The cynical practicality of the post-war generation is contrasted with the wistful romanticism of their forebears in Nakahira’s charmingly witty comedy
Apr 15, 2021 • Subscribe
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The Passionate Spinster (結婚相談, Ko Nakahira, 1965)
A woman still unmarried at the comparatively late age of 30 begins to go out of her mind while on a hellish descent into vice and crime in…
The Hunter’s Diary (猟人日記, Ko Nakahira, 1964)
A serial philanderer’s life is upended when his conquests start turning up dead in Ko Nakashira’s twisted noir.
Jungle Block (地図のない町, Ko Nakahira, 1960)
A jaded doctor finds himself fixating on vengeance when the slum he lives in is targeted for redevelopment in Ko Nakahira’s searing noir.
Review: Sugar Sweet Temptation
Bake your way to these girls' hearts in this heartwarming story of romance and dreams!
The Temptation of Marielle Clarac
By Haruka Momo and Maro. Released in Japan as “Marielle Clarac no Saiai” by Ichijinsha Bunko Iris NEO. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Philip…
The Last Temptation of Tohru Honda
I’ve neither read the Fruits Basket manga nor watched the original anime series, but even without knowing the end of the story, I cannot help but believe that…
Ghost in the Well (1957) review
Toshikazu Kono hits all the right emotional notes to deliver a satisfying tragic love story.
Man Who Causes A Storm (1957)
Inoue’s rags-to-riches narrative might not escape the territory of predictability, but he puts enough thematical meat on the table so that the spectator, in full knowlegde of how…
Overflow (Episode 7) – Under An Apron-Wearing Temptation
Ayane and Kotone have a day off and want to do something fun. Kazushi also has time so they plan on doing something together. Ayane has even offered…
Dancing Girl (踊子, Hiroshi Shimizu, 1957)
The arrival of a free-spirited younger sister creates chaos in the live of a chorus dancer and her violinist husband in Hiroshi Shimizu’s elegantly lensed melodrama.
Warm Current (暖流, Yasuzo Masumura, 1957)
A trio of youngsters tussle for the post-war future through the medium of a love triangle in Masumura’s ironic melodrama
Snow Country (雪国, Shiro Toyoda, 1957)
A self-absorbed, unappreciated painter is torn between an embittered geisha and her resentful yet pure sister in Toyoda’s adaptation of the classic Kawabata novel
Wonder Egg Priority, Episode 11: “The Temptation of Death”?
Wonder Egg Priority is a beautiful, uncomfortable, moving and confusing series that starts out engaging all the things we don’t talk about—self-harm, abuse, rape, bullying, gender dysmorphia, and…
Stepbrothers (異母兄弟, Miyoji Ieki, 1957)
The destructive effects of militarist folly are borne out in the fortunes of one bifurcated family in Miyoji Ieki’s impassioned social drama.
Untamed (あらくれ, Mikio Naruse, 1957)
A rebellious woman strives for independence in a patriarchal society but nevertheless finds herself hamstrung by feckless men in Naruse’s Taisho-era drama
Illusion Acts Like Magic / 幻惑の死と使途
Illusion Acts Like Magic begins with Moe meeting her friend Tomoe Minosawa and going to a magic show. Saikawa was supposed to come as well ...
Temptation Box by SCANDAL (Album Review) | J-Music Exchange/Rate
First post of 2021! Hello and welcome back to J-Music Exchange/Rate, a monthly segment where fellow Japanese music fan Leap250 and I give each other an album to…
Freelance Samurai (桃太郎侍, Kenji Misumi, 1957)
An abandoned son resolves to wander Japan killing the “demons” of Edo-era society in Kenji Misumi’s adaptation of the popular novel by Kiichiro Yamate.
The Lower Depths (どん底, Akira Kurosawa, 1957)
In the absence of salvation a comforting falsehood is the only means of survival in Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of the Gorky play.
