I actually stumbled upon knowledge about the Chicago Japan Film Collective (CJFC) back in 2023. Due to moving and timing though I wasn’t able to attend the screenings, online or in person. I made s…
Nov 20, 2024 • Subscribe
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Chicago Japan Film Collective – Qualia
This happened to be the closing night feature film for the fourth annual Chicago Japan Film Collective (CJFC). I had managed to snag a ticket, but couldn’t drag…
Chicago Japan Film Collective – Virtual Screenings Thoughts
I don’t think that the Chicago Japan Film Collective needs too much introduction on my blog. I’ve covered the two in person screening for Sayuri, and Qualia with…
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Sayuri サユリ (2024) Director: Koji Shiraishi [Chicago Japanese Film Collective 2024]
Director Koji Shiraishi subverts J-Horror tropes he helped create with his comedy-horror Sayuri サユリ (2024) where a grandmother/grandson duo fight the titular ghost for control of a house. [Chicago…
Chicago Japan Film Collective 2024 (November 14th-24th)
A look at the 11 films at the Chicago Japan Film Collective 2024 (Nov. 14 – 24) – two in cinemas and nine to stream online via SAKKA
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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.
Stream Contemporary Japanese Film with the Chicago Japan Film Collective (May 25th to 31st)
Information on the Nine Japanese Films Playing at the Chicago Japan Film Collective (May 25th to 31st)
Stream Contemporary Japanese Film with the Chicago Japan Film Collective (May 21st to 30th 2022)
Information on the Japanese Films Playing as part of the Chicago Japan Film Collective (May 21st to 30th)
Director Spotlight #6: “House of Sayuri”
Born on June 1, 1973, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Shiraishi made his mark on the film scene with Violent Man (1997), co-directed with Akihiro Kasai, which won the Screenplay…
Experience the Thrill of HOUSE OF SAYURI This Sunday!
Join us this Sunday, November 17, at the historic Music Box Theatre for a night to remember! The 2024 Chicago Japan Film Collective presents…
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House of Sayuri (サユリ, Koji Shiraishi, 2024) [Fantasia 2024]
An excited family discover the perils of buying a “used” home in Koji Shiraishi anarchic haunted house horror House of Sayuri
Chicago International Film Festival – Cloud
When I was getting in line for this film, I was genuinely surprised at how long the line was. This particular film probably had the biggest turn out…
Chicago International Film Festival – Super Happy Forever
I headed out once again to Chicago, for the Chicago International Film Festival. With the Kore-eda retrospective finished, there were still three other Japanese films in the lineup…
House of Flying Daggers (2004) [Film Review]
House of Flying Daggers; or, Triangle Love Affair I want the wind to stop and think . House of Flying Daggers is one of the few…
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,…
The Way of the House Husband: The Real House Husband of Japan
Greetings, fabulous people of the Internet! Hanime on Anime here, and man, I needed this after last week’s show. I clearly wasn’t a fan of Don’t Toy with…
The Future of Japan On Film
In this short episode, Perry updates everyone on the status of the upcoming eighth season, as well as an important announcement about the future of Japan On Film.
Toshiaki Toyoda’s Uprising 2021 in Chicago and A New Toyoda Film
Details on Toshiaki Toyoda’s Uprising 2021 in Chicago and crowdfunding for his new film.
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Raging Grace (2023) Director: Paris Zarcilla [Chicago International Film Festival 2023]
Raging Grace (2023), by director Paris Zarcilla, cleverly offers a balance of social commentary and historical horror that emerges in the experiences of a carer living in present-day…
Sayuri, Thank You For Everything
I don't know what to say. I wish this could have never happened. Thank you for the amazing music and positive impact you had on my life Sayuri.…
The Box Man, Sayuri, We Don’t Know Love Yet, Last Mile, Japanese Film Trailers
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Before Anyone Else (2023) Director: Tetsuya Mariko [Chicago International Film Festival 2023]
Before Anyone Else (2023), by director Tetsuya Mariko, is a very atmospheric and well-acted short film set in Chicago. A gritty and believable ride done with restraint and…
Female Voices of Japan: Contemporary Film Directors & Screenwriters
Female-led films help challenge conventional portrayals of women on screen. These female film directors are taking the lead in Japan.
