J-FILM2009 DATABASE (as of 2/12/10)

©”Goemon” Film Partners

Welcome to the New York – Tokyo J-Film2009 Database! This is the one-stop site for all Japanese films released in 2009! This database links together all the most important information about each film, so please check back often- this might be the only place you’ll find English info about the Japanese films you want to see! space

1/4 NO KISEKI – HONTO NO KOTO DAKARA

(e) THE MIRACLE OF THE GIFTED QUARTER – SINCE IT IS THE TRUTH

Director: Fumiko Irie

Documentary

A documentary about a woman teaching at a nursing institution. It shows the heart warming communication and the value of the life from the point of view of spiritual, science and archeology. This is Fumiko Irie’s first directed piece. 100 min.

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14 SAI NO HARAWATA

(e) HARAWATA – INTERNAL OF AGE 14 -

Director: Moemi Sayama

Drama

A LITTLE STEP

Director: Teppei Nakamura

Drama

The story takes place in the United States. An elementary school student named Alex doesn’t have a good relationship with his parents. Alex always feels isolated and envies his friends with families who love their children. One day he embarks on a trip to meet his grandfather. In the course of his trip, Alex comes across a Japanese tourist named Ichiro who tells Alex that he came to the US to do something important. A LITTLE STEP was the official selection of the 2009 Short Shorts Film Festival. 28 min.

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ABUBA TO YAABA

AI NO MUKIDASHI

(e) LOVE EXPOSURE

Director: Sion Sono

Comedy/Action

Award winning and subject of tremendous acclaim from the global festival circuit including Berlin Caligari award and FIPRESCI award – this controversial Japanese pervert entertainment portrays “True Love” by the one and only auteur, Sono Sion. A high school boy Yu’s loved ones are kidnapped by religious cult member Koike as a threat for Yu to join the cult. Among the people kidnapped are Yu’s father (who is a priest), Kaori (a person who is in love with Yu’s father), and Yu’s love interest Yoko. Not being fooled so easily, Yu sets out to save his loved ones from this religious cult. During the tempestuously 4 hours, this film is savage, overwhelming, baroque, and opulent. 237 min.

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AIBO SERIES: KANSHIKI・YONEZAWA MAMORU NO JIKENBO

(e) PARTNERS: CSI FILES

Director: Yasuharu Hasebe

Suspense

Forensics expert Mamoru Yonezawa (Seiji Rokkaku) uses his skills to solve a terrorist bombing case along with his detective partner. This is Yasuharu Hasebe’s spinoff of the highly successful “Aibo” detective drama and 2008 feature film. 105 min.

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AKUMU NO ELEVATOR

(e) ELEVATOR TRAP

Director: Keisuke Horibe

Suspense

Three men and a woman find themselves trapped in an elevator. As the time goes by, each of their secrets are being slowly revealed. This whole situation is actually the perfect crime disguised as an accident, but the question is who’s behind it? 105 min.

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ALVIN GO NO SHINKAI TANKEN 3D

ANNE WO SAGASHITE

ASAHIYAMA DOBUTSU EN – PENGUIN GA SORA WO TOBU

(e) PENGUINS IN THE SKY – ASAHIYAMA ZOO

Director: Masahiko Makino

Drama

With Asahiyama Zoo in danger of being closed down due to it’s unpopularity, young man Yoshida along with other zoo keepers are faced with the challenge of trying to keep the zoo open. The zoo director Takizawa is doing everything in his power to keep the zoo up and running. The Asahiyama zoo keepers think of a breakthrough method called “Behavioral Exhibition” which eventually makes the zoo renowned throughout the world. 112 min.

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ASSAULT GIRLS

Director: Mamoru Oshii

Action/Adventure

The first live-action film from director Mamoru Oshii (“Ghost in the Shell”) since the 2001 release of Avalon. Set on a post-apocalyptic desert battlefield where giant monsters named “Suna Kujira” (sand whales) roam. Three beautiful female hunters armed with assault rifles and other powerful weapons engage in battle with the monsters, including the biggest of them all, the Madara Suna Kujira (spotted sand whale). Meisa Kuroki (“Crows Zero”), Rinko Kikuchi (“Babel”), and Hinako Saeki (“Shin-Onna Tachiguishi Retsuden”) play the three hunters Gray, Lucifer, and Colonel. 70 min.

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ASYLUM SESSION, THE

Director: Takuto Aoki

Animation

A 3DCG animated feature film about the young passion to perform a street culture event called the “Asylum session.” A high school student named Hiyoko has a dream of becoming an artist. After getting angry with her father for throwing away her deceased mother’s painting, she runs away from her home. Hiyoko then encounters Akira, the leader of an Asylum where homeless young people are living in tents. 60 min.

©Tact Aoki / BROSTA TV / CoMix Wave Films

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BABY BABY BABY

Director: Kazuyuki Morosawa

Comedy

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BASARA NINGEN

Director: Hirono Yamana

Drama

Shinjuku was full of people living the lifestyle called “Basara” which influenced fashion. A full length debut film by Hiroya Yamada. Retro visuals are powered up by psychedelic music by veteran J.A. Caeser. 77 min.