Oshi no Ko: PV Trailer [Oshi no Ko]
I’ve gone on about Oshi no Ko being amazing before and its basically one of the few manga I read on a weekly basis, so hearing the new…
The Good Cartoon – Three Little Bops (1957 – Dir: Friz Freleng)
(Writer’s note: This is something I wrote in early 2023 as part of a possible “Best 30 Looney Tunes shorts” collaboration list between a bunch of a folks…
The Eleventh Hour (どたんば, Tomu Uchida, 1957)
The problematic working practices of a post-war coal mine are thrown into stark relief when five men are trapped underground during a collapse in Tomu Uchida’s tense rescue…
Hong Kong, 1957: Little Women In the Mood for Love
OUR SISTER HEDY (1957) is a black-and-white comedy-drama shot in Mandarin in sync sound at the Cathay Studio in Hong Kong and stars Jeanette Lin Tsui, Julie Yeh…
An Osaka Story (大阪物語, Kozaburo Yoshimura, 1957)
A man who tries to escape his poverty ends up imprisoning himself in Kozaburo Yoshimura’s tragicomedy
Throne of Blood (蜘蛛巣城, Akira Kurosawa, 1957)
An ambitious retainer falls victim to the false promises of a forest spirit in Akira Kurosawa’s haunting adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Oshi no Ko
A manga about a mega popular 16 year-old idol who becomes pregnant with twins. When her mega-fan obstetrician is suddenly murdered, he finds himself reborn as one of…
Oshi no Ko
The initial premise is admittedly pretty wild, but surprisingly the reincarnation stuff doesn't come up as often as you would think. 2:27 - Oshi no Ko 50:19 - Undead Unluck…
Oshi no Ko
Oshi no Ko is currently streaming on HIDIVE....
Yuru Camp 3 – Episode 3 – Exploring Lovely Suspension Bridges and Food Temptation
Ayano and Rin start their trip as Nadeshiko heads to the campsite by train. Of course, when Ayano and Rin met, they visited several suspension bridges. Finally, it’s…
Yellow Crow (黄色いからす, Heinosuke Gosho, 1957)
A small family struggles to repair itself after eight years of wartime separation in Heinosuke Gosho’s post-war melodrama.
Cantankerous Edo (大江戸喧嘩纏, Kiyoshi Saeki, 1957)
A noble-hearted samurai on the run falls for a fireman’s sister in Kiyoshi Saeki’s hugely enjoyable jidaigeki musical adventure.
The Eagle and the Hawk (鷲と鷹, Umetsugu Inoue, 1957)
Strapping sailors meditate on revenge and forgiveness while trapped aboard a moribund cargo ship in Umetsugu Inoue’s otherwise charming musical youth drama.
Oshi No Ko Episode 18 Review – Akane’s Oshi No Ko
Never meet your idols because that one encounter can make someone become even more obsessive.
Oshi no Ko – 07
「バズ」 (Buzz) "Buzz" The content warning will still be in check for this episode's impression as well because we're still dealing with heavy subjects on mental health.
Oshi no Ko – 04
「役者」 (Yakusha) "Actors" You are NOT the father!
Oshi no Ko – 03
This is not a show that's easy for me to appraise with detach. Read more
Adorable A-ko Sticker!
Just bought this super-cute A-ko sticker on eBay! This was exciting to run across, as it's not often you see fan works for Project A-ko like this for…
Oshi no Ko – 08
「初めて」 (Hajimete) "First Time" Touched for the very first time.
Oshi no Ko – 05
I guess it's good to know that Oshi no Ko can still crank up the "what the hell did I just watch?" factor. Read more
Oshi no Ko – 10
"Water always seeks its own level", they say. Read more
Oshi no Ko – 07
Oshi no Ko kind of falls under the bloody trainwreck you can't look away from umbrella this week. Read more
Oshi no Ko – 06
「エゴサーチ」 (Egosearch) "Egosurfing" Content Warning: This post will be discussing self-harm and mental health struggles.
Oshi no Ko – 10
「B小町」 (B Komachi) "B Komachi" “What if you win, wouldn't it be weird?" Why, so you guys could just lie to get me here?
PROJECT A-KO (1986)
Take me down to parody city......
Oshi no Ko – 01
「Mother and Children」 "This story is a work of fiction. Actually, most everything in this world is fiction."
Oshi no Ko – 09
「B小町」 (B Komachi) "B Komachi" MEM-cho and Aqua were the only two Love Now participants who were alive to see the Dreamcast’s launch.
Oshi no Ko – 05
「恋愛リアリティショー」 (Ren`ai Reality Show) "Reality Dating Show" "Let's go to Costco… with everyone!"