SciFi Japan

    Photo courtesy of Shochiku. ©Kanako Nishi/ ”SAKURA” Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: sakura-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Shochiku has provided information and large, high-res photos from their upcoming drama SAKURA (さくら), the story of an ordinary family that faces what seem to be devastating trials sent from God. But the family stays hopeful and mantains their sense of humor to overcome their troubles. SAKURA is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Naoki Prize winner Kanako Nishi. This will be the fourth big screen adaptation of Nishi’s work, following YELLOW ELEPHANT (きいろいゾウ, Kiiroi Zou, 2013), THE ROUND TABLE (円卓　こっこ、ひと夏のイマジン, Entaku Kokko, Hito Natsu no Imajin, 2014) and MAKUKO (まく子, 2019). The movie is directed by Hitoshi Yazaki, the filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed MARCH COMES IN LIKE A LION (三月のライオン, Sangatsu no Raion, 1992) — Prix de l’Âge d’or, Royal Belgian

    Theatrical poster. Image courtesy of Warner Bros.Pictures Japan. ©2020 “The Legacy of Dr. Death -BLACK FILE-” Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan Official Site: doctordeathmovie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information and photos from the new thriller THE LEGACY OF DR DEATH: BLACK FILE (ドクター・デスの遺産−BLACK FILE−, Dokutā Desu no Isan −BLACK FILE−). PUNK SAMURAI SLASH DOWN (パンク侍、斬られて候, Panku Samurai Kirarete Soro, 2018) co-stars Go Ayano (RAGE, THE PROMISED LAND) and Keiko Kitagawa (ROOMMATE, STOLEN IDENTITY) reunite to portray two detectives hunting a bizarre serial killer engaging in euthanasia. Based on the novel The Legacy of Dr. Death by Shichiri Nakayama, the movie is directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa (IN HIS CHART, TWILIGHT: SAYA IN SASARA, SAGRADA RESET Parts 1 and 2). THE LEGACY OF DR DEATH: BLACK FILE will open in Japn on November 13. STORY “I will kill you without suffering.” Dr. Death is

    Source: Pixabay

    Asian Cinema

    Once upon a time, you could ask anyone if they’d seen the film The Ring in the western world and they’d normally respond: “The American one of the Japanese one?” The original Japanese film, 1998’s Ringu was cited by many as the scariest film to ever exist. As such, the film gained an American remake with 2002’s The Ring and catapulted the trend of J-horror. But just how influential is Japan when it comes to entertainment across the Pacific Ocean? Japanese Horror J-horror gained popularity due to the differences ingrained in the genre itself. Western horror, since the 1960s, was characterized by the teenagers in the films and the voyeuristic viewpoint we were given as they were stalked by Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, or Ghostface. The films were an analysis of society and youth culture, aimed to terrify the young people

    Source: Pexels

    Asian Cinema

    Sci-fi and horror are influential themes throughout entertainment. In the world of film, there are countless blockbuster franchises dating backing decades, with future-gazing science fiction even being able to trace its roots back more than a century. The genres have also made the switch to the smaller screen, with Netflix, Amazon Prime and many other leading streaming services getting a slice of the action. Platforms know that the shows will attract a ready-made audience of fans. So, it’s perhaps no surprise that sci-fi and horror have started to transcend into other industries. In this article, we will examine an industry that has grown incredibly quickly during the last 20 years — online casino gaming — and understand the impact that the two genres have had on its development. The growth of the online casino The world of online casino gaming has

    SPIRITED AWAY © 2001 NIBARIKI • GNDDTM

    Asian Cinema

    Compared to most other countries, Japanese culture is constantly added to with each generation. That’s not to say that nations like the USA and the UK don’t have a culture – it’s that the ingenious way that Japanese artistic heritage from the Middle Ages and before has been adapted to become iconic applications such as the modern manga and anime we know today. Most other countries can’t claim that their cultural offerings are grounded in as much history and tradition. As such, we can begin to see that anime – and its very specific style – is proliferating into western culture. Just how much does Japanese sci-fi and anime culture influence western TV and movies? Humble Beginnings: How Did Anime Begin? Sources aren’t set on when anime was developed. Some suggest the first anime was drawn around 1916-1917 by Shimokawa Oten, but

    Photo courtesy of Film Movement. © 2019 YOKOGAO FILM PARTNERS & COMME DES CINEMAS

