Anime Blog Tracker

It’s a summer film (2021) review [Camera Japan Festival]

“A highly entertaining film that offers a nostalgic and touching dive into youthful passion and romantic feelings and lighthearted celebration of indie-filmmaking and often-forgotten beauty o…

psycho-cinematography

Sep 21, 2021 • Subscribe

Kirara

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

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 End of Summer Film – It’s a Summer Film!

I’m only a touch late regarding talking about JFF Theater films. They’ve only been up for over a month, with two of them leaving streaming by the end…

Phoenix Talks Pop Culture Japan

Sep 18, 2024 • Subscribe

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…

Heroic Purgatory

Jul 21, 2024 • Subscribe

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

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

It’s a Summer Film! (サマーフィルムにのって, Soshi Matsumoto, 2020)

A jidaigeki-obsessed high schooler sets out to make her own summer samurai movie in Soshi Matsumoto’s charming sci-fi infected teen rom-com

Windows on Worlds

Jun 12, 2021 • Subscribe

Kirara

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

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

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

Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction (Japan, 2021) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Arthi Vasudevan reviews Daihachi Yoshida’s workplace comedy Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction.

VCinema

Sep 5, 2021 • Subscribe

Kiba

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

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

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2021 (August 20th – September 02nd)

Japan Cuts 2021 Line-up and ticketing details

Genkinahito

Aug 17, 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

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

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

Summer 2020 First Impressions: It’s All a Bit Muddled

Between all these virtual cons at unreasonable hours (but reasonable US hours), a few new shows which exist on the periphery coming into the fray and delayed simulcasts…

The Animanga Spellbook

Jul 16, 2020 • Subscribe

Healin' Good Pretty Cure, Pretty Cure, The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants

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

Japan Cuts Announces Lineup for 2021 Hybrid Edition

In-person & online Aug. 20 – Sept. 2

Windows on Worlds

Aug 17, 2021 • 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

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

Summer in Japan 2021

Last year in the summer I went on a good road trip with a few friends through Nagano Prefecture. This year, I didn’t get up to as much,…

Umai Yomu Anime Blog

Sep 12, 2021 • Subscribe

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…

All the Anime

Jan 24, 2021 • 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

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 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

JOINT (Japan, 2020) [OAFF 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Oudai Kojima’s debut feature JOINT.

VCinema

Apr 5, 2021 • Subscribe

Tora-san, Wish you were here (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2020]

“Yamada’s latest offers not only a powerful homage to the late great Kiyoshi Atsumi but also a moving nostalgic ride along many of the iconic scenes of the…

psycho-cinematography

May 27, 2021 • Subscribe

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2024 Lineup

At Japan Society New York from July 10 to 21

Windows on Worlds

Jul 3, 2024 • Subscribe

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2023 Lineup

At Japan Society New York July 26 to Aug. 6

Windows on Worlds

Jun 22, 2023 • Subscribe

Gotō-san (Japan, 2020) [OAFF 2021]

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

VCinema

Apr 9, 2021 • Subscribe

Mari and Mari  彼女来来  (2021) Director: Tatsuya Yamanishi [Japan Cuts 2021]

Mari and Mari  彼女来来  (2021) Director: Tatsuya Yamanishi [Japan Cuts 2021]

Genkinahito

Sep 8, 2021 • Subscribe

Summer 2020 First Impressions: A Supernatural Summer

The Animanga Spellbook

Jul 23, 2020 • Subscribe

DECA-DENCE, Fruits Basket, The God of High School

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

Kubi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

One of best period dramas in recent years.

psycho-cinematography

Jul 3, 2024 • 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

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

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

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

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

It’s a Lucky Box Summer on OKazu!

Doing a seasonal clean up of stuff that has accumulated, breaking down some of Bruce’s collection (we’re about half way through the boxes!) and goods from Yuri exhibits…

Okazu

Jun 20, 2021 • Subscribe

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2024 (July 10th – July 21st)

Details on the line-up for Japan Cuts 2024 (July 10th – July 21st))

Genkinahito

Jun 10, 2024 • Subscribe

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2023 (July 26th – August 06th)

Details on the line-up for Japan Cuts 2023 (July 26th – August 06th)

Genkinahito

Jun 28, 2023 • Subscribe

THE FIRST SLAM DUNK

Blue Imagine ブルーイマジン Director: Urara Matsubayashi [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 / Japan Cuts 2024]

Director Urara Matsubayashi makes a definitive #MeToo film for the Japanese film industry with her sincere and complex drama Blue Imagine ブルーイマジン [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 / Japan…

Genkinahito

Jul 18, 2024 • Subscribe

A Seasonal Review — Summer 2021

Dropped: The Aquatope on White Sands, Battle Game in 5 Seconds, Blue Reflection Ray, The Case Study of Vanitas, D_CIDE Traumerei, The Detective is Already Dead, Drug Store…

Draggle's Anime Blog

Oct 5, 2021 • Subscribe

Scarlet Nexus, The aquatope on white sand, The Case Study of Vanitas, The Duke of Death and His Maid, Battle Game in 5 Seconds

Summer 2020.

I’m a little late posting this, considering how Fire Force has already aired its first episode for season 2 and then there was also postponed shows to consider…

xxanimexxgirlxx

Jul 5, 2020 • Subscribe

Fire Force, GIBIATE, The God of High School

An Interview with Mayu Nakamura, Director of Among Four of Us [OAFF 2021/JAPAN CUTS 2021]

An Interview with Mayu Nakamura, Director of Among Four of Us [OAFF 2021/JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Genkinahito

Sep 23, 2021 • Subscribe

Summer 2020 – a slow start indeed.

With the relatively small number of shows airing this season, and the even smaller number I’m planning on checking out, premieres are popping up only at extended intervals… …

Apprentice Mages Lounge.

Jul 7, 2020 • Subscribe

Lapis Re:LiGHTs