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BASURA

BEAUTY – UTSUKUSHII MONO

(e) BEAUTY

Director: Toshio Goto

Drama

Hanji admires leading children kabuki actor Yukio and starts studying Kabuki. Under Yukio’s request, Hanji takes part as the female role in the play. This causes Utako to lose her role as the heroine. Hanji and Yukio eventually end up going to serve in the war. Hanji returns back home alive with Yukio’s dying requests for Hanji to play as the leading role. Hanji and Utako become a famous onstage couple after that. Suddenly, the presumed dead Yukio is found to be still alive. 109 min.

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BLACK GAISHA NI TSUTOMETERUNDAGA MO ORE WA GENKAI KAMO SHIRENAI

(e) A MAN ON THE VERGE AT A BLACK COMPANY

Director: Yuichi Sato

Comedy

Masao is a 26 year old NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). He has lost his mother while supporting himself by working under a black company. A “black company” is the Japanese slang for a company that overworks its employees. Masao shares his struggles from working for a black company on an internet forum. Teppen Koike, a member of the singer-songwriter duo WaT plays playing the lead role. 104 min.

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BLOOD

Director: Ten Shimoyama

Horror/Erotic

Detective Hoshino visits the mansion of the seductive vampire Miyako Rozmberk to investigate the murder of her former maid. Miyako blames the murder on Ukyo Kuronuma whom she saw biting the neck of the victim. Ukyo was once known as a swordsman named Okita before he was turned into a vampire by Miyako. Detective Hoshino eventually finds himself turned into a vampire, and battles Ukyo for the right to spend an eternity with Miyako. 85 min.

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BLUE PACIFIC STORIES

Directors: AI, Micro, Anna Tsuchiya

Drama

AI, Micro (former member of DefTech) and Anna Tsuchiya are popular among the younger generation and they created their first works of great individuality. The movie consists of three omnibus stories, one of which is CG animation and the ideas of the three love stories are inspired by the “sea”. 100 min.

©BLUE PACIFIC STORIES FILM PARTNERS

CHANTO TSUTAERU

CHINMOKU WO YABURU

(e) BREAKING THE SILENCE

Director: Toshikuni Doi

Documentary

A full length documentary by Toshikuni Doi. It explores a free journalist who was covering the Palestinian – Israeli issue for over 20 years. It documents the reality of two refugee reception centers. The area is in chaos due to Israeli troops attacking Jordan’s river. 130 min.

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(e) THE CLONE RETURNS HOME

Director: Kanji Nakajima

Fantasy

In the tradition of Solaris and other deeply philosophical science-fiction works, CLONE WA KOKYO WO MEZASU is an art cinema at its best. Kohei is an astronaut who agrees to have his body cloned if something were to happen to him. He happens to be killed in the line of duty and was resurrected as a clone. Instead of having his memories intact, the clone version of Kohei reverts back to his childhood memories when his twin brother drowned while saving him. When the clone discovers the real corpse of Kohei, he mistakens it for his twin brother and plans to take him along to his childhood home town. The film is filled with stunning visuals and eerie stillness that compliment this complex emotional drama. CLONE WA KOKYO WO MEZASU explores the themes of family, life, love, and death through sci-fi with a Japanese twist. The film was featured as an International Narrative Feature Films selection at the Sundance Festival 2009. 110 min.

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CODE, THE/ANGO

(e) THE CODE

Director: Kaizo Hayashi

Drama

Genius code breaker Detective 507 goes to Shanghai to crack his most difficult programming code yet. Detective 507 travels to Shanghai where he encounters a mafia boss, an informant, a beautiful singer and a sniper. As the detective goes farther into the case, he discovers a sad truth behind the mystery. 125 min.

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CRAYON SHIN CHAN “OTAKEBE! KASUKABE YASEI OUKOKU”

Director: Akira Shigino

Animation

In this 17th movie feature, Shin chan once again finds himself in a wild adventure with his family and neighbors in his home town, Kasukabe. Shin chan was picking up trash on a dry riverbed fulfilling his eco-activity duties and finds a drink that looks delicious. But this drink was indeed the first step to the ultimate eco-activity of “making human animals” by the new Kasukabe mayor. Shin chan’s parents drink the chilled drink and turns into a chicken and a leopard …With this film, Akira Shigino takes over the directing role. The ending theme song “Yanchan-Michi” sung by Jero, the first enka featured for the series. You can check the next Crayon Shin Chan movie here! 97 min.

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CROWS ZERO II

(e) CROWS II

Director: Takashi Miike

Action

DEMEKING

DONJU

(e) DUMBBEAST

Director: Hideaki Hosono

Comedy

Having been away from his acclaimed serious performance, Tadanobu Asano plays a dull yet genius writer. Asano leads the audience to this mysteriously comical world created by multi-talented play/movie writer/director Kankuro Kudo. Studio 4℃also gives a high quality anime-intrusion to this live feature. An editor arrives at a SUMO village to find the missing award-nominated writer Deko (Asano). He encounters his weird friends who have been trying to kill Deko because of his book from their painful memory. Despite their countless trials, Deko’s dumbness keeps him from noticing his friends’ intentions. 106 min.

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DOTEI HORO-KI

Director: Yuichi Konuma

Drama

Eikichi Yazawa began the history of Japanese rock. In 1972, the folk music was the most popular in Japan, however he decided to go to the way of Rock ‘n’ Roll. He formed the R&R band Carol which debuted sensationally. After the breakup of Carol, he continued singing as a solo rock star and in 2008 announced that he would take a break. The film is about his life as a top star both in name and reality. The film shows his background, private time, training, etc. Premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival. 90 min.

