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.
Jun 10, 2022 • Subscribe
More like this


Gift of Fire (太陽の子, Hiroshi Kurosaki, 2020)
A conflicted scientist struggles to reconcile himself to the implications of his work while researching an atomic bomb in Kurosaki’s contemplative wartime drama


A Balance (由宇子の天秤, Yujiro Harumoto, 2020)
An idealistic documentarian’s journalistic ethics are strained when she uncovers scandal close to home in Yujiro Harumoto’s probing social drama


Under the Stars: 5 Stargazing Spots in Japan
The land of the rising sun reveals its celestial wonders, inviting stargazers to embark on a journey through its awe-inspiring night skies.


Under the Turquoise Sky (ターコイズの空の下で, KENTARO, 2021)
An aimless young man embarks on a spiritual journey after being sent to Mongolia to look for the daughter his grandfather left behind 70 years previously in the…


One Piece Live Action, Sea of Stars, Under the Waves
This episode I share my thoughts on the One Piece Live Action series on Netflix. Also talk about a couple games Sea of Star, Under the Waves. Timestamps…


Velvet Hustler (紅の流れ星, Toshio Masuda, 1967)
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


Yoko (658km、陽子の旅, Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, 2023)
An isolated woman begins to rediscover herself while hitchhiking to her estranged father’s funeral in Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s quietly moving road movie.


Izzy Stars – MUSIC IN 2020
Before the year gets too late past the start of 2021, I’m finishing up my personal entertainment round-up of the last year, you could treat these as recommendations,…


Izzy Stars’ Anime Of 2020
I spent my January and December, at least some of it, writing about my favourite media in 2020. As ever, I pledge to be less wordy and be…


Children of the Beehive: What Happened Next (その後の蜂の巣の子供たち, Hiroshi Shimizu, 1951)
In an interesting piece of meta docufiction, Hiroshi Shimizu revisits the Beehive a few years later to find out how the orphans live now.


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…


The Thing 遊星からの物体X (1982) Dir: John Carpenter
The Thing 遊星からの物体X (1982) Dir: John Carpenter


The Old Town Girls (兔子暴力, Shen Yu, 2020)
The left behind children of decaying industrial China find themselves at the mercy of a corrupted parental legacy in Shen Yu’s gritty neo-noir


A Son (二十歳の息子, Ryuichi Shimada, 2022)
Documentarian Ryuichi Shimada follows a social worker who decides to adopt a 20-year-old man recently released from juvenile detention.
What was your under-the-radar fave of 2020?
What was your underrated fave of the year? Why do you think folks missed out on it? What makes it great?
![Featured image for Under The Open Sky (2020) review [Nippon Connection 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210608/1623132841.14374.39246.jpg)
![Background image for Under The Open Sky (2020) review [Nippon Connection 2021]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20210608/1623132841.14374.39246.jpg)
Under The Open Sky (2020) review [Nippon Connection 2021]
“A (damning) look at the vicious and unforgiven nature of the judgmental Other as well as heartwarming emotionally rich exploration of the importance of supportive inter-subjective social bon…


Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 4 Review – Two Of Them, Under The Stars
Mao and Hisashi spend romantic night excursions under the stars.


Wonder Egg Priority v.s. Omori
Visit the post for more.


The Last-Minute New Gundam: X-EX01 Gundam Calibarn #水星の魔女 #G_Witch
The following may contain spoilers for the latest episode of Gundam the Witch from Mercury. One of the things Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury did quite…


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…
Kodomo no me / 子供の眼 / (‘Eyes of a Child’, 1955)
Obscure Japanese Film #162 Hideko Takamine Kiyoko (Hideko Takamine) is a young woman living in Tokyo with her older brother, Shunji (Hiros...


Theory Confirmed! “Gundam the Witch from Mercury” #14 Plot Reveals #G_Witch #水星の魔女
The following will obviously contain spoilers for the latest episode of Gundam the Witch from Mercury. Read at your own risk. We are just two episodes into the…


Otona no Yuricon 2020 (大人のユリコン2020)
After a prolonged trip across the ocean, a long-awaited doujinshi has finally arrived at my home. And, like clockwork, the Melonbooks website is down for maintenance, so I…


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,…


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 Flying Stars
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,


