This week I posted a tribute to Abara, a manga full of awesome images which reminded me of why I love reading Tsutomu Nihei’s works, and clips of Sion Sono’s currently airing dorama All Esper Dayo!
As far as viewing stuff goes it was one totally dominated by anime as I watched the opening two or three episodes from the five shows I picked from the Spring Season and I stack up reviews for the next two or three weeks. The spring season has got off to a cracking start for me with Attack on Titan and the My Youth Romantic Comedy Failed as Expected providing me a lot of entertainment as my over-enthusiastic reviews will reveal. I have a ton of film reviews still to go through but my time has to be re-allocated to studying Japanese because I have an essay to hand in next week and a test in a months time. Keigo (honourifics) is scaring me at the minute and I haven’t touched it since my last lesson more than a month ago so I have to get going with it. Without further ado, let’s get straight to the charts and trailers!
What do the Japanese film charts look like this week (April 13th-14th)?
- Dragon Ball Z Battle of the Gods
- Wreck-It Ralph
- The Great Passage
- Platina Data
- Chinese Zodiac
- Doraemon Nobita’s Dinosaur
- Aibou Series X Day
- Oz the Great and Powerful
- Precure All Stars New Stage 2
- Jack the Giant Slayer
Wow, The Great Passage has entered at number three after its release last weekend! Has Yuya Ishii’s time arrived? Is he about to transition into the big league directors with a film that appeals to critics. We’ll see how long the film stays in the charts. Platina Data remains at number four in its fifth week and it has earned over $24 million. My teacher has read the book and she said it’s great. I hope I can see the film soon and confirm how good it is. Anyway…
What’s released this weekend?
Steins;Gate The Movie 
Japanese Title: 劇場版 シュタインズ・ゲート 負荷領域のデジャヴ
Romaji: Shutainzu Ge-to: Fuka Ryouiki no Deja Bu
Release Date: April 20th, 2013 (Japan)
Running Time: N/A
Director: Kanji Wakabayashi (Director), Hiroshi Hamasaki, Takuya Satō (Chief Directors),
Writer: Jukki Hanada
Starring: Mamoru Miyano (Rintarou Okabe), Asami Imai (Kurisu Makise) Kana Hanazawa (Mayuri Shiina), Halko Momoi (Faris Nyannyan), Tomokazu Seki (Itaru Hashida), Yu Kobayashi (Ruka Urushibara), Yukari Tamura (Suzuha Amane), Saori Goto (Moeka Kiryuu)
I can definitely say that this would be my film of the week without having to look at trailers. Steins;Gate was my second favourite anime of 2011 and I think I am about ready to revisit Okabe and Makise… Alright, I just want to see Mayuri-chan. The film has the vocal talents of Mamoru Miyano (Fuse: A Gun Girl’s Detective Story) and Kana Hanazawa who has the sweetest voice that makes me just want to hug her… Okay, that was creepy. They are supported by Halko Momoi who composed and performed the awesome song Mail Me which was used in Suicide Club. If you have not watched the anime then the trailer might be a little underwhelming.
Petal Dance 
Japanese Title: ペタル ダンス
Romaji: Petaru Dansu
Release Date: April 20th, 2013 (Japan)
Running Time: 90 mins.
Director: Hiroshi Ishikawa
Writer: Hiroshi Ishikawa
Starring: Kazue Fukiishi, Sakura Ando, Aoi Miyazaki, Shiori Kutsuna, Shunsuke 
Kazama, Mariko Goto, Hanae Kan, Masanobu Ando, Tsutomu Takahashi
Hiroshi Ishikawa, writer and director of films Tokyo Sora and Su-ki-da, actually has a day job as a CM director but as the aforementioned films show he is able to do high-quality drama. I haven’t seen any of them but I have seen a lot of the actors and actresses at work.
The four friends are played by four major actresses:
Aoi Miyazaki who starred in Su-ki-da and has been heard and seen in major titles like Wolf Children, Eureka and The Great Passage, is the big star here but there are more interesting actresses. First and foremost is Sakura Ando, a woman with a distinctive look who has been in films like the fun and exciting Love Exposure, Crime or Punishment and For Love’s Sake to the dark and psychological Penance and Our Homeland. Kazue Fukiishi I have burned into my memory from a brilliant performance in Noriko’s Dinner Table and had a minor roles in Thirteen Assassin and One Missed Call, how she does with drama is a mystery to me but Petal Dance has gotten a good review at the Japan Times with particular attention being paid to Kazue Fukiishi. Shiori Kutsuna is the fourth actress and her biggest films to date have been My Back Page and Tsuya’s Night.
As for the men, Shunsuke Kazama was in From up on Poppy Hill and Masanobu Ando was in Takeshi Kitano’s Kids Return, Shinya Tsukamoto’s Nightmare Detective and he was Kiriyama in Battle Royale. He was also in Space Travelers but it has been years since I saw that… What a lovely and intriguing trailer. After watching the very emotional and powerful drama Rebirth I am more willing to give titles like this a chance. This would be my live-action film pick of the week.
Four women who have suffered sorrow in life are on a road trip lasting one night and two days and full of memories and hope of a new start. Jinko (Miyazaki) and Motoko (Ando) have been friends since they attended the same university and it is they who start this road road trip when they hear that a former classmate named Miki (Fukiishi) ran into the sea. The rumour ends with Miki getting out safely but is that all there is to it? Haraki (Kutsuna) met Jinko at the library she works at and joins the trip as a driver.