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Film Movement, Foundry Communications press release Official Site: yokogao-movie.jp (Japan), filmmovement.com/a-girl-missing (US) Special Thanks to Michael Krause One of the finest Japanese directors to emerge in the last decade, Kôji Fukada has earned renown for crafting suspenseful dramas. Following 2016's HARMONIUM (淵に立つ, Fuchi ni Tatsu), which captured Cannes' prestigious Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, he returns with A GIRL MISSING (よこがお, Yokogao, 2019), a tense portrait of a woman caught up in a spiral of defamation. In this slow-burning thriller, also scripted by Fukada, Ichiko (HARMONIUM's Mariko Tsutsui) works as a home-care nurse to the elderly matriarch of the Oisho family -- long enough to feel like part of the family. She's closest to the eldest sister, Motoko (Mikako Ichikawa), who's studying to follow in Ichiko's footsteps. However, their happy routine is disrupted when Motoko's sister, Saki (Miyu Ogawa), is abducted. The

    Photo courtesy of Shochiku. ©2020

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: shochiku.co.jp/ichidoshindemita (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Shochiku has provided information and large, high-res photos from their upcoming drama KIBA: THE FANGS OF FICTION (?????, Damashie no Kiba). The movie is adapted from the 2016 best-selling novel by Takeshi Shiota. The main character in the story was based on actor Yo Oizumi (I AM A HERO, TOKYO GHOUL), who ended up playing the role in the film. The story is about Teruya Hayami (Yo Oizumi), the chief editor for a magazine that is on the brink of cancellation. Wuth the support of his assistant Megumi Takano (Mayu Matsuoka), he goes to extreme lengths to save the magazine. KIBA: THE FANGS OF FICTION was scheduled for nationwide release in Japan on June 19th, but is now listed as “coming soon” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CREDITS Japanese Theatrical

    Asian Cinema

    Movies are the ultimate form of escapism. They transport viewers to mystical realms, allow them to feel the exhilaration experienced by a superhero and permit them a glimpse into the complex and captivating lives of others. Movies though, rely on drama, ultimately there has to be something to hook the viewers’ attention. A naturally dramatic activity such as gambling is therefore a great topic to help ambitious directors weave a beguiling storyline. Poker films are without doubt the most common in the gambling genre, but is the game ever really portrayed accurately? Or is it overly dramatized to get viewers pulses racing? Read on to find out. How Is Poker Portrayed In Japanese Film? Unlike in other modern countries around the world, gambling is almost completely illegal in Japan, including poker in both its online and offline forms. That isn’t to say that poker is not played

    Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment. ©SAMURAI MARATHON 1855 Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Well Go USA, ddPR Special Thanks to Leif Helland From award-winning director Bernard Rose comes SAMURAI MARATHON (????????, 2019), the action-adventure flick with a samurai twist debuting on Digital May 12 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Rose -- whose wildly diverse career has spanned horror classics (CANDYMAN), historical romances (ANNA KARENINA) and indie dramas (IVANS xtc) -- co-wrote the screenplay with Japan’s Hiroshi Saito and Kikumi Yamagishi based on the novel The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon. Inspired by a race still held yearly, the film follows an aging lord who challenges his samurai to a grueling marathon -- joined covertly by his daughter -- and the group must overcome deadly odds to survive. SAMURAI MARATHON stars Takeru Satoh (RUROUNI KENSHIN: FINAL CHAPTER), Nana Komatsu (THE WORLD OF KANAKO, SILENCE), Mirai Moriyama (RAGE, VISION), Shota Sometani (FIRST LOVE) and

    U.S. screenings of CHILDREN OF THE SEA are among the Fathom Events postponed by the Coronavirus outbreak. Image courtesy of Fathom Events. ©?2019 Daisuke Igarashi, Shogakukan/”Children of the Sea” Committee

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Fathom Events press release Special Thanks to Jessica Nelson and Katherine Schwappach As movie theaters close across the nation due to COVID-19, Fathom Events is in the process of cancelling or postponing many of their planned events. During this unprecedented time, Fathom Events is actively maintaining contact with partners and monitoring health organizations’ guidance to determine when future events may take place. They will ensure the events are safe and follow the recommendations set by all experts, including exhibitor and content partners, the National Association of Theatre Owners, the CDC, the World Health Organization, and other relevant organizations. Moviegoing is a unifying community experience that is at the heart of our popular culture and they look forward to bringing audiences together again when it is safe to do so. Below is Fathom Events` current list of upcoming cancelled and postponed events. Up-to-date event status can

