by Siria Fallleroni
After his first feature film “Afternoon Breezes” (1980), Hitoshi Yazaki directed “March Comes in Like a Lion” (1991), a cruel but visually stunning fable regarding the visceral relationship between siblings. Although the title is the same as the award-winning manga “March comes in like a lion”, written and illustrated by Chika Umino, the two works are poles apart. “Afternoon Breezes” depicted the main character's repressed homosexuality, showing how her crush on roommate Mitsu slowly evolves into an obsession, while his second feature revolves around the sensitive theme of incest.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The preamble of the story is extremely straightforward as well as puzzling: “There was a boy and his sister. The girl adored her brother and hoped to one day be his lover. One day, the boy lost his memory, the girl decided to be his lover until he regained...
After his first feature film “Afternoon Breezes” (1980), Hitoshi Yazaki directed “March Comes in Like a Lion” (1991), a cruel but visually stunning fable regarding the visceral relationship between siblings. Although the title is the same as the award-winning manga “March comes in like a lion”, written and illustrated by Chika Umino, the two works are poles apart. “Afternoon Breezes” depicted the main character's repressed homosexuality, showing how her crush on roommate Mitsu slowly evolves into an obsession, while his second feature revolves around the sensitive theme of incest.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The preamble of the story is extremely straightforward as well as puzzling: “There was a boy and his sister. The girl adored her brother and hoped to one day be his lover. One day, the boy lost his memory, the girl decided to be his lover until he regained...
- 3/30/2023
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival got an early 25th birthday present in the form of James Gunn’s “Suicide Squad,” which will receive a special screening on Aug. 4, the day before Fantasia officially kicks off with the world premiere of Julien Knafo’s zombie thriller “Brain Freeze.” Gunn is a long-time friend of the fest, having first attended in 1997 before later returning for the Canadian premiere of his Marvel blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Fantasia also unveiled its second wave of features participating at this year’s festival, joining a raft of titles announced in May, and will announce the rest of its slate in late July along with details on several virtual events and this year’s juries.
New world premieres, joining the a six-pack announced last month, include Ruth Platt’s “Martyrs Lane,” Anna Zaytseva’s feature debut “#Blue_Whale,” Jonathan Rhys Meyers-starrer “Yakuza Princes” from filmmaker Vicente Amorim,...
Fantasia also unveiled its second wave of features participating at this year’s festival, joining a raft of titles announced in May, and will announce the rest of its slate in late July along with details on several virtual events and this year’s juries.
New world premieres, joining the a six-pack announced last month, include Ruth Platt’s “Martyrs Lane,” Anna Zaytseva’s feature debut “#Blue_Whale,” Jonathan Rhys Meyers-starrer “Yakuza Princes” from filmmaker Vicente Amorim,...
- 6/23/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The refined playbook of Japanese family drama allocates a close-meshed set of rules that many directors go by. At first sight, Hitoshi Yazaki’s “Sakura” is just another chapter. Based on a popular novel, teenage drama in a high school setting, food scenes at the dinner table, and a dog that the film is named after. But the renowned director, who started as Sogo Ishii’s assistant, lays out a false trail.
“Sakura” is screening on Japannual Film Festival
Hajime (Ryo Yoshizawa), Kaoru (Takumi Kitamura), and Miki (Nana Komatsu) live a happy life together with their parents at home. Hajime is the oldest good-looking baseball star of the family. He is the contrast to Kaoru, who has good grates but no luck with girls. Miki is the youngest sister, who mistrusts all the girls that the boys bring home. Sakura is the name of the family dog. Everything seems fine...
“Sakura” is screening on Japannual Film Festival
Hajime (Ryo Yoshizawa), Kaoru (Takumi Kitamura), and Miki (Nana Komatsu) live a happy life together with their parents at home. Hajime is the oldest good-looking baseball star of the family. He is the contrast to Kaoru, who has good grates but no luck with girls. Miki is the youngest sister, who mistrusts all the girls that the boys bring home. Sakura is the name of the family dog. Everything seems fine...
- 10/6/2020
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
The original is a novel of the same name by the Naoki Prize writer, Kanako Nishi, who has surpassed 550,000 copies in total. One dog named Sakura and a family of five appear. And the people who are important to them.
Under the direction of Hitoshi Yazaki, the Hasegawa family’s brothers and sisters are Takumi Kitamura, Nana Komatsu, and Ryo Yoshizawa, who are popular actors. Shinobu Terashima played the three mothers and Masatoshi Nagase played the father, and the female characters that they met were Yui Kobayashi (Keyakizaka46), Kaho Mizutani, and Kazumi Yamatani.
