Stars: Sota Fukushi, Yuko Takeuchi, Alice Hirose, Takuro Ohno | Written by Emiko Hiramatsu | Directed by Koichiro Miki
I will start this review by proclaiming that I am a cat lover. Always have been. My family had cats growing up and I’ve always loved them. Dogs, I’m not really fussed with but I can’t walk past a cat in the street without stopping and enjoying its company for a few minutes. So when I saw Fantasia Festival featured a film about a cat, I couldn’t wait to check it out.
Although the cats in The Travelling Cat Chronicles feature heavily in this movie, it is not actually all about them. We follow Satoru (Sota Fukushi) as he travels across Japan to find a new owner for his beloved cat, Nana (voiced by Mitsuki Takahata), who he can no longer look after. The film switches between current day...
I will start this review by proclaiming that I am a cat lover. Always have been. My family had cats growing up and I’ve always loved them. Dogs, I’m not really fussed with but I can’t walk past a cat in the street without stopping and enjoying its company for a few minutes. So when I saw Fantasia Festival featured a film about a cat, I couldn’t wait to check it out.
Although the cats in The Travelling Cat Chronicles feature heavily in this movie, it is not actually all about them. We follow Satoru (Sota Fukushi) as he travels across Japan to find a new owner for his beloved cat, Nana (voiced by Mitsuki Takahata), who he can no longer look after. The film switches between current day...
- 9/7/2020
- by Alain Elliott
- Nerdly
While Emiko Hiramatsu is a rather unknown name as a director, one might know her as co-screenwriter on many of Yoji Yamada’s recent narratives, “What a Wonderful Family” (2016), “What A Wonderful Family 2” (2017)). With “Organ”, her second full-length feature, Emiko Hiramatsu takes the responsibility, both as screenwriter and as director, to frame a true war-time story.
“Organ” is screening at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival
Kaede Itakura (Erika Toda) is a senior child-care provider of a so called ‘war-time daycare’. While the safety of the children is of extreme importance to her, the fact that the war-time economy – weapons over words – hinders the true goal of child-care, the nurturing of the children’s sensibility in a cultural environment, affects her just as much.
When Shigeru Wakimoto (Naoki Tanaka), a childhood education researcher and owner of Togoshi daycare center arrives, he doesn’t have good news – the ministry of health and...
“Organ” is screening at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival
Kaede Itakura (Erika Toda) is a senior child-care provider of a so called ‘war-time daycare’. While the safety of the children is of extreme importance to her, the fact that the war-time economy – weapons over words – hinders the true goal of child-care, the nurturing of the children’s sensibility in a cultural environment, affects her just as much.
When Shigeru Wakimoto (Naoki Tanaka), a childhood education researcher and owner of Togoshi daycare center arrives, he doesn’t have good news – the ministry of health and...
- 6/10/2019
- by Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
- AsianMoviePulse
Directed by Emiko Hiramatsu and starring Erika Toda, the feature is based on a true story.
Japan’s Gaga is launching international sales at Filmart on Organ, the second feature from Emiko Hiramatsu (Seven Days Of Sunflower And Puppy) who worked with Yoji Yamada as co-screenwriter and assistant director on films including What A Wonderful Family!.
Starring Erika Toda (Code Blue) and Sakurako Ohara (The Liar And His Lover), the film is based on a true story from the Second World War when young nursery school teachers evacuated dozens of children from Tokyo to save their lives. Under the threat of bombing,...
Japan’s Gaga is launching international sales at Filmart on Organ, the second feature from Emiko Hiramatsu (Seven Days Of Sunflower And Puppy) who worked with Yoji Yamada as co-screenwriter and assistant director on films including What A Wonderful Family!.
Starring Erika Toda (Code Blue) and Sakurako Ohara (The Liar And His Lover), the film is based on a true story from the Second World War when young nursery school teachers evacuated dozens of children from Tokyo to save their lives. Under the threat of bombing,...
