Archives For Japanese

Welcome to Tokyo

May 15, 2010 — Leave a comment

A while ago the Tokyo Metropolitan Government commissioned Studio 4°C to make an animated short to promote visiting Tokyo. Available in original Japanese audio with English, Korean, Chinese Traditional and Simplified, Italian, French, Spanish and Dutch, the short is titled Honey Tokyo and tells the story of a girl from the future traveling to present-day Japan to bring back Happiness to her time. A boy named Takeru serves as her guide to different places in the city, doing different activities and learning about traditions.

The short had a budget of around half a million $USD, and can I just say~~~
it’s a really great investment? It just fuels my wanting to go to Japan.

Check it out at the Welcome to Tokyo website.

Great way to mix Art and PR. Tagged as commercial and short! xD

In Chinese, Commercials, English, French, Japanese, Korean, Screencaps, Sharing, Short Films, Spanish , , , , , ,
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Raiou Gets a Teaser

May 14, 2010 — 6 Comments

Woah~ seems like Yu is everywhere this May.
I’m loving it.

Like I’ve said before, Yu’s face on Raiou seems flawless. And she seems more grown up, I was a little taken by that. I feel so proud. LOL even though I’m younger… This is the Yu I like, the one that acts. I’m all over the voice she uses on that teaser. The screaming, it reminds me of Shiro.

Continue Reading…

In Books, Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Sharing, Trailers ,
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Vampire in Vancouver

May 14, 2010 — 6 Comments

Okay… Vampire is more than a meh title… but you know, even if it’s a film in English, I’m all for keeping the name as “ヴァンパイア” [VANPAIA] — but hopefully this is just a working title — LOL Because you know I’m all for Shunji Iwai and Yu Aoi in anything they might do together… but that is so generic a title.

Nippon Cinema [Bloody Disgusting, and Just Jared, without mentioning Yu…] are reporting new casting decisions for the film. Alongside Yu Aoi, Kevin Zegers and Amanda Plummer, whom I have already reported on, there will also be roles for Rachael Leigh Cook (She’s All That), Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, and is from Vancouver), Trevor Morgan (Mean Creek, Jurassic Park III), Adelaide Clemens (whom I don’t know), and Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle Hughes (Whale Rider, The Nativity Story).

I had totally forgotten this will be shooting in May, so this explains why Yu Aoi was missing from the FLOWERS premiere that other day everyone got blasted for those dresses. And I seem to be the only one who noticed.

I have always had a soft spot for Leigh Cook, even though I haven’t followed her career. I do know she was involved in a project [with Dove?] about self-esteem and body image across schools in the US. And I totally love Whale Rider, so I’m thrilled to see Hughes hasn’t stopped acting after she got pregnant.

Kristin Kreuk… I have the notion, because everyone keeps telling, that Kreuk is hot. I know. I get it, but man… her acting? I mean, how much of a suck was Chun Li?

And finally… Trevor Morgan, who has always played the bully. In my mind… I can only think of Empire Falls and Mean Creek, and he’s a bully in both, isn’t he? He’s an okay actor though.

In Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Sharing , , , , ,
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TheAuteurs Turns into MUBI

May 13, 2010 — 4 Comments

First reaction was a shriek. What the hell had happened to my TheAuteurs.com account? Well, it had just turned into a MUBI account instead.

From indieWIRE;

It had to happen. The cinephile site The Auteurs has changed its name.

…

Cakarel wants to grow members into the millions. So he went on a quest for a new name. He called on ad agencies all over the world to find a simple, easily-typed name. “Find me my global brand, my Sony,” he told them. It took nine months, but finally an agency in Tokyo knew they had found the name. Mubi.

The word “movie” is mispronounced in many cultures that have trouble with the letter V. It isn’t a word in any language. It is a city in Nigeria. And Cakarel plans to make that city the movie-lover capital of the world.

Even if finding out about the change of names through indieWIRE and not TheAuteurs itself is just a little offensive, I could understand a change in branding. However, the change in brand seems to be a complete move towards the mainstream market to attract more members, who aren’t necessarily interested in auteur-driven films, and hence wouldn’t know how to type “auteur” in the first place… than a re-brand to actually make the product better for its core audience. It’s like Inca Kola trying to be hip and cool, when it doesn’t taste the same.

With this “strategic” branding idea, they have stirred up their community by having many users complaining about the change of name, and those who aren’t complaining? Well, they are indifferent to the change. Overall feedback seems to be quite negative so it has prompted forum boards by now-MUBI Efe (Cakarel) titled “Why did we change our name to MUBI”

The most interesting part of it all, is their deals with the Sao Paulo Film Fest to stream their films — and possible future deals with the likes of Tribeca — and deals with Cannes.

Let’s just hope they continue to focus on Silents, Foreign Films, Classic Films and other hard to watch films, and/or other hard to find for people to share with, than mainstream Hollywood films.

In Chinese, English, Films, French, Japanese, Korean, Misc., Rants, Sharing, Spanish, Swedish , , , , ,
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Yu Aoi for 3D Exhibit and Pop-up Book?

May 12, 2010 — 2 Comments

I am not sure if I’m reading correctly, but according to her website

She will be releasing a new book, which happens to be a Pop-up Book titled “うそっ。” – and well, I don’t know how to romanize that… is it call “Uso.” as in “Lie.” because Google keeps translating to “Bull.” which I’m guessing it’s not.

Published by Parco Factory, it will be released by late June at 3 990 Yen (roughly $50 USD) and will contain 16-high-quality A4-variant pages (6 pop-ups?) in full-color.

Damn. That’s pricey.