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EATRIP

Director: Yuri Nomura

Documentary

Directed by food expert and radio personality Yuri Nomura. EATRIP is a food documentary that explores the importance of food in human culture and the social customs behind it. Celebrities such as Tadanobu Asano also share their experiences and share a meal. Premiered at the Montreal Film Festival. 78 min.

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EIGA DORAEMON SHIN NOBITA NO UCHUU KAITAKUSHI

EVANGELION SHIN GEKIJOBAN: HA

(e) EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (Not) Advance

Director: Hideaki Anno

Animation

Digitalized cinema from the stage of “Goemon Rock” played by a popular theater company Shinkansen in 2008. The large scale live action follows the story of great thief Goemon who escaped the punishment of a scorching oven. He is off to a southern island looking for a treasure. His colleagues are shown with powerful live Rock music played on stage and beautiful cast. Starring Arata Furuta for Goemon (from Shinkansen), Yukiko Matsuyuki (“Detroit Metal City”), Yosuke Eguchi (“Goemon”) , and others. 189 min.

GEKIJOBAN – ELETE YANKEE SABURO

Director: Yudai Yamaguchi

Comedy

Directed by Yudai Yamaguchi (“Sakigake! Combat! High School”). The smash hit manga “Elite Yankee Saburo” becomes the funniest Yankee gag movie. It’s a story about the suffering of a shy high school student Saburo who has two extremely atrocious older Yankees brothers. 106 min.

GEKIJOBAN – KAMEN RIDER DECADE

Director: Osamu Kaneda

Action/Adventure

The 10th work of the Kamen Rider series after the Heisei era. In the story, the past 26 Riders from the Showa era assemble and have intense battles with the secret society of the evil Dai-Shokka. Additionally, the past evil characters including Jigoku-taishi and Shinigami-hakase come back to life. 90 min.

GEKIJOBAN – MUSHI KOTEI

Director: Fuyuki Shindo

Documentary

This film is about the entertainment of an insect martial art match. Worms are divided into two groups: “insect” (unicorn beetle, stag beetle) and “venom insect” (scorpion, scolopendrid). The story records the fierce battle between the two groups. Who is going to be the king of insects? 90 min.

GEKIJOBAN POCKET MONSTER DIAMOND & PEARL ARCEUS CHOKOKU NO JIKU E

(e) POKEMON: ARCEUS AND THE JEWEL OF LIFE

Director: Kunihiko Yuyama

Animation

This is the twelfth “Pokémon” film and the third in the “Diamond & Pearl” trilogy. The story takes place in Michina where lay the secrets of Arceus, a Legendary Pokémon that has shaped the world. Arceus is betrayed by Michina when it was time to return it’s powers which were granted for times in need. Along with new friends Sheena and others, Ash and friends must challenge time and space by using Dialga to confront those who have betrayed Arceus!

GELATIN SILVER LOVE

Director: Kazumi Kurigami

Suspense

The long awaited directorial debut by photographer Kazumi Kurigami. Kurigami has been fascinating the world with his unique ability to capture the vital energy from deep within many of the world’s most intriguing people including Sean Connenery and Keith Richard. A man (Masatoshi Nagase) is hired by someone (Koji Yakusho) to spy on a woman (Rie Miyazawa) around the clock and video record all of her activities at home. The man is strongly attracted to this mysterious and beautiful woman from the beginning. The man used to be a professional photographer but now only shoots for his own enjoyment. One day, he hears a car crash and goes to the scene of the accident where the woman in disguise is leaving the accident scene. 87 min.

GENERAL ROUGE NO GAISEN

(e) THE TRIUMPHANT GENERAL ROUGE

Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura

Suspense

A feature film adaptation based on the best-selling and award-winning novel written by real life physician-cum-novelist, Takeru Kaido. A year after cracking the Glorious Team Batista case, Tojo University Hospital is entangled again in another new scandal. This time the scandal is in the ER. A mysterious letter arrives for Dr. Kimiko Taguchi, a specialist in “unidentified clinical syndromes”. The letter reads, “Chief Surgeon Hayami of the Emergency Center has a collusive relationship with a medical supplies maker. And the head nurse is in on it with him.” Somewhere under all the mystery lies an unimaginable truth. 122 min.

GIN-IRO NO AME

(e) SILVER RAIN

Director: Takayuki Suzuki

Drama

Kazuya one day gets fed up with his life and heads to Yonago station to head for Tokyo. Because he missed the train, he wanders around the streets and bumps into a woman named Kikue. Kikue decides to take Kazuya in to live at her apartment. A few days later, a former boxer named Shoji has a drink at the shop where Kikue works and Kikue eventually takes him in to live at her apartment also. This starts a living arrangement between Kazuya, Kikue and Shoji. 112 min.

GIRL’S LIFE

Director: Yukichi Otsuka

Drama

A positive girl’s miracle success story. Rina Sakurai, a popular model of “Koakuma Ageha”, a hair and make-up magazine for gals, makes her actress debut. Abandoned by family and betrayed by her boyfriend, Haruka Ichinose comes to Tokyo with her pet turtle, Jimmy. With heaped up blonde hair, flashy fashion, beloved Jimmy, and no fixed address, she takes interviews. But she has no luck on job hunting and becomes a net cafe refugees. One day, she finds a flyer and she jumps into a cabaret. What kind of future is waiting for Haruka? 83 min

GIRLS’ LOVE

Director: Haruna Kawakami

Romance

Yoko who is forced to become a pianist by her parents is attracted to Natsuo, a girl who is a fast runner at the track and field club at her school. One day, the two meet and talk about their own dreams which help them bond. Fresh but a dangerous love story written and directed by a female director. 102 min.