- 3/17/2019
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Yôji Yamada’s fantasy drama selected as Japan’s nominee for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Japan has selected Yôji Yamada’s Nagasaki: Memories Of My Son as its Best Foreign Language Film submission for this year’s Academy Awards.
The film, produced by the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation and distributed worldwide by Shochiku International, is set in 1948, in post-World War II Japan.
The drama charts the story of midwife Nobuko (Sayuri Yoshinaga) who is resolved to move on as she stands at the grave of her son Koji (Kazunari Ninomiya) who died when the Americans bombed Nagasaki. However, upon returning home, she is visited by an apparition of her son, who continues to return in order to reminisce with his mother about the past, family, affection and war.
Nagasaki, also known as Living With My Mother, which is a literal translation of its Japanese title, Haha To Kuraseba, was released...
Japan has selected Yôji Yamada’s Nagasaki: Memories Of My Son as its Best Foreign Language Film submission for this year’s Academy Awards.
The film, produced by the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation and distributed worldwide by Shochiku International, is set in 1948, in post-World War II Japan.
The drama charts the story of midwife Nobuko (Sayuri Yoshinaga) who is resolved to move on as she stands at the grave of her son Koji (Kazunari Ninomiya) who died when the Americans bombed Nagasaki. However, upon returning home, she is visited by an apparition of her son, who continues to return in order to reminisce with his mother about the past, family, affection and war.
Nagasaki, also known as Living With My Mother, which is a literal translation of its Japanese title, Haha To Kuraseba, was released...
- 9/6/2016
- ScreenDaily
Forget English soap operas about upstairs and downstairs upheavals, Yoji Yamada's chronicle of a life in the little Tokyo house with the little red roof is an emotional grabber. It's the war years of patriotic acquiescence and home-front selfishness -- and a secret, forbidden romance. The Little House (Chiisai ouchi) Twilight Time Savant Blu-ray Review Limited Edition 2014 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 136 min. / Chiisai ouchi / Ship Date August 11, 2015 / available through Twilight Time Movies / 29.95 Starring Takaku Matsu, Haru Kuroki, Takataro Kataoka, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Chieko Baisho Cinematography Masashi Chikamori Art Direction Mitsuo Degawa, Daisuke Sue Film Editor Iwao Ishii Original Music Joe Hisashi Written by Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu, Kyoko Nakajima Produced by Tadashi Ohsumi Directed by Yoji Yamada
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
When Twilight Time brings out a disc not licensed from a major studio, I pay special attention. Last year they released a good Yoji Yamada film called The Twilight Samurai,...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
When Twilight Time brings out a disc not licensed from a major studio, I pay special attention. Last year they released a good Yoji Yamada film called The Twilight Samurai,...
- 9/8/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The 18th International Children’s Film Festival of India has announced the competition lineup for 2013. Some of the well-known Indian films in competition are Nagraj Manjule’s Fandry [Read interview], Shilpa Ranade’s Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya [Read interview] and Batul Mukhtiar’s Kaphal.
Organized by the Children’s Film Society of India, the biennial festival also known as The Golden Elephant will be held from November 14-20, 2013 in Hyderabad.
Competition Live Action
A Horse on the Balcony
Dir.: Hüseyin Tabak (Austria)
Tainá – an Amazon Legend
Dir.: Rosanne Svartman (Brazil)
Havanastation
Dir.: Ian Padrón (Cuba)
The Great Bird Chase
Dir.: Christian Dyekjær (Denmark)
Horizon Beautiful
Dir.: Stefan Jäger (Ethiopia, Switzerland)
Windstrom
Germany
Igor and the Cranes’ Journey
Dir.: Evgeny Ruman (Germany, Israel, Poland)
Fandry
Dir.: Nagraj Manjule (India)
Kaphal
Dir.: Batul Mukhtiar (India)
Good Fellows
Iran
7 Days of Himmawari and her Puppies
Dir.: Emiko Hiramatsu (Japan)
Mother,...
