Good news for fans of the Japanese murder mystery or ‘court drama’ genre – Kore-eda Hirokazu’s latest film, The Third Murder, is hitting UK cinema screens on 23rd March. Attorney Shigemori Tomoaki (Fukuyama Masaharu) takes on the defence case of Misumi Takashi (Yakusho Koji), who has been accused of murdering, robbing and setting fire to … Continue reading
It’s that time of the year again when I report back from the films I caught at the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme (JFTFP), which is now in its 15th year! In case it wasn’t obvious, I’m a big fan of Japanese cinema and JFTFP is a very fixed date in my calendar. The screenings … Continue reading
I’m back from a much-needed Christmas break, and there’s no better way to kick off 2018 than looking at this year’s Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme line-up! The theme for this year is (Un)true Colours: Secrets and Lies in Japanese Cinema. Everybody has once told a lie or kept something hidden from others. Whether for … Continue reading
I was lucky enough to catch Takashi Mikke’s Blade of the Immortal at the new Odeon Luxe Panton Street, complete with comfy reclining chairs. That’s a pretty good way to spend your last week in London before returning up north for Christmas! I was disappointed to miss Blade of the Immortal at the BFI Film … Continue reading
It’s been a good year for Satoshi Kon fans in the UK – not only did we get to see Perfect Blue on the big screen, but Paprika is now also available on blu-ray/DVD. That’s good news if you’re stuck for last minute Christmas present ideas, or just haven’t had a chance to see Paprika … Continue reading
We’re coming to the end of film festival season in London, with a generous offering of Japanese films to boot. The second London East Asia Film Festival has been and gone and, while I didn’t see all the films I planned to, I managed to catch a few good ones. The London East Asia Film … Continue reading
To celebrate the 20th anniversary release of Satoshi Kon’s cult anime film Perfect Blue, All the Anime are bringing it to UK cinema screens for one night only on Halloween! Until recently, I had never seen Perfect Blue despite being aware of its existence for years, and I suspect I’m not the only person in … Continue reading
Masaaki Yuasa’s Night is Short, Walk on Girl is the latest anime film coming to UK screens thanks to All the Anime. It’s difficult to describe the plot of this film, partly because encapsulating it in a few sentences can’t possibly do it justice. Senpai has a major crush on his younger kohai, Otome. Rather … Continue reading
It’s film festival season right now – and the BFI London Film Festival returns 4 – 15 October this year! While the wealth of Japanese films that will be screening may not be good news for your wallet, it’s good news for those of you who can’t get enough of them. Whether it’s comedy, LGBT, … Continue reading
Keep the evening of Monday 10th April free because NHK WORLD TV, the 24-hour international English-language channel from Japan’s public service broadcaster, are screening a double bill of documentaries. The documentaries are being screened at the Curzon cinema in Bloomsbury in London and tickets are free but booking essential. Here’s what to expect on the evening: … Continue reading