World-renowned pianist Adam George is in charge of the songs in the play, and the theme song “Blue ID” written by the Tokyo Incident that “reproduced” this year decorates the ending.
Synopsis:
There is a happy family that consists of parents and their 3 children: Hajime (Ryo Yoshizawa), Kaoru (Takumi Kitamura) and Miki (Nana Komatsu). Hajime is the...
Under the direction of Hitoshi Yazaki, the Hasegawa family’s brothers and sisters are Takumi Kitamura, Nana Komatsu, and Ryo Yoshizawa, who are popular actors. Shinobu Terashima played the three mothers and Masatoshi Nagase played the father, and the female characters that they met were Yui Kobayashi (Keyakizaka46), Kaho Mizutani, and Kazumi Yamatani.
World-renowned pianist Adam George is in charge of the songs in the play, and the theme song “Blue ID” written by the Tokyo Incident that “reproduced” this year decorates the ending.
Synopsis:
There is a happy family that consists of parents and their 3 children: Hajime (Ryo Yoshizawa), Kaoru (Takumi Kitamura) and Miki (Nana Komatsu). Hajime is the...
- 8/10/2020
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Major Japanese studio, Shochiku has the honor of leading off next week’s Tokyo International Film Festival with its “Tora-san, Wish You Were Here.” The film is a revival of a beloved in-house drama franchise, directed by veteran Yoji Yamada, that is set as the event’s opening night gala presentation.
Before that, the company has the no less important matter of launching its new sales and distribution slate at the Tiffcom market that opens Tuesday. Mystery, horror and comedy films are among the main genres among the new lineup.
“Tora-san” aside, the slate is lead by “Special Actors,” the second film by Shinichio Ueda, director of last year’s hit horror-comedy “One Cut of the Dead.” Starring Kazuto Osawa, “Special Actors” is a comedy drama in which none of the characters are quite what they seem. It launched this weekend in Japanese theaters.
In the same comedy-drama vein, the...
Before that, the company has the no less important matter of launching its new sales and distribution slate at the Tiffcom market that opens Tuesday. Mystery, horror and comedy films are among the main genres among the new lineup.
“Tora-san” aside, the slate is lead by “Special Actors,” the second film by Shinichio Ueda, director of last year’s hit horror-comedy “One Cut of the Dead.” Starring Kazuto Osawa, “Special Actors” is a comedy drama in which none of the characters are quite what they seem. It launched this weekend in Japanese theaters.
In the same comedy-drama vein, the...
- 10/22/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Japanese director Hitoshi Yazaki (“Acapella” “Strawberry Shortcakes”) has completed production on his new film “Still Life of Memories”. The film is inspired by the life and works of famous French photographer Henri Maccheroni. The film sees Masanobu Ando (“Kids Return” “Battle Royale”) in the lead role, inspired by the iconic artist.
The production has been completed and Article Films has released a trailer for the film.
Synopsis
“Still Life of Memories” was inspired by the photography book, “Cent photographies choisies dans la série 2000 photographies du sexe d’une femme” by the French Photographer, Henri Maccheroni. The photographer was fascinated by women’s genital divinity, which has ever-changing expressions just like the surface of the lake. This photographic collection has been censored, and not allowed importation into Japan even till this present day. Films showing female genitalia undergo strict and awful processing by the Administration Commission of Motion Picture Code of Ethics before release.
The production has been completed and Article Films has released a trailer for the film.
Synopsis
“Still Life of Memories” was inspired by the photography book, “Cent photographies choisies dans la série 2000 photographies du sexe d’une femme” by the French Photographer, Henri Maccheroni. The photographer was fascinated by women’s genital divinity, which has ever-changing expressions just like the surface of the lake. This photographic collection has been censored, and not allowed importation into Japan even till this present day. Films showing female genitalia undergo strict and awful processing by the Administration Commission of Motion Picture Code of Ethics before release.
- 7/8/2018
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
The team of Nippon Connection has announced the full program for the 11th edition of the Japanese film festival. Despite the current events in Japan, the festival will take place in Frankfurt from April 27th to Mai 1st.
Currently the program isn’t available on the festival’s website, so here’s a quick peek taken from the press release:
A Night in Nude: Salvation (Nudo no yoru: Ai wa oshiminaku ubau), R: Takashi Ishii, J 2010
Abraxas (Aburakusasu no matsuri), R: Naoki Kato, J 2010
Anpo, R: Linda Hoaglund, J 2010
Arrietty (Karigurashi no Arrietty), R: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, J 2010
Beautiful Method (Utsukushii sube), R: Takamasa Ooe, J 2009
Cage, R: Shinsuke Kurimoto, J 2010
Cold Fish (Tsumetai nettaigyo), R: Sion Sono, J 2010
Colorful, R: Keiichi Hara, J 2010
Coming Future (Sinka), R: Kyuya Nakagawa, J 2010
Devil Has Come (Akuma ga kita), R: Shun Sakaida, J 2010
Doman Seman (Horikawa nakatachiuri), R: Go Shibata, J 2010
Door to...