©AVEX Entertainment Inc.

GOEMON

Director: Kazuaki Kiriya

Action / Samurai

From the creators who fascinated the audience in CASSHERN, comes back with an even more spectacular action and breathtaking visuals in GOEMON! Goemon is a legendary master thief who roams at will throughout the chaotic world of the ‘Sengoku – Warring States’ period. Acting as the charisma for the public, he steals from the riches and provides for the poor. One night, he unexpectedly steels a strange box from a wealthy merchant which holds the key to the assasination of a leader who was killed on the eve before the unification of Japan. When the secret reveals, a conflict would rise putting all powers in chaos. 128 min.

GOKUSEN THE MOVIE

Director: Touya Sato

Drama

Since its sensational debut in 2002, the “Gokusen” TV drama series went on with a mega-hit 2nd series and even more powerful 3rd series. The 3rd series was selected as the best-rated TV drama in 2008 with an average viewer rating of 22.8%. The GOKUSEN film is the completion of the title. The story is about Kumiko “Yankumi” Yamaguchi, a young woman living in the world of Yakuzas as the 4th generation heir of the Oedo Family. She is self-sacrificing to protect the weak, tough at fighting and firmly believes in the importance of friendship, dreams and family as she teaches and advises punks as a hot-blooded high school teacher. 118 min.

GROTESQUE

Director: Koji Shiraishi

Splatter

GROTESQUE is about a girl and her boyfriend who get kidnapped, chained and tortured. It starts off with Aki waiting for her boyfriend Kazuo at a cofee shop. What Aki doesn’t know is that someone by the name of Tachikawa was watching her the whole time at the coffee shop. As Aki and Kazuo are walking down the street, Tachikawa makes his move and kidnaps both of them. When Aki and Kazuo wake up, they find themselves in a dimly lit room and Tachikawa has plans to torture them in the most obscene ways possible. 78 min.

GUNJO – AI GA SHIZUNDA UMI NO IRO

(e) COBALT BLUE

Director: Yosuke Nakagawa

Drama

The heroine, Ryoko is an innocent girl raised on the isolated island of Okinawa. She falls in love with Kazuya who is an Okinawan fisherman. He promises her hand in marriage. Then tragedy hits…The merciless ocean takes his life and Ryoko finds herself unable to utter any more words. It is as if her soul has sunk to the dark bottom of the sea where her beloved now lies…GUNJO (means the color of Cobalt Blue) is the story of a hurt heroine aided by various people who surround her. The light floods the cobalt blue ocean, signaling the arrival of the morning full of hope. 120 min.

HAGETAKA, THE MOVIE

(e) THE VULTURE

Director: Keishi Ohtomo

Drama

Masahiko Washizu (Nao Omori) nicknamed “Vulture,” is a Wall Street trained banker who returned to Japan to attempt a hostile takeover of the bank that he used to work for. Now a Chinese fund manager, Liu Yihua (Tetsuji Tamayama) nicknamed “Red Vulture” is attempting a buyout of a major Japanese car manufacturer. It is now up to Washizu to save the day. 134 min.

HAJIMETE NO IEDE

Director: Kosuke Hishinuma

Drama

Because of her parents’ divorce, Midori moves to a new school. Her new friend Asako is planning to run away from home during spring break. Midori also wants to run away from home with Asako and…. Casting Miho Kanazawa (“Yogisha X no Kenshin”) and Rina Saito (“Oppai Volley”), this drama describes the girls in adolescent. 104 min.

©AVEX Entertainment Inc.

HALF WAY

Director: Eriko Kitagawa

Drama/Romance

“When he’s within 25 meters of me, I feel like there’s this banging going on inside of me!” — Hiro, a high school senior in Hokkaido, falls in love with her classmate, Shu, agonizing whether Shu feels the same way. Soon they start dating, but their happy days are interrupted as they both decided to apply for college in different locations. This is the first directed piece by Eriko Kitagawa (writer for numerous smash hit TV dramas) which touches on a bitter-sweet love story of high school couples. HALF WAY was produced by Shunji Iwai (“New York, I Love You”) along with Takeshi Kobayashi (“Midnight Eagle”) who also produced the music score. 85 min.

HANA GUERRILLA

(e) THE TWO GUERRILLA GARDENERS

Director: Koji Kawano

Drama

HANA GUERRILLA is the second installation of the Kirakira movie series after “2 Steps!.” This mellow youth romance stars Konishi Ryusei ( “The Prince of Tennis Musical” star) as a young man who likes to wander the streets at night and plant flower seeds throughout the town . His curious hobby attracts the interests of a office lady Eiko, who starts following him around and joins him in his flower-planting guerrilla missions. The full-grown flowers gradually starts making people happy. 93 min.

HANA NO ASUKA GUMI – NEO!

Director: Yutaka Tsurita

Drama

Asuka investigates a new addictive candy which is causing random suicides at her school. One day she finds a wallet with a large sum of money which leads her to suspect something. Once she tracked down the owner of the wallet, she finds out that the money is linked to the distribution of UF. UF stands for Ultra Fruit, and is a pink candy known for it’s addicting qualities. 71 min.

