Hoga News

Four Japanese Films on 52nd London Film Festival

Hi, everyone! I had been in Athens and London for the past two weeks, not being able to catch up the opening of “Twentieth Century Boys.”  Anyway, today I am going to introduce four Japanese films that will be screened on the 52nd London Film Festival (15th–30th Oct.) since I got the program at hand.

The most acknowledged Japanese film in this festival will be Takeshi Kitano’s “Achilles and the Tortoise” (21st, 22nd Oct.)  Although this film is actually the one which missed an award at the Venice Film Festival, I guess it is quite promising as another version of his auteur cinema.  On the other hand, “All Around Us” (21st, 23rd Oct.,) directed by Ryosuke Hashiguchi, features unique castings; the illustrator and novelist Franky Lily, and Tae Kimura who came back after her maternity leave in May.  Other two Japanese movies, a new film by Koreeda Hirokazu “Still Walking” (22nd, 23rd Oct.) and “The Witch of the West is Dead” (26th, 30th Oct.) directed by Shunichi Nagasaki, describe different types of Japanese family and their lives.

Then, I definitely have to introduce one more film titled “TOKYO!” which will be screened on 18th and 21st Oct.  In terms of its production and distribution, it is also another version of Japanese film. 　 Directed by three non-Japanese directors such as Michel Gondry, Leos Carax and Bong Joon-Ho, it is an omnibus film with 3 different narratives, settings and characters.  In my opinion, Bong Joon-Ho’s work, starring Teruyuki Kagawa (“Tokyo Sonata”) and Yu Aoi (“Hula Girls”) who is one of the most up-and-coming young actresses in Japan, looks quite ‘nice,’ if I borrow a word from Jim Carrey’s line in “Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind.”  Talking of Michel Gondry, I actually popped in the exhibition “Pierre Bismuth & Michel Gondry: The All-Seeing Eye (The Hardcore Techno Version,)” that is now on view at BFI Southbank until 23rd Nov., with my friend during my stay in London.  That was also ‘nice’ (or ‘attractive,’ in case you say ‘Don't you know any other adjectives?’ like Kate Winslet), so why don’t you watch “TOKYO!” at the 52nd London Film Festival and then visit his exhibition, if you live in or have a chance to visit London?

Mai KATO

Kurosawa's "Tokyo Sonata" coming to the US

Jason Gray reports on his blog that Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Tokyo Sonata" has gotten the U.S. distribution.  The US premiere will be at New York Film Festival on Oct. 9.

The commercial release in Japan is on September 27.

Tokyo Sonata Official Website (Japanese)

Michi

"Okuribito" chosen as Japan's entry to The Oscars

"Okuribito", directed by Yojiro Takita, is going to Oscar competition.  The film won the Grand Prix in Montreal Film Festival recently, and is just opening in Japan today (9/13).  The timing is perfect for the selection.  It will be sumitted to the Academy committee as an entry from Japan for Foreign Language Film category.

The star Masahiro Motoki is like a distant childhood memory for me.  As I was young, living in Japan, he was a part of a boys band and a big idol back then.  Among three of them, Motoki lived on as an actor, and I know he played in Masayuki Suo's "Sumo Do, Sumo Don't" etc., but has not made much impression as a movie actor on me as of now.  So I am curious to see "Okuribito".  I hope it gets distribution here in the U.S.

Michi

Takashi Miike and Kaori Momoi on Hoga Central

Boy, I worked a lot on my Hoga things today!  I just finished updating Hoga Central main site after more than one year, and uploaded a new interview article about "Sukiyaki Western Django", with Kaori Momoi and Takashi Miike.

See here;
Hoga Central Main Site

Michi

"Death Note II: the Last name" special screening on Oct. 15-16

Now it gets even better...

As I wrote before, "Death Note II:  the Last name" will be coming out in DVD, and before that, there will be two-days only special screening on Oct. 15 and 16, all around the United States!!

Death Note II Screening event by FATHOM

Full theater list

Its distributor Viz Media is based in San Francisco, and is working with Japan Society of Northern California to promote - they have limited number of FREE TICKETS on JS NC website in the theaters around in the Bay Area!!

"Death Note" - Japan Society of Northern California

There are 9 theaters to choose from - Antioch, Cupertino, Milpitas, Mountain View, Pleasant Hill, 2 in San Jose, San Rafael and Union City (there may be more but these are current free ticket availability), so see it in the theater near you.

Michi

And SF Japan Society is not too much behind...

Compared to its sibling in New York, Japan Society of Northern California (=San Francisco) is small and I was not very much aware of their film showing activities.  But I went to their website today (because I will be speaking in one of their panel discussion events on Sep. 30) and found out that they are co-hosting a great series of recent movies.

Next week, last year's anime hit "The Girl who Leapt Through Time" will be on.  Even better, that it is a FREE SCREENING - outdoor event in Japantown.

During the month of October, they will be showing "Tampopo" by Juzo Itami, "The Eel" and "Dr. Akagi" by Shohei Imamura, "After Life" by Hirokazu Koreeda, and "Seance" by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

So I will have to start driving to San Francisco more often...  If you want to join up, please go to Japan Society NC's website:

Free Screening of "The Girl who Leapt through Time" - Japan Society of Northern California
October Film Series - Japan Society of Northern California

Michi

Yoji Yamada's "Tora-san Series" to be shown in New York

I finally had some time today and updated my J-cinema calender a little bit.

First, I found that our wonderful friend Japan Society New York is planning a "Best of Tora-san" series, starting October, and approximately one film per month will be shown throughout May next year.

Director Yoji Yamada is known internationally for his Oscar (foreign film) nominated "The Twilight Samurai", but in Japan, he had been the most popular movie maker with his long-seller series "Tora-san", comedy and human drama featuring a lovable drifter played by late Kiyoshi Atsumi.  I believe these were not commercially available outside of Japan, and I am glad finally Yamada's life work - in a way - can be seen in the US soil.

For those are interested, please visit Japan Society NY's Website.
Japan Society New York - "Tora-san"

Michi

Masato Sakai in “Jaji no futari”

Today I am going to introduce the Japanese movie titled “Jaji no futari,” literally means “Men in track suits.” Released in July 2008, it had been screened in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Hokkaido and Aichi prefecture, and is / will be showing in Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and many other places all over Japan.

This film depicts a father (Makoto Ayukawa) and his son (Masato Sakai)’s summer holidays at cottage in Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture. They actually have troubles with their family and job in Tokyo; the father’s third marriage nearly breaks up; the son is unemployed, and his wife is having an affair with other guy. Although it portrays their escapism, the story offers an easy ending and a laugh to the audiences instead of negative or tragic atmosphere.

I watched this film to enjoy the acting of Masato Sakai, one of my favorite actors, who played the son. He originally established his career in theatre, and now appears on many TV programs and films. Actually, you might see him playing the part of Shigemori, an aide of Taira no Kiyomori (Koichi Sato) in "Sukiyaki Western Django." He is quite good at playing a poker face, and it enables him to perform a variety of roles, both good and evil parts. Though I could not find information on the international distribution of “Jaji no futari” sadly, the opportunities to find him on the silver screen may increase in the future.

Mai KATO

"Sukiyaki" reviews in the media

I have found a few film reviews in newspapers.

New York Times

Village Voice

New York News Day

 

Paste

 

MTV

 

Canada.com

Michi