Archives For japan

Bokura no Ongaku – Our Music – Yu Aoi x Chatmonchy – Bus Romance

Not really the best of captures, but we’ll take what we can with YouTube removing stuff. Once again, YouTube users~~~ contact me in order to figure out how to keep the videos online. Your upload credits will be kept.

Thanks hirokisakurajima for the upload~

OMG, Yu-chan plays the piano!!!

I had read about that, but never actually believed it… you know, it is the internet.

I think it might be time for a Wikipedia update, right?

By the way, her last Ongaku appearance… which was uploaded by rocking user aoinohoho is gone because YouTube deleted the account – understandable. Aoinohoho, if you still visit the site would love to get hold of those videos.

Which leads me to a rant. Seriously Japan broadcasters, REALLY? As if you’re going to release interviews for sale. Even the likes of Letterman, and all those night shows have clips online. What’s up with that!?

Fuji TV, you fail at worldwide distribution.

Posted on November 19, 2010 In Celebrity, Clips, English, Japanese, Music, Rants, Sharing, Television , , , ,
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Yu Aoi + Satoshi Tsumabuki for New Hideki Noda Play

November 13, 2010 — 3 Comments

Yu Aoi and Satoshi Tsumabuki are set to star in Hideki Noda’s new play, Minami he (To South), at the Metropolitan Art Space from February 10 to March 31, 2011. Tickets will be on sale beginning January 8th.

via Nikkan Sports + Tokyo Stages

So Yu will be busy with the opening of Coin de Rue — opening the 11th — and this.

It’s like she knows is my birthday x’D

I could be wrong on this one, but this is the third time she does theater, right? First, Shakespeare playing Desdemona. Then Gakuya, and now this? Well, it’s not like I can attend the theater, since I won’t be understanding anything said xD

In Celebrity, English, Graphics, Japanese, Sharing , , , , , , ,
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Japanese Cinema Blogathon 2010 – Day4

November 6, 2010 — 2 Comments

It was really difficult to come up with a post for Day 4 of this Blogathon for Wildgrounds, but I’m cheating anyway~ and you’ll see why. But first, let’s take a look at the highlights of Day 3!

First, let’s go back to Day 2~ I forgot to mention the gallery for Japanese Film Noir, which contains some very beautiful film stills. Then there was this Laputa’s 100 Best World and Japanese Animation Directors by Nishikata Film Review, who have also posted Takashi Yanase’s Top 15 Animated Films today.

And for this edition of my Japanese film blogathon, I want to ask the visitors and readers of this post…

Who’s Your Favorite Actress/Actor? Why?

Enough about me, guys~ You already know I like Yu Aoi, Ayumi Ito, Ryo Kase, Rinko Kikuchi, Tadanobu Asano… Shinobu Terajima, etc~ etc. You know I like idols, and stuff like that~

I just want to know who you watch Japanese films for… and if you don’t like any of the “new” actors, who’s your favorite actor/actress of the old times.

Discuss below! You can talk amongst yourselves too~

In English, Japanese, Sharing , , ,
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Japanese Cinema Blogathon 2010 – Day3

November 5, 2010 — 4 Comments

It’s day 3 of the Wildgrounds Japanese Film Blogathon! And seriously, I am running out of okay topics to write about, but some of you guys are writing more than one post a day! You guys are non-stop!

First, with the sponsoring~~~

Toma-Uno joined the blogathon with their post on Satoshi Kon — sorry, only in Spanish atm. And since we’re discussing Satoshi Kon, the guys at V Cinema contributed with their podcast on him, plus! A look at Twenty-Four Eyes (aka. Nijuushi no Hitomi), as well as various film reviews… including One Million Yen Girl!

Which reminds me… I haven’t done any Yu Aoi Film Discussion posts in a very long while — just checked, it’s been nearly a year, and it’s been because I wanted to hold-off until I had seen any of her films released this year… or any non-sub film with new subtitles…

But moving on, today’s topic is~~~

Continue Reading…

In Celebrity, DVD/BR, English, Films, Japanese, Photographs, Sharing , , , ,
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Japanese Cinema Blogathon 2010 – Day2

November 4, 2010 — Leave a comment

Second day of Wildground’s Japanese Cinema blogathon!

First of all, let’s do a recap of the first day~~~ My favorite piece comes from Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow Blog and their post on the first movie theater in Japan. A very interesting read about the ole times xD Plus, Nihon Cine Art has a poll running asking What’s your Favorite Japanese Cinema Era, and What’s your Favorite Japanese Cinema Genre~~~

And a bit on art director/production designer Yoshiro Muraki~ by Nishikata Film Reviews~

Continue Reading…

In DVD/BR, English, Films, Japanese, Reviews, Sharing, Stills , , , ,
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Japanese Cinema Blogathon 2010 – Day1

November 3, 2010 — 2 Comments

First day of Wildground’s 2010 Japanese Film Blogathon for everything about J-Cinema. Check out everyone participating around the world!

