Happy weekend, readers!
This trailer post is a bit of a rush-job. I spent plenty of time watching films for fun like Michael Clayton (2007) and X the Unknown (1956) and even more time practicing Japanese. This week I posted a review of Yakuza Apocalypse (2015) and a plugged the forthcoming Blu-ray release of Kikujiro.
What’s released in Japan this weekend?
Koi to Onchi no Houteishiki
恋とオンチの方程式「Koi to Onchi no Houteishiki」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 90 mins.
Director: Shiho Kozai
Writer: Shiho Kozai (Screenplay),
Starring: Natsuna Watanabe, Yuta Hiraoka, Masaya Kikawada, Yo Yoshida, Chihiro Otsuka, Miho Fujima,
Synopsis: Midori Yamabuki (Natsuna Watanabe) was once an aspiring pop idol but now she works as a bus guide in Kagawa Prefecture. The reason why is because she lost her confidence when she was younger. As a child she went to an audition in Tokyo and was laughed off the stage because she was tone death. Since that day she has kept a mic which her mother gave to her. This mic allows three wishes to come true. Midori may have to use this when Takuto Kurita (Masaya Kikawada), son of the CEO of a sound equipment company, comes to town and Midori falls in love with him…
Ninja the Monster
Ninja the Monster「Ninja the Monster」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 84 mins.
Director: Ken Ochiai
Writer: Akihiro Dobashi (Screenplay)
Starring: Dean Fujioka, Aoi Morikawa, Soko Wada, Rantaro Mine,
Ken Ochiai is a new director worth watching after making Uzumasa Limelight (2014). He’s back with a more fantastical tale:
Synopsis: The 18th Century is drawing to a close and shogun has banned ninja activity in Japan and the once legendary shadow warriors are being hunted down and killed. A princess, Gohime (Aoi Morikawa), is on her way to Edo (present day Tokyo) and must pass through a forest which a dangerous creature stalks. She has a retinue of men to protect her, one is a former ninja named Denzo (Dean Fujioka). The monster attacks the travellers and the only survivors are the princess and Denzo. Will they be able to escape the monster?
Classmates
同級生「Doukyuusei」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 91 mins.
Director: Shouko Nakamura
Writer: Asumiko Nakamura (Original Creator),
Animation Production: A-1 Pictures
Starring: Hiroshi Kamiya (Hikaru Kusakabe), Kenji Nojima (Rihito Sajo), Hideo Ishikawa (Manabu Hara),
Synopsis from Anime News Network: During music class before the chorus festival, male student Hikaru Kusakabe notices that the bespectacled honour student Rihito Sajo is not singing. Although he thinks that Rihito just doesn’t like singing, he finds him practicing alone in the classroom after school. Without even thinking, Hikaru calls out to him.
Oyster Factory
牡蠣工場 「Kaki kouba」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Duration: 145 mins
Director: Kazuhiro Soda
Starring: Shinsuke Hirano, Koichi Watanabe, Yukiko Watanabe
I wrote about this documentary for a preview of the 2015 run of the Vancouver International Film Festival. Here’s the text:
This two hour plus documentary ostensibly looks at life inside an oyster factory but takes in the lack of young people entering the works, the generational divide and Chinese-Japanese relations as Chinese workers are brought in to help keep an oyster factory running.
Synopsis from the film’s website: In the Japanese town of Ushimado, the shortage of labor is a serious problem due to its population’s rapid decline. Traditionally, oyster shucking has been a job for local men and women, but for a few years now, some of the factories have had to use foreigners in order to keep functioning. Hirano oyster factory has never employed any outsiders but finally decides to bring in two workers from China. Will all the employees get along?
Maiko: Dancing Child
Maiko ふたたびの白鳥 「Maiko futatabi no hakuchou」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Duration: 70 mins
Director: Ase Svenheim Drivenes
Starring: Maiko Nishino
Not a J-movie but it does have a Japanese person as it’s subject. There’s an interesting interview with the director and star of this documentary on Cinelinx.
Synopsis from the film’s website: Maiko Nishino is the prima ballerina at the Norwegian National Ballet and this documentary charts her recent life as she balances becoming a mother and retaining her role as Odette and Odille in Swan Lake.
Ghoul – 100 Nen, Kimi wo Omou –
グール 喰怨 百年、君を想う「Gu-ru Kuon Hyaku-nen, Kimi wo omou」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 70 mins.
Director: Guillaume Tauveron
Writer: Yuta Higuchi (Screenplay)
Starring: Keisuke Kaminaga, Motohiro Ota, Mizuishi Atom, Sayaka Nakaya,
Synopsis: A group of young people are summoned to a European style house deep in the mountains. One committed a crime. They are all put to a test. The trailer features the cast talking about the film.
