I really, REALLY hate Japanese trailers.
[iframe width=”480″ height=”390″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/500Z8Z0KTmk?rel=0″]
Not tagging this as trailers yet.
The film, as it looks there, looks a bit rubbish. The black & white looks really dull, though I saw some of a sakura shot, and it look kind of interesting.
Guess who’s #10 on the list of The 20 to Watch Between 25-30?
But it’s, of course, Eita!
Born in Tokyo, Japan on December 13th 1982. He might be unknown to almost everyone, unless you are already familiar with Japanese films and series, but this 27-year-old actor has proven that you should keep on watching him.
His list of films include Aoi Haru (Blue Spring), Azumi, Densha Otoko, Su-ki-da and Memories of Matsuko. Of course, Matsuko as a film works because of so many different aspects including Eita’s ability to make you want to connect with the brilliant Miki Nakatani.
Last year, Eita worked on two films that seemed to be in many of the “best of lists” in Japan, including the acclaimed Dear Doctor — by famous director Miwa Nishikawa, who wrote and directed Yureru (Sway) — as well as the seemingly popular April Bride, directed by indie acclaimed director Ryuichi Hiroki.
Add to that his recurring role as Mine on the Nodame Cantabile franchise [headed by fellow 20 to watch Juri Ueno] which sprung not only an 11-episode series, and two television special, but also two theatrical films opening on December 2009 and this month.
There is a certain softness in Eita’s aura that translates well whenever he’s on screen, making him perfect to play the sensible young man. He doesn’t even need to speak a single word, even though you probably would need the subtitles to actually understand what he is saying [unless, of course, you speak Japanese], but whenever he’s in a dramatic scene… all of that doesn’t matter. He’ll deliver the goods in a way that language would really not be a barrier.
Very few [men or women] can captivate you like this.
Next Wednesday, TalkAsia will be interviewing Epik High.
In the meantime… you can enjoy past interviews that you may have missed:
– AI [clip]
– Buyi and the Beijing Rock Scene
– Anna Tsuchiya
– Lang Lang
– Lee Byung-hun [clip]
– Zhou Xun [clip]
Also! Heads up [at the bottom of their page]!
You can write to TalkAsia and request they interview someone.
Hello? Yu Aoi is waiting for TalkAsia xD and TalkAsia is waiting for our questions, I have decided to leave the questions opened until the end of April. =D
but it sure is time for YAM009 =D
is the cover kowaii??? [scary??] I would love to hear your opinion on fansubbing, as well as distribution, which are two topics I always bring up one way or the other.
You are also welcomed to comment on reviews and give suggestions.
With no further ado, go over here for download.
I’m starting out my list this week… with lack of visitor’s response.
No complaining from you then~~~
I’m gonna start out with 5 of the guys, followed by 5 of the girls like last time. Only properly.
Thanks Julz for the heads up~
Ueno plays the role of Gou (also known as Oeyo), the third daughter of the 16th century daimyo Azai Nagamasa (who married Oda Nobunaga’s sister Oichi-no-kata). Gou and her two older sisters are famous historical figures. The eldest, Yodo (also known as Chacha), will be played by Miyazawa, while the second sister, Hatsu, will be played by Mizukawa.
Adding from the announcement~~~
strong females + Atsu-hime writer, Juri Ueno, Rie Miyazawa + Asami Mizukawa?
Only getting better…
Based from the novel, and the manga series by the same same, Welcome to the NHK [which stands for most part of the series for Nihon Hikikomori Kyoukai or The Japanese Hikikomori Association] tells the story of a Hikikomori himself called Satou Tatsuhiro, a 20-something-year-old University drop-out who’s been living like a Hikikomori for almost 4 years of his life until an 18-year-old (?) girl named Misaki decides to take him on as a project and make Satou better of his social condition… as well as helping herself.
During the 24 episodes lasting 20 minutes [without opening and closing credits], we deal with a lot of what we’ve come to known as inherently Japanese odd behavior[though it’s really a global issue], including what we’ve learned to call the Japanese sub-culture of Otakus… Lolicon, video game culture, etc etc. However, we also deal with serious issues such as isolation, suicide and abuse – the last two often being such taboo topics in Asia or Latin America.
This animated series is what makes Japanese animation so avant-garde, in my opinion. Televised animation has hardly anything in its favor. They can’t ever boast on how great their graphics are, because they need to restrict their resources so they fit the budget… ultimately, animation as a medium is seen by many in America and, to a lesser extent, in Europe as a kiddies hobby. If the people often putting animated films and series down just because of being animated could give Welcome to the NHK a chance, they’ll understand it better.
A few hours ago, I got back from watching Let the Right One In at the cinema. This is the 7th time I’ve watched the film in what… 2 years? [Twice as a screener, twice at the theater and three time on my DVD] And I still can’t seem to get enough of it. So thinking about whether or not I should add the film to my Top10 Favorite Films of all Time, made me remember that I have updated my Top10 Faves slightly already.
Considering I saw Memories of Matsuko less than 2 years ago (1.7 years according to Flixster), and I’ve also seen it 7 times. It’s quickly climbed up from spot #8 to #3~ While Grave of the Fireflies climbed up from #10 to #5.
What film in my Top10 should I displace? Jurassic Park is still in a special place in my heart, and Donnie Darko… hmm… or will Moulin Rouge! make a disappearing act? I need to watch these three films again and re-evaluate my Bottom5. I’m conflicted~~~ xD
Excuse me as I’m totally biased.
Where’s Yu Aoi? xD
CNN Go [new brand?] has an article about 7 not-so-known Japanese actors outside of Japan. Obviously there’s the mention of everyone’s favorites like Ken Watanabe [who is like the go-to Japanese guy in Hollywood now], Rinko Kikuchi, Tadanobu Asano, Rie Miyazawa, and Koji Yakusho.
Of course, don’t forget Hiroyuki Sanada ;P
Some not so surprising choices, some… or I mean, I got surprised by one xD
The best choice? A mention for Ryo Kase…
and a cool mention of Sakura Ando. =D
Also… why 7? 7 is a weird number for a TopList. It’s like the writer couldn’t come up with 10 names, so he did 7. So… I wonder what 10 Japanese Actors not so known outside of Japan… or I mean, outside Asia would you choose?
I’ll comment on this later…