SciFi Japan
    From the Shadow of Japan`s Most Famous Movie Monster, Rare Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films Invade NYC Source: Japan Society press release Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett Beyond Godzilla: Alternative Futures & Fantasies in Japanese Cinema March 24-April 8, 2017, at Japan Society New York, NY -- For more than 60 years, Godzilla has captivated audiences and ignited imaginations around the world, with recent wildly popular reboots in both the U.S. and Japan, and several sequels/spinoffs currently in production. "Ever since Ishiro Honda’s 1954 GODZILLA first rampaged across screens, its title monster has become both Japan’s best-known pop culture export and a universal symbol of mass destruction," notes film critic and writer Mark Schilling. "But Godzilla has also cast a long, scaly shadow obscuring Japan’s other live-action contributions to the sci-fi/fantasy genre." To showcase the wide-ranging imagination of the Japanese sci-fi/fantasy genre, Schilling has curated Beyond

    Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Shotaro Ishinomori is the manga artist who is well known as the original story/design creator of many super heroes such as Kamen Rider, Inazuman, Kikaider, Henshin Ninja Arashi, Robot Keiji, and Gorenger of the Super Sentai series. He was born in Miyagi prefecture in 1938 and passed away in 1998. The museum of Shotaro Ishinomori Manga-Kan (Ishinomaki Mangattan Museum) was built in Ishinomaki-city, Miyagi in 2001. It is about 1 kilometer from JR Ishinomaki train station to the museum, but visitors should walk from one location to the other instead of taking a taxi. The reason for walking is that, on the roadsides, there are 18 sets of monuments depicting Ishinomori’s characters: 00 number cyborgs from CYBORG 009, Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider V3, Akarenger from GORENGER, Robocon, Chobin, Ecchan, Sabu with Ichi, and Sea Jetter Kaito, the original local super hero of Ishinomaki-city. These

    Author: Andrew Nguyen Ever since the release of the movie GHOST IN THE SHELL (?????, Kookaku Kidootai) in 1995, many anime fans consider the franchise to be one of the prime examples of Japanese animation at its best. Produced by Production I.G, the GHOST IN THE SHELL series boasts exceptional animation as it explores a possible future that has humanity rely very intensely upon technology to function in society. This comes in the form of cyborgs, androids, and the possibility of interfacing directly with the World Wide Web by connecting one’s own body (with suitable modifications) to computers and other electronics. Such capabilities leave the human body itself vulnerable to hacking by criminals in the same way that one would hack a computer. In a philosophical sense, the animated versions have raised the question of what it means to be human through the discussions of “ghosts” that

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Official Site: kongskullislandmovie.com (US), kingkong-dokuro.jp (Japan) SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details and images from an upcoming movie. The producers of GODZILLA reimagine the origins of one the most powerful monster myths of all in KONG: SKULL ISLAND, from Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures and Tencent Pictures. A compelling, original adventure from director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“The Kings of Summer”), the film tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong. “Kong:

    Source: Showgate Inc. Official Site: sagrada-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Distributor Showgate Inc. has provided information and photos from their upcoming release, SAGRADA RESET Part 1 (???????? ??, Sakurada Risetto Zenpen), based on the Sakurada Reset light novel series from writer Yutaka Kono and artist You Shiina. The movie stars Shuhei Nomura (HIBI ROCK: PUKE AFRO AND THE POP STAR, PUZZLE, CHIHAYAFURU, MUSEUM) and Yuina Kuroshima (JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END, STRAYER’S CHRONICLE, JU-ON -THE FINAL-, YO-KAI WATCH THE MOVIE 2016). SAGRADA RESET Part 1 will open in Japanese cinemas on March 25th. The concluding chapter, SAGRADA RESET Part 2 (???????? ??, Sakurada Risetto Kohen), follows on May 13th. STORY Almost half of the residents in the closed city of Sakurada possess some form of special powers. Their powers are wide ranging; high school boy Kei Asai (Shuhei

