Hoga News

CAAM Home : New Release on DVD: KABEI

Based on acclaimed Japanese novelist Teruyo Nogami’s memoirs and directed by prolific multi award-winner Japanese director Yôji Yamada (THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI, THE HIDDEN BLADE, LOVE AND HONOR), both longtime collaborators of Akira Kurosawa.

via asianamericanmedia.org

Noticed that Yoji Yamada's "Kabei", starring legendary Sayuri Yoshinaga, will be on sale as DVD.

Nicely done film, great acting, but I felt that the story is too stereotype and old fashioned. Notice that you have to discount the fact that I don't like WWII movies and I don't like Yoshinaga...

Michi

Kichitaro Negishi wins Director's award in Montreal - Variety

The special Grand Prix of the jury, essentially the runner-up prize, was given to Chinese helmer Wang Quan'an's "Weaving Girl," a drama about a woman working in a Chinese textile factory, which also won the Fipresci Intl. Critics Prize. ... Director nod went to Japanese helmer Kichitaro Negishi for "Villon's Wife," based on the novel of the same name by Osamu Dazai, released to mark the 100th anniversary of the late author's birth.

via www.variety.com

As an industry layman, I don't know why Montreal Film Festival is always so kind to Japanese movies, but this year, again, they treated us nicely, with "Director" prize going to Kichitaro Negishi. Last year, "Departures" got grand prix and later won the Oscar, and before that, Eiji Okuda's "Long Walk" also won a prize there.

Interesting...

Michi

Evangelion 1.0 opens in San Francisco on 9/4

Japan's legendary anime franchise Evangelion series made into big screens again in 2007, and the first chapter of the 4-part series is starting in San Francisco's Sundance Cinemas on September 4, 2009.

Evangelion 1.0:  You Are (Not) Alone
Sundance Cinemas

I, for one, did not quite "get it" when I watched it, as I am SO not the target audience, but my son LOVED it.  Anyway, I know enough that it is a MUST-SEE film for Japan anime otakus.

Michi

Kyoto Filmmakers Lab coming up Sep. 27-Oct. 1

Toei Kyoto and local institutions is holding "Kyoto Filmmakers Lab" from September 27 till October 1 this year.  The event is to open Toei Kyoto studio's rich Jidaigeki (period/samurai film) assets for young filmmakers from all over the world for the new style Jidaigeki production.  20 filmmakers, 10 from Japan and 10 from other countries, will be selected.  The application deadline is August 23.

They will select a few winners at the end of the event and send them to Berlin Film Festival next year.  The entrants also are scheduled to participate in discussion with Japanese film directors including Takashi Miike and Mamoru Oshii, as a part of the concurrent Kyoto CMEX event.

Sorry for the short notice, but if you are interested in making a film based on Japanese period/samurai drama, please take a look!

Michi

J-POP center in SF opens today with "20th Century Boys" premiere

"New People", J-POP center in Japan Town area San Francisco with a theater dedicated to Japanese movies and anime, is holding a grand opening event today on 8/15.

New People Website

San Francisco Chronicle article

A bunch of events are going on during the day.  The movie event features "20th Century Boys 1" based on Naoki Urasawa's manga and directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, starring Toshiaki Karasawa, will be held on 4pm, with the main actress Takako Tokiwa (who also is in popular NHK's historical drama "Tenchijin") appearing on site (I heard...).

"20th Century Boys" trilogy will be shown sequencially in the same venue through September 3.  They are also showing "Bleach The Movie" (animation) and "L change the worLd" (spin-off of popular manga-based "Death Note" series, starring - my big fav - Kenichi Matsuyama!) for special events in late August.

New People film info

Just heard that SF is nice and sunny today.  If you have time to hang around in town, please check it out there!!

Michi

Detroit Metal City NY screening on 8/20

My favorite actor Kenichi Matsuyama's "Detroit Metal City" will be shown in New York next week!!

PRESENTS
NIPPON EIGA SERIES PART 19

NY PREMIERE OF
DETROIT METAL CITY
    DIRECTED BY TOSHIO LEE
STARING KENICHI MATSUYAMA, GENE SIMMONS, and others

Japan | 2008 | 103 min. | 35mm film | Japanese with English Subtitles

Thurs., Aug. 20 -  Doors open 6:15pm -  Film starts 7:00pm
The ImaginAsian, 239 East 59th Street (Bet. 2nd & 3rd Ave.), NYC
For RSVP,   www.newyork-tokyo.com/wp/dmc

NYAFF line up - "20th Century Boys", "All Around Us" and more

NYAFF (New York Asian Film Festival) is coming up JUNE 19 - JULY 5, 2009!

This year, their line up of Japanese films so far include "20th Century Boys", "All Around Us" and several others.

Please see their Website for more info.

NYAFF line up as of today

Michi

Japanese movie theater will open in SF this summer

Viz Pictures, distributor of Japanese films in the U.S., is opening "New People" J-POP center in Japan Town, San Francisco this summer.  They just announced the grand opening on 8/15.

VIZ Pictures site - NEWS
NEW PEOPLE Website

It will be a brand-new building with a movie theater on the basement, and various shops/gallery/restaurant that showcase Japanese POP culture.

The theater will be dedicated to Japanese live-action movies and animation movies.  It will be a great venue for us Japanese film fans.

However, I happened to notice that I messed "L - change the worLd" premiere, looking at their site!!  Darn!  I was too busy for the past few weeks...  DARN!!

Michi

Change of schedule - Kore-eda will not appear at SFIFF

I just got info that Dorector Koreeda will not be at today's "Still Walking" screening in San Francisco International Film Festival.  I don't know the reason.  Sorry for those who were looking forward to it.

The film will be shown anyway.  Please enjoy!!

Michi

Hirokazu Kore-eda appear in SF "Still Waking" screening

Just heard that 5/3 (Tue) screening of "Still Walking", as a part of San Francisco International Film Festival, and co-sponsored by Japan Society of Northern California, features Director Hirokazu Kore-eda in person.  He will have a Q&A session.  I cannot be there, but if you are lucky enough to hear him and have any comments to report, please let me know!

Michi