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James Hadfield
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 14, 2019
'i: Documentary of the Journalist': Japanese press freedom laid bare
Tatsuya Mori follows Tokyo Shimbun journalist Isoko Mochizuki as she attempts to get answers from government officials in this bleak look at press freedom and integrity in Japan
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 7, 2019
'One Night': A family drama both deep and dark
Kazuya Shiraishi's latest tells the story of three siblings whose mother kills their abusive father and then abandons them for 15 years, before returning to check on their progress in life
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 30, 2019
Shin Adachi's mission to bust the myth of marital bliss in 'A Beloved Wife'
Shin Adachi discusses his latest feature, 'A Beloved Wife,' which will be screened in the main competition at the 2019 Tokyo International Film Festival
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 30, 2019
'Family of Strangers': An admirable ode to the institutionalized
Hideyuki Hirayama's latest feature, filmed in a real psychiatric hospital in Nagano Prefecture, tells the story of three residents of an institution who form an unlikely bond
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 24, 2019
Ang Lee: The filmmaker decades ahead of his time
Filmmaker Ang Lee has dedicated himself to filming in high-resolution and 3D, techniques that most cinemas are not yet equipped to handle
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 23, 2019
'No Smoking': Poking the embers of Haruomi Hosono's career
Marking the 50th anniversary of Haruomi Hosono's musical career, 'No Smoking' takes a look at his life and some of his famed concerts
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 16, 2019
'Special Actors': Ueda fumbles sophomore feature
Shinichiro Ueda, best known for 2017's 'One Cut of the Dead,' releases his second solo feature, again using a largely unknown cast
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 10, 2019
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra pulls out all the stops for 30th anniversary
After three decades in the business, Japan's best known ska band is in the midst of a full year of celebrations, including nationwide tours, gigs overseas and an upcoming album
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 2, 2019
'The Forest of Love': Netflix feature lets Sono be Sono
Sion Sono's return to filmmaking sees him blend all of his hallmarks into one gore-drenched epic
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 25, 2019
'Ninkyo Gakuen': Yakuza comedy fails to make the grade
Hisashi Kimura's latest film sees a band of yakuza get involved with a local high school, serving justice and forming bonds along the way
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 11, 2019
'They Say Nothing Stays The Same': Stunning visuals and a stellar cast
Actor Joe Odagiri makes his directorial debut with a beautifully shot tale of the life of a boatman in a Japan of the past.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 21, 2019
'It Feels So Good': An explicit escapade, artfully told
The average bride-to-be spends the final days before her wedding fretting about seating plans and whether she'll be able to squeeze into her dress, but Naoko (Kumi Takiuchi) decides it's a good time to hook up with an old flame instead.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 14, 2019
'Cherry Blossoms and Demons': Swan song remains an ugly duckling
The late Kirin Kiki maintained such an industrious work schedule that moviegoers have had multiple chances to pay their last respects since she passed away last September. "Cherry Blossoms and Demons" is her actual swan song, albeit one that all but the most ardent fan can probably skip.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 7, 2019
Chanmina's 'Never Grow Up' delivers pop hooks and hip-hop heartache
The J-pop world could use a few more artists like Chanmina. In the leap from high-school MC battles to the commercial mainstream, she has managed to hone her pop appeal without sacrificing her swagger. Anyone who calls their debut single "Fxxker" isn't trying to make fans the old-fashioned way.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 24, 2019
'Weathering With You': Breezy with scattered showers
Arriving in the middle of a seemingly endless rainy season in Tokyo, "Weathering With You" feels like it's benefitted from an ingenious stealth marketing campaign. Little has been left to chance with Makoto Shinkai's follow-up to "Your Name." The film raked in nearly $360 million globally, turning its...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 17, 2019
'Under Your Bed': Sleeping with the enemy
Rare is the child who hasn't lain awake at night, terrified by the monster they imagine is lurking beneath their bed. But in a country where many people grow up sleeping on futons, such fears are perhaps less deeply rooted. That would explain why, in "Under Your Bed," nobody ever thinks to look in the...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 3, 2019
'Strawberry Song': Reuniting is such sweet sorrow
Kota (Yutaro Furutachi) is a bit of an odd one: the type of grinning, hyperactive character you might label a lovable eccentric. He lives with just a few cats for company, and works at a frozen food factory where he's treated with affection by the mostly middle-aged staff.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 2, 2019
A musical pilgrimage to an adopted homeland with DYGL
Scroll through the comments under DYGL's videos on YouTube, and the same reaction comes up again and again: I could've sworn this lot were from England.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 26, 2019
'The Journalist': Uncovering the dark side of Japan
Before Donald Trump made "fake news" the buzzword of choice for dissemblers and autocrats, Japanese netizens were already starting to question the veracity of what they read in the papers, albeit for very different reasons.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 20, 2019
Japan's summer festivals plan for a final party before Olympic fever hits
As Yo La Tengo once sang, "summer's what you make it," and that's especially true in Japan this year. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are likely to throw a major wrench (or should that be hammer?) in the works for next summer's festival calendar, so it's worth enjoying things while the going...

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