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: superhero-movie.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Company has provided SciFi Japan with information and a promotional image for their upcoming movie, KAMEN RIDER X SUPER SENTAI: CHOU SUPER HERO TAISEN (??????×?????? ???????????, Kamen Raidaa x Suupaa Sentai Choo Suupaa Hiiroo Taisen). The latest entry in the annual "Super Hero Taisen (Super Hero Wars)" series opens in Japan on Saturday, March 25, 2017. Story The "Game World" unleashes an all-out attack on the real world! The "arena of death" -- where the fate of the world will be decided -- appears before Kamen Rider Ex-Aid and the Kyurangers. To escape from this dimensional trap, scores of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai must face off in a gigantic battle! On this unprecedented battlefield, mysteries connecting the game and reality are revealed with the resurrection of "those" heroes... The scale is

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: PowerRangers.Movie (US), power-rangers.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with press notes and high-res images for the Japanese release of POWER RANGERS (????????, Pawaarenjaa), the American feature film from Lionsgate and Saban Brands. POWER RANGERS will be released in the United States by Lionsgate on March 24, 2017. Toei will release the film in Japan on July 15, 2017. ? The Japanese/US hybrid super project begins! In recent years, Hollywood has built an enthusiastic fan base for superhero films such as AVENGERS, THE DARK KNIGHT and SPIDER-MAN. The genre will only gain momentum in 2017, with Marvel Studios bringing SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL.2 and the third entry in the THOR series, while Warner Bros./DC present WONDER WOMAN and JUSTICE LEAGUE. Not to be outdone is the

    A Look at the Next "Super Sentai VS Series" Movie Source: Toei Co., Ltd. A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with new high-res images from their new film, ZYUOHGER VS NINNINGER (????????????VS??????? ?????????? from ??????, Doobutsu Sentai Juuojaa Tai Nin’ninja Mirai Kara no Messeeji furomu Suupaa Sentai), and we`re pleased to share larger and higher quality pics than you`ll find elsewhere. Enjoy! ZYUOHGER VS NINNINGER opens in Japanese theaters on January 14, 2017. About Toei Company, Ltd. Established in 1951, Toei is one of the Japanese majors in cinema, covering production, distribution and exhibition through its own theater chains. The company owns two film studios located in Tokyo and Kyoto. Its library exceeds 20,000 titles including feature films,

    Source: Toho Co., Ltd. Official Site: eiga-yokai.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Distributor Toho Co., Ltd. has provided additional high-res images from their upcoming release, YO-KAI WATCH THE MOVIE 2016, opening in Japan on December 17th. The third film in the anime franchise combines the series` traditional 2D animation with live-action and CGI. For more information on YO-KAI WATCH THE MOVIE 2016, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: Toho`s YO-KAI WATCH THE MOVIE 2016 Mixes Anime and Live-Action

    Info and High-Res Images from 3rd YO-KAI WATCH Movie Source: Toho Co., Ltd. Official Site: eiga-yokai.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Distributor Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and high-res images from their upcoming release, YO-KAI WATCH THE MOVIE 2016, opening in Japan on December 17th. The third film in the anime franchise based on the hugely successful video games by LEVEL-5 Inc., YO-KAI WATCH THE MOVIE 2016 combines the series` traditional 2D animation with live-action and CGI for an entertaining new take on the beloved characters. The story begins when a celestial flying whale suddenly appears over Sakura New Town. The whale`s song has an unexpected effect on the young boy Kenta Amano and his Yo-Kai friends... transporting them to the world of live action! "This is me!?", Kenta exclaims; pulling on his hair, wrinkling the skin of his hands, shocked that his skin

