A surprisingly satisfying horror-narrative
Dec 3, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this
Winny (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Matsumoto offers a serene insight in how the Other of the law curtails a subject and, indirectly, sabotages the prospects of a new industry.
Plastic (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Miyazaki creates a moody narrative that highlights the equivocal functionality of music for the subject as well as the destructive impact of not being able to create an…
Single8 (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Konaka offers the spectator a heartwarming invitation to re-find, within oneself, one’s (nearly extinguished) passion for creation.
Amiko (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
A fabulous narrative that explores the destructive effects caused by the radical misunderstanding that marks the field of speech and the refusal to speak to one’s child as…
Hand (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Matsui avoids delivering an exploitative erotic piece merely to be enjoyed by male audiences.
Best Wishes to All (みなに幸あれ, Yuta Shimotsu, 2023)
A visit to her grandparents’ home forces a young woman to reckon with with the price of “happiness” in Yuta Shimotsu’s eerie indie horror.
JAPAN CUTS Announces 2023 Lineup
At Japan Society New York July 26 to Aug. 6
Kiniro Mosaic: Best Wishes Review
Best Wishes has a mix of both high school escapades or showing the cast's college years. That is the biggest weakness of this bonus volume.
Father of The Milky Way Railroad (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
By being able to rely on such talent, Narushima is able to deliver a narrative that gracefully moves the spectator and elegantly provokes spectator’s emotions and tears.
The Legend and The Butterfly (2023) [Japan Cuts 2023]
The combination of historical anchor points, a phantasmatic romance to link those points together, and satisfying burst of action will surely be able to satisfy those who thirst…
Amiko Wins Obayashi Prize at 2023 JAPAN CUTS
Prize introduced in 2020 is awarded an independently produced narrative feature from an emerging filmmaker.
The Three Sisters of Tenmasou Inn (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]
Those spectators that love to release their stress by releasing tears will be very satisfied by Kitamura’s narrative.
To Sleep So as to Dream (Japan, 1986) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Jason Maher reviews Kaizo Hayashi's debut feature To Sleep So as to Dream.
School Radio to Major Tom (Japan, 2021) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Jason Maher reviews Takuya Chisaka's short film School Radio to Major Tom.
Pokémon: Best Wishes! Episode 7
I finally got around to watching the last episode of Best Wishes last night and the title of the episode pretty much gave it away. This episode begins…
B/B (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Grant Watson reviews Kosuke Nakahama’s debut feature B/B.
Wonderful Paradise (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Epoy Deyto reviews Masashi Yamamoto's eccentric comedy Wonderful Paradise.
Spaghetti Code Love (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“Maruyama’s narrative speaks powerfully to the spectator’s subjectivity – his fears and hopes – and enables his evocation of a glimmer of hope that remains present in this…
Mari and Mari (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“A beautiful narrative that seems to bear no relation to our romantic life at first, but ultimately hits close to home.”
Town Without Sea (2020) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“A visually engaging narrative about the nature of happiness and the importance of desire that is highly relevant for Japanese youth.”
Hiroku The Goblin (1991) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
‘A classic that offers an unforgettable experience that is as touchingly lighthearted as is it disturbingly horrifying.’
Talking The Pictures (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“Mayayuki’s celebration of cinematic history deeply satisfies the spectator’s desire to see cinema as an experience that can touch our being and the art of the benshi triumph.R…
A Preview of Japan Cuts 2023 (July 26th – August 06th)
Details on the line-up for Japan Cuts 2023 (July 26th – August 06th)
Thoughts on Kiniro Mosaic: Best Wishes
Alice, Shino and their jolly companions return for one last hurrah, as Yui Hara’s Kiniro Mosaic: Best Wishes manga shows what life is like for them post-graduation. There’s some…
Lecca wishes us all a Wonderful Life
Looking for a feel good track for the wonderful weekend you’re having? Well, lecca’s new track 素晴らしい人生/Subarashii Jinsei (Wonderful Life) should fit the bill. It’s just the right…
Mari and Mari (Japan, 2021) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Jason Maher reviews Tatsuya Yamanishi's romantic mystery Mari and Mari.