HANA TO HEITAI

(e) FLOWERS & TROOPS

Director: Yoju Matsubayashi

Documentary

A documentary about Japanese soldiers who stayed in the East Asian nations even after World War Ⅱ ended. When the war ended, some Japanese soldiers were fighting on the battle fields in East Asia. After that, they chose to stay there and did not return to Japan. The soldiers now spend their lives with their family. The documentary follows their interviews asking about the reason why they stay in foreign countries, and their miserable experience tossed about throughout the war. 106 min.

HANAMUKO WA 18 SAI

(e) THE BRIDEGROOM IS 18 YEARS OLD

Director: Masaharu Take

Comedy

HANAMUKO WA 18 SAI is about a high school student Masaya and teacher Aiko who both decided to get married. Their happy relationship encounter’s a big problem when Aiko is now the new principle of Masaya’s high school. While the journal club has doubts in their relationship, both Masaya and Aiko try to save their relationship. 80 min.

HARD REVENGE MILLY

Director: Takanori Tsujimoto

Action/Adventure

The latest sequel of the violent action drama HARD REVENGE MILLY, starring Miki Mizuno. It is 20XX in Yokohama, a lawless and deserted city. Milly witnesses the murder of her husband and baby by notorious gangsters, The Jack Brothers. Having survived a serious injury, Milly decides to avenge her family as a human weapon. With swords and guns implanted in her own body, Milly makes her way towards the gangsters who are stationed in an abandoned factory. The door to hell is opened. 72 min.

HASHIRIYA ZERO -STREET DENSETSU-

(e) RUNNER ZERO I & II

Director: Akira Hirose

Car Action

HASHIRIYA ZERO I: Kazuki repeatedly participates in races in his RX7 with hopes of getting the best title of ZERO. Although talented, Kazuki is inexperienced and far from getting that title. A former title holder named Yuichi decides to help out Kazuki by coaching him. 87 min.

HASHIRIYA ZERO II: Hachi is in despair from losing all his car races. An editor of Runner Magazine named Okada decides to recruit him. With Hachi’s natural talent and Okada’s knowledge, Hachi will only get stonger. 85 min.

HATSUKOI NATSU NO KIOKU

(e) FIRST LOVE – A MEMORY IN SUMMER

Director: Sho Nobuse

Romance

Based on “First Love” by Russian novelist, Ivan Turgenev. The summer love story takes place in a beautiful mountain city. There lives a boy who moved from Tokyo because of his mother’s medical treatment and a lonely girl who lives alone after the loss of her parents. 103 min.

HEAVEN’S DOOR

Director: Michael Arias

Drama

The first live-action film by Michael Arias, who broke into Japanese anime industry as a foreigner with his great debut “Tekkon Kinkreet”. Mika Omori (“Detroit Metal City” ) adapted the story from the 1997 German comedy “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”. Arias’s version revolves around terminally two ill people: 28 year old Masato (Tomoya Nagase) and 14 year old Harumi (Mayuko Fukuda) who decide to escape from the hospital to a round trip to the sea. They steal a fancy convertible from a parking lot and go on a wild final adventure. Great music by Plaid with sound design by Mitch Osias again (as “Tekkon”). Various stars pop up along the way, such as Anna Tsuchiya and Yumi of Puffy AmiYumi. 106 min.

HEBANO

(e) GOODBYE

Director: Bunyo Kimura

Drama

Taken place in a village of northern Japan, HEBANO tells the story about the relationship between a woman named Kimi and her boyfriend Osamu who works at a nuclear power plant. One of Osamu’s coworkers happens to be Kimi’s father. When Osamu suddenly gets exposed to dangerous radioactive wastes, he is forced to leave but without his girlfriend Kimi. 81 min.

HENRIK TERAYAMA SHUJI NO OTOTO

(e) HENRIK SHUJI TERAYAMA’S BROTHER

Director: Atsushi Ishikawa

Documentary

A documentary about Henriku Morisaki who huddled under the world-renowned Shuji Terayama of Tenjo Sajiki. He was married to the house on the family register, and became the brother of Terayama after his death. For 7 years, the film portrays Henriku who continues playing Terayama’s “Laura” in Japan and abroad as a successor of Terayama. 117 min.

HIGASHI NO EDEN THE MOVIE: KING OF EDEN

Director: Kenji Kamiyama

Animation

HIGASHI NO EDEN is a popular TV anime series that aired in 2009. Following up with the TV series, the compilation “Eden of The East Compilation: Air Communication,” was released at limited theaters. Afterwards, two other theatrical films were planned for release. HIGASHI NO EDEN THE MOVIE: KING OF EDEN is the 1st film of those two. Centering around Takizawa who suddenly disappeared, the film describes the world after the missile attack took place in Japan. Like the TV version, the film was created, directed and written by Kenji Kamiyama (“Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” series), and animation production by Production I.G. 77 min.

HIGH KICK GIRL !

Director: Fuyuhiko Nishi

Action/Adventure

A high-school girl Kei Tsuchida (Rina Takeda) joins a karate dojo. Kei is born with extraordinary athletic ability and her status in the dojo rises quickly as even defeating men. Despite her accomplishments, the master Matsumura doesn’t award her the coveted “Blackbelt”, trying to teach Kei that Karate is about more than just kumite (fighting) and that “the real strength is in the kata (forms)”. Impatient Kei decides to leave him and join a rival fighting group called Kowashiya (Destroyers), who will allow her to use her fighting skills and to earn money doing so. Kei becomes deeply involved with Kowashiya until one day she discovers the true purpose of the leader of Kowashiya is to attack on her master Matsumura. … The US DVD release is scheduled for March 30, 2010. 81 min.

