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Akira Kurosawa, a lover of horses since his youth, spent a lot of time at the Hippodrome in Meguro. In the 1940s, he wrote a screenplay titled “Jajauma Monogatari” (The Story of a Bad Horse), which was never realized. During a career stagnation after “Red Beard” in 1965, he made his only documentary film, “Song of the Horse“, in collaboration with Ryo Kinoshita and his production company Kurosawa Productions and Nippon TV.

The documentary is divided into two main parts: the first focuses on the birth and breeding of a racehorse, while the second part delves into horse races in Japan, particularly highlighting the story of Shinzan, a successful stallion. Preceding these parts is a prologue that places the narrative within a broader cultural context, exploring the historical relationship between humans and horses in Japan. The film also introduces the role of horses in Japanese religious customs and folklore.

Narration is provided by two actors,...

The Japanese entertainment industry has lost a truly marvelous talent. On January 15th, 2023, versatile character actor Noboru Mitani passed away at the age of 90. On the website Yahoo! Japan, Kyodo News reports the cause of death being “due to acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure”( Kyodo News 1). Mitani worked with an array of filmmakers, frequently appearing in the works of Kinji Fukasaku and Juzo Itami. He was also quite active in television and theatre. Tokusatsu fans may recognize him for his appearances in “Return of Ultraman,” “Ultraman Taro,” and “Space Sheriff Gavan,” while anime enthusiasts may remember him for voice acting in the series “Princess Tutu.” His wide range, colorful personality, and how real he could make his characters feel made him stand out as an actor. He also was often able to convey so much through his facial expressions alone, even in moments without dialogue.

Noboru Mitani and Hiroyuki Kawase...

With so many great Japanese directors who made a name for themselves, it is always interesting to see some collaborate. One of the most interesting collaborative efforts was the company “Yonki-no-Kai,” which translates to the “Club of the Four Knights,” established in 1969 by filmmakers Akira Kurosawa, Keisuke Kinoshita, Masaki Kobayashi, and Kon Ichikawa. The group of friends put together this effort to support one another, as the film industry in Japan at the time was in a state of financial hardships. Yet, things did not go according to plan with Kurosawa’s film “Dodes’ka-den,” being a box-office failure, leading to many projects being shelved. The four wrote a jidaigeki feature that would go unmade for a long-time when they couldn’t raise funds to make it. Years later, following the passing of his companions, Ichikawa would eventually be able to direct this initially canceled feature while...

Many international viewers probably know filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku for his terrific dystopian action-thriller “Battle Royale,” a movie that blends dark comedy with tragedy and kickstarted a narrative concept that would continue to be frequently utilized in other fictional works. Some may associate him with his campy sci-fi features like “The Green Slime.” Yet, early on, the director gave Japanese audiences viscerally outspoken and bold features. Look no further than his yakuza film series “Battles Without Honor and Humanity,” which tears apart Japan’s most operative crime organizations. The director was never afraid to speak his mind on a matter, even if he were to receive criticism as a result. Fukasaku’s mindset is openly expressed in his haunting anti-war masterpiece “Under the Flag of the Rising Sun.”

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The film is based on a collection of war short stories by Shoji Yuki. Beyond the source of adaptation,...

Exclusive: Yuji Kanda’s film just wrapped shooting in Tokyo.

Japan’s Bees Connexion has announced But Life Goes On, starring Collin Chou from the Matrix series, has been picked up for international sales by Toronto-based 108 Media Corporation.

Written and directed by Yuji Kanda, the Japanese arthouse film just wrapped shooting in Tokyo.

Kanda previously directed The Story Teller’s Apprentice, a humorous film adapted from a hit theatre play. He was also an associate producer on Seijun Suzuki’s Princess Raccoon and Pistol Opera.

Based in La and Beijing, trilingual action talent Collin Chou is known for playing Seraph, protector of the Oracle in The Matrix Revolutions and The Matrix Reloaded. He plays the lead in But Life Goes On, as a taxi driver suffering from a traumatic event whose past catches up with him.

Ryo Ebe, director, Asia, at 108 Media Corporation explained their decision to pick up the film: “Japanese movies are having a very...