A fun romp that works well as an introduction to the cultural diversity that enriches the Japanese archipelago.
Jul 24, 2024 • Subscribe
More like this
![Featured image for Fly Me To The Saitama -FROM BIWA LAKE WITH LOVE- (翔んで埼玉 ~琵琶湖より愛をこめて~, Hideki Takeuchi, 2023)](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240611/1718064330.85518.124999.jpg)
![Background image for Fly Me To The Saitama -FROM BIWA LAKE WITH LOVE- (翔んで埼玉 ~琵琶湖より愛をこめて~, Hideki Takeuchi, 2023)](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240611/1718064330.85518.124999.jpg)
Fly Me To The Saitama -FROM BIWA LAKE WITH LOVE- (翔んで埼玉 ~琵琶湖より愛をこめて~, Hideki Takeuchi, 2023)
Osaka is on the March in the sequel to the popular comedy.
Granbelm Pilgrimage to Lake Biwa
Granbelm is not the greatest show ever made, nor is it as picturesque as a Shinkai flick, but it was interesting enough for us to reserve time for…
![Featured image for Kizumonogatari – Koyomi Vamp – (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240729/1722259193.87931.128085.jpg)
![Background image for Kizumonogatari – Koyomi Vamp – (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240729/1722259193.87931.128085.jpg)
Kizumonogatari – Koyomi Vamp – (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2024]
An evocative experience that succeeds in giving the vampire and the well-explored themes a fresh coat of drama and sexiness.
![Featured image for Hold Me Back (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210813/1628849596.19291.44941.jpg)
![Background image for Hold Me Back (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210813/1628849596.19291.44941.jpg)
Hold Me Back (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“Ohku delivers, once again, a refreshing and highly touching romance-comedy.”
![Featured image for House of Sayuri (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240811/1723360795.88485.128756.png)
![Background image for House of Sayuri (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240811/1723360795.88485.128756.png)
House of Sayuri (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
The thoughtful manipulation of this atmospheric field is integral to create an effective and engaging genre-blend.
![Featured image for Baby Assassins: Good Days (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240803/1722651593.88178.128373.jpg)
![Background image for Baby Assassins: Good Days (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240803/1722651593.88178.128373.jpg)
Baby Assassins: Good Days (2024) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
Yugo Sakamoto successfully mixes up the formula that structured his previous two action narratives. Highly Recommended.
![Featured image for Love, Live, and Goldfish (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210806/1628292795.18879.44463.jpg)
![Background image for Love, Live, and Goldfish (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210806/1628292795.18879.44463.jpg)
Love, Live, and Goldfish (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“While Makabe’s narrative does not offer anything truly new or groundbreaking, what it does brings to the table is served with excellence.”
![Featured image for The largest lake and an unexpected adventure [LAKE BIWA]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220612/1655017378.37675.66844.png)
![Background image for The largest lake and an unexpected adventure [LAKE BIWA]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220612/1655017378.37675.66844.png)
The largest lake and an unexpected adventure [LAKE BIWA]
I woke up on my last day in Shiga feeling a little on edge.
![Featured image for The Three Legends of Lake Biwa](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210103/1609687465.520.16737.jpg)
![Background image for The Three Legends of Lake Biwa](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210103/1609687465.520.16737.jpg)
The Three Legends of Lake Biwa
These three stories combine to create a single legend. I kept the original 1918 spellings and grammar. I find them charming and interesting examples of how language can…
The Three Legends of Lake Biwa
These three stories combine to create a single legend. I kept the original 1918 spellings and grammar. I find them charming and interesting examples of how language can…
![Featured image for Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2024 Programme](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240714/1720917329.87221.127243.jpg)
![Background image for Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2024 Programme](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240714/1720917329.87221.127243.jpg)
Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2024 Programme
In Montreal July 18 to Aug, 4.
