Tag: japan

  • Asia Pacific Screen Winners 2010

    They were held today at my worst possible timezone. I only made it to the Best Actress award… barely. I was already nodding off, but I had to stay up for that one.

    I knew Yun Jeong-hee was pretty much a shoo-in for Best Actress for her amazing role on Poetry — what’s up with all these Korean ahjumas, they are fierce! — but I was secretly rooting for Fan Xu on Aftershocks because her role left me emotionally drained.

    Also~~~ APSA > Oscar – why?

    Please, awarding Aftershocks, Poetry and Caterpillar? Anyone who awards these, it’s on my good list — even if it’s not an “official” category, Shinobu Terajima winning the Jury Award is big. Oscars will never EVER nominate Shinobu Terajima for Best Actress — unless they surprise me. Please, surprise me  — and they will never ever nominated Yun Jeong-hee either. Considering Japan and Korea chose other films to send…

    Anyway! So many awards, eh? Check the sidebar to keep up to date with the Award Season~~~

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  • Juri Ueno as Gou on NHK’s 2011 Taiga Drama

    You know, I was watching the last episode of Ryomaden on Sunday’s afternoon before lunch. Sorry, Ryoma-san ~~~ I didn’t feel ya. But I did feel Teruyuki Kagawa’s Iwasaki — frienemy of Ryoma. Just like I enjoyed Kiyomori’s grey relationship with Yoshitsune.

    There’s something about not so good characters in history that’s just wayyyyy more interesting than the heroes. Heroes are boring. That’s why Atsuhime was so good! She was actually sent to manipulate the Shogun in favor of her clan… then she married the Shogun, and not-really turned on her family, but she didn’t do what she was sent to do.

    Looking forward to Gou… as well as Kenichi Matsuyama’s starring on the 2012 NHK Taiga drama about the life of Kiyomori. That’s all sorts of awesome considering he’s gonna battle it out with Hiroshi Tamaki playing Yoshitsune’s father, Minamoto.

    Yup, I just showed you all my samurai / taiga drama knowledge right there.

    It’s like I know history! I feel knowledgeable ~~~

  • FLOWERS Review at the 14th Sydney Japanese Film Fest

    If you remember, there was a negative (and the only) review for FLOWERS that I ran into. I didn’t look for more… because I was lazy, and I forgot. However, I ran into this info:

    The 14th Sydney Japanese Film Festival is showing FLOWERS and Otouto.

    As I rant that every film festival gets more up-to-date stuff than my local festivals… I also read a sweet quite glowing positive FLOWERS review, which resembles uzaigaijin‘s thoughts on FLOWERS.

    But the single biggest thing that makes “Flowers” so remarkable is the authenticity of its feel from a cinematic viewpoint. It is an experience tailored to the psychology of moviegoers as a class. As such, it functions as a tribute not only to the growth of Japan as a society, but to the development of movie-making in general.

    And I love that they mention that Yu-chan is one of the most talented and bankable actresses. (see Why Raiou Needs to Reach #1, which it didn’t)

    Koizumi-san, at least, shares his vision of the 1930s in gorgeous antiquated tones as he beautifully captures Yu Aoi, one of Japan’s most talented and bankable actresses, in crisp black and white. Aoi-san comes across delightfully in vintage; the part well suits her subtle and subdued acting style. She flawlessly looks the part of the Yamato Nadeshiko, resplendent in various kimonos and decked out in traditional bridal regalia. One of the most memorable scenes in the film sees Aoi-san running through a sakura (cherry tree) grove in full bloom with mountains visible in the distance, a wide shot reminiscent of some old time silver screen epic.

    You can read the full review over at the Japanese Film Festival blog.

  • Bokura no Ongaku – Our Music – Yu Aoi x Chatmonchy Interview

    Thanks to Acerk for the find, as well as user gp0patt0jp for the upload~~~

    Now time to slap myself for not understanding Japanese. Major fail, Amy. Major~

    It’s interesting to see that Yu Aoi’s interviews this year have been… more relaxed than before. It’s really really great to see her smiling and giggling during an interview.

    From what I got, they talked about her piano playing… and her piano practicing habits before? They also talked a bit about something about English.

    And of course she talks about food. I can’t be mistaken about that one xD

    [iframe src=”https://www.tudou.com/v/W7EsjPNV5Sk/v.swf” width=”480″ height=”400″]

    someone cares to explain the video to us? xD

    — EDIT w/ on-the-go translation by Nina —

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  • 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.

  • Yu Aoi + Satoshi Tsumabuki for New Hideki Noda Play

    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

  • Japanese Cinema Blogathon 2010 – Day4

    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~

  • Japanese Cinema Blogathon 2010 – Day3

    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~~~

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  • Japanese Cinema Blogathon 2010 – Day2

    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~

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  • Japanese Cinema Blogathon 2010 – Day1

    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.

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