Anime Blog Tracker

Cafune (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

A very strong debut by Haruki Kinemura.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 28, 2023 • Subscribe

Faraway Family (2023) review [OAFF 2024]

A very touching narrative that explores the frail position of the father and how his structural failure can cause subjective struggles and inhibitions.

psycho-cinematography

20 days ago • Subscribe

The Burden Of The Past (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

With his latest drama film, Funahashi’s delivers a contender for this year’s best Japanese film.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 13, 2023 • Subscribe

Performing Kaoru’s Funeral (2023) review [OAFF 2024]

Yuasa’s narrative shows that the unavoidable presence of death during a funeral can allow a subject to re-route his own trajectory.

psycho-cinematography

17 days ago • Subscribe

When morning comes, I feel empty (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

A slow moving narrative that accumulates in a subtle but touching shift in the subjective position of its protagonist.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 12, 2023 • Subscribe

Books: By Your Side

By Jonathan Clements. The inauguration of Barazoku (“Rose Tribe”), a magazine for gay men in 1971, brought with it a sop to the ladies, in the form of…

All the Anime

Jun 22, 2022 • Subscribe

Side by Side (サイド バイ サイド 隣にいる人, Chihiro Ito, 2023)

The unresolved past conspires against present happiness in Chihiro Ito’s etherial drama.

Windows on Worlds

Apr 1, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Kanro (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A simple but effective short that explores inter-subjective distance and the desire to bridge it in a surprising and satisfying way.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 21, 2023 • Subscribe

People Who Talk to Plushies Are Kind (2023) review [OAFF 2023]

Kaneko convincingly shows that the symptomatic usage of the plushie attempts to repair the tensive bond with the Other or subdue its overbearing presence.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 16, 2023 • Subscribe

The Dark Side Series by Kristy Cunning Review

Once you go reverse harem, you never go back. I’ve found that out apparently. Now I’m stuck looking for some more spicy harem stories, and wound up stumbling…

Bloom Reviews

Jan 30, 2022 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: TOMA #2 (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A touching narrative that explores the difficulty for the subject to give the Othering effect of dementia on a family member a place

psycho-cinematography

Mar 12, 2023 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Detouring Blue (2023) (OAFF 2023)

A highly recommended short that touchingly shows that what dooms the subject to the de-subjectifying effect of the societal Other or to the birth of a subjective deadlock…

psycho-cinematography

Mar 23, 2023 • Subscribe

Advanced Japanese Reading Practice with Side-by-Side Readers

Want Japanese reading practice with newspapers or essays? Here's how to level up your Japanese game with side-by-side readers.

Unseen Japan

Sep 6, 2023 • Subscribe

Side by Side サイド バイ サイド 隣にいる人 (2023) Dir: Chihiro Ito [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023]

Side by Side サイド バイ サイド 隣にいる人, by director Chihiro Ito, is a visually sumptuous film with a light supernatural story. Side by Side サイド バイ サイド 隣にいる人 (2023)…

Genkinahito

Mar 19, 2023 • Subscribe

Learn Advanced Japanese With These Side-by-Side English Readers

Want to read Japanese newspapers or essays? Preparing for JLPT N1? Here's how to level up your Japanese game with side-by-side readers.

Unseen Japan

Sep 6, 2023 • Subscribe

To Be Killed by a High School Girl (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“The effective interaction between his fluid composition, the great narrative structure, and the thematical exploration of trauma and perverse fantasies ensures that the film hits all the rig…

psycho-cinematography

Apr 5, 2022 • Subscribe

One More Step, Come Stand by My Side Manga Review

Takeda's detailed art helps to highlight her versatility when it comes to length and genre, and every story in the book is unique.

Anime News Network - Views

Nov 22, 2023 • Subscribe

Amalock (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A narrative that fluidly combines comedy and tragedy to deliver an experience of smiles and tears.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 17, 2024 • Subscribe

Snowdrop (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A complex character portrait that touchingly illustrates how easy it is to misrecognize the logic of the subject-supposed-to-be-in-need.

psycho-cinematography

a month ago • Subscribe

Suton (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

Rikako Watanabe’s narrative succeeds to echo the unvocalized ‘pandemic’ truth of many.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 2, 2024 • Subscribe

‘By Your Side’ Interview at Kinokuniya NYC

This week, I had the incredible pleasure of being interviewed a Kinokuniya NYC in midtown New York City. I cannot begin to tell you how much fun this…

Okazu

Dec 2, 2022 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: After Winter, the Tamaki Family… (2023) [OAFF 2023]

A genuine and heartfelt tribute the grandmother of the Tamaki family

psycho-cinematography

Mar 30, 2023 • Subscribe

Melting Sounds (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“Kahori Higashi’s debut is impressive.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 14, 2022 • Subscribe

Blue Imagine (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A powerful reminder of the sexual transgressions that structurally plague the Japanese film industry

psycho-cinematography

23 days ago • Subscribe

Sumiko 22 (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A subtle but playful narrative about a subject who slowly tries to crawl out the hole of emptiness and diminished self-worth.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 14, 2024 • Subscribe

Sumiko

Goto-san (2021) review [OAFF 2021]

“Gokan expertly reveals the position of the freeter as an attempt to escape the capitalistic machinery but also as a position that most easily falls prey to the…

psycho-cinematography

Apr 24, 2021 • Subscribe

Angry Son (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“An incredibly rich and deep narrative that not only delivers a satisfying coming-of-age story but also an elegantly delivered social commentary on some of the frictions marking Japanese…

psycho-cinematography

Mar 18, 2022 • Subscribe

Wash Away (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

A pleasant narrative that offers a fresh but familiar exploration of the subject’s fundamental desire for recognition/love and the problematic yet medicative function of consumption.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Random Call (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

Ohkanda’s narrative proves that one does not need a big budget to deliver a narrative that touches the spectator.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 20, 2022 • Subscribe

By Your Side Digital Bookplate Giveaway for June!

