A gangster laying low realises there is no escape from his sense of ennui in Toshio Masuda’s post-modern re-imagining of his earlier Red Pier
Apr 16, 2021 • Subscribe
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Zero (零戦燃ゆ, Toshio Masuda, 1984)
The Zero Fighter has taken on a kind of mythic existence in a romanticised vision of warfare, yet as Toshio Masuda’s Zero (零戦燃ゆ零戦燃ゆ, Zerosen moyu) implies its time…


Red Handkerchief (赤いハンカチ, Toshio Masuda, 1964)
A pure-hearted former policeman embarks on a noirish journey of retribution after discovering his partner may have betrayed him in Masuda’s stylish crime drama


Flowing (流れる, Mikio Naruse, 1956)
The denizens of a moribund geisha house contemplate visions of independence in post-war Japan Mikio Naruse’s thriving ensemble drama.


Whirlpool of Flesh (おんなの渦と淵と流れ, Ko Nakahira, 1964)
A intellectual professor and his wounded wife find themselves trapped in a toxic marriage after returning from Manchuria in Ko Nakahira’s fatalistic drama


Japan Stories それぞれの日本
A beautifully written patchwork of stories of contemporary Japan each of which focuses on and mainly revolves around one person with associated minor characters who, though obviously less…


Tokyo Drifter (東京流れ者, Seijun Suzuki, 1966)
A recently released yakuza attempts to join the new society by going straight but finds his efforts frustrated by upstart gangsters in Seijun Suzuki’s postmodern noir.
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Episode #89 (S11E9) – Tokyo Drifter [東京流れ者] (1966)
Director Seijun Suzuki is a really unique figure in the world of Japanese cinema, with a style all his own. In this episode, Japanese film scholar Jennifer Upton…


Under the Stars (星の子, Tatsushi Omori, 2020)
A young woman raised by devotees of a new religion comes to question her worldview when confronted with its otherness in Tatsushi Omori’s coming-of-age drama.


A Movie Capital (映画の都, Toshio Iizuka, 1991)
As the opening of Toshio Iizuka’s A Movie Capital (映画の都, Tokyo no Miyako) makes plain, 1989 was a year of turbulence all over the world but also perhaps…
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River (リバー、流れないでよ, Junta Yamaguchi, 2023) [Fantasia 2023]
The staff of a hotel along with its guests find themselves trapped in an infinite two minute loop in Junta Yamaguchi’s strangely poignant farce.


Eleven Samurai (十一人の侍, Eiichi Kudo, 1967)
Faced with dissolution, a wronged clan plots revenge against a selfish and entitled young lord in Eiichi Kudo’s nihilistic jidaigeki.


それ Sore vs その Sono #learnjapanese
Learn Japanese with Me - https://bit.ly/4drmyU2


Volicia of Pluto, (忘星のヴァリシア) Guest Review by Cryssoberyl
Yuri and mecha have a long history together. The recent Gundam: Witch From Mercury will no doubt be top-of-mind for many people when I say that, but there…
Shroud of Snow / 雪の喪章 / Yuki no mosho (1967)
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Apart from Life (地の群れ, Kei Kumai, 1970)
Marginalised communities turn against each other while locked out of an increasingly prosperous society in Kei Kumai’s uncompromising post-war drama


Gundam Aerial Rebuild: Anime and Gunpla Full Reveal! #水星の魔女
The following may contain spoilers for episode 12 of Gundam the Witch from Mercury. I just got off watching the first part finale for Gundam the Witch from…


Gundam Aerial Rebuild: Anime and Gunpla Full Reveal! #水星の魔女
The following may contain spoilers for episode 12 of Gundam the Witch from Mercury. I just got off watching the first part finale for Gundam the Witch from…


Sword of Destiny (孤剣は折れず 月影一刀流, Yasushi Sasaki, 1960)
A wandering swordsman winds up in intrigue on returning to his fencing school to find his old master murdered in Yasushi Sasaki’s jidaigeki adventure.