![Featured image for What To Do With Dead Kaiju (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220803/1659521340.41199.71093.jpg)
![Background image for What To Do With Dead Kaiju (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220803/1659521340.41199.71093.jpg)
What To Do With Dead Kaiju (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
“An extremely well-structured genre-blend that does not only provides the laughs and giggles with its pleasant political satire, but also allows the spectator to immerge himself into the…
![Featured image for Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2023 Programme](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230707/1688753923.64336.98973.png)
![Background image for Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2023 Programme](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230707/1688753923.64336.98973.png)
Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2023 Programme
In Montreal July 20 to Aug. 9.
![Featured image for The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220731/1659234541.40977.70834.jpg)
![Background image for The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220731/1659234541.40977.70834.jpg)
The Fish Tale (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very heart-warming and touching narrative that shows that a subject does not necessarily need to make use of the neurotic solution to inscribe himself within the societal…
![Featured image for Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220728/1658971741.40668.70474.jpg)
![Background image for Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220728/1658971741.40668.70474.jpg)
Shin-Ultraman (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
Higuchi and Anno deliver an impressive love letter to their childhood, yet their devoted love, which is sensible in every aspect of the narrative, might not be able…
![Featured image for Tokyo Revengers (2021) Review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210816/1629122594.19484.45175.jpg)
![Background image for Tokyo Revengers (2021) Review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210816/1629122594.19484.45175.jpg)
Tokyo Revengers (2021) Review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“An exciting blend of satisfying violence, tensive moments, surges of pleasing lightheartedness, and touching emotional moments.”
![Featured image for Fantasia Film Festival: 7 Films not to miss.](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210726/1627263794.18048.43544.jpg)
![Background image for Fantasia Film Festival: 7 Films not to miss.](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210726/1627263794.18048.43544.jpg)
Fantasia Film Festival: 7 Films not to miss.
This year, we, once again, explored the wide selection of films screening at the festival to select some films that we, psychocinematography, duly recommend to the audiences.
![Featured image for River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230801/1690853321.65844.100891.jpg)
![Background image for River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230801/1690853321.65844.100891.jpg)
River (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]
If you like low-key humour and some time-twisting fun, you should not miss Yamaguchi’s latest.
![Featured image for The Mole Song: Final (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220724/1658707140.40385.70163.jpg)
![Background image for The Mole Song: Final (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220724/1658707140.40385.70163.jpg)
The Mole Song: Final (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
Miike’s narrative delivers everything a fan of the previous narratives desires and even succeeds in inviting newcomers to delve into Reiji’s past exploits.
![Featured image for Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220806/1659781140.41407.71316.jpg)
![Background image for Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220806/1659781140.41407.71316.jpg)
Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
Miki delivers a great psychological mystery narrative, yet it might not be for everyone.
![Featured image for Dreams of Fire (2021) review [Fantasia Film festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210825/1629852194.20091.45898.jpg)
![Background image for Dreams of Fire (2021) review [Fantasia Film festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210825/1629852194.20091.45898.jpg)
Dreams of Fire (2021) review [Fantasia Film festival]
“McKie’s film is not only the best dance-film of recent years but might very well be one of the best Japanese films to be released this year.”
![Featured image for Fly Me to Saitama II, Haru no Ga SHUNGA, Shiki, JULLAY Gunjou no Ladakh Japanese Film Trailers](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20231122/1700627169.73474.109924.jpg)
![Background image for Fly Me to Saitama II, Haru no Ga SHUNGA, Shiki, JULLAY Gunjou no Ladakh Japanese Film Trailers](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20231122/1700627169.73474.109924.jpg)
Fly Me to Saitama II, Haru no Ga SHUNGA, Shiki, JULLAY Gunjou no Ladakh Japanese Film Trailers
Fly Me to Saitama II, Haru no Ga SHUNGA, Shiki, JULLAY Gunjou no Ladakh Japanese Film Trailers
![Featured image for Five Films Not To Miss [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220708/1657270952.39127.68607.jpg)
![Background image for Five Films Not To Miss [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220708/1657270952.39127.68607.jpg)
Five Films Not To Miss [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
Let us present 5 Japanese films that should already be high on your to-watch list.