    A masked criminal stalks a doctor (Kentaro Sakaguchi) and a patient (Mei Nagano) in MASKED WARD. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©2020

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan Official Site: amen-byoto.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information and photos from the thriller MASKED WARD (????, Kamen Byoto). The feature film adaptation of the graphically realistic -- and best selling -- medical mystery novel by real-life doctor Mikito Chinen, the movie depicts the heart-stopping battles of a doctor confronting a vicious criminal in a barred-off former psychiatric hospital. MASKED WARD opens in Japanese cinemas this weekend. STORY On-call substitute doctor Hayami (Kentaro Sakaguchi) suddenly finds himself faced with a terrifying criminal in a clown mask. The assailant demands that Hayami treat injured high school student Hitomi (Mei Nagano). The perpetrator sets siege to the building and Hayami finds himself confined with 64 unknown patients. CREDITS Japanese Theatrical Release: Friday, March 6, 2020 (Nationwide Roadshow) Cast Shugo Hayami: Kentaro Sakaguchi Hitomi

    Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. ©2020

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Kadokawa Pictures Official Site: fukushima50.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Kadokawa Pictures has provided information and photos for their new movie, FUKUSHIMA 50 ??????????, Fukushima Fifuti). Based on the non-fiction novel by Ryusho Kadota, the drama follows 50 workers at the Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant as they face a critical situation due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. FUKUSHIMA 50 is directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu (WHITEOUT, THE UNBROKEN). Koichi Sato (UNFORGIVEN, TIME TRIP APP, HIT ME ANYONE ONE MORE TIME) and Ken Watanabe (INCEPTION, RAGE, GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS) head an all-star cast. STORY At 2:46 pm on March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. It caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. What happened at the plant? What is the truth? This is the story of the workers who continued fighting at the forefront as the

    Lynn Chen, Ayako Fujitani, Yea-Ming Chen, Goh Nakamura and Ayami Riley in I WILL MAKE YOU MINE. Photo courtesy of Accolade PR. © gray hat

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Accolade Publicity and Consulting Special Thanks to Emily Lu Aldrich I WILL MAKE YOU MINE, the new film from writer/director/actor Lynn Chen (SAVING FACE, SHAMELESS), will have its world premiere at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival. Gravitas Ventures will release the film on demand starting May 26. The film is part of the SURROGATE VALENTINE trilogy. I WILL MAKE YOU MINE stars singer/actor Goh Nakamura (AMERICAN GANGSTER, SURROGATE VALENTINE), Lynn Chen, Yea-Ming Chen (DAYLIGHT SAVINGS), Ayako Fujitani (GAMERA Trilogy, MAN FROM RENO), Tamlyn Tomita (THE KARATE KID PART II, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE) and introducing Ayami Riley. Story Rachel (Lynn Chen) lives in idle luxury with a cheating husband, Professor Erika (Ayako Fujitani) juggles career demands while raising her daughter Sachiko (newcomer Ayami Riley Tomine), and struggling musician Yea-Ming (Yea-Ming Chen) is still chasing a fast-fading dream. Three women who could not be more

    Who would have guessed the poker would be prevalent on the Starship Enterprise?

    Asian Cinema

    The sci-fi movie genre is probably one of the last where you would expect to find gambling themes. You’d be forgiven for thinking that sci-fi characters would be more interested in saving the planet or escaping the clutches of alien forces to worry about the river card in a game of Texas Holdem poker. However, gambling has taken a key role in the storylines of some of the biggest ever sci-fi franchises. This article shines a spotlight on the sci-fi genre’s most popular sojourns with gambling, played by the sic-fi characters that millions of us have grown to know and love worldwide. Sabacc and Star Wars You’ll be surprised to read that the Star Wars franchise was obsessed with gambling across the galaxy. A little-known card game called Sabacc was regularly played among characters to settle debts and arguments. Sabacc was played at highstakes in a similar

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©2019 LEAVING THE SCENE Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: hikinige-movie.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE An accident, a crime, and an endless aftermath... Toei Co. has provided information and photos from their new thriller LEAVING THE SCENE (???? -???????-, Hikinige -Saik? no Saiakuna Hi-), the second film from respected actor Yutaka Mizutani (PARTNERS: THE MOVIE series) who made his directorial debut with TAP: THE LAST SHOW (?????????????, Tappu za Rasuto Sh?) in 2017. The original drama written by Mizutani himself examines the emotions brought out by a hit-and-run crime. STORY A car accident in a small city. A woman loses her life, and it becomes a case of hit and run. Driving was Shuichi Munakata. Beside him in the passenger seat was his best friend, Teru Morita. The two were hurrying to a meeting over Munakata’s upcoming wedding to Sanae Shirakawa, whose father is Vice-President