Yuuwaku wa Arashi no yoru ni
誘惑は嵐の夜に「Yuuwaku wa Arashi no yoru ni」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 99 mins.
Director: Shinji Imaoka
Writer: Shinji Imaoka (Screenplay)
Starring: Mio Takaki, Tasuku Nagaoka, Yumi Ishikawa, Butcha, Takuya Matsunaga,
Synopsis: A mother and daughter share the same lover.
Chimamire sukeban Chainsaw
血まみれスケバンチェーンソー「Chimamire sukeban che-nso-」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 73 mins.
Director: Hiroki Yamaguchi
Writer: Mitsunori Fukuhara (Screenplay). Rei Mikamoto (Original Manga)
Starring: Rio Uchida, Mari Yamachi, Seira Sato, Yuki Tamaki, Kayako Okuda,
Synopsis: Rebel schoolgirl Giko Nokomura (Rio Uchida) is forced to take up a chainsaw and slice her way through zombies… some of whom are former classmates…
Baile Tokyo
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 89 mins.
Director: Yuu Sakakibara
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: Baile Tokyo is a documentary about F.C. Tokyo, one of the J League’s greatest football clubs. The team’s training and performance on the pitch and interviews off pitch over the 2015 season is the focus of the film.
Masuda Susumu kanja-san to ikiru
増田進 患者さんと生きる「Masuda Susumu kanja-san to ikiru」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 95 mins.
Director: Shinya Todori
Writer: N/A
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: Doctor Masuda may be in his 80s but he shows no sign of slowing own and he can’t really afford to since Japan’s population is ageing. It’s a good thing he’s still going because he has pioneered different approaches to community medicine and he has become an expert doctors from acorss Japan visit.
Nakajima miyuki yakai VOL. 18 `Hashi no shita no arcadia’ gekijouban
中島みゆき 夜会VOL.18 「橋の下のアルカディア」 劇場版「Nakajima miyuki yakai VOL. 18 `Hashi no shita no arcadia’ gekijouban」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 113 mins.
Director: Ichizo Seo
Writer: N/A
Starring: Miyuki Nakajima, Ataru Nakamura, Takumi Ishida,
Synopsis: Miyuki Nakajima is a massive force in Japanese music and she has had documentaries about her released in the past. This is the latest.
Daichi wo uketsugu
大地を受け継ぐ「Daichi wo uketsugu」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 86 mins.
Director: Junichi Inoue
Writer: N/A
Starring: Kazuya Tarukawa, Mitsuyo Tarukawa
Synopsis: 11 students head to Kazuya Tarukawa’s farm which was gravely affected by the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. They learn about the personal tragedies of the farmers who work the land and the battle with Tokyo Electric Power Company.
劇場版SA サンキューコムレイズ UNDER THE SKY
劇場版SA サンキューコムレイズ UNDER THE SKY「Gekijouban SA sankyuu komureizu UNDER THE SKY」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 70 mins.
Director: Yuichiro Iwaki
Writer: N/A
Starring: The band SA: TAISEI, NAOKI, KEN, SHOHEI,
Website Wikipedia information on the band.
Synopsis: SA a.k.a. Samurai Attack are a punk band who rose to fame in the 1980s and then disbanded. They reformed in the 90s and have spent the time remastering old albums and reconnecting with fans as they tour. This documentary showcases a the pre-production for a performance.
劇場版SA サンキューコムレイズ UNDER THE FLAG
劇場版SA サンキューコムレイズ UNDER THE SKY「Gekijouban SA sankyuu komureizu UNDER THE FLAG」
Release Date: February 20th, 2016
Running Time: 70 mins.
Director: Yuichiro Iwaki
Writer: N/A
Starring: The band SA: TAISEI, NAOKI, KEN, SHOHEI,
Website Wikipedia information on the band.
Synopsis: SA a.k.a. Samurai Attack are a punk band who rose to fame in the 1980s and then disbanded. They reformed in the 90s and have spent the time remastering old albums and reconnecting with fans as they tour. This doc captures the behind-the-scenes of their July 11th, 2015 performance at the Hibiya Amphitheatre.
Japanese Movie Box Office Results for this Week:
The Martian (2016/02/05)
Nobunaga Concerto (2016/01/23)
Saraba Abunai Deka: Long Goodbye (2016/01/30)
Star Wars The Force Unleashed (2015/12/18)
Born in the EXILE Sandaime J Soul Brothers no Kiseki (2016/02/12)
The Inerasable (2016/01/30)
Eiga Youkai Watch: Enma Daioh to Itsutsu no Monogatari da Nyan! (2016/12/19)
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger The Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland (2016/01/23)
Black Mass (2016/01/30)
Paddington (2016/01/15)
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger The Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland (2016/01/23)
Genkinahito 