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The official website for Saint☆Oniisan The Movie ~Holy Men Vs Akuma Gundan (translated to Saint Young Men The Movie ~Holy Men vs Devil's Army ) released a new trailer today. The clip introduces the film's main cast members, including the new cast members Takayuki Yamada and Tsuyoshi Muro (however their roles have not yet been revealed). Yamada, who also serves as the producer for the film, says, "I am very happy to be able to make a film adaptation of Saint Young Men . The film's story is a 'typical' one that will be enjoyed not only by fans of the original manga, but also by those who are new to Jesus and Buddah's vacation. The cast is superb, and the two are as relaxed as ever. Watch the gods of the universe take the command!" Related: Saint Young Men Live-Action Feature Film Releases First Teaser Trailer, Visual Key visual Saint...

Imagine an intrigue thriller mated with a forged identity comedy set in early 1700s Edo. Hayato Kawai's “Don't Lose Your Head” (formerly known as “Migawari Mission”) fits that description perfectly by its story. The story itself might be enough to secure it some festival exposure either at genre festival circuit in East Asia or at international festivals specialised in Asian cinema, such as Toronto Japanese Film Festival, but positive reviews should not be taken for granted.

Don't Lose Your Head is screening at Toronto Japanese Film Festival

Takaaki Kira (Tsuyoshi Muro) did not have any luck in life. Born as a nobleman's youngest son, he did not inherit anything, so he wanders the world begging for money and food, while his older brother Kozukenosuke (played by the same actor) enjoys all the privilege with little responsibility. When Kozukenosuke oversteps every boundary and insults rival clan leader Lord Asano (Ukon Onoe...

While politicians slowly realize the effects of digitalization and social media on people, technology has already progressed, leaving a mark on society which will likely last for a long time. As predicted by many, social media is a two-sided sword, creating opportunities for some while also undermining social cohesion and morals. Among the most interesting and worrisome developments is the concept of the online troll, which is one of the few aspects director Keisuke Yoshida deals with in his 2022 feature “God Seeks in Return”. Along with “missing” and “Intolerance”, this is another critical look at how damaging media coverage and social media can be for our society, with this story focusing on platforms such as YouTube, online bullying and, as mentioned before, the idea of the online troll.

God Seeks in Return is screening at Nippon Connection

As he is out with his colleagues, event manager Naoki Tamogami (Tsuyoshi Muro...

It’s always a joy when a new film by Japanese director Naoko Ogigami is released. After “Close-Knit”, awarded at the Berlinale, “Riverside Mukolitta” (Kawapperi Mukolitta) is her latest feature, a film adapted from a novel written by Ogigami herself.

Riverside Mukolitta is screening at Camera Japan

Takeshi Yamada (Kenichi Matsuyama) is a lonely young man who arrives, penniless and looking desolate, in the coastal town of Toyama, to work at a shiokara (salted squid) factory. We don’t know at this point why Yamada is there or anything about his past, but factory CEO Sawada (Naoto Ogata) who knows everything, gives him a warm welcome and sends him to Shiori Minami (Hikari Mitsushima) who will be able to find him a cheap accommodation. In fact, landlady Shiori, a young widow with a daughter, lets a 50-year-old flat to Yamada for a good price, part of the small compound called Mukolitta Apartments,...

It’s always a joy when a new film by Japanese director Naoko Ogigami is released. After “Close-Knit”, awarded at the Berlinale, “Riverside Mukolitta” (Kawapperi Mukolitta) is her latest feature, a film adapted from a novel written by Ogigami herself.

“Riverside Mukolitta” is screening at Helsinki Cine Aasia

Takeshi Yamada (Kenichi Matsuyama) is a lonely young man who arrives, penniless and looking desolate, in the coastal town of Toyama, to work at a shiokara (salted squid) factory. We don’t know at this point why Yamada is there or anything about his past, but factory CEO Sawada (Naoto Ogata) who knows everything, gives him a warm welcome and sends him to Shiori Minami (Hikari Mitsushima) who will be able to find him a cheap accommodation. In fact, landlady Shiori, a young widow with a daughter, lets a 50-year-old flat to Yamada for a good price, part of the small compound called Mukolitta Apartments,...