アニメ業界の今とそのこれから – NAFCA代表ロングインタビュー
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星屑家族
Hoshikuzu Kazoku is a two-volume graphic novel set in an alternate universe where parents are required to obtain a license to raise children. To qualify for a license,…


The Thing 遊星からの物体X (1982) Dir: John Carpenter
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Today on Suletta Sunday: Gundam Aerial Upgraded Form Tease! #水星の魔女
Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury has delivered a special Christmas present as it returns from a one-week break to deliver what would be the start of…


The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka (華岡青洲の妻, Yasuzo Masumura, 1967)
A mother and a wife become locked in an absurd battle of one-upmanship volunteering as test subjects for a husband’s experiments in Yasuzo Masumura’s ironic relationship drama


Mad About Madhouse: Toshio Hirata
Toshio Hirata briefly talks about the origin of Japanimation, the revolution of limited animation, Masao Maruyama’s unusual and pivotal role in Madhouse, and his prior work, such as…


星星之舟 by Yuka Murayama (村山由佳) (Review)
(A dedication to Akatsugi & Sae) When suicide becomes beautiful, it’s romanticism. Romeo and Juliet was one of the greatest love story ever written, but one thing that…


The Last-Minute New Gundam: X-EX01 Gundam Calibarn #水星の魔女 #G_Witch
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Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions
Team up with Loid Forger, Kaiju No. 8, and more manga characters in this strategy puzzle game about how one boy's imagination gets him through trauma.
Blue Velvet and Sk8 the Infinity
As a very recent (aka lifelong) Chelsea fan, I have been absolutely reveling in their Champions League...
Blue Velvet and Sk8 the Infinity
As a very recent (aka lifelong) Chelsea fan, I have been absolutely reveling in their Champions League...
BlackMilk: Queen Beryl Velvet Maxi Jacket
BlackMilk Surprise Release! 11 months after BlackMilk’s first Sailor Moon Collection drop, they release this...
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Episode #74 (S10E3) – A Colt is My Passport [拳銃は俺のパスポート] (1967)
In this episode, we dip into Nikkatsu’s noir catalog. Illustrator Joey Weiser joins the show to discuss A Colt is My Passport, a fun noir film featuring Joe…
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A Movie Capital 映画の都 Dir: Toshio Iizuka (1991) [Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival]
Get a glimpse of the inaugural Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival and learn why this festival space became the leading place for discussion amongst people. A Movie Capital…
Koudou Ryou no Seizana Hibi, Volume 1 (黄道寮の星座な日々)
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Koudou Ryou no Seizana Hibi, Volume 2 (黄道寮の星座な日々)
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Waver Velvet Is Such a Relatable Character!
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Kita no Onna ni Tamesaretai (北の女に試されたい)
Hokuryuu Aya, who is a tall, cool woman, meets Kuromizu Suzuka who is also a tall, cool woman and both are surprised that the other is as tall…


それが
An interesting conjunction - How to Japanese - September 2023


Let’s Have A Dream (九ちゃんのでっかい夢, Yoji Yamada, 1967)
Fearing he has a terminal disease a young man falls into despair little knowing he is the heir to a Swiss fortune in Yoji Yamada’s nonsense comedy.


Touching the Skin of Eeriness 不気味なものの肌に触れる (2014) Dir: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
“Touching the Skin of Eeriness” turns from coming-of-age drama to supernatural mystery and is packed full of absorbing physical performances. 不気味なものの肌に触れる (2014) Dir: Ryusuke Hamaguchi…


Touching the Skin of Eeriness 不気味なものの肌に触れる (2014) Dir: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
“Touching the Skin of Eeriness” turns from coming-of-age drama to supernatural mystery and is packed full of absorbing physical performances. 不気味なものの肌に触れる (2014) Dir: Ryusuke Hamaguchi…


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


TokyoScope INTERVIEW: Sebastian Masuda, SUSHIDELIC, and the Power of KAWAII!
A talk with the founder of a new psychedelic Japanese restaurant in Soho, NYC


The Story of a Man Among Men (修羅の群れ, Kosaku Yamashita, 1984)
An intensely noble gangster attempts to preserve yakuza idealism in the turbulence of the mid-20th century in Kosaku Yamashita’s ninkyo eiga throwback


Inch Forward (走れない人の走り方, Su Yu-Chun, 2023)
An indie filmmaker experiences various setbacks while trying to complete her latest film in Su Yu-Chun’s cheerful dramedy.
Yuri Manga: Sore ha, Haru no Arashi no You ni, Volume 1 (それは、春の嵐のように)
Aoi is an office lady who dreams of a “normal life.” She tells her her friend that she wants to get married. Chi-chan appears to accept it. Aoi,…


Hoshikuzu Telepath, Volume 1 (星屑テレパス)
I have been meaning to read Hoshikuzu Telepath since 202o, but there were a lot of series to get to first. Now that we are getting an anime…


Struggling Man (私はいったい、何と闘っているのか, Toshio Lee, 2021)
A dejected middle-aged man experiences a crisis of masculinity when his home and work lives come under threat in Toshio Lee’s warmhearted comedy.