Fine entertainment, food for thought, five world premieres and at least a touch of Japanese wackiness and warmth – this is what awaits the audience with around 80 current Japanese short and feature-length films of the 21st Nippon Connection Film Festival. After weeks of hoping and worrying, it is now certain that unfortunately the pandemic will not allow in-theater screenings in 2021 either. The largest festival for Japanese cinema worldwide will once again be held exclusively online from June 1 to 6, 2021.
All films are available online for six days throughout Germany and in some cases outside of Germany. Face-to-face talks with the filmmakers are moving into the digital realm to spark a direct exchange. For everyone whose yearning for Japan is stronger than ever, there is also Nippon Culture: the digital supporting program with over 40 interactive workshops, talks, extraordinary performances and concerts. For the first time, the Nippon Click & Collect Kiosk at the usual...
All films are available online for six days throughout Germany and in some cases outside of Germany. Face-to-face talks with the filmmakers are moving into the digital realm to spark a direct exchange. For everyone whose yearning for Japan is stronger than ever, there is also Nippon Culture: the digital supporting program with over 40 interactive workshops, talks, extraordinary performances and concerts. For the first time, the Nippon Click & Collect Kiosk at the usual...
- 5/16/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Evidently, the romantic comedy film has been done to death, as one of the most popular movie categories in the entire world. In that regard, shooting a romantic movie that manages to present something different is a feat by itself, and Masahide Ichii tries to do so through smart dialogue, role reversal and a general, very Japanese quirkiness. Let us see if he succeeds.
Our Meal for Tomorrow is screening as part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
Based on the novel “Bokura no Gohan wa Ashita de Matteru” by Maiko Seo, the film focuses on two radically different high school students. Hayama is an introverted shy boy while Uemura is an outspoken, always cheerful girl. After circumstances and Uemura’s invitation brings them into becoming partners in a rice bag race, the two strike a friendship which eventually has Hayama speaking about the reason he is so morose.
Our Meal for Tomorrow is screening as part of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
Based on the novel “Bokura no Gohan wa Ashita de Matteru” by Maiko Seo, the film focuses on two radically different high school students. Hayama is an introverted shy boy while Uemura is an outspoken, always cheerful girl. After circumstances and Uemura’s invitation brings them into becoming partners in a rice bag race, the two strike a friendship which eventually has Hayama speaking about the reason he is so morose.
- 1/30/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Japanese prosecutors in the rape case against Hirofumi Arai have asked for a five-year prison sentence for the actor. They made the request was made at a public hearing Wednesday in the Tokyo District Court.
Arai has pleaded innocent to charges that he sexually assaulted a woman sent to his residence from a massage service on July 1, 2018.
In its statement to the court, the prosecution contended that the victim was in “extreme physical and emotional distress” and that Arai’s payment of money after the encounter indicated “his full recognition that the woman was opposed to his desire.”
In his testimony, Arai has denied that the woman resisted his advances or that he used threats or violence.
Japanese courts have very high conviction rates. The verdict will be announced Dec. 2.
Born Kyung-Sik Park in Hirosaki, in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, in 1979, Arai is a third-generation ethnic Korean. After debuting in “Go,...
Arai has pleaded innocent to charges that he sexually assaulted a woman sent to his residence from a massage service on July 1, 2018.
In its statement to the court, the prosecution contended that the victim was in “extreme physical and emotional distress” and that Arai’s payment of money after the encounter indicated “his full recognition that the woman was opposed to his desire.”
In his testimony, Arai has denied that the woman resisted his advances or that he used threats or violence.
Japanese courts have very high conviction rates. The verdict will be announced Dec. 2.
Born Kyung-Sik Park in Hirosaki, in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, in 1979, Arai is a third-generation ethnic Korean. After debuting in “Go,...
- 10/24/2019
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
Hirofumi Arai, an actor who has appeared in many major Japanese films of the past two decades, was arrested by Tokyo police on Friday. He has been charged with the offense of “forcible intercourse” or rape.
The move stems from Arai’s alleged encounter with an unnamed woman dispatched from a massage service to Arai’s residence on July 1 of last year. According the police report, Arai committed violent acts against the woman, including “forcible intercourse.”
Arai has reportedly denied some of the charges. His agency, Anore, has told the media that it is not at present in touch with Arai, and cannot reply to the report of his arrest.
Public broadcaster Nhk immediately halted sales of ten programs in which Arai was involved, including the 2015 mystery drama “64.” Other projects involving the star are likely to be affected, including the Masahide Ichii drama “Typhoon Family,” which is set for a June release through Kino Films.
The move stems from Arai’s alleged encounter with an unnamed woman dispatched from a massage service to Arai’s residence on July 1 of last year. According the police report, Arai committed violent acts against the woman, including “forcible intercourse.”
Arai has reportedly denied some of the charges. His agency, Anore, has told the media that it is not at present in touch with Arai, and cannot reply to the report of his arrest.
Public broadcaster Nhk immediately halted sales of ten programs in which Arai was involved, including the 2015 mystery drama “64.” Other projects involving the star are likely to be affected, including the Masahide Ichii drama “Typhoon Family,” which is set for a June release through Kino Films.
- 2/2/2019
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
Films about awkward, immature adults that seem to have no romantic future whatsoever can be found in abundance in Japanese cinema. Masahide Ichii, however, manages to distinguish his film by introducing a blind young woman as the second member of the narrative. Let us take things from the beginning though.
Blindly in Love is part of the 2019 Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
35-year old Kentaro is an introverted young man, who, despite having a job in city hall for 13 years, still lives with his parents in his childhood room, spending all his free time playing video games. He has no friends, except from a pet frog, has never dated a woman, and in essence, does nothing that “regular” adults do. His parents, worried about his future (and the loss of the family name), attend a matchmaking event in the hopes of arranging an omiai (formal marriage interview). Eventually they find a beautiful girl,...
Blindly in Love is part of the 2019 Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
35-year old Kentaro is an introverted young man, who, despite having a job in city hall for 13 years, still lives with his parents in his childhood room, spending all his free time playing video games. He has no friends, except from a pet frog, has never dated a woman, and in essence, does nothing that “regular” adults do. His parents, worried about his future (and the loss of the family name), attend a matchmaking event in the hopes of arranging an omiai (formal marriage interview). Eventually they find a beautiful girl,...
- 1/11/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
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