Organized by the Children’s Film Society of India, the biennial festival also known as The Golden Elephant will be held from November 14-20, 2013 in Hyderabad.
Competition Live Action
A Horse on the Balcony
Dir.: Hüseyin Tabak (Austria)
Tainá – an Amazon Legend
Dir.: Rosanne Svartman (Brazil)
Havanastation
Dir.: Ian Padrón (Cuba)
The Great Bird Chase
Dir.: Christian Dyekjær (Denmark)
Horizon Beautiful
Dir.: Stefan Jäger (Ethiopia, Switzerland)
Windstrom
Germany
Igor and the Cranes’ Journey
Dir.: Evgeny Ruman (Germany, Israel, Poland)
Fandry
Dir.: Nagraj Manjule (India)
Kaphal
Dir.: Batul Mukhtiar (India)
Good Fellows
Iran
7 Days of Himmawari and her Puppies
Dir.: Emiko Hiramatsu (Japan)
Mother,...
- 10/30/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
A teaser for Emiko Hiramatsu’s upcoming dog movie Himawari to Koinu no Nanokakan has been uploaded to Shochiku’s official channel on YouTube.
Based on a true story, the movie centers around a Shiba Inu dog which is raised by an elderly couple (Isao Natsuyagi and Reiko Kusamura) who abandon it. Possessing a strong survival instinct, the dog manages to stay alive for a week on her own while struggling to protect her three puppies.
Masato Sakai plays an animal welfare center worker and who is raising two children alone since his wife died. When he meets this dog, who risked her own life to protect her puppies, he becomes determined to protect her in kind. The other workers at the center are touched by her motherly instinct too, and name her “Himawari” (Sunflower).
It’s probably worth noting that animal shelters in Japan have an incredibly high euthanasia rate for abandoned dogs,...
Based on a true story, the movie centers around a Shiba Inu dog which is raised by an elderly couple (Isao Natsuyagi and Reiko Kusamura) who abandon it. Possessing a strong survival instinct, the dog manages to stay alive for a week on her own while struggling to protect her three puppies.
Masato Sakai plays an animal welfare center worker and who is raising two children alone since his wife died. When he meets this dog, who risked her own life to protect her puppies, he becomes determined to protect her in kind. The other workers at the center are touched by her motherly instinct too, and name her “Himawari” (Sunflower).
It’s probably worth noting that animal shelters in Japan have an incredibly high euthanasia rate for abandoned dogs,...
- 6/22/2012
- Nippon Cinema
Although it was made recently, Yôji Yamada's Bushi no ichibun has a very old feel to it. Even though the film's characters seldom contain their true feelings and thoughts, this doesn't mean that the film can't make its point.
This adaptation of Shûhei Fujisawa is set in feudal Japan. Shinnojo Mimura (Takuya Kimura), a lower-rank samurai, is one of a feudal lord's "poison tasters". This means that before the lord eats his meal, Shinnojo and other men taste it. Since Shinnojo finds his job dull, he tells his wife Kayo (Rei Dan) that he wants to open a kendo (fencing) school accessible to any child notwithstanding the caste they belong to. Unfortunately, Shinnojo is struck by an illness after he had tasted for the lord a sashimi made from shell fish. In fact, because this shell fish is out of season (the cooks didn't know it) it can harm anybody who consumes it.
This adaptation of Shûhei Fujisawa is set in feudal Japan. Shinnojo Mimura (Takuya Kimura), a lower-rank samurai, is one of a feudal lord's "poison tasters". This means that before the lord eats his meal, Shinnojo and other men taste it. Since Shinnojo finds his job dull, he tells his wife Kayo (Rei Dan) that he wants to open a kendo (fencing) school accessible to any child notwithstanding the caste they belong to. Unfortunately, Shinnojo is struck by an illness after he had tasted for the lord a sashimi made from shell fish. In fact, because this shell fish is out of season (the cooks didn't know it) it can harm anybody who consumes it.
