Tengoku no Honya - koibi
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 5)
Director: Tetsuo Shinohara
Running time: 111 minutes
Language: Japanese
Opens June 5
[See Japan Times movie listings]

Ever since "Ghost" -- that 1990 Jerry Zucker weeper better known now as the sexiest ceramics-instructional film ever -- Japanese filmmakers have returned repeatedly to the theme of Love Beyond the Grave, while trying ever harder to come up with new twists.

The latest to mine this vein (or rather, mile-wide pit) is Tetsuo Shinohara ("Shinkokyu no Hitsuyo"), with "Tengoku no Honya -- Koibi (Heaven's Bookstore -- The Light of Love)." Based on a best-selling novel by Hisaatsu Matsu and Wataru Tanaka, the film presents a cosmology that is part Buddhism, part schoolgirl wish fulfillment and part theme park, while striving more for sighs of awe and delight than Zuckerian tears. Also, instead of hot clinches, it settles for soulful speeches and noodling on the keyboard (with tunes supplied by pop power couple Masataka and Yumi Matsutoya).

Shinohara doesn't condescend to this material. If anything, he overelevates it, striving to make turbulent drama out of clever reworkings of formula. But he also knows what his audience wants -- and mostly delivers.

Japan's jobs-to-applicant ratio falls to 1.22 in June
Japan's seasonally adjusted effective job-to-applicant ratio dipped to 1.22 in June, down 0.02 point from the previous month, according to the labor ministry.
Why did such a powerful earthquake produce such a weak tsunami?
A person records images of waves following a tsunami advisory generated by local authorities after an earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting warnings and evacuations stretching across at the South Pacific, in Vina del Mar, Chile, on Wednesday.
Japanese students struggle with description-type tests
The average correct answer rate for description-type questions in the Japanese-language section of the fiscal 2025 national achievement test for third-year junior high school students was as low as 25.6%, according to the education ministry.
Junglia brought dinos back to Okinawa. But will it bring tourists?
At Panorama Dining, one of Junglia’s two proper restaurants that also doubles as the rooftop Inifinity Terrace overlook, guests can pay extra to sit in balcony tables made to look like birds’ nests overlooking the park grounds.
Last soldiers of Imperial Japanese Army have a warning for younger generations
Kunshiro Kiyozumi, 97, who was the youngest crew member of the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58 in World War II, on his way to a restaurant to have lunch in Matsuyama, Japan, on April 29.
Junglia brought dinos back to Okinawa. But will it bring tourists?
At Panorama Dining, one of Junglia’s two proper restaurants that also doubles as the rooftop Inifinity Terrace overlook, guests can pay extra to sit in balcony tables made to look like birds’ nests overlooking the park grounds.
From Osaka to the NHL: Jordan Spence hopes to inspire young Japanese hockey players
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jordan Spence helps lead the Dreamskate Japan hockey camp in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, on July 5.
Coordination office marks first step in U.S. Forces Japan’s shift to ‘warfighting’ command
U.S., Japanese and Australian staff work in the JJOC Cooperation Team office at the U.S. Army’s Hardy Barracks in central Tokyo in this image posted to the Australian Embassy's X account on July 25.
GTN takes a chance on newcomers to Japan
Hiroyuki Goto, president of GTN. The company started after Goto personally co-signed leases for around 20 non-Japanese people, including some friends and friends of friends.
Artist Chiharu Shiota weaves a hidden marvel on Teshima
“Memory of Lines” is Chiharu Shiota’s second art installation on Teshima as part of the Setouchi Triennale.

Our Planet

A technician works on the assembly line at a solar panel manufacturing hub on the outskirts of New Delhi last October.
Amid fossil fuel shift in U.S., hope emerges for India and Japan tie-up on solar
By Nithin Coca

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear
By Jason Coskrey

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

Latest News

Kamchatka quake may have awakened volcano dormant for 600 years, Russia says
5 hours ago
80 years on: Thai man wants to return soldiers' remains to Japan
6 hours ago
Tepco wraps up latest round of treated water release in Fukushima
9 hours ago
Japan joins multinational space defense drill
9 hours ago
China and Russia start joint military drills in Sea of Japan
11 hours ago