Anime Blog Tracker

Zaion: I Wish You Were Here (Anata ga koko ni Itehoshii)

This is a short sci-fi ONA from 2001 – not so long into the slow rise of CGI in anime, and while it has a few problems for…

The Review Heap

Jul 3, 2022 • Subscribe

Zaion: I Wish You Were Here

Blind Bombing, Filmed by a Bat (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2020]

 Introduction Kota Takeuchi is man of many creative talents, but whatever he does – be it painting, filming, or sculpting – it is related to historical or contemporary…

psycho-cinematography

Jul 20, 2021 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Bath House of Whales (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2020]

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…

psycho-cinematography

Oct 19, 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

B/B (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Grant Watson reviews Kosuke Nakahama’s debut feature B/B.

VCinema

Sep 7, 2021 • Subscribe

Wonderful Paradise (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Epoy Deyto reviews Masashi Yamamoto's eccentric comedy Wonderful Paradise.

VCinema

Sep 23, 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

The Blue Danube (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Epoy Deyto reviews Akira Ikeda's anti-war satire The Blue Danube.

VCinema

Sep 16, 2021 • Subscribe

We Were Here Forever (ACTUAL Review)

The fourth installment of the We Were Here series has arrived and while I still may be recovering from the trauma that a couple of the puzzles in…

cublikefoot

May 10, 2022 • Subscribe

Nendoroid’s I Wish Were Real

I didn’t think I would ever be the type to collect figures. In the early years of my fandom, I simply didn’t have the money to buy them…

Phoenix Talks Pop Culture Japan

Jul 26, 2021 • Subscribe

Ahiru no Sora, Black Jack

Short Movie Time: Born Pisces (2020) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Yamanaka does not only reaffirm that she has talent but also that she improved her compositional style and her storytelling.”

psycho-cinematography

Jan 14, 2022 • Subscribe

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

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

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

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

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

Among Four of Us (Japan, 2020) [OAFF 2021/JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Mayu Nakamura’s short Among Four of Us.

VCinema

Aug 30, 2021 • Subscribe

Gotō-san (Japan, 2020) [OAFF 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Hiroshi Gokan's capitalist critique Gotō-san.

VCinema

Apr 9, 2021 • Subscribe

I Wish There Were More Anime Stores

There’s not many places in the city I live in that have anime stores unfortunately. However! There is a pretty good manga selection in my city. Nowhere near…

The Spooky Red Head Blog

Aug 21, 2021 • Subscribe

Anime Girls… Too bad, wish they were real..

Hello folks, I’m back and I have this garbage thoughts in the back of my mind that I need to dispose here in my blog. So, my post…

My thoughts are garbage…

Jul 2, 2016 • Subscribe

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2023 Lineup

At Japan Society New York July 26 to Aug. 6

Windows on Worlds

Jun 22, 2023 • 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

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

Mari and Mari (Japan, 2021) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Tatsuya Yamanishi's romantic mystery Mari and Mari.

VCinema

Sep 5, 2021 • 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

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

A surprisingly satisfying horror-narrative

psycho-cinematography

Dec 3, 2023 • Subscribe

Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Haruka Komori and Natsumi Seo's documentary Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions.

VCinema

Sep 15, 2021 • Subscribe

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

In case you were wondering…

Sorry I haven’t been posting recently, guys! I have to take a bit of a break from blogging for now, but I hope to get back to posting sooner…

Shojo Corner

Feb 21, 2013 • Subscribe

The Summer You Were There

Shizuku is a quiet, reserved girl in high school who decides to destroy the manuscript of a story she's been working on. But the story is fo...

Otaku News - World Edition

Jan 4, 2023 • 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

You Are Here

Mistakes of Youth is where it always is. Nonstop to Tokyo is my new art site. Analog Housou is where I blog. And Yellow Vacation is where I…

An Archive of Mistakes of Youth: The Blog

Mar 28, 2011 • Subscribe

The Great Yokai War – Guardians (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“A pleasant and truly satisfying ride for the whole family.”

psycho-cinematography

Aug 28, 2021 • Subscribe

Hydra (Japan, 2019)

Following its initial domestic theatrical run in 2019, Well Go USA Entertainment have picked up Hydra to give American audiences a taste of an indie action title from…

VCinema

Jul 27, 2021 • Subscribe

School Radio to Major Tom (Japan, 2021) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Takuya Chisaka's short film School Radio to Major Tom.

VCinema

Aug 31, 2021 • Subscribe

We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip, Free New Game!

Revealed live at WASD x IGN in London today, by indie developer Total Mayhem Games, is a previously unannounced instalment of the We Were Here series - We…

Japan Curiosity

Sep 14, 2023 • Subscribe

New Game!

Ushio and Tora

A manga about the boy Ushio who releases the monster Tora from his imprisonment in his storage basement from the Beast Spear that grants humans incredible power in…

Manga Machinations

Oct 4, 2020 • Subscribe

Ushio and Tora, Ushio and Tora

Ushio and Tora (Ushio to Tora) – Part Two: 2015

Ushio and Tora (Ushio to Tora) – Part Two: 2015 Let’s jump forward 23 years (to what is now nearly 5 years ago actually) and land in 2015…

The Review Heap

Dec 14, 2019 • 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

Short Movie Time: Go Seppukku Yourselves (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“An enthralling audiovisual experience and a powerful critique of the Japanese political system.”

psycho-cinematography

Oct 9, 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

The Goldfish Dreaming Of The Sea (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Ogawa’s thoughtful lyricism that gives the emotionality of the performances their power to touch the spectator and enables her exploration of the difficulty to separate from one’s mother…

psycho-cinematography

Sep 9, 2021 • Subscribe

Here we go again (Umimi 2019)

Okay, I might have bought other stuff too.

Karmaburn.com

Aug 10, 2019 • Subscribe

To Sleep So as to Dream (Japan, 1986) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Kaizo Hayashi's debut feature To Sleep So as to Dream.

VCinema

Sep 8, 2021 • Subscribe

Be careful what you wish for…

When a low class samurai named Ichirui Hanri agrees to sell his soul to Sudama, a beautiful demoness, for three wishes, she whisks him out of the castle…

Tezuka In English

Feb 28, 2017 • Subscribe

Be careful what you wish for…

When a low class samurai named Ichirui Hanri agrees to sell his soul to Sudama, a beautiful demoness, for three wishes, she whisks him out of the castle…

Tezuka In English

Feb 28, 2017 • 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