Some very say news just in, but Shozin Fukui, director of Pinocchio 964 and Rubbers Lover, passed away on 2 April. As some might know, in the midst of a resurgence of interest in his work that culminated with a 2025 retrospective at K's Cinema in Shinjuku, he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
Loved that view every day walking to Meiji.
Of course this never popped up on my undergrad reading lists. Rectifying that miss now!
Mamoru Oshii's first live-action feature, "The Red Spectacles" (1987), is coming back in Japanese theaters on March 21.
The film, set in the same universe as "Jin-Roh" (and "Kerberos Panzer Cop"), was recently restored in 4K via a crowdfunding campaign.
x.com/redspectacle...
David Lynch in close-up
Hard to process a loss like this
Top 10 films in Japan BO for 2024 are shaping up and it looks like not one live-action foreign film made it (2 animated films did). This is probably a first. Hollywood just cannot break into the Japanese market.
news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/artic...
Birnbaum’s translation is the only one of Murakami’s I found engaging. Rubin’s replication of Murakami’s syntax stutters the prose sentence to sentence. Although true Murakami fans should praise it as that has been my experience reading his work in Japanese.
Still image of Revolution+1 with main subject holding his firearm poised to shoot.
Japanese poster for Revolution+1
Adachi Masao giving the middle finger at a Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan meeting.
Powerful screening and grappling with leftist independent filmmaking from Adachi Masao and his most recent feature “Revolution+1” (2022). Looking forward to our class discussion Wednesday.
Aristocrats poster (English)
Aristocrats poster (Japanese)
Portrait photo of director Sode Yukiko
Screening my favorite film of 2021 - Sode Yukiko’s “Aristocrats” for contemporary cinema this evening. Look forward to class discussion on this one :)
I still need to obtain a copy of their internal company history text. I wonder what will happen with their physical media releases and the repertory screenings events?
Promotional poster for Small, Slow but Steady
Promotional poster for Small, Slow but Steady
Excited to screen Miyake Sho’s “Small Slow, but Steady” in my contemporary cinema course tonight. Kinema Jumpo’s #1 film for 2022.
@newsfromnihon.bsky.social would be a good addition too!
Hi Marc - I would be pleased if you could add me in as well. Great people in here :)
No matter what kind of enthusiast, you won't want to miss the Yanai Initiative's companion book for The Art of the Benshi world tour! 🎞️ Lavishly produced, it explores benshi history, ephemera, & the transnational journey of silent film! Ordering info at: yanai-initiative.ucla.edu/publication/...
The dream of Directed by Yasujirō Ozu is that its hopefully many readers will be filled with desire to see the films and rush to the theater before they finish reading, or else will be reduced to trembling with anger whenever Ozu is not being screened and declare the situation unjust and inexcusable.
Thoroughly enjoying Shiguéhiko Hasumi’s “Directed by Yasujirō Ozu.”
Compliments to Ryan Cook for this long needed translation and @dengerow.bsky.social’s insightful introduction. I must highlight the superb closing sentence to the prologue-
SCMS Paper Acceptance - Industry Studies through the Auteur: Morita Yoshimitsu and Japanese Bubble Economy Cinema
Woke up to some positive news - see you all in Boston! SCMS24
Nakadai Tatsuya in center frame
Happy Birthday Nakadai Tatsuya!
