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July 16, 2024
 

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Mark Schilling
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 11, 2022
‘The Fish Tale’: Non exudes natural charm as an oddball fish devotee
Non brings a bubbly energy and rock-solid commitment to Shuichi Okita's film based on the autobiography of TV personality Sakana-kun.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 2, 2022
'Green Bullet': Assassin sextet brings on the action
Yugo Sakamoto's mockumentary-style film about a group of aspiring hitwomen whose training camp comes under attack features gritty fights that deliver a realistic gut-punch impact.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 25, 2022
‘Violence Action’: Quirky killer lacks an element of surprise
Toichiro Ruto's film, adapted from a webcomic, features artfully choreographed action scenes, but leaves out details from the manga that gave the story much of its flavor.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 18, 2022
‘It's All My Fault’: Who's to blame for strained familial relationships?
Although Yusaku Matsumoto's drama doesn't have much of a plot, Joe Odagiri is effortlessly likeable as a friendly homeless man who takes a young boy under his wing.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 4, 2022
'Let Me Hear It Barefoot': Charming love story spins its wheels
Given the variety of LGBTQ experiences now depicted on screen, the term “gay-themed” sounds like a catch-all. What links the films of Ryosuke Hashiguchi, which reference his own life as an openly gay man, and the steamy, dreamy flicks adapted from BL (boys’ love) comics besides the sexual orientation...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 29, 2022
A cinematic plea for peace in Ukraine
Slovakian filmmaker Juraj Mravec Jr. presents firsthand accounts from a war zone in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in his 2016 documentary “Peace to You All.”
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 28, 2022
Akane Sakanoue shines in ‘Lovely Little Ai’
Candice Mana Ono's LGBTQ-friendly debut features Akane Sakanoue as a teenage girl who goes from a lonely wallflower to a confident fashionista with the help of a friend and confidante.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 21, 2022
‘Cat and Salt, or Sugar’: Absurd family drama offers a glimpse into the NEET life
Takashi Komatsu's somewhat autobiographical drama about an idle young man who lives at home with his dysfunctional family provides some insight into unconventional lifestyles.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 15, 2022
'Amiko': Newcomer Kana Osawa steals scenes as a force-of-nature protagonist
Kana Osawa gives a fearless and natural performance as an isolated preteen finding her way in an idyllic seaside town in Yusuke Morii's first feature.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 7, 2022
‘Broken Commandment’: A timely call for a tolerant society
Kazuo Maeda's film about a man grappling with his identity as a member of the burakumin minority group in the late Meiji Era faces questions of equality that still exist in Japanese society.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 30, 2022
'Love Is Light': Charming rom-com puts a fresh spin on love triangles
Keiichi Kobayashi's sweet and quirky comedy centers on a university student with the secret ability to see love in the form of little balls of light.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 23, 2022
'Tokyo 2020 Side B': Behind the scenes of the 'pandemic Olympics'
While the overall tone is positive and inspirational, the second volume of Naomi Kawase's documentary on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games feels overloaded with aural and visual details.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 16, 2022
'Broker': The all-star cast shines in Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest film
Actor Song Kang-ho stands out in the director's incisive and at times heartwarming feature about a band of misfits involved in the black market for babies.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 9, 2022
‘Yes, I Can't Swim': Tearful comedy avoids the shallows
Though Kensaku Watanabe's film follows a predictable story arc, it maintains a humorous vibe while exploring serious subjects such as facing fears and overcoming tragedy.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 3, 2022
Seven to see at this year’s Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia
The short film festival celebrates the briefest of screen gems. Festival winners not only get the respect of their peers but a shot at an Oscar as well.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 2, 2022
'Gensan Punch': It's the fights outside the ring that matter
Veteran character actor Shogen's soft-spoken and self-abnegating portrayal of the hero manages to exude a quiet grit that comes off as authentic.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 26, 2022
'Anime Supremacy!': An informative look at the business of anime stops short of getting real
Though charming, the film adaptation of a novel by Mizuki Tsujimura misses an opportunity to tackle the actual problems facing young animators.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 19, 2022
‘Wandering’: Questionable subject matter, handled with care
Zainichi Korean filmmaker Sang-il Lee's drama about the lasting effects of an unconventional attachment between a child and a grown adult reveals the brutal realities of Japanese society.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 12, 2022
‘My Small Land’: An intimate look at an uncertain future
Emma Kawawada's compelling drama about a family of Kurdish refugees in Japan lays bare the emotional toll of Japan's treatment of asylum seekers.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 5, 2022
‘Lesson in Murder’: A masterclass in portraying evil
Sadawo Abe delivers a chilling performance as a murderous mastermind in Kazuya Shiraishi's psychological thriller.
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.
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.
Amid same-sex marriage ban, LGBTQ couples opt for 'photo weddings'
A lesbian couple, consisting of a 35-year-old woman (left) and 40-year-old woman, cover their faces with bouquets as they pose for wedding photos in Yokohama on Nov. 1.
China and Russia conduct joint Pacific military patrol
The Russian corvette Gromkiy enters the Chinese port of Zhanjiang as part of a joint China-Russia naval exercise on Saturday.
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.
How to tweak your diet when temperatures spike
Most people think of hydration as a strictly liquid-based concept, but eating foods with high water content is an essential part of making it through a Japanese summer unscathed.

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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