Currently the program isn’t available on the festival’s website, so here’s a quick peek taken from the press release:
A Night in Nude: Salvation (Nudo no yoru: Ai wa oshiminaku ubau), R: Takashi Ishii, J 2010
Abraxas (Aburakusasu no matsuri), R: Naoki Kato, J 2010
Anpo, R: Linda Hoaglund, J 2010
Arrietty (Karigurashi no Arrietty), R: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, J 2010
Beautiful Method (Utsukushii sube), R: Takamasa Ooe, J 2009
Cage, R: Shinsuke Kurimoto, J 2010
Cold Fish (Tsumetai nettaigyo), R: Sion Sono, J 2010
Colorful, R: Keiichi Hara, J 2010
Coming Future (Sinka), R: Kyuya Nakagawa, J 2010
Devil Has Come (Akuma ga kita), R: Shun Sakaida, J 2010
Doman Seman (Horikawa nakatachiuri), R: Go Shibata, J 2010
Door to...
- 3/16/2011
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
The team of Nippon Connection has announced the full program for the 11th edition of the Japanese film festival. Despite the current events in Japan, the festival will take place in Frankfurt from April 27th to Mai 1st.
Currently the program isn’t available on the festival’s website, so here’s a quick peek taken from the press release:
A Night in Nude: Salvation (Nudo no yoru: Ai wa oshiminaku ubau), R: Takashi Ishii, J 2010
Abraxas (Aburakusasu no matsuri), R: Naoki Kato, J 2010
Anpo, R: Linda Hoaglund, J 2010
Arrietty (Karigurashi no Arrietty), R: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, J 2010
Beautiful Method (Utsukushii sube), R: Takamasa Ooe, J 2009
Cage, R: Shinsuke Kurimoto, J 2010
Cold Fish (Tsumetai nettaigyo), R: Sion Sono, J 2010
Colorful, R: Keiichi Hara, J 2010
Coming Future (Sinka), R: Kyuya Nakagawa, J 2010
Devil Has Come (Akuma ga kita), R: Shun Sakaida, J 2010
Doman Seman (Horikawa nakatachiuri), R: Go Shibata, J 2010
Door to...
Currently the program isn’t available on the festival’s website, so here’s a quick peek taken from the press release:
A Night in Nude: Salvation (Nudo no yoru: Ai wa oshiminaku ubau), R: Takashi Ishii, J 2010
Abraxas (Aburakusasu no matsuri), R: Naoki Kato, J 2010
Anpo, R: Linda Hoaglund, J 2010
Arrietty (Karigurashi no Arrietty), R: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, J 2010
Beautiful Method (Utsukushii sube), R: Takamasa Ooe, J 2009
Cage, R: Shinsuke Kurimoto, J 2010
Cold Fish (Tsumetai nettaigyo), R: Sion Sono, J 2010
Colorful, R: Keiichi Hara, J 2010
Coming Future (Sinka), R: Kyuya Nakagawa, J 2010
Devil Has Come (Akuma ga kita), R: Shun Sakaida, J 2010
Doman Seman (Horikawa nakatachiuri), R: Go Shibata, J 2010
Door to...
- 3/16/2011
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
... and that will be Hitoshi Yazaki's Sweet Little Lies starring Miki Nakatani (Memories of Matsuko)
So if you're on this side of the world - one of the longest running film festivals in Singapore, the Japanese Film Festival, is slated to begin this Thursday August 19th to 29th. Presented by The Embassy of Japan and the Singapore Film Society, this edition will comprise of more than 30 Singapore premieres of groundbreaking Japanese classics, independent cinema and award winning titles that offer a rare glimpse into the Japanese film history, its culture and its filmmakers' commentaries on the joys and perils of Youth, the festival's theme this year.
Related Links
Official Festival Website with information about ticket sales, films, schedules and other Festival news and updates
FaceBook
Twitter
YouTube...
So if you're on this side of the world - one of the longest running film festivals in Singapore, the Japanese Film Festival, is slated to begin this Thursday August 19th to 29th. Presented by The Embassy of Japan and the Singapore Film Society, this edition will comprise of more than 30 Singapore premieres of groundbreaking Japanese classics, independent cinema and award winning titles that offer a rare glimpse into the Japanese film history, its culture and its filmmakers' commentaries on the joys and perils of Youth, the festival's theme this year.