- 5/2/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
Panorama
BERLIN -- In a movie involving samurai and a tale of betrayal and revenge, the expectation is of clashing swords and carnage, but Yoji Yamada's "Love and Honor" (Bushi No Ichibun) turns out to be a tender love story.
Unlikely to satisfy an audience with bloodlust, the picture should do well on the festival circuit and in international art houses for its pensive examination of loyalty.
In an unspecified period in history where the local shogun rules and is served by tremulous servants and guarded by ferocious warriors, a young samurai named Shinnojo (Takuya Kimura) has a noble but unheralded job as one of the ruler's food tasters.
With four other handsomely uniformed and disciplined men, he participates in the ritual of taking one bite and one swallow of everything his lordship is about to eat.
Unhappy with his lot despite the privileges his minor rank affords him and the devotion of his loving wife, Kayo (Rei Dan), Shinnojo dreams of quitting to teach children to become swordsmen.
The likable but serious young man sees the ritual of tasting for poison as foolish tradition until one day he swallows a piece of sashimi from a fish as potentially lethal as the fugu pufferfish. He becomes ill immediately, so the shogun is saved. But after emerging from a coma, the loyal samurai discovers he is blind.
He descends into depression, though Kayo nurses and feeds him devotedly. She not only keeps him from suicide, but when his disability means he can no longer function as a samurai and their income is threatened, she goes to see the head of the castle guard for help.
He is willing to help but only at a price -- and when Shinnojo discovers what price Kayo has been willing to pay, he not only sends her away but also decides that honor must be served by challenging the leader to a duel.
Yamada takes his time with the story, showing husband and wife in their loving relationship and detailing the niceties of the shogun's dining rituals. The pace of the proceedings is never dull, however, thanks to expert performances -- especially by leads Kimura and Dan -- Matuso Naganuma's fine cinematography and the suitably graceful editing of Iwao Ishii.
When the final clash occurs, it has elements of a classic Western gunfight, full of stealth and steel, but Yamada has much more on his mind than simple bloodletting.
LOVE AND HONOR (BUSHI NO ICHIBUN)
Shochiku Co. Ltd.
Credits:
Director: Yoji Yamada
Screenwriters: Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu, Ichiro Yamamoto
Based on "Moumokuken Kodamagaeshi" by: Shuhei Fujisawa
Producer: Takeo Hisamatsu
Cinematographer: Matuso Naganuma
Art director: Naomi Koike
Music: Isao Tomita
Costume designer: Kazuko Korosawa
Editor: Iwao Ishii
Cast:
Shinnojo: Takuya Kimura
Kayo: Rei Dan
Also: Takashi Sasano, Nenji Kobayashi, Makoto Akatsuka, Toshiki Ayata, Koen Kondo, Nobuto Okamoto, Tokie Hidari, Yasuo Daichi, Ken Ogata, Kaori Momoi, Mitsugoro Bando
Running time -- 121 minutes
No MPAA rating...
BERLIN -- In a movie involving samurai and a tale of betrayal and revenge, the expectation is of clashing swords and carnage, but Yoji Yamada's "Love and Honor" (Bushi No Ichibun) turns out to be a tender love story.
Unlikely to satisfy an audience with bloodlust, the picture should do well on the festival circuit and in international art houses for its pensive examination of loyalty.
In an unspecified period in history where the local shogun rules and is served by tremulous servants and guarded by ferocious warriors, a young samurai named Shinnojo (Takuya Kimura) has a noble but unheralded job as one of the ruler's food tasters.
With four other handsomely uniformed and disciplined men, he participates in the ritual of taking one bite and one swallow of everything his lordship is about to eat.
Unhappy with his lot despite the privileges his minor rank affords him and the devotion of his loving wife, Kayo (Rei Dan), Shinnojo dreams of quitting to teach children to become swordsmen.