Parco Factory will also be doing an exhibit in Shibuya from summer to autumn (with possible future dates in Nagoya and Fukuoka) , which will be able to be enjoyed with 3D glasses… you know, the Blue and Red glasses. So you’ll be able to enjoy that, as well as getting the pre-release of the book.

Date: May 27, 2010 to June 14, 2010
Admission: General 500 Yen, Students 400 Yen / Elementary students for FREE.

And… there’s also an event with Yu.

Only 200 seats available, which apparently will be chosen by luck. [you can apply here]

Date: May 29, 2010
Venue: Shinekuinto (Shibuya Parco Part 3.8 F )
Time: 9.30pm to 10.30pm

Sorry, I can’t translate any more.

Here’s more info.

In Books, Celebrity, English, Japanese, Photographs, Sharing , , ,
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Namie Amuro vs. Janet Jackson – FIGHT!

So you know I don’t worship Janet Jackson. Okay, maybe a little.

Okay, now that THAT is out of the way. I was reading that Namie Amuro topped the random polls of “female singer with the best dancing skills“, ahead of BoA… who barely made the list. I thought to myself “Wow, she must really be something”. Because even if I don’t appreciate BoA for all her BoA-ness, I thought she totally killed it with her video of Eat You Up (even if the lyrics are pretty rubbish).

So this is my total non-biased opinion.

I YouTubed Namie Amuro, and  came up with THIS performance for Girl Talk, which has over 100k views. Totally NOT impressed with the dancing. But something else called my attention.

Continue Reading…

Posted on May 9, 2010 In Celebrity, Clips, English, Japanese, Music, Music Videos, Sharing , ,
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Yu Aoi for Corner Pastry Shop

May 8, 2010 — 4 Comments

It seems Yu died and went to heaven. LOL

It’s her in a pastry shop! And a new movie announcement!!

Yogashiten Coin de Rue (洋菓子店コアンドル) [KOAN DA RU] – seriously, why the Katakana? – was shot last year between October and December, and post-production will be completed this month for a possible release by the end of the year.

Starring alongside Yosuke Eguchi, and directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa, it tells the story… hmm, I’ll let Nippon Cinema explain much better than I can.

Eguchi will play Tomura, a legendary pastry chef who was renowned for his sweets before suddenly dropping out of industry circles. Aoi will play a cake-maker’s daughter who traveled from Kagoshima to Tokyo to chase after a boyfriend. She gets a job at a popular Tokyo shop called “Pastry Coin de Rue” where Tomura is a regular customer. Through their interactions she experiences personal growth, eventually learning the importance of enjoying life and not abandoning your dreams.

Wow, how many projects it is now?

In Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Sharing, Stills , ,
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Street Fighter: Legacy

It’s not much a short, as it is a clip of pretty cool fighting. However, this Street Fighter: Legacy feels 100 times better than that film of Chun Li, and the previous Street Fighter movies Hollywood tried to cash-in. I do still have a soft spot for the anime series though… I mean, I do own that on DVD. LOL

Some really nice moments here and there, but still… for the 3min, there is something off about the quality that I don’t quite like. The fight is pretty awesome though.

Posted on May 7, 2010 In Clips, English, Japanese, Sharing, Short Films , , ,
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The Invention of Dr. Nakamats Trailer

OMG. I am obsessed with Dr. Nakamats.

I am so totally smelling cameras next time.

Posted on May 3, 2010 In English, Films, Japanese, Sharing, Trailers , , ,
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To Watch Until They’re 35 – Eva Green

May 2, 2010 — 1 Comment

Okay, since I have no idea when my computer will be back up, I decided to try to remember all the names that were on my non-back-up list of actors, in order to not delay my choices and ran into more names that are no longer 30. I am pretty sure that I have got all my names down, I just don’t know if I placed them in the correct order… but it will have to do.

So in the #7 position of our list of actresses to watch is none other than Eva Green.

Born in Paris, France on July 5th 1980, this 29-year-old actress shot to stardom by starring on Bernardo Bertolucci’s NC-17 film The Dreamers alongside Michael Pitt and Louis Garrel. However, she’s probably most recognized for playing Bond Girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale with Daniel Craig… or playing witch Serafina Pekkala on the fantasy film The Golden Compass, based from Northern Lights from the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.

Green’s Silver Screen career isn’t even over 10 years, but with a start as Bertolucci, we can only expect the best from her, considering she’s stated she has no plans to go to Hollywood to get typecast as a femme fatale, instead she will be searching for the perfect script. Sure that shuts the door from getting exposure, but after working on films like Casino Royale, Kingdom of Hearts by Ridley Scott, and The Golden Compass — that’s like half her filmography — we think she doesn’t need it any more.

A self-confessed nerd — whom we have a weakness for — Green admires Tim Burton, Lars Von Trier, David Lynch, David Fincher, Cate Blanchett, Juliette Binoche and Helena Bonham Carter, so name-dropping doesn’t hurt her a bit. Top that off with a small commercial shooting alongside Wong Kar-Wai, which smells like good opportunity.

She speaks French and English, and is working on perfecting her American accent… and wait for it, she’s also apparently learning Japanese, which you know… would open doors there, since Japan loves anything French. And have I mentioned how exciting the Japanese film industry is? She seems to like intense directors, so could I see an Eva Green collaboration with Tetsuya Nakashima? Please, make that happen.

Sorry, I digress —  What’s next up for her? How about The Last Word directed by David Mackenzie, who also directed Young Adam and Hallam Foe (aka. Mister Foe) alongside Ewan McGregor.

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