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July 16, 2024
 

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Kaori Shoji
Kaori Shoji writes about movies and movie-makers for the Film Page, plus takes a turn at the Bilingual Column. Biggest mistake of her career: taking the very dignified Nagisa Oshima to McDonald's for an iced coffee.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 25, 2015
Lupin III (Japan title: Rupan Sansei)
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura Language: Japanese and English
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Feb 25, 2015
French artiste par excellence hails noh highs
French comedian extraordinaire Guillaume Gallienne has a sizeable Japanese fan base, which gratifies him most heartily.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 18, 2015
Rudderless: 'a missed opportunity to really engage with teenage violence'
William H. Macy — long noted as one of the most respected actors of our age (for those who missed him, watch "Fargo" for starters) — has now emerged as a filmmaker.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 18, 2015
The Fault in Our Stars: 'teenage love and girlish fantasy that doesn't become corny'
Shailene Woodley's finest performance yet is her portrayal of Hazel, the 18-year-old cancer patient in "The Fault in Our Stars," whom she imbues with her particular brand of vitality, beauty and an unshakable sense of entitlement.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 18, 2015
Lucy
Director: Luc Besson Language: English
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 11, 2015
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: 'a compelling and ambitious five-hour love story'
'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" is a sprawling, three-part love story opening on Valentine's Day that wraps itself around the senses like a thick curtain. Director Ned Benson is trying to do something radically different as he takes us through a single love story told from three different perspectives:...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 11, 2015
Life of Riley: 'death is on everyone's mind'
France's Alain Resnais ("Hiroshima mon amour," "Last Year at Marienbad") died last year at age 91, with 50 titles to his name and a career that spanned more than six decades. His final film, "Life of Riley," was completed shortly before he passed away.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 11, 2015
Utopia
Language: English
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 9, 2015
Plumbing the delicious depths of February with ume
Traditionally, Kisaragi (如月, the old name for February) was considered a month of hope — a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over. Before the nation switched to the Western calendar, it was the month for ushering in Oshōgatsu (お正月, New Year) and marked a time when everyone...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 4, 2015
Growing younger in a super-aged society
Old age. It used to be a subject people tried to avoid, but now, as Japan hurtles toward a super-aged society where almost 15 percent of the populace is over 75 years old, the general feeling is that we had better deal with it.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 4, 2015
Begin Again: 'Rekindling platonic love'
You know when a boy and girl meet, hit it off, but keep the relationship platonic — and it's sweet and memorable forever? This practically never happens in the movies. The last time it did (as far I can recall) was in "Once" back in 2006, directed by Ireland's John Carney.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 4, 2015
'The Face of Love': Falling for a doppelganger
Back in the 20th century, there was an unwritten consensus of sorts that actors and actresses over a certain age should not be involved in heavyweight love scenes. But over the last decade, veteran performers have been cast in romantic comedies of all kinds, with or without garments. Fifty is the new...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 4, 2015
The Suspect (Suspect: Kanashiki Yogi-Sha)
Director: Won Shin-yeon Language: Korean (subtitled in English)
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 28, 2015
Draft Day: 'Delirious, intoxicated with its own colossal machismo'
In the world of movies, what does a celebrated baseball player do after he leaves the cinematic field? If he happens to be Kevin Costner, who made his fair share of baseball movies, he makes a little detour into golf ("Tin Cup") before coming back as a general manager for the NFL, in a film called "Draft...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 28, 2015
Wild Card: 'Jason Statham doing the same thing he always does'
Moviemakers love Jason Statham. How else to describe the fact that he's consistently played the same type of guy in the same type of situations for two decades, without ever being required to change a thing. Other action stars branch out into romantic comedies, relationship sagas, period dramas; Statham...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 28, 2015
Breathe In (Japan title: Anatatono Kiss Madeno Kyori)
Director: Drake Doremus Language: English
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 21, 2015
Jemaine Clement: Bloodsucking and bored at the end of the world
The newest vampire movie to take film festivals by storm, "What We Do in the Shadows," is the work of two New Zealanders: actor Jemaine Clement ("Flight of the Conchords") and actor/director Taika Waititi ("Boy"). Together they wrote, directed and star in a movie that was made on a small budget —...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 21, 2015
Mystery: 'Asian sensuality against the backdrop of polluted cities'
'Fifty shades of pitch black" is an apt way to describe "Mystery." It's a feel-awful anti-love film that should come with a huge warning label for anyone contemplating marriage or even a long-term commitment. On the other hand, it's a raw and compelling look at contemporary Chinese society, as the emerging...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 21, 2015
Annie: 'mobile-phone mogul takes in an orphan to boost public image'
Movie musicals sit badly with some people — the sudden moments where the cast break into song and dance can sometimes work better on the stage. "Annie" is a case in point, since director Will Gluck appears to be a tad uncomfortable with musicals, and rushes over the scenes like a man with a flight...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 21, 2015
Les Reines du Ring (Japan title: Mama wa Wrestling Queen)
Director: Jean-Marc Rudnicki Language: French (subtitled in Japanese and English)
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals
Exploring Japanese culturevia Tohoku’s festivals

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