The likable but serious young man sees the ritual of tasting for poison as foolish tradition until one day he swallows a piece of sashimi from a fish as potentially lethal as the fugu pufferfish. He becomes ill immediately, so the shogun is saved. But after emerging from a coma, the loyal samurai discovers he is blind.
He descends into depression, though Kayo nurses and feeds him devotedly. She not only keeps him from suicide, but when his disability means he can no longer function as a samurai and their income is threatened, she goes to see the head of the castle guard for help.
He is willing to help but only at a price -- and when Shinnojo discovers what price Kayo has been willing to pay, he not only sends her away but also decides that honor must be served by challenging the leader to a duel.
Yamada takes his time with the story, showing husband and wife in their loving relationship and detailing the niceties of the shogun's dining rituals. The pace of the proceedings is never dull, however, thanks to expert performances -- especially by leads Kimura and Dan -- Matuso Naganuma's fine cinematography and the suitably graceful editing of Iwao Ishii.
When the final clash occurs, it has elements of a classic Western gunfight, full of stealth and steel, but Yamada has much more on his mind than simple bloodletting.
LOVE AND HONOR (BUSHI NO ICHIBUN)
Shochiku Co. Ltd.
Credits:
Director: Yoji Yamada
Screenwriters: Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu, Ichiro Yamamoto
Based on "Moumokuken Kodamagaeshi" by: Shuhei Fujisawa
Producer: Takeo Hisamatsu
Cinematographer: Matuso Naganuma
Art director: Naomi Koike
Music: Isao Tomita
Costume designer: Kazuko Korosawa
Editor: Iwao Ishii
Cast:
Shinnojo: Takuya Kimura
Kayo: Rei Dan
Also: Takashi Sasano, Nenji Kobayashi, Makoto Akatsuka, Toshiki Ayata, Koen Kondo, Nobuto Okamoto, Tokie Hidari, Yasuo Daichi, Ken Ogata, Kaori Momoi, Mitsugoro Bando
Running time -- 121 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Panorama
BERLIN -- In a movie involving samurai and a tale of betrayal and revenge, the expectation is of clashing swords and carnage, but Yoji Yamada's "Love and Honor" (Bushi No Ichibun) turns out to be a tender love story.
Unlikely to satisfy an audience with bloodlust, the picture should do well on the festival circuit and in international art houses for its pensive examination of loyalty.
In an unspecified period in history where the local shogun rules and is served by tremulous servants and guarded by ferocious warriors, a young samurai named Shinnojo (Takuya Kimura) has a noble but unheralded job as one of the ruler's food tasters.
With four other handsomely uniformed and disciplined men, he participates in the ritual of taking one bite and one swallow of everything his lordship is about to eat.
Unhappy with his lot despite the privileges his minor rank affords him and the devotion of his loving wife, Kayo (Rei Dan), Shinnojo dreams of quitting to teach children to become swordsmen.
The likable but serious young man sees the ritual of tasting for poison as foolish tradition until one day he swallows a piece of sashimi from a fish as potentially lethal as the fugu pufferfish. He becomes ill immediately, so the shogun is saved. But after emerging from a coma, the loyal samurai discovers he is blind.
He descends into depression, though Kayo nurses and feeds him devotedly. She not only keeps him from suicide, but when his disability means he can no longer function as a samurai and their income is threatened, she goes to see the head of the castle guard for help.
He is willing to help but only at a price -- and when Shinnojo discovers what price Kayo has been willing to pay, he not only sends her away but also decides that honor must be served by challenging the leader to a duel.
Yamada takes his time with the story, showing husband and wife in their loving relationship and detailing the niceties of the shogun's dining rituals. The pace of the proceedings is never dull, however, thanks to expert performances -- especially by leads Kimura and Dan -- Matuso Naganuma's fine cinematography and the suitably graceful editing of Iwao Ishii.
