dressing Up (2012), and a segment of Kamata Prelude (2020)
Synopsis: College student Akane Kinoshita has recently broken up with by her boyfriend but, despite the heartbreak, continues to play the MMO she shared with him, The Forest of Saviour. At an IRL guild meeting, she meets high school pro-gamer Akito Yamada and slowly falls for him after he shows kindness. Getting him to take notice of her is going to be difficult since he isn’t interested in romance…
Ravens Image may be NSFW.
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レイブンズ 「Reibunzu」
Release Date: March 28th, 2025
Duration: 116 mins.
Director: Mark Gill
Writer: Mark Gill (Screenplay),
Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Kumi Takiuchi, Kanji Furutachi, Sosuke Ikematsu, Saki Takaoka,
Website Twitter: @RAVENS_movie_JP IMDB
Tadanobu Asano is having an incredible year winning awards for his role in Shogun. In Japan, so far, he has appeared in the film Kanasando (2025) and Broken Rage (2025). His 2024 film, The Box Man, will get a Blu-ray release courtesy of Third Window Films.
He plays a real-life photographer named Masahisa Fukase whose works were focussed on family, particularly his wife Yoko. When she left him, he focussed on ravens, a sign of the darkness in his mental state. This write-up on The Guardian was fascinating but sad reading.
Yoko is played by Kumi Takiuchi, who has become one of Japan’s top actors. She has had a solo-performance film called Kireaina, aku (2025), the award-winning Teki (2024), and Yasuko, Songs of Days Passed (2025) released this year.
The film was directed by Mark Gill, director of England is Mine, the doc about Morrissey, the lead singer of The Smiths. His latest is described as a surreal dark fantasy love story.
Synopsis: Ravens is a surreal dark fantasy love story based on Hokkaido-born photographer Masahisa Fukase. Instead of taking over his father’s photo studio in Hokkaido, he moves to Tokyo, which is where he meets and falls in love with Yoko, a beautiful and powerful woman who becomes his muse. Their relationship will fail, however, and the darkness in Fukase’s heart reincarnates into a deformed “raven incarnate” as he begins photographing the birds and continues along on his path to becoming an artist…
Kaijuu No. 8 Compilation Movie Image may be NSFW.
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怪獣8号 第1期総集編／同時上映「保科の休日」 「Kaijuu 8-do dai 1-ki soushuu-hen / doujo jouei “Joshina no kyuujitsu”」
Release Date: February 14th, 2025
Duration: 90 mins
Director: Shigeyuki Miya, Tomomi Kamiya
Writer: Ichiro Okochi (Screenplay, Series Composition), Naoya Matsumoto (Original Creator),
Starring: Asami Seto (Mina Ashiro), Fairouz Ai (Kikoru Shibomiya), Masaya Fukunishi (Kafka Hibimo/Kaiju No.8)
Animation Production: Production I.G
Website Twitter: @KaijuNo8_O ANN MAL
The first season of this 2024 TV anime has been re-edited theatrical release. A short animation will also be screened before this film.
Synopsis: In an alternate reality world where Japan is full of Kaiju, Kafka Hibino works in monster disposal. After reuniting with his childhood friend Mina Ashiro, a rising star in the anti-Kaiju Defence Force, he decides to pursue his abandoned dream of joining the Force, which is when he suddenly transforms into the powerful “Kaiju No. 8.” He hides his ability, with help from his junior colleague Reno Ichikawa, but when mysterious intelligent Kaiju attack a Defence Force base, Kafka faces a crucial decision in a desperate situation…
The Man Who Never Came Home Image may be NSFW.
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帰ってこなかった男 「Kaettekonakatta Otoko」
Release Date: March 28th, 2025
Duration: 47 mins.
Director: Takayuki Kojima
Writer: Takayuki Kojima (Screenplay),
Starring: Keigo Unohara, Chiaki Saito, Moe Mikura, Takafumi Obata, Hibiki Matsumoto,
Website Twitter: @kozyman313
Takayuki Kojima seems to have made music videos in the past but some of the cast are familiar since they have featured in indies I have covered, specifically Keigo Unohara, who came in Our House Party (2022) and Chiaki Saito, who came in It Must Be Love (2024).
The film makes use of legal conditions surrounding how long a person can be missing for before a divorce may be granted (three) and a declaration of disappearance can be made and the recipient of the death benefit can receive the insurance money (seven).
Synopsis: Kana’s ex-husband Yukio disappeared six-and-a-half years ago, and she is only six months away from receiving the insurance money and moving on with her life with her current husband, Takaaki. What she doesn’t know is that Takaaki is having an affair and he is planning to make off with his mistress, Ayumi. When Kana happens to visit a tavern and runs into a man who looks exactly like Yukio, everything goes off the rails…
Subarashii sekai wa doko ni Image may be NSFW.
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素晴らしい世界は何処に 「Subarashii sekai wa doko ni」
Release Date: March 28th, 2025
Duration: 101 mins.
Director: Shuichi Bamba
Writer: N/A
Starring: Naotaro Moriyama
Website Twitter: @eiga_naotaro
Synopsis: This documentary covers singer-songwriter Naotaro Moriyama’s “What a Wonderful World” tour which was launched to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut. It was a two-year tour that begin in 2022 and during it, Moriyama’s father passed away and he dealt with other personal issues. The theme of the tour is death and rebirth and the film features new footage and new songs.