Based on the homonymous manga series by Minoru Furuya, the film starts as a comedy-drama, from the plethora coming out from the Japanese movie industry. In that fashion, the central heroes are two awkward individuals, Susumu Okada and Yuji Ando, who work for a cleaning company. Yuji talks like a robot and seems to lack any kind of social skills and Susumu is an unambitious youth, who is troubled by the fact that his life seems to have no meaning, whatsoever. Eventually, Yuji tells Susumu that he is in love with a waitress in a cafe, Yuka Abe, and asks his help to get to know her. The first time they come to the shop, Yuji points out another man who seems to be constantly there, also having an in interest in Yuka. This man, Shoichi Morita, proves to be Susumu’s ex classmate. Soon, Yuka informs them that Morita is stalking her,...

Stars: Ryohei Suzuki, Fumika Shimizu, Ken Yasuda, Shôta Chiyo, Shunsuke Daitô, Narushi Ikeda, Nana Katase, Tsuyoshi Muro, Shun Oguri, Yoshinori Okada, Jirô Satô, Takashi Tsukamoto | Written by Yûichi Fukuda, Shun Oguri | Directed by Yûichi Fukuda

I love, nay Adore, completely-bonkers Far East flicks be they live-action or animation – hell, some of the first films I ever reviewed professionally (if anything I do can be called a profession) were titles like Big Man Japan and 13: Game of Death. So it’s safe to say that I’m part of the target [Western] audience for a film like Hk: Forbidden Superhero – even moreso given the ridiculous over-the-top ending that sees one of the films villains emerge in a giant mech that looks like a combination of two of my favourite kids TV shows: a Power Rangers Zord and the combiner Devastator from the original 80s Transformers cartoon.

Which is why I absolutely Loved this movie!

Hideaki Sorachi’s popular manga “Gintama” began filming the live-action adaptation last July 2016. Shun Oguri plays the lead character, a highly skilled samurai named Gintoki Sakata. Acclaimed playwright Yūichi Fukuda is directing and writing the screenplay. The upcoming movie has many fans excited. Most of all, many are wondering who the additional main cast will be.

The “Gintama” Cast

Thursday’s announcement of who will play who in the sci-fi movie put an end to the guessing game. Eight new cast members joins Shun Oguri in the parallel world of Edo period Japan.

Shun Oguri – Gintoki Sakata, the leader of the Yorozuya Gin-Chan. Masaki Suda – Shinpachi Shimura, a member of the Yorozuya. Kanna Hashimoto – Kagura, another member of the Yorozuya. Masami Nagasawa – Tae Shimura, the sister of Shinpachi. Masaki Okada – Kotaro Katsura, Sakata’s sworn friend Tsuyoshi Muro – Gengai Hiraga, the owner of Karakuri-dō Yuuya Yagira – Toshiro Hijikata, member of...

Stars: Ryohei Suzuki, Fumika Shimizu, Ken Yasuda, Shôta Chiyo, Shunsuke Daitô, Narushi Ikeda, Nana Katase, Tsuyoshi Muro, Shun Oguri, Yoshinori Okada, Jirô Satô, Takashi Tsukamoto | Written by Yûichi Fukuda, Shun Oguri | Directed by Yûichi Fukuda

I love, nay Adore, completely-bonkers Far East flicks be they live-action or animation – hell, some of the first films I ever reviewed professionally (if anything I do can be called a profession) were titles like Big Man Japan and 13: Game of Death. So it’s safe to say that I’m part of the target [Western] audience for a film like Hk: Forbidden Superhero – even moreso given the ridiculous over-the-top ending that sees one of the films villains emerge in a giant mech that looks like a combination of two of my favourite kids TV shows: a Power Rangers Zord and the combiner Devastator from the original 80s Transformers cartoon.

Which is why I absolutely Loved this movie!

Shochiku has released a new full trailer for Surely Someday, the directorial debut of 27-year-old actor Shun Oguri. The script was written by Shogo Muto (Crows Zero) with some input from Oguri based on some of his own high school experiences.

Plot: Drawing influence from the street musicians of Miyagi, high school students Takumi (Keisuke Koide), Kyohei (Ryo Katsuji), Shuuto (Go Ayano), Kazuo (Ryohei Suzuki), and Yuuki (Tsuyoshi Muro) form a band and spend all their free time practicing for their school’s upcoming festival. However, when the festival is abruptly canceled, they come up a dimwitted strategy to fake a bomb threat to force the principal to change his mind. Surprisingly, their plan seems to work at first, but when a real bomb goes off, the group are forced to take responsibility for the explosion and are kicked out of school. Three years later, further details of the incident...