Fly Me to the “Moon”
Do you remember when you first fell in love? Awash in all those giddy, uncertain emotions that were swirling about you in a kaleidoscope of feelings and sensations?…
![Featured image for Georama Boy Panorama Girl (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210918/1631965395.21578.47638.jpg)
![Background image for Georama Boy Panorama Girl (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210918/1631965395.21578.47638.jpg)
Georama Boy Panorama Girl (2020) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
‘Seta’s poetically composed narrative blows a fresh breeze into the ‘traditional’ Japanese romance genre.’
![Featured image for My Broken Mariko (2022) [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220812/1660277940.41712.71841.jpg)
![Background image for My Broken Mariko (2022) [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220812/1660277940.41712.71841.jpg)
My Broken Mariko (2022) [Fantasia Film Festival]
Tanada offers a compelling exploration of the emotional turmoil a female subject caused by the sudden death of someone important.
![Featured image for Insomniacs After School (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230729/1690593521.65698.100717.jpg)
![Background image for Insomniacs After School (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230729/1690593521.65698.100717.jpg)
Insomniacs After School (2023) review [Fantasia Film Fest 2023]
Ikeda’s narrative contains all the right ingredients, but the final mixture is not able to give the narrative the emotional impact it looks for.
Review: Fly Me to the Moon, Vol. 1
Tormented his whole life by people poking fun at his unusual name, Nasa Yuzaki has poured all his energy into becoming a nationally recognized student. And now, he’s…
![Featured image for Fly Me to the Moon Vol. 1 Review](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210703/1625322235.16175.41398.png)
![Background image for Fly Me to the Moon Vol. 1 Review](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210703/1625322235.16175.41398.png)
Fly Me to the Moon Vol. 1 Review
Will this series by the Hayate the Combat Butler creator capture my heart at first sight like the protagonist and his future wife?
Review: Fly Me to the Moon, Vol. 2
Now that Nasa and Tsukasa are officially wed and living together in domestic bliss, it’s time they figured out the essentials of married life—establishing a regular bathing routine,…
![Featured image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220809/1660011540.41549.71643.jpg)
![Background image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220809/1660011540.41549.71643.jpg)
The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration…
![Featured image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220810/1660170540.41650.71763.jpg)
![Background image for The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220810/1660170540.41650.71763.jpg)
The Pass: Last Days Of The Samurai (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
A very engaging samurai narrative that does not only offer an intriguing glance at one of the most important crossroads of Japanese history, but also a melodramatic exploration…
![Featured image for Jigoku-no-hanazono ~Office Royale~ (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210819/1629342795.19684.45417.jpg)
![Background image for Jigoku-no-hanazono ~Office Royale~ (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210819/1629342795.19684.45417.jpg)
Jigoku-no-hanazono ~Office Royale~ (2021) review [Fantasia Film Festival]
“An absurd and crazy cocktail full of violence and funny twists and unexpected turns.”
![Featured image for Otaku Reader’s Corner: Komi Can’t Communicate, Love Me Love Me Not, and the Fly Me to the Moon](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210113/1610547488.1492.23002.jpg)
![Background image for Otaku Reader’s Corner: Komi Can’t Communicate, Love Me Love Me Not, and the Fly Me to the Moon](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210113/1610547488.1492.23002.jpg)
Otaku Reader’s Corner: Komi Can’t Communicate, Love Me Love Me Not, and the Fly Me to the Moon
Fly Me to the Moon (Tonikawa), Vol. 3 Season one of Tonikawa may be complete, but Fly Me to the Moon, the manga on which its based, is continuing…
![Featured image for Reader’s Corner: Fly Me to the Moon, Love Me, Love Me Not, and Play it Cool, Guys](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210706/1625582596.16709.42008.jpg)
![Background image for Reader’s Corner: Fly Me to the Moon, Love Me, Love Me Not, and Play it Cool, Guys](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210706/1625582596.16709.42008.jpg)
Reader’s Corner: Fly Me to the Moon, Love Me, Love Me Not, and Play it Cool, Guys
The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya While I started the Haruhi Suzumiya light novels long ago, it’s only since the announcement of Intuition that I decided to make my…
![Featured image for Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) [Fantasia Film festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210822/1629592395.19866.45630.jpg)
![Background image for Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) [Fantasia Film festival]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210822/1629592395.19866.45630.jpg)
Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) [Fantasia Film festival]
“A great animation film that offers an emotional and moving celebration of the strength of the bond between a daughter and a mother.”