菓子パン
Kashipan, kashipan as far as the eye can see - How to Japanese - May 2022


Nosari: Impermanent Eternity (のさりの島, Tatsuya Yamamoto, 2020)
An ore ore scammer’s cynical worldview is challenged when he finds temporary harbour with an elderly woman in Yamamoto’s touching indie drama


Magic Planet Arcade: Beyond The White Void in OMORI
The long-delayed indie RPG finally arrives, and it’s one of the best of its kind in years. Surprisingly deep and with a killer aesthetic, OMORI is not to…


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…


Feelings Under the Stars: Friendship and Romance in Yuru Camp and Sora yori mo Tooi Basho
The two best shows of Winter 2018 had a couple of things in common; they both involved outdoor activities away from civilization, both were heavily invested in friendships…


On the Edge of Their Seats (アルプススタンドのはしの方, Hideo Jojo, 2020)
It’s only natural to be a little anxious in the last year of high school but a collection of his school students are in danger of giving up…


JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: The Animation Producer, Hiroyuki Omori, Passes Away
Hiroyuki Omori, who spearheaded the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime as the producer for all of its seasons, has passed away.
Koudou Ryou no Seizana Hibi, Volume 1 (黄道寮の星座な日々)
One again, this review comes with a story. I was standing in Animate in Shibuya and saw a book I had been meaning to read for a while,…
Koudou Ryou no Seizana Hibi, Volume 2 (黄道寮の星座な日々)
In Volume 1, a young woman is sent to the Zodiac Dormitory by her sister with the admonition to “Take care of Alice.” And so, in Koudou Ryou…
Yoshiki: Under the Sky
by Helen McCarthy. Classical pianist, hard rock drummer, guitarist, composer, songwriter, producer, visual kei pioneer, founder of two record labels, fashion designer, collaborator with brands from Baccarat to…
Arakawa Under the Bridge
Title: Arakawa Under the BridgeGenre: Romance, ComedyRating: 7.2/10 Summary: The story is about the strange courtship of a successful executive in life called Kou and a mysterious woman…
Arakawa Under the Bridge
Title: Arakawa Under the BridgeGenre: Romance, ComedyRating: 7.2/10 Summary: The story is about the strange courtship of a successful executive in life called Kou and a mysterious woman…


The Secret in the Stars
detective fiction, 推理小説、games,


The Town of Headcounts (人数の町, Shinji Araki, 2020)
A disaffected young man gets a fresh start in a utopian community but quickly becomes disillusioned in Shinji Araki’s slick dystopian thriller


Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram (名探偵コナン 100万ドルの五稜星, Chika Nagaoka, 2024)
Conan finds himself on the hunt for missing treasure when an industrialist is murdered in Hokkaido in the latest big screen outing for the famous detective.


Manga Kodomo Bunko (まんがこども文庫) December ED (12月の歌) - The Candy Train (お菓子の汽車)
Sung by (歌): Kyōko Ishige (石毛恭子) Lyrics (作詞): Yaso Saijō (西條八十) Composition and Arrangement (作曲・編曲): Teruyuki Noda (野田暉行) Very special thanks to PopKorn Kat for transferring and scanning this record!
Under Golame
General Information Unit type: overmanOverskill: impactPilot(s): Enge Gam, Kejinan Datto Lineart Rear view
How to 菓子パン
I just sent out the May newsletter. I wrote about my love of 菓子パン (kashipan). The croissant above I don’t think technically counts as 菓子パン? My theory is…


Sachiko (さち子) – Lamp
Appears on their album 「Yume」. Sachiko Lyrics by Sakakibara Kaori Composed by Someya Taiyo Performed by Lamp The horizon at the end of summer and the sweet salt wind My newly shorn hair brushes pas…
Review: Under the Light (2023)
Under the Light 坚如磐石 China, 2023, colour, 2.35:1, 127 mins. Director: Zhang Yimou 张艺谋. Rating: 7/10. Stygian drama of municipal corruption and deadly powerplay has a terrific first…


Any Crybabies Around? (泣く子はいねぇが, Takuma Sato, 2020)
An immature young man abandons his family after becoming disgrace but discovers on his return there may be some bonds you can’t repair in Takuma Sato’s paternity drama.


Duels, Proposals, and Bad Parents? “Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury” Season 1 Review #水星の魔女 #G_Witch
The following may contain spoilers for Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury. Director / Hiroshi Kobayashi, Ryou AndouScreenplay / Ichiro OkouchiProduction / Sunrise (Bandai Namco Filmworks)Rel…