    A Look at the Next "Super Sentai VS Series" Movie Source: Toei Co., Ltd. A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with production credits and a pair of high-res images from ZYUOHGER VS NINNINGER. Opening in Japanese cinemas next January 14th, the latest film in the "Super Sentai VS Series" brings together the casts of the 40th anniversary Super Sentai series, SHURIKEN SENTAI NINNINGER (????????????, Shuriken Sentai Nin’ninjaa, 2015-16), and the current show, ZYUOHGER (????????????, Doobutsu Sentai Juuojaa, 2016-17). The creative team includes a number of Super Sentai veterans, including director Noboru Takemoto (RESSHA SENTAI TOQGER THE MOVIE: GALAXY LINE SOS) and writer Junko Komura (GO-ONGER, GOSEIGER, GOKAIGER). STORY "The history of the Super Sentai has ended..." A lone boy came from the future to save the Earth from a most dire crisis. But, Yamato Kazakiri and the Zyuohgers

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: movie-taisen.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Company has provided SciFi Japan with additional high-res photos for their upcoming movie, KAMEN RIDER EX-AID & GHOST WITH LEGEND RIDERS (??????????????????Dr.???????????&?????with ?????????, Kamen Raidaa Heisei Jenereeshonzu Dr. Pakkuman Tai Eguzeido & Goosuto Uizu Rejendo Raidaa). The latest entry in the Kamen Rider "Movie War" series will open in theaters across Japan on December 10, 2016. About Toei Company, Ltd. Established in 1951, Toei Company is not only producing and distributing films, but is also one of the major exhibitors in Japan. The company owns two film studios located in Tokyo and Kyoto. The films produced cover wide range of genres, exceeding 20,000 titles. For more information on KAMEN RIDER EX-AID & GHOST WITH LEGEND RIDERS, please

    Source: Japan Society press release Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett Pop! Goes Cinema: Kadokawa Film & 1980s Japan November 8-December 17, 2016, at Japan Society New York, NY -- Established by the larger-than-life, controversial businessman, producer and visionary Haruki Kadokawa, the game-changing Kadokawa Film studio redefined Japanese popular culture and media from the late 1970s through the 1980s with a series of highly marketed blockbusters, pop idol vehicles and off-the-walls genre films, each a unique blend of mainstream pop and experimental cinema unlike anything Japan had seen at the time. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kadokawa’s shift from publishing house to cinematic powerhouse, Japan Society presents Pop! Goes Cinema: Kadokawa Film & 1980s Japan, a mini-retrospective of six celebrated and rarely-screened selections from Kadokawa -- almost all in brand-new 4k restorations. Running November 8 through December 17, the series presents the wildly

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: movie-taisen.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Company has provided SciFi Japan with information and high-res photos for their upcoming movie, KAMEN RIDER EX-AID & GHOST WITH LEGEND RIDERS. The latest entry in the Kamen Rider "Movie War" series, the film is the culmination of Toei`s “Superhero Year” project of 2016, which commemorates the 45th anniversary of Kamen Rider and 40 years of Super Sentai. KAMEN RIDER EX-AID & GHOST WITH LEGEND RIDERS brings together the heroes of the two most recent television series -- KAMEN RIDER EX-AID (???????????, Kamen Raidaa Eguzeido, 2016-17) and KAMEN RIDER GHOST (??????????, Kamen Raidaa Goosuto, 2015-16) -- along with Wizard, Drive and Gaim for "dream team" of the modern era Kamen Riders. Their opponent... the video game legend, Pac-Man! The story begins with the invasion on a living game virus

    Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: higanjimadx.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE The vampire Miyabi and his island of monsters return in the latest live-action adaptation of Koji Matsumoto`s bestseller -- more than seven million copies sold -- horror action manga series, Higanjima. Shochiku will release the film in Japan as HIGANJIMA DELUXE (????????, Higanjima Derakkusu) and is marketing if for international sales with the English title HIGANJIMA: VAMPIRE ISLAND. In 2010, Warner Bros. Japan released their own Higanjima movie, HIGANJIMA: ESCAPE FROM VAMPIRE ISLAND (???, Higanjima). In 2013, renowned director Takashi Miike supervised a 10 episode HIGANJIMA television series for the TBS and MBS networks. The new movie continues the storyline from the TV series, with the show`s cast reprising their roles. The main character, Akira Miyamoto, is played by Shunya Shiriashi. Shiriashi is a familiar face for tokusatsu fans thanks