‘Making Japan’ & ‘The Japanese House’ – A Review of Virtual Exhibitions
For this weeks assignment we were asked to visit and review an exhibition related to Japanese art or textiles. However, due to money and time limitations I was…
An Interview with Tetsuya Mariko, Director of Before Anyone Else (2023) [Chicago International Film Festival 2023]
An Interview with “Before Anyone Else” (2023) director Tetsuya Mariko, where he goes into the making of his atmospheric film. [Chicago International Film Festival 2023]
POKEMON X Kogei – Japan House Los Angeles
Don't miss this exciting, once in a life-time, exhibit and experience Pokemon like never before with Pokemon's newest collaboration with the traditional, japanese art of KOGEI! Learn more!
House of Ashes
House of Ashes is the third game in the The Dark Pictures Anthology , after Medan of Medan and Little Hope . The first two games…
Japan Foundation Film Tour 2021
By Jasper Sharp. The ongoing Coronavirus crisis may have disrupted many aspects of the cultural calendar, but it is heartening to report that one the Japan Foundation UK…
We Bought a Geisha House! About Geisha House Atami | Japan Station 121
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking to the owners of Geisha House Atami and learning about what it's like to buy an old house in Japan, restore…
We Bought a Geisha House! About Geisha House Atami | Japan Station 121
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zsLSzdYzag
JapanKyo – Interesting news on Japan, podcasts about Japan & more
We Bought a Geisha House! About Geisha House Atami | Japan Station 121
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zsLSzdYzag
JapanKyo – Interesting news on Japan, podcasts about Japan & more
Their collective masterpiece: Urusei Yatsura
How did Yoshinori Kanada go from being “merely” a very talented animator to one of the most influential members of the anime industry? That’s a fascinating question, and…
Urusei Yatsura, Magical Princess Minky Momo, OZ, Tetsujin 28
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Monster 怪物 (2023) Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda [Chicago International Film Festival 2023]
Monster 怪物 (2023), by director Hirokazu Kore-eda, is a Rashomon-like story about how misapprehension can cause problems and hide people’s suffering. [Chicago International Film Festival 2023]…
Japan Cuts 2018 Film Festival at the Japan Society
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Concrete Utopia 콘크리트 유토피아 (2023), directed by Um Tae-hwa, is a disaster movie that marries together an apocalyptic earthquake and the dog-eat-dog world of home ownership in Korea. [Chicago…
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Table of Contents Hello everyone, Once again this year, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Japan Cuts 2024 film…
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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…
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The Short Story Collective is a thirteen-part journey through contemporary Japan taking in themes as disparate as mental illness, Buddhism, the human drive for validation, workplace harassment, cults,…
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A full list of Kpop concerts in Chicago, IL in 2025. This also includes Milwaukee, WI (90 min from Chicago) and Madison, WI (2 hr from Chicago). The…
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“I have nowhere to return to, like a lost child/ Make no mistake, I still don’t understand/ Not there (not there) not there (not there)/ But I don’t…
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“A mere dark shadow without ash/ A loveless individual, like a doll/ A nonexistent ‘self’, nowhere to be found/ I’m not, right?Ambiguous love, a colorless eye/ Nothing more…
Nobody Knows with post-screening Question and Answer Commentary at the Chicago International Film Festival
Having just watched After the Storm, I had a bit of time to kill before attempting to rush for Nobody Knows. I got real food for dinner, puttered…
After the Storm Movie and Question and Answer Synopsis at the Chicago International Film Festival
I’m not someone who pays too much attention to big movie festivals, despite be relatively local to many. My twin was nice enough to tip me off that…
Japan and the Foreign Language Film Oscar
Japan’s choice of Wim Wenders’ PERFECT DAYS (2023) as its submission for Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards and its subsequent nomination got me to thinking…
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Last year, I told you that Japan On Film was ending for the time being, but that I hoped to find a way to bring it back. It…