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September 13, 2024
 

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Mark Schilling
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 17, 2022
‘A Man’: A searing study of Japan’s prejudices
Kei Ishikawa's piercing drama unravels the mystery of a man's decisions to leave his past behind while laying out society's intolerance of “outsiders.”
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 10, 2022
'2 Women': Shinobu Terajima shines as celebrated novelist
The actress gives a luminous performance as a fictional version of Jakucho Setouchi, an author turned Buddhist nun, in Ryuichi Hiroki's biopic.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 3, 2022
‘Your Lovely Smile’: A sincere tribute to indie cinemas
In Kah Wai Lim's drama about a struggling director who wanders around Japan pitching his films to independent theaters, Hirobumi Watanabe plays a version of himself with heart and humor.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 27, 2022
‘Whisper of the Heart’: First love story is sweet but shallow
Yuichiro Hirakawa's live-action adaptation of a manga by Aoi Hiiragi predictably pulls at heartstrings, but doesn't measure up to the classic anime version released in 1995.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 20, 2022
‘The Three Sisters of Tenmasou Inn’: Life in limbo becomes too sentimental
The stellar main cast and Non's undeniable energy are the bright spots of Ryuhei Kitamura's cloying drama about a woman who finds herself in a realm between life and death.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 13, 2022
‘Sadako DX’: J-horror icon goes viral
Japan's favorite long-haired spook gets tech savvy in a Hisashi Kimura film that takes on horror cliches with meta commentary and comedy.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 6, 2022
‘To the Supreme!’: Clever rom-com keeps twists coming
Santa Yamagishi's rom-com about four women with lackluster love interests is cleverly plotted but takes a while to get to the drama.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 29, 2022
‘My Broken Mariko': Childhood friendship drama rings true
Yuki Tanada's film about a fraught yet deep relationship between two young women is moving and disturbing.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 22, 2022
‘Riverside Mukolitta’: Lessons on death told with pathos
Naoko Ogigami's drama about a man who confronts a past trauma with the help of his neighbors is quirky and comforting.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 15, 2022
'Hell Dogs': Mayhem with a touch of noir
Masato Harada's fast-paced film starring Junichi Okada as an undercover police officer in a yakuza gang delivers blood-spattering action scenes and a flurry of movie references.
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.
iPhone 16 to land in Japan without Apple Intelligence 
Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils the iPhone 16 at the Steve Jobs Theater on the company's campus in Cupertino, California, on Monday.
Nine hopefuls vie for LDP presidency in complex election
Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, is one of two contenders who have consistently outperformed other candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race in recent polls conducted both among the general public and LDP supporters.
Is Japan an attractive option for foreign talent from Asia?
Job-seekers take a Japanese class at an employment placement company in Hanoi in October 2022.
Harris rattles Trump in combative U.S. presidential debate
U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris shakes hands with former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
University of Tokyo plans to raise tuition fees by 20% in 2025
Signs expressing opposition to the University of Tokyo's proposed tuition hikes are displayed at the university's Komaba campus in Tokyo in July.
Tokyo Comedy Bar supersizes laughs with 11-night festival
Since opening in 2022 in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Comedy Bar has hosted comedy workshops, roast battles, open mics and international guests.
iPhone 16 to land in Japan without Apple Intelligence 
Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils the iPhone 16 at the Steve Jobs Theater on the company's campus in Cupertino, California, on Monday.
Small Hokkaido town ranked most comfortable place to live in Japan
Asahidake in Daisetsuzan is located in the town of Higashikawa, Hokkaido, which ranked as the most comfortable municipality in 2024.
Updated Meiji Jingu Gaien redevelopment plan to keep more trees
Redevelopment of the Meiji Jingu Gaien district has trees in the area marked according to their status — trees marked in red were to be cut down in the original plan while those in blue were to be transplanted. In the updated plan, trees marked in red will no longer be felled, and those in blue will remain where they are.
U.K. envoy to Japan pushes back on Indo-Pacific disengagement concerns
U.K. Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom says the Indo-Pacific region offers a unique opportunity to not only tackle shared security concerns but also to generate new sources of economic growth.

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By Alex K.T. Martin

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