When the final clash occurs, it has elements of a classic Western gunfight, full of stealth and steel, but Yamada has much more on his mind than simple bloodletting.
LOVE AND HONOR (BUSHI NO ICHIBUN)
Shochiku Co. Ltd.
Credits:
Director: Yoji Yamada
Screenwriters: Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu, Ichiro Yamamoto
Based on "Moumokuken Kodamagaeshi" by: Shuhei Fujisawa
Producer: Takeo Hisamatsu
Cinematographer: Matuso Naganuma
Art director: Naomi Koike
Music: Isao Tomita
Costume designer: Kazuko Korosawa
Editor: Iwao Ishii
Cast:
Shinnojo: Takuya Kimura
Kayo: Rei Dan
Also: Takashi Sasano, Nenji Kobayashi, Makoto Akatsuka, Toshiki Ayata, Koen Kondo, Nobuto Okamoto, Tokie Hidari, Yasuo Daichi, Ken Ogata, Kaori Momoi, Mitsugoro Bando
Running time -- 121 minutes
No MPAA rating...
BERLIN -- In a movie involving samurai and a tale of betrayal and revenge, the expectation is of clashing swords and carnage, but Yoji Yamada's "Love and Honor" (Bushi No Ichibun) turns out to be a tender love story.
Unlikely to satisfy an audience with bloodlust, the picture should do well on the festival circuit and in international art houses for its pensive examination of loyalty.
In an unspecified period in history where the local shogun rules and is served by tremulous servants and guarded by ferocious warriors, a young samurai named Shinnojo (Takuya Kimura) has a noble but unheralded job as one of the ruler's food tasters.
With four other handsomely uniformed and disciplined men, he participates in the ritual of taking one bite and one swallow of everything his lordship is about to eat.
Unhappy with his lot despite the privileges his minor rank affords him and the devotion of his loving wife, Kayo (Rei Dan), Shinnojo dreams of quitting to teach children to become swordsmen.
The likable but serious young man sees the ritual of tasting for poison as foolish tradition until one day he swallows a piece of sashimi from a fish as potentially lethal as the fugu pufferfish. He becomes ill immediately, so the shogun is saved. But after emerging from a coma, the loyal samurai discovers he is blind.
He descends into depression, though Kayo nurses and feeds him devotedly. She not only keeps him from suicide, but when his disability means he can no longer function as a samurai and their income is threatened, she goes to see the head of the castle guard for help.
He is willing to help but only at a price -- and when Shinnojo discovers what price Kayo has been willing to pay, he not only sends her away but also decides that honor must be served by challenging the leader to a duel.
Yamada takes his time with the story, showing husband and wife in their loving relationship and detailing the niceties of the shogun's dining rituals. The pace of the proceedings is never dull, however, thanks to expert performances -- especially by leads Kimura and Dan -- Matuso Naganuma's fine cinematography and the suitably graceful editing of Iwao Ishii.
When the final clash occurs, it has elements of a classic Western gunfight, full of stealth and steel, but Yamada has much more on his mind than simple bloodletting.
LOVE AND HONOR (BUSHI NO ICHIBUN)
Shochiku Co. Ltd.
Credits:
Director: Yoji Yamada
Screenwriters: Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu, Ichiro Yamamoto
Based on "Moumokuken Kodamagaeshi" by: Shuhei Fujisawa
Producer: Takeo Hisamatsu
Cinematographer: Matuso Naganuma
Art director: Naomi Koike
Music: Isao Tomita
Costume designer: Kazuko Korosawa
Editor: Iwao Ishii
Cast:
Shinnojo: Takuya Kimura
Kayo: Rei Dan
Also: Takashi Sasano, Nenji Kobayashi, Makoto Akatsuka, Toshiki Ayata, Koen Kondo, Nobuto Okamoto, Tokie Hidari, Yasuo Daichi, Ken Ogata, Kaori Momoi, Mitsugoro Bando
Running time -- 121 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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