Related Links
Official Festival Website with information about ticket sales, films, schedules and other Festival news and updates
YouTube...
- 8/16/2010
- Screen Anarchy
[Our thanks to Chris Bourne for this review.]
"Whether you're together or alone, it's lonely." This line delivered by an elderly woman (Akiko Kazami) could also have been spoken by any of the other characters of Hitoshi Yazaki's Sweet Little Lies, as ruthless a dissection of marriage as Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage. The film's title expresses the deceptions necessary to keep up appearances for the outside world, especially when it comes to intimate relationships. The title also refers to the deceptions within these relationships, avoiding the painful truths that, if spoken aloud, can destroy cherished illusions.
To all outside observers, Ruriko (Miki Nakatani), a teddy bear designer/gallery artist, and Satoshi (Nao Omori), an It professional, is a happy, serenely blissful couple. But peer a little closer, and that illusion quickly shatters. They live basically separate lives, only meeting for breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening. When they are home, Satoshi...
"Whether you're together or alone, it's lonely." This line delivered by an elderly woman (Akiko Kazami) could also have been spoken by any of the other characters of Hitoshi Yazaki's Sweet Little Lies, as ruthless a dissection of marriage as Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage. The film's title expresses the deceptions necessary to keep up appearances for the outside world, especially when it comes to intimate relationships. The title also refers to the deceptions within these relationships, avoiding the painful truths that, if spoken aloud, can destroy cherished illusions.
To all outside observers, Ruriko (Miki Nakatani), a teddy bear designer/gallery artist, and Satoshi (Nao Omori), an It professional, is a happy, serenely blissful couple. But peer a little closer, and that illusion quickly shatters. They live basically separate lives, only meeting for breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening. When they are home, Satoshi...
- 7/17/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Japan Cuts Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema (July 1-16) is coming to Japan Society for its fourth consecutive year, with its biggest line-up ever. With 24 titles and 30 screenings, this is the largest showcase of contemporary Japanese film outside Japan, with international and U.S. premieres, special guests (filmmakers Noboru Iguchi, Yoshihiro Nishimura, Tomorowo Taguchi, Toshiaki Toyoda, Hitoshi Yazaki, and Isao Yukisada; and actors Tatsuya Fujiwara and Daichi Watanabe), parties (Festival Launch Party on July 1st, Sushi Typhoon! on July 3rd and Night Of The Filmmakers on July 10th) and giveaways.
- 6/25/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
Japan Society has posted the full list of films to be screened as part of their Japan Cuts Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema which will take place in NYC from July 1-16, 2010.
Here’s the list. The films marked with an asterisk will be co-presented with the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.
About Her Brother (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yoji Yamada)
Accidental Kidnapper (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Hideo Sakaki)
Alien vs. Ninja* (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba)
Bare Essence of Life, aka Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Satoko Yokohama)
The Blood of Rebirth* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Toshiaki Toyoda)
Boys on the Run* (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Daisuke Miura)
Confessions* (2010, U.S. Premiere, Dir. Tetsuya Nakashima)
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004, New York Premiere, Dir. Isao Yukisada)
Dear Doctor* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Miwa Nishikawa)
Electric Button, aka Moon & Cherry (2004, U.S. Premiere,...
Here’s the list. The films marked with an asterisk will be co-presented with the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.
About Her Brother (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yoji Yamada)
Accidental Kidnapper (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Hideo Sakaki)
Alien vs. Ninja* (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba)
Bare Essence of Life, aka Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Satoko Yokohama)
The Blood of Rebirth* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Toshiaki Toyoda)
Boys on the Run* (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Daisuke Miura)
Confessions* (2010, U.S. Premiere, Dir. Tetsuya Nakashima)
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004, New York Premiere, Dir. Isao Yukisada)
Dear Doctor* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Miwa Nishikawa)
Electric Button, aka Moon & Cherry (2004, U.S. Premiere,...
- 5/28/2010
- Nippon Cinema
- Asian cinema fans rejoice, the New York Asian Film Festival is back with a vengeance! Every summer since 2002 Grady Hendrix and the fine folks over at Subway Cinema roll out a collection of some 30 films representing the best Asia has to offer. Now in its 7th year, the Nyaff has established itself as one of the very best Asian film fests going anywhere, with a cross-section of art-house, big budget, and plain weird pictures abound.This year’s fest promises to be the largest in its short history with 43 films screening along with two programs of short films out of South Korea. They’ve also scored some big time guests to present their latest works including Myung-se Lee (M) and Ryo Iwamatsu (Then Summer Came). In a major coup for the fest, legendary (and infamous) film provocateur Koji Wakamatsu will hold a live Q&A via satellite for his latest United Red Army.
- 6/20/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
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