I had a bit of a problem picking my topic for today, because I mainly talk about idols that act. However, I thought I would dedicate my first post to the first ever director I saw since my craze for J-Films began.

Continue Reading…

In English, Films, Graphics, Japanese, Sharing , , , , , , ,
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Wildground’s 2010 Japanese Film Blogathon

We’re in!

You can join all of us too. xD Just head over here, and make sure you blog!

I have no idea what I’ll be talking about, but I gotta match my post on Japanese Cinema taking over the world~

Posted on October 30, 2010 In English, Films, Graphics, Japanese, Sharing ,
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Screen Daily – Raiou Review

October 25, 2010 — 3 Comments

I think this is the first time I post more than one review not of mine of a Yu Aoi film, maybe I’m getting better at finding info… or maybe more people are writing in English. Anyway, this second review of Raiou isn’t so kind either.

I haven’t been able to find Box Office info on whether Raiou opened at #1, or a had weak opening — being a Period Romance, it should open at #1 for various reasons. Anyway~ here’s an excerpt:

Although the charismatic Aoi Yu brings some sorely-needed life to the film with her portrayal of Rai/Yu, her counterpart Okada Masaki is never truly convincing as a man whose inner demons threaten to tear him apart.

Via Screendaily.com

I don’t think those comments will hurt the Okada Masaki fans, but let’s wait for those Box Office numbers~

*EDIT*

Got numbers~ They’re not that good. Raiou opened at #8 ~

via Japan Now + Cinema Navi

In Books, Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Reviews, Sharing , ,
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Asia Pacific Screen Nominations 2010

October 18, 2010 — Leave a comment

Never have followed the Asian Pacific nominations… mainly because it’s hard to, you know~~~ watch films from that part of the world for me. However, distribution is getting better – dvds are being launched so much faster, and many of them come with subtitles in English (when needed), and there’s a lot more people willing to fansub when needed.

And YAY! Aftershocks has landed 6 nominations – including Best Film, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay PLUS! Best Actor and Best Actress. Now, I’m trying not to be biased, I don’t think actor Chen Daoming was THAT good in Aftershocks, but actress Xu Fan completely deserves it.

The other big nominee of the night is South Korea’s Poetry (Shi) – crap! I’m really that good at film recommendations for distributors, someone hire me ASAP! – which received 4 nominations for Best Film, Best Directing, Best Screenplay and Best Actress. While Taiwan’s Monga – see, I’m good – was nominated for 3 awards for Best Film, Best Directing and Best Cinematography.

The APSA(wards) will be handed out December 2nd on a live webcast at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards site.

All nominations below the break~

Continue Reading…

In Chinese, English, Films, Japanese, Korean, Sharing , , , , , , ,
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Why Raiou Needs to Reach #1~

October 16, 2010 — 3 Comments

Raiou, based on the novel by Mari Ueza about tragic lovers, is set to open next week on Friday the 22nd. It stars idol-in-the-rise Masaki Okada opposite established-idol-transitioning-to-actress Yu Aoi. What does Raiou mean to their careers?

A rising-star and an established-idol starring in a period drama romance? If it succeeds, it means the rising-star will keep on rising, and the established-idol still has “it”. A period drama romance lays solely on its protagonists’ shoulders, and their chemistry. If it fails, it’s because of them. That’s a lot of scary thoughts right there~

Why does Yu Aoi need Raiou to succeed? She is indeed an idol still. She sponsors products, and she makes a living selling products. She’s young — to westerners, anyway — she’s cute, youthful… the whole shebang. However, the life-span of a Japanese female idol is short, some of them have retired at 20! So Yu, having turned 25 already, isn’t… well, a young idol any longer. She’s been away of major mainstream entertainment, she’s had relationships, she’s been on tabloids as people discuss who she really is dating. Everything takes its toll. She’s now a woman. An actress who is still an idol. Will people support her passed her prime-early-twenty years like they did when the hit Hula Girls came out?

Raiou holds Yu’s idol-hood future. Will it be a hit right away? Shoot to number one the first week to then drop the next? Will it slowly climb to number one in two or three weeks and stay there a week or two? Will it climb slowly up to stay there for several weeks? Will it never reach number one?? Whatever happens, it will change Yu’s bankability.

In Books, Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Sharing , , , ,
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