HIGURASHI NO NAKU KORO NI: CHIKAI

(e) SHRILL CRIES: RESHUFFLE

Director: Ataru Oikawa

Horror

HIGURASHI NO NAKU KORO NI: CHIKAI is the sequel to “Shrill Cries of Summer”. Rena murders a prostitute and a pimp who tried to scam her dad out of all his money. She now has to dispose the bodies. She gets help from Keiichi and her friends to rid of the bodies. Rena is later contacted by detective Oishi and gives her information that can help her discover the mystery behind Oyashiro-sama. 108 min.

HIJOSHI ZUKAN

(e) HIJOSHI　〜WHAT GIRLS WANT 〜

Directors: (omnibus of 6 directors)

Comedy

Women have started to live true to their desires in today’s stress-ridden world. Women claiming, “I have my own style which differs from others!” fall under the category of “hijoshi.” (not-girls). This film is an omnibus of 6 stories of girls who live brutally true to themselves. 105 min. Yoshihiro Fukagawa, Koji Kawano, Takashi Shimizu, Keisuke Toyoshima, Renpei Tsukamoto, Yudai Yamaguchi

HIKARI NO KISEKI (“1/4 NO KISEKI”)

(e) THE MIRACLE OF THE COLORED LIGHT

Director: Fumiko Irie

Documentary

The second documentary directed by Fumiko Irie (1/4 No Kiseki) depicting the value of human life. Though overcoming cancer, Noriko Terada is diagnosed with diabetes. After the long stuggle with her illness, she meets Katsuko who lost her beloved student with disabilities. She again finds the joy of living when she listened to Katsuko’s student’s poem at her lecture. Though almost losing her eyesight, Noriko enthusiastically continues to draw more than 50 pictures within 3 months. 90 min.

HIKIDASHI NO NAKA NO LOVE LETTER

(e) LISTEN TO MY HEART

Director: Shinichi Mishima

Drama

Radio DJ, Mao (Takako Tokiwa) starts a new program called Hikidashi No Naka No Love Letter (Love Letters from the Drawer) to assist people who need an extra push to send out their simple yet very important messages to their loved ones. Through her radio show, various characters come to light as everyone awaits for a miracle to happen. A miracle which can occur only by them expressing their true feelings… 107 min.

HITORI KAKURENBO, THE MOVIE

(e) CREEPY HIDE AND SEEK

Director: Masashi Yamada

Horror

A strange game named “Hide and Seek” begins to spread rapidly on the internet. With the recent divorce of her parents, Ritsuko decides to take part in this game out of anger. When Ritsuko doesn’t show up in school one day, her friend Ryoko decides to check up on her and finds a piece of paper providing instructions on how to play this hide and seek game. 99 min.

HOKKOMAI TAKAMATSU JUNJO CINEMA

(e) HOKKOMAI BOYS-MEET-CINEMA STORY IN TAKAMATSU

Director: Hiroshi Takashima

Drama

A story of high school students devoted to filmmaking which takes places in the 1970s in Takamatsu, a regional area in Japan. Takashi, a popular school student in a uniform, doesn’t care much about studying and always goes to the movie theater in his town. One day he becomes disappointed when he finds out that his favorite movie theater will be closing and will soon be made into bowling alleys. He then makes a decision to shoot his own film to appeal the abolishment of his school’s uniform. 57 min.

HOLLYWOOD KANTOKU GAKU NYUMON

(e) FOREIGN FILMMAKERS’ GUIDE TO HOLLYWOOD

Director: Hideo Nakata

Documentary

This documentary explores what is needed to make a film in the Hollywood system. Director Hideo Nakata reveals his experience on remaking his own sequel of “Ring.” He reveals the ordeal behind the scenes of a big Hollywood production. He also talks to other directors, such as Takashi Shimizu, as they share their experiences with Hollywood remakes. 73 min.

HONOKAA BOY

Director: Atsushi Sanada

Comedy

Leo (Masaki Okada) is a young man with no sense of personal space. He visits Hawaii because his girlfriend wants to see a moonbow – a rainbow over the moon. 6 months later, Leo finds himself living in Honokaa, a town they stumbled upon while driving around and getting lost on the big island. Life is full of surprises. He becomes an assistant to a movie projectionist in a small theater. Then one day, Leo meets the biggest prankster in town, an old lady named Bee (Chieko Baisho). This was the beginning of everything that would follow. One day, Leo falls for a girl named Mariah, a pretty local girl who is quick to laugh. Her presence would trigger dramatic consequences… 111 min.

HOTTARAKE NO SHIMA – HARUKA TO MAHO NO KAGAMI

(e) OBLIVION ISLAND: HARUKA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR

Director: Shinsuke Sato

Animation

A 3DCG adventure about a 16-year-old girl who wounds up on a mysterious world made of forgotten things. Haruka lost her mother at an early age and the relationship with her father has somehow worsened ever since. One day, in a shine yard she spots a fox-like creature carrying a toy plane. She chases the creature and ends up on Oblivion Island where humans are not allowed to be. She explores her memories during her time on the Island as she faces unexpected happenings. This is a story about looking into lost memories. Animation is by Production I.G. 98 min.

