Anime Blog Tracker

Whale Bones (鯨の骨, Takamasa Oe, 2023)

A brokenhearted office works finds himself chasing a digital ghost in Takamasa Oe’s eerie drama.

Windows on Worlds

Jul 11, 2024 • Subscribe

Kubi 首 (2023) Director: Takeshi Kitano [Japan Cuts 2024]

Kubi 首 (2023), directed by Takeshi Kitano, is a historical epic that amps up the violence and sex for satire’s sake as Kitano takes aim at the absurd samurai social…

Genkinahito

Jul 17, 2024 • Subscribe

Kubi 首 (2023) Director: Takeshi Kitano, Shuta Takahata [Japan Cuts 2024]

Kubi 首 (2023), directed by Takeshi Kitano, is a historical epic that amps up the violence and sex for satire’s sake as Kitano takes aim at the absurd samurai social…

Genkinahito

Jul 17, 2024 • Subscribe

Kubi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

One of best period dramas in recent years.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 3, 2024 • Subscribe

Six Singing Women (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A great narrative, yet one that stumbles over its own thematical fixation

psycho-cinematography

Aug 18, 2024 • Subscribe

The Whale God (鯨神, Tokuzo Tanaka, 1962)

A young man wrestles with the destructive legacy of vengeance in a traditional fishing village on the verge of eclipse in Tokuzo Tanaka’s parabolic drama.

Windows on Worlds

May 12, 2023 • Subscribe

Motion Picture: Choke 映画（窒息) (2023) Director: Gen Nagao [Japan Cuts 2024]

Gen Nagao’s Motion Picture: Choke 映画（窒息) (2023), is a complete surprise with its post-apocalyptic dialogue-free story centred on a cavewoman and sterling action set pieces [Japan Cuts 2024]…

Genkinahito

Jul 11, 2024 • Subscribe

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…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 19, 2023 • Subscribe

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.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 5, 2023 • Subscribe

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.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 16, 2023 • Subscribe

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2024 Lineup

At Japan Society New York from July 10 to 21

Windows on Worlds

Jul 3, 2024 • Subscribe

All the Long Nights 夜明けのすべて (2024) Director: Sho Miyake [Nippon Connection 2024 / Japan Cuts 2024]

Beautifully depicted, workmates suffering in silence with mental and physical conditions feel the warmth of human connection in director Sho Miyake’s All the Long Nights 夜明けのすべて (2024)…

Genkinahito

Jul 8, 2024 • Subscribe

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2023 Lineup

At Japan Society New York July 26 to Aug. 6

Windows on Worlds

Jun 22, 2023 • Subscribe

Blue Imagine ブルーイマジン Director: Urara Matsubayashi [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 / Japan Cuts 2024]

Director Urara Matsubayashi makes a definitive #MeToo film for the Japanese film industry with her sincere and complex drama Blue Imagine ブルーイマジン [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 / Japan…

Genkinahito

Jul 18, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Nezumikozō Jirokichi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

The mix of elements supports the film’s aim well, that is to entice spectators to seek out the three films that remain from this somewhat forgotten master

psycho-cinematography

Jul 13, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Social Circles (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A highly experimental and conceptual experience that might not be for everyone

psycho-cinematography

Jul 16, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Hail Mary (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

Nakamura succeeds in making the spectator care for Maria and impact him/her emotionally with her tragedy.   

psycho-cinematography

Jun 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Special - Japan Cuts Film Festival 2024

  Table of Contents Hello everyone, Once again this year, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Japan Cuts 2024 film…

Heroic Purgatory

Jul 21, 2024 • Subscribe

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…

psycho-cinematography

Jan 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Hand (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

Matsui avoids delivering an exploitative erotic piece merely to be enjoyed by male audiences.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 22, 2023 • Subscribe

All The Long Nights (2024) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A splendid drama that shows how symptoms can disturb a subject’s life and how the social field attains its cruel complexity due to the riddle of desire.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 20, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Bottle George (2024) [Japan Cuts 2024]

An instant stop-motion classic

psycho-cinematography

Jun 26, 2024 • Subscribe

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…

psycho-cinematography

Aug 31, 2023 • Subscribe

Best Wishes To All (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

A surprisingly satisfying horror-narrative

psycho-cinematography

Dec 3, 2023 • Subscribe

Amiko Wins Obayashi Prize at 2023 JAPAN CUTS

Prize introduced in 2020 is awarded an independently produced narrative feature from an emerging filmmaker.

Windows on Worlds

Aug 8, 2023 • Subscribe

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.

psycho-cinematography

Sep 3, 2023 • Subscribe

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2024 (July 10th – July 21st)

Details on the line-up for Japan Cuts 2024 (July 10th – July 21st))

Genkinahito

Jun 10, 2024 • Subscribe

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2023 (July 26th – August 06th)

Details on the line-up for Japan Cuts 2023 (July 26th – August 06th)

Genkinahito

Jun 28, 2023 • Subscribe

THE FIRST SLAM DUNK

Pierce (刺心切骨, Nelicia Low, 2023)

A young man finds himself conflicted when his older brother is released from prison in Nelicia Low’s intense fraternal drama.