Crayon Shin Chan! Gourmet Food Survival 
Japanese Title: 映画 クレヨン しんちゃん バカ うまーつ！ Ｂ級￥グルメサイバル！！
Romaji: Eiga Kureyon Shin chan Baka Uma-tsu! B-kyuu Gurume Sabaibaru!!
Release Date: April 13th, 2013 (Japan)
Running Time: 133 mins.
Director: Masakazu Hashimoto
Writer: Yoshito Usui (Original Creator), Kimiko Ueno, Yoshi Urasawa (Screenplay),
Starring: Akiko Yajima (Shinnosuke (Shin-chan) Nohara), Keiji Fujiwara (Hiroshi Nohara), Miki Narahashi (Misae Nohara), Satomi Koorogi (Himawari Nohara), Hiroshi Kamiya (Truffle)
I never took the rude and sneaky kindergarten kid Shin-chan seriously when he was on UK television. Perhaps it was the American voice actors or the fact that I was too into stuff like Patlabor. Whatever the case he’s a popular character in Japan and this is the 21st movie adventure for the late Yoshito Usui’s popular character. It’s directed by Masakazu Hashimoto who has worked on the slice-of-life anime title Tari Tari as well as Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, the anime movie adaptation of a cool videogame franchise. VA include Akiko Yajima (Kuu in Haibane Renmei), Keiji Fujiwara (Hannes in Attack on Titan, Yajima in Un-Go) and Satomi Koorogi (Menchi in Excel Saga). All three have voiced the Nohara family for a long time.
B-grade cuisine is in danger of being wiped out unless Shin-chan can keep some special sauce safe…
Detective Conan Private Eye in the Distant Sea
Japanese Title: 名探偵コナン 絶海の探偵 （プライベート アイ）
Romaji: Meitantei Konan Zekkai no Tantei (Puraibe-to Ai)
Release Date: April 13th, 2013 (Japan)
Running Time: N/A
Director: Kobun Shizuno
Writer: Takeharu Sakurai (Screenplay),
Starring: Minami Takayama (Conan Edogawa), Kappei Yamaguchi (Shinichi Kudou), Rikiya Koyama (Kogorō Mōri), Wakana Yamazaki (Ran Mōri), Megumi Hayashibara (Ai Haibara)
Shin Chan isn’t the only long-running popular franchise getting a release today as Detective Conan struts his stuff in the 17th movie in the series. The latest tale starring Detective Conan (the manga goes under the name Case Closed) takes place on a state-of-the-art Aegis vessel from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force. When a corpse turns up missing a left arm it seems a spy has infiltrated the vessel to help solve the case. The film was made with the full cooperation of the Japanese Ministry of Defence and it stars Kou Shibasaki (One Missed Call), Kappei Yamaguchi (Usopp in One Piece), Minami Takayama (Kiki in Kiki’s Delivery Service), Megumi Hayashibara (Rei Ayaname in Evangelion, Ume in Project A-Ko) and Rikiya Koyama (Julius in Berserk The Golden Age Arc: Egg of the King).
Secret Love 
Japanese Title: 秘愛
Romaji: Hi Ai
Release Date: April 13th, 2013 (Japan)
Running Time: 75 mins.
Director: Teruo Noguchi
Writer: Teruo Noguchi (Screenplay),
Starring: Taro Yamamoto, Ayaka Fukuma, Ayumu Maruo, Yasushi Fuchigami, Yoshino Tomomi, Yuki Sakurai, Yoshio Kojima
Teruo Noguchi, writer of Love Bombs (released back in February) and director of the rather interesting looking Cycle Soul Apartment (released way back in 2007) is here with a love story that gets dark. Its biggest star is Taro Yamamoto (Battle Royale, The Millennial Rapture).
Toru Honda (Yamamoto) is a man with a troubled conscience. When he eets a woman named Arisa Hirai (Fukuma), the two fall for each other and begin to build a life together. Then a woman from Toru’s past appears and calls him “traitor”. Why?
Hear Mother’s Song 
Japanese Title: 母 の 唄 が きこえる
Romaji: Haha no Uta ga Kikoeru
Release Date: April 13th, 2013 (Japan)
Running Time: N/A
Director: Yasuyuki Otani
Writer: Ryuichi Matsushita (Original Novel/Screenplay),
Starring: Shun Sugata, Nahana, Yoko Oshima, Oh Kasahara, Haruka Nakamura,
A dull trailer which could hide something more interesting? Well the premise doesn’t grab me but there are some good actors like Shun Sugata (Eyes of the Spider, Pulse, Strawberry Night, Heat After Dark), Nahana (River, Toilet and Women, Suicide Club) and Yoko Oshima (Ringu). I don’t think I would go out of my way to see it.
This is a family film shot in snowy Nagano which tracks a railway worker (Sugata) who is in a feud with his daughter who movies away. Despite their distance they think back on a home which held their family stories and the affection and warmth they once had.
And that’s it. Compared to other weeks there have been fewer trailers… Well, as a bit of a bonus (copying Alua over at Otherwhere) here’s something connected to the post – my favourite anime OP of the season!!! And no Goregirl, I’m not sick!!!
Genkinahito 