IKECHAN TO BOKU

(e) GOOD BYE, MY SECRET FRIEND

Director: Toshihiko Ooka

Fantasy

IKECHAN TO BOKU is about a young boy named Toshio and his imaginary blob-like friend who he likes to call Ike-chan. Ike-chan would multiply whenever Toshio was happy and shrink whenever he was sad. Whenever Toshio would be friendlly with girls, Ike-chan would turn red and angry. When Toshio gets older and experiences his first love, Ike-chan suddenly vanishes from his life. 107 min.

IKEMEN BANK, THE MOVIE

Director: Kotaro Terauchi

Drama

A new film was born from Bandai’s idea, piggy bank for girls, “Ikemen Bank”. Bandai’s “Ikemen Bank” is in the shape of a heart and has a LCD screen on the front. Everytime money is added in the bank, “ikemen” (handsome guys) pop up and give you compliments or ask for a kiss. This film is about Yuri Yamamura who catches the attention of 5 good looking guys. 83 min.

IL VENTO E LE ROSE AISURU TO IU KOTO

Director: Elisa Bolognini

Love

Georgia is a young flower girl living with her devoutly Catholic grandmother in a small town in northern Rome. Her simple life dramatically changes when a goddess-like woman with jet black hair, porcelain skin and sensual lips arrives in town…The impetus for this film was the hugely successful book by Kyoko Kano entitled “Triolisme”. The entire production staff was comprised of women including the director Elisa Bolognini. The beautiful natural environment and women of Italy make for breathtaking imagery and exquisite visuals. The lyrical Italian language, the sighs of love, the silky voice and sensual melodies, the fragrant roses…. This is a sensual film made for women from a vantage point and ideals of women. 73 min.

IMA, BOKU WA

(e) NOW, I…

Director: Yasutomo Chikuma

Drama

IMA, BOKU WA is the story of Satoru (Chikuma Yasutomo), a 20-year-old “NEET” (Not currently engaged in Employment, Education or Training) who lives at home with his single mother. He refuses to do anything except play video games, eat junk food and sleep. It’s not just a “phase” – Satoru is destined for a life of nothingness. His mother finally takes some initiative by having Fujisawa, a former co-worker to escort Satoru to his new job. Things start to look better, but Fujisawa’s sincere efforts to get closer to Satoru and an unforseen tragedy push Satoru over the edge…It was premiered at the Rain Dance Fim Festival in London. 87 min.

INSTANT NUMA

Director: Satoshi Miki

Comedy

Magazine editor, Haname (Kumiko Aso) loses her job because Hatena Magazine is going to fold. After she was forced to resign from her job, she decides to start her life over again and disposes of all her old belongings. She finds a shocking letter that reveals the identity of her missing father. Although the name is totally unfamiliar to her, she still tries to find her father. Instead, she meets a dubious antique shop owner named Denkyu.. 120 min.

INU BAKA

(e) WE ARE CRAZY FOR DOGS !

Director: Jun Yoriko

Drama/Animal

Originally from smash-hit comics “Inu baka”. This is a funny and bittersweet story of dog lovers and lovely dogs. 100 dogs are casted in this film — A dog lover named Suguri Miyauchi moves to Tokyo with her dog Lupin. She meets a pet shop owner named Teppei who offers her a job at the pet shop. Once she set afoot at the pet shop, Teppei is amazed at how well Suguri connects with dogs. 92 min.

INU TO NEKO TO NINGEN TO

Director: Motoharu Iida

Documentary

A documentary about the relationship between humans, dogs and cats in Japan. The director Iida was asked by an old woman named Keiko Inaba to shoot a film to convey the importance of animals while she was alive. He first gets lost with her offer, but through the research, he started to learn the reality of the pet kingdom in Japan. While some families welcome dogs and cats as family members, nearly 1,000 of dogs and cats are disposed every day. 118 min.

ISAMU KATAYAMA ARTISANAL LIFE

Director: Koichi Makino

Documentary

This documentary is about Isamu Katayama, the owner of a high-quality leather brand “Backlash”. The goods have been extremely popular among musicians, artists and models. The popular singer group “Glay” plays the theme song and music in this film. 96 min.

JIBE: UMIKAZE NI FUKARETE

(e) CARRIED ON A SEA BREEZE

Director: Toshiki Sato

Drama

Tetsuro returns to his seaside hometown from Tokyo and bumps into his ex-girlfriend from high school Yuki. Although they haven’t seen each other in a long time, they managed to catch up. They reminisce about the old days in the school yacht club. After catching up with each other Tetsuro agrees to sail around the island of Hokkaido. 108 min.

JIKU KEISATSU HYPERION

(e) TIME EVOLUTION TACTICS: HYPERION

Director: Kazuya Hatazawa

Action/Adventure

In this spin-off movie of a popular special effects drama called “Jiku Keisatsu Wecker,” Juku Keisatsu comes from the future to settle heinous crimes beyond time and space. 120 min.

©MAXAM INC / MILLION ENTERTAINMENT INC.