June always presents a host of conundrums, among them how best to mark Pride month – this year I’m going with the historical precedent of rioting against cops…

Okazu

Jun 7, 2022 • Subscribe

End of Year Update: Aious & By Your Side

It’s been a busy 2021 and a long time since I gave any game updates on Aious, so I figured I’d make this little End of Year Update.…

Kyacchi22

Dec 7, 2021 • Subscribe

Our House Party (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

Kawanobe delivers a very touching and emotional story about homosexuality in Japan.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 11, 2022 • Subscribe

Short Movie Review: Natsuko (2020) [OAFF 2022]

“A splendid debut by Shuna Iijima.”

psycho-cinematography

Mar 27, 2022 • Subscribe

Sweet Bitter Candy (2021) review [OAFF 2021]

“An amazing exploration of the clash between a sweet youthful romantic desire and the bitter urge of a wounded subject to defend his subjective wounds.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 30, 2021 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Shall We Love You? (2022) [OAFF 2023]

A nice little heart-warming short that questions the connection between love and happiness.

psycho-cinematography

Apr 2, 2023 • Subscribe

OAFF 2022 Special

 Hello everyone, In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss their favorite movies from the wonderful 2022 Osaka Asian Film Festival. Timestamps:2:53 - Media Consumption19:12 - News23:42…

Heroic Purgatory

Mar 28, 2022 • Subscribe

OAFF 2022 Special

 Hello everyone, In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss their favorite movies from the wonderful 2022 Osaka Asian Film Festival. Timestamps:2:53 - Media Consumption19:12 - News23:42…

Heroic Purgatory

Mar 28, 2022 • Subscribe

OAFF 2022 Special

 Hello everyone, In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason discuss their favorite movies from the wonderful 2022 Osaka Asian Film Festival. Timestamps:2:53 - Media Consumption19:12 - News23:42…

Heroic Purgatory

Mar 28, 2022 • Subscribe

Kaiju No. 8 (Volume 2) – Fight by Her Side

Kafka transformed into his kaiju form to save Kikoru, however, it wasn’t enough to get him an officer position. Vice-captain Hoshina saw something that no one else did…

The Otaku Author

May 13, 2023 • Subscribe

A New Wind Blows (2021) review [OAFF 2021]

A great film that shows that the madness of the male subject is often function of a woman, of a woman that unknowingly puts the by a man…

psycho-cinematography

Apr 20, 2021 • Subscribe

Ask For The Moon (2022) review [OAFF 2024]

A satisfying narrative that illustrates how the subject’s ego is but a response to his complexes and struggles.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 5, 2024 • Subscribe

Far Away, Further Away (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“A beautiful film that elegantly explores the role the imaginary plays in marital failure as well as in the beginning of a new romantic bond.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 2, 2022 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Outsourcing (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“A very satisfying satirical short thta shows that, within the job-seeking process, only the image matters.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 17, 2022 • Subscribe

Memories of this Scent (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

An endearing and fragrance rich tale of subjective change.

psycho-cinematography

Mar 8, 2024 • Subscribe

Just Stopping By! (Happy 2023!)

Hi there! Did I catch you by surprise? I know, it’s been over 3 months since my last visit. Terrible track record. But, I did promise that I’d…

Takuto's Anime Cafe

Jan 10, 2023 • Subscribe

Chainsaw Man, JUJUTSU KAISEN, My Hero Academia, My Hero Academia Season 6, NieR:Automata Ver1.1a

Just Stopping By! (Happy 2023!)

Hi there! Did I catch you by surprise? I know, it’s been over 3 months since my last visit. Terrible track record. But, I did promise that I’d…

Takuto's Anime Cafe

Jan 10, 2023 • Subscribe

Chainsaw Man, JUJUTSU KAISEN, My Hero Academia, My Hero Academia Season 6, NieR:Automata Ver1.1a

This Side of Japan's Top 100 Songs of 2023

Highlighting the year's best Japanese songs from Ano, PeanutsKun, Conton Candy and many more

This Side of Japan

Dec 20, 2023 • Subscribe

Sanka: Nomads of the Mountains (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“A visually enticing narrative that elegantly explores the unresolvable tension between the societal Other and the subject.”

psycho-cinematography

Apr 8, 2022 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Perfect・Nervous (2024) review [OAFF 2024]

An exquisitely crafted narrative that touchingly shows that a simple encounter, a simple exchange of signifiers, can turn a wish to die into a desire to life.

psycho-cinematography

a month ago • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Bagmati River (2022) review [OAFF 2022]

“A beautiful poetic short that elegantly plays with the contrast between life and death.”

psycho-cinematography

Mar 24, 2022 • Subscribe