Windows on Worlds

Aug 12, 2024 • Subscribe

Kanata no Senko 彼方の閃光  (2023) Director: Yoshihiro Hanno [Japan Film Festival LA]

Playing as part of Japan Film Festival LA, LIGHTNING OVER THE WATER, is Yoshihiro Hanno’s earnestly-told anti-war pic buoyed up by crisp B&W visuals and brave performances from…

Genkinahito

Sep 13, 2024 • Subscribe

Mari and Mari  彼女来来  (2021) Director: Tatsuya Yamanishi [Japan Cuts 2021]

Mari and Mari  彼女来来  (2021) Director: Tatsuya Yamanishi [Japan Cuts 2021]

Genkinahito

Sep 8, 2021 • Subscribe

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.

psycho-cinematography

Aug 13, 2023 • Subscribe

SHUNGA: The Lost Japanese Erotica  春の画 SHUNGA (2023) Director: Junko Hirata [Nippon Connection 2024]

Junko Hirata’s gorgeous and informative documentary SHUNGA: The Lost Japanese Erotica  春の画 SHUNGA (2023) reclaims the erotic artform by showing the skill involved in making the prints and the…

Genkinahito

Jul 9, 2024 • Subscribe

Mirai

Robinson’s Garden (1988) [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Yamamoto is not able to create a composition that engages the spectator with its highly relevant message.”

psycho-cinematography

Feb 10, 2024 • Subscribe

Lightning Over the Beyond 彼方の閃光  (2023) Director: Yoshihiro Hanno [Japan Film Festival LA]

Playing as part of Japan Film Festival LA, LIGHTNING OVER THE WATER, is Yoshihiro Hanno’s earnestly-told anti-war pic buoyed up by crisp B&W visuals and brave performances from…

Genkinahito

Sep 13, 2024 • Subscribe

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…

踊る猿life is kyōgen

Aug 3, 2018 • Subscribe

An Interview with Mayu Nakamura, Director of Among Four of Us [OAFF 2021/JAPAN CUTS 2021]

An Interview with Mayu Nakamura, Director of Among Four of Us [OAFF 2021/JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Genkinahito

Sep 23, 2021 • Subscribe

MOBY-DICK; OR: THE WHALE in Japan by Henning Strauss

The following essay was initially planned to be included on the SRS release of The Whale God, but did not wind up on the final release. As such,…

Maser Patrol

Feb 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Ripples 波紋 (2023) Director: Naoko Ogigami [Nippon Connection 2024]

Ripples 波紋 (2023), written and directed by Naoko Ogigami, [Nippon Connection 2024] [Nippon Connection 2024]

Genkinahito

Jul 1, 2024 • Subscribe

Japan Cuts Announces Lineup for 2021 Hybrid Edition

In-person & online Aug. 20 – Sept. 2

Windows on Worlds

Aug 17, 2021 • Subscribe

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.”    

psycho-cinematography

Sep 12, 2021 • Subscribe

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.&#82…

psycho-cinematography

Sep 6, 2021 • Subscribe

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.’

psycho-cinematography

Sep 3, 2021 • Subscribe

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…

psycho-cinematography

Oct 16, 2021 • Subscribe

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.”

psycho-cinematography

Sep 15, 2021 • Subscribe

Where Love Goes 愛のゆくえ (2023) Director: Fuka Miyajima [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023]

Where Love Goes 愛のゆくえ, from director Fuka Miyajima, is a rich story about love that takes a girl from Hokkaido to Tokyo and back, by way of magical realism.…

Genkinahito

Mar 15, 2023 • Subscribe

LONESOME VACATION ロンサム　バケーション (2023) Director: Atsuro Shimoyashiro [Nippon Connection 2024]

LONESOME VACATION ロンサム　バケーション (2023), by director Atsuro Shimoyashiro, gains strength by playing against noir genre expectations and presents a heart-warming tale of people finding connection in ea…

Genkinahito

May 30, 2024 • Subscribe

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.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 31, 2021 • Subscribe

Kiba

Short Movie Time: Honeymoon (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“A pleasing narrative about the arbitrariness of language and culture.”

psycho-cinematography

Nov 9, 2021 • Subscribe

Performing KAORU’s Funeral カオルの葬式 Director: Noriko Yuasa [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024]

Performing KAORU’s Funeral カオルの葬式 (Dir Noriko Yuasa) is a heady story of remembering an individual through pulling together memories. Amidst the farce and tears of the funeral lies a…

Genkinahito

Apr 8, 2024 • Subscribe