The Blue Danube (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Epoy Deyto reviews Akira Ikeda's anti-war satire The Blue Danube.
Short Movie Time: Honeymoon (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“A pleasing narrative about the arbitrariness of language and culture.”
Kiba: Fangs of Fiction (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“Daihachi Yoshida succeeds in turning Shiota’s interesting story and fascinating world of publishing and bookstores into an engaging and pleasant filmic narrative.”
Robinson’s Garden (1988) [Japan Cuts 2021]
“Yamamoto is not able to create a composition that engages the spectator with its highly relevant message.”
Review: All Ears (2023)
All Ears 不虚此行。 China, 2023, colour, 16:9, 117 mins. Director: Liu Jiayin 刘伽茵. Rating: 4/10. Over-long study of an introverted funeral eulogist and his various clients doesn’t go…
Japan Cuts 2018 Film Festival at the Japan Society
This past few weeks I volunteered for the Japan Society Film Department’s annual Japan Cuts film festival, which screens a host of new Japanese blockbusters, avant-garde films, and…
It’s a Summer Film! (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
John Atom reviews Soushi Matsumoto's teen comedy It's a Summer Film.
Short Movie Time: Born Pisces (2020) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“Yamanaka does not only reaffirm that she has talent but also that she improved her compositional style and her storytelling.”
The Great Yokai War – Guardians (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“A pleasant and truly satisfying ride for the whole family.”
Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction (Japan, 2021) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Arthi Vasudevan reviews Daihachi Yoshida’s workplace comedy Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction.
Upcoming Manga Releases & Licensing Wishes For 2023
2023 is a stacked year for shoujo and josei manga! There's so many series I'm looking forward to reading but here's just a few. PLUS we're talking about…
Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Jason Maher reviews Haruka Komori and Natsumi Seo's documentary Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions.
Border Mechs #01 — All Glory to Japan!
What does this think it is, a Call of Duty game? Impressions: Oof. This lays on the nationalism and xenophobia thick and right out of the gate.…
Review: All These Years (2023)
All These Years 这么多年 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 116 mins. Director: Ji Zhuqing 季竹青. Rating: 7/10. A high school-to-adulthood unrequited love story that’s utterly generic but beautifully executed…
The Goldfish Dreaming Of The Sea (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“Ogawa’s thoughtful lyricism that gives the emotionality of the performances their power to touch the spectator and enables her exploration of the difficulty to separate from one’s mother…
Tora-san, Wish you were here (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2020]
“Yamada’s latest offers not only a powerful homage to the late great Kiyoshi Atsumi but also a moving nostalgic ride along many of the iconic scenes of the…
Blind Bombing, Filmed by a Bat (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2020]
Introduction Kota Takeuchi is man of many creative talents, but whatever he does – be it painting, filming, or sculpting – it is related to historical or contemporary…
Short Movie Time: Go Seppukku Yourselves (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“An enthralling audiovisual experience and a powerful critique of the Japanese political system.”
Weebsmas Wishes from Us to You
Happy 12th day of Weebsmas! Can you believe the days have gone by so fast? We’ve worked hard every day to bring some sort of otaku-related content for…
Among Four of Us (Japan, 2020) [OAFF 2021/JAPAN CUTS 2021]
Jason Maher reviews Mayu Nakamura’s short Among Four of Us.
Japan Cuts Announces Lineup for 2021 Hybrid Edition
In-person & online Aug. 20 – Sept. 2
Best Places to Study Japanese in Japan
Where is the best place to study Japanese in Japan? Find out in this week's GaijinPot video.
Short Movie Time: Bath House of Whales (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2020]
Introduction Mizuki Kiyama’s graduation short film Bath House of Whales is a creative reworking of her memories of accompanying her mother, a person of Korean descent living in…