    Source: Fantasia Festival, Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Movie Site: zang-e.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Kaila Hier and Emmanuelle DiBuono Director Yoshihiro Nakamura has become a film festival favorite with internationally acclaimed works like THE FOREIGN DUCK, THE NATIVE DUCK AND GOD IN A COIN LOCKER (?????????????, Ahiru to Kamo to Koinrokka, 2007), FISH STORY (??????????, Fisshu Sutori, 2009) and GOLDEN SLUMBER (??????????, Gooruden Suranbaa, 2010). His first film of 2016 was THE INERASABLE (??????????????, Zang-e -Sunde Wa Ikenai Heya-), an adaptation of Fuyumi Ono’s ward-winning horror novel, Zange. The lead character -- a writer identified as "I" in the film -- is played by J-Horror icon Yuko Takeuchi, who starred in the smash hit THE RING (???, Ringu, 1998) and was recently seen in Kiyoshi Kurosawa`s CREEPY (????? ?????, Kuriipii Itsuwari no Rinjin, 2016). Takeuchi`s co-star Ai Hashimoto played THE RING villainous Sadako

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, Nippon Television Network Official Site: warnerbros.co.jp/deathnote2016 (Japan) The saga continues! The Death Note series; the legendary transmedia phenomenon that we all remember. The saga resumes 10 years after the original series concluded... Warner Bros. Pictures Japan and Nippon Television Network have provided information and high-res photos for DEATH NOTE Light up the NEW world (????? Light up the NEW world, Desu Noto Light up the NEW world, 2016), the new sequel to the international hits DEATH NOTE (?????, Desu Noto, 2006) and DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME (??????the Last name, Desu Noto the Last name, 2006). The film will open at the Marunouchi Piccadilly, Shinjuku Piccadilly, and other cinemas across Japan on October 29. INTRODUCTION In the beginning it was a manga series which sold over 3 million copies domestically. Then it was turned into two movies,

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, GAGA Corporation Official Movie Site: terraformars-movie.jp (Japan) The live-action manga adaptation TERRAFORMARS (????????, Terafoomaazu) was released by Warner Bros. Pictures Japan on April 29th and is now being offered to foreign distributors by GAGA Corporation. Introduction The battle between mankind and evolved creatures begins! Master filmmaker Takashi Miike (13 ASSASSINS, SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO) comes back to the big screen with a sci-fi action film where a team of crew members battle against evolved cockroaches on Mars. The film is based on the best-selling comic series Terraformars, which has been published worldwide and also turned into an animation series (the second season is running in 2016). The crew on the mission are played by an ensemble cast including Hideaki Ito (LESSON OF THE EVIL, SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO), Emi Takei (RUROUNI KENSHIN series, FOR LOVE`S SAKE), Tomohisa Yamashita (TOMORROW`S JOE,

    Source: Bandai Co., Ltd. Official Site: bandai.co.jp/candy/rider Only July 5th, Bandai will release a new set of KAMEN RIDER GHOST candy toys (toys or figures packaged with candy or gum). The KAMEN RIDER GHOST GANGAN ACTION DAMASHII 4 (?????????????????????4, Kamen Raidaa Goosuto Gangan Akushon Damashii 4) series will offer three pre-painted action figures (each with 13 points of articulation) plus an accessory pack. All four come boxed with a piece of Ramune (lemon soda flavored) candy. KAMEN RIDER GHOST GANGAN ACTION DAMASHII 4 Release Date: July 5, 2016 Price: ¥432 (Approximately $4.14 US, Tax Included) Each ? Set Contents 1?Kamen Rider Ghost Mugen Damashii (???????????????)? 2?Kamen Rider Deep Specter (???????????????)? 3?Kamen Rider Ghost Ore Damashii (??????????????)?? 4?OOO Ghost & Drive Ghost (????????????????)

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