![Featured image for Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2021 Programme](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210802/1627926794.18603.44158.jpg)
![Background image for Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2021 Programme](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210802/1627926794.18603.44158.jpg)
Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2021 Programme
In cinemas and streaming across Canada Aug. 5 – 25
![Featured image for Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2022 Programme](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220705/1656981152.38946.68385.png)
![Background image for Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2022 Programme](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220705/1656981152.38946.68385.png)
Fantasia International Film Festival Confirms Complete 2022 Programme
Runs in Montreal July 14 to Aug. 3
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023
For the second year in a row, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) which took place between March 10 and March 19.…
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023
For the second year in a row, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) which took place between March 10 and March 19.…
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023
For the second year in a row, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) which took place between March 10 and March 19.…
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…
![Featured image for Follow The Light (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210804/1628036595.18680.44242.jpg)
![Background image for Follow The Light (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210804/1628036595.18680.44242.jpg)
Follow The Light (2021) review [Fantasia Festival 2021]
The narrative might not offer anything new at a thematical level, but stands out due to his refusal to spell things out and, instead, imply certain subjective truths…
![Featured image for Interview with Shin’ichirô Watanabe [Niigata International Animation Film Festival 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20231030/1698672780.71810.107955.jpg)
![Background image for Interview with Shin’ichirô Watanabe [Niigata International Animation Film Festival 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20231030/1698672780.71810.107955.jpg)
Interview with Shin’ichirô Watanabe [Niigata International Animation Film Festival 2023]
An interview with Cowboy Bebop director Shin'ichirô Watanabe conducted at the Niigata International Film Festival in March 2023.
New York Asian Film Festival 2023
Table of Contents For the third year in a row, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF)…
![Featured image for Japanese Films at the Chicago Film Festival 2023](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230920/1695226799.68750.104377.jpg)
![Background image for Japanese Films at the Chicago Film Festival 2023](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230920/1695226799.68750.104377.jpg)
Japanese Films at the Chicago Film Festival 2023
A Preview of the Chicago International Film Festival 2023 – October 11 to 22 – Monster, Evil Does Not Exist, The Boy and the Heron, Before Anyone Else,…
![Featured image for Japanese Films at the Rotterdam International Film Festival 2024](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240115/1705298770.77313.114825.jpg)
![Background image for Japanese Films at the Rotterdam International Film Festival 2024](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240115/1705298770.77313.114825.jpg)
Japanese Films at the Rotterdam International Film Festival 2024
A Preview of the Japanese Films Programmed for the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2024
![Featured image for Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240213/1707808570.79139.116957.jpg)
![Background image for Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20240213/1707808570.79139.116957.jpg)
Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024
A Preview of the Japanese Films at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024 (February 15-25)
Fly Me to M-78: The Evangelion-Ultraman Connection
When discussing Evangelion, Western fandom ignores the fact that its esteemed auteur, Hideaki Anno, is a total goddamn dork for tokusatsu. Specifically, Ultraman.
Akudama Drive – 08 – Fly Me Almost to the Moon
Poor Swindler, who has possibly the worst luck of all the Akudama, not least because she really isn’t one. The old rocket runs out of fuel long before…