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©2019 LITTLE LOVE SONG Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: chiikoi.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and photos from the teen film LITTLE LOVE SONG (???????, Ch?sana Koi no Uta), inspired by the song of the same name from the band MONGOL800. At the helm is Kojiro Hashimoto, a student of Somai Shinji and Takita Yojiro, who made his feature-length debut with ORANGE. STORY In a small town on Okinawa where the two countries of Japan and America exist fenced off from one another, a band at a high school is becoming popular. They are scouted by a record company for their original songs and unmistakable talents, but just when their professional debut is arranged, the band is involved in a traffic accident. Now their future is uncertain. CREDITS Japanese Release Date: May 24, 2019 (Roadshow) Running Time: 123 Minutes Cast

    Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Yuki Ando/SHUEISHA ©2019 “Almost a Miracle” Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, Nippon TV Official Site: machidakun-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Warner Bros. Pictures Japan and Nippon TV have provided information and photos from ALMOST A MIRACLE (???????, Machida-kun no Sekai), based on the manga by Yuki Ando. STORY A new type of main character, who is both extremely ordinary and universally lovable. Machida is unlike any protagonist you`ve seen before. He`s dull, he wears glasses, and he has no distinguishing features. His only talent is his ability to love everyone, unconditionally. However, as he gets to know his classmate Inohara, who says she hates people, he is forced to confront an emotion growing within himself that he has never felt before... Suddenly, a series of unexpected events is set in motion, with unpredictable consequences. Before long, Machida drags more and more people into his orbit, which ultimately

    Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©2019 “Diner” Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, Nippon TV Official Site: diner-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Welcome to a restaurant exclusively for assassins: the Diner. Its owner is a highly proficient killer, and so are its customers... Warner Bros. Pictures Japan and Nippon TV have provided information and photos from DINER (????, Dain?su), an adaptation of the novel by Yumeaki Hirayama. STORY Kanako Oba is all alone, and thinks her life can`t get any worse...until she applies for a dubious part-time job on a whim, and is instantly torn from her mundane existence. She ends up being sold to a restaurant with fortress-like walls, thick iron doors, and an intensely colorful interior. Trapped within, she has no choice but to work as a waitress for the owner Bombero, a genius chef who also happens to be a retired assassin. "This establishment caters exclusively to killers. Even

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©Miki Aihara, Shogakukan/2019 Hot Gimmick Production Committee

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: hotgimmick-movie.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and photos from HOT GIMMICK (??????? ?????????, Hotto Gimikku G?ru M?tsu B?i). The live action adaptation of Miki Aihara`s popular manga Hot Gimmick is written and directed by Yuki Yamato, a filmmaker who has an established reputation for depicting the emotions of adolescent girls in the films THAT GIRL IS DANCING BY THE SEASIDE (???????????, Ano ko ga Umibe de Odotteru, 2012) and DROWNING LOVE (??????, Oboreru Naifu, 2016). STORY High school girl Hatsumi Narita (Miona Hori) lives a quiet life with her kind older brother Shinogu (Shotaro Mamiya) and the rest of her family. One day however, Ryoki Tachibana (Hiroya Shimizu), who lives in the same apartment complex, learns she has bought a pregnancy test kit for her younger sister and so in order

    Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2019 YOKOGAO FILM PARTNERS & COMME DES CINEMAS

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Kadokawa Pictures Official Site: yokogao-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Kadokawa Pictures has provided information and pics for A GIRL MISSING (????, Yokogao), their co-production with the French studio Comme Des Cinemas. The film is a challenging work that tackles the theme of an "innocent assailant". The original script is by director Fukada Koji, who won the Prix du Jury in the Un Certain Regard program with his 2016 movie HARMONIUM (????, Fuchi ni Tatsu) at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival. STORY Risa (Mariko Tsutsui) specifically requests Kazumichi Yoneda (Sosuke Ikematsu) as her hair stylist. Until six months ago she was working as a home-care nurse with the name of Ichiko, but an incident causes her life to fall apart. To get revenge she tries to get close to Kazumichi using the alias of Risa. CREDITS Japanese Theatrical Release Date:

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