JOSHI JOSHI OVER8

Omnibus of 8 directors Drama

The latest omnibus film produced by Over 8, a project created by directors with fresh ideas and loads of originality. JOSHII JOSHI OVER 8 features 8 omnibus stories by 8 different directors, starring two women (Joshi) as the title JOSHI JOSHI suggests. Participating Directors are: Ken Arima, Yoshihiro Ito, Kenzo kaga, Shu Kageyama, Chikako Kumada, Koki Kawano, Hiroshi Kawamoto, takehiro Kuwashima, Takehiro Sakai, Makoto Sasaki, Ryosuke Sato, Ryo Shinagawa, Toshi nagano, Nario, Masatoshi Saijo, Takuya Fukusima, Koji Maeda, Koei Yamada 104 min.

JU-ON: KUROI SHOJO

(e) THE GRUDGE: GIRL IN BLACK

Director: Mari Asato

Horror

Nurse Yuko (Ai Kago) encounters something strange when taking care of her patient Fukie. It is discovered that Fukie has a cyst in her body, when in fact that cyst is actually leftover grudge from a baby that was never able to be born. When the grudge spreads to Fukie, it soon spreads to everyone around her. 60 min.

JU-ON: SHIROI ROJO

(e) THE GRUDGE: OLD LADY IN WHITE

Director: Ryuta Miyake

Horror

A son murders all five of his family members one by one and tries to commit suicicde. Before he hangs himself, he leaves behind a recorder that has a recording of his voice speaking in unison with a female voice. That female voice was one of the victims who was best friends with her classmate Akane (Akina Minami), who has a strong supernatural sense. 61 min.

JURYOKU PIERROT

(e) GRAVITY’S CLOWNS

Director: Junichi Mori

Suspense

This film is about Izumi (Ryo Kase) and his younger brother Haru (Masaki Okada), who was a product of his mother’s brutal rape by a criminal. Although that was the case, the family treat Haru as an equal in the family. When Izumi and Haru grow up, a serial arsonist starts a series of fires and leaving puzzling graffiti behind each crime scene. When Izumi starts to inspect the puzzling graffiti, he starts to unfold the messages behind the vandalism. 119 min.

KAFOO WO MACHIWABITE

(e) ~KAFOO~WAITING FOR HAPPINESS

Director: Yu Nakai

Romance

At the outlier of Okinawa, 28 year old Akio leads an indulgent life running a variety store with his beloved dog, Kafoo. One day, Akio receives a letter from girl with the message, “Please let me be your bride.” It was an answer to Akio’s wish written on a wooden plaque that he wrote at a shrine when he traveled. ”Would you be my bride?“ Akio half in doubt, encounters a beautiful young woman named Sachi who approaches him. Except for the fact that she was lead by Akio’s wooden plaque, Sachi does not unveil anything about herself. It’s the latest film by Yu Nakai (“Bloody Snake under the Sun” which was premiered at NYT Film Grand Prix 2008). 120 min.

KAGIANADORI DE SAYONARA WO

(e) FAREWELL AT THE KEYHOLE STREET

Director: Kunio Yoshida

Drama

This drama is about the corrupt life of a married couple. Kazuhiro runs a small editorial service company that eventually goes out of business. His wife Naoko feels frustrated with Kazuhiro because Kazuhiro had love affars with his friend’s wife. Kazuhiro’s friend eventually kills his wife and then kills himself..Naoko still suffers from his treachery and starts thinking that their marriage might’ve been a mistake… After a quarrel with Kazuhiro, Naoko runs away from home. 108 min.

KAIJI

(e) ULTIMATE SURVIVOR KAIJI

Director: Toya Sato

Suspense

KAIJI is based on a bestselling comic series that features various unique games, such as “Gentei Janken” (restricted rock-scissors-paper), “Ningen Keiba” (human derby), and other seemingly preposterous games with the consistent theme of “people can turn their lives around.” Kaiji Ito (Tatsuya Fujiawara) is a 26-year-old man who leads a hand-to-mouth existence working at a convenience store. Although he doesn’t admit it, he is the typical loser of today’s society. One day, a woman of a loan company demands Kaiji to clear a big debt he cosigned for his friend. Then she sweetly tells if he boards a ship that departs in a few hours, he could have a chance to clear the debt overnight and moreover, make a lot of money at the same time. A loser stands up and fights for his life in gambling… The fatal game battles has begun! 129 min.

KAMOGAWA HORUMO

(e) KAMOGAWA HORUMO – BATTLE LEAGUE IN KYOTO

Director: Katsuhide Motoki

Comedy

A combat action comedy film with VFX and animation by GONZO (“Afro Samurai”). The film is an adaptation of a hit fantasy novel.The story is about a group of university students who inevitably play a game of “Horumo” – a combat match where each person manipulates 100 spirits (“oni”) to fight the opponent. Akira, a freshman at Kyoto Univ. starts playing this mysterious game which started over 1,000 years ago in the Heian period. The heat rises as the 2,000 CGI created spirits wage fierce battles against the backdrop of breathtaking beautiful city of Kyoto. Let the battle begin! 113 min.

KAMUI GAIDEN

(e) KAMUI

Director: Yoichi Sai

Action/Adventure

A highly concepted US$18M budget Ninja Action film! Kamui (Kenichi Matsuyama) is a fugitive Ninja on the run from the world of Ninja. He despises the lethal laws of the Ninja where he must use his skills to kill others and is in search for true freedom. However, he burdens the fate to fight the Hunter Ninjas who tries to eliminate him for his betrayal. In order to live, he must constantly fight for his life. He does not trust, and he does not live. Showing weakness leads to immediate death. An incident brings him to a fisherman’s family, where he finally starts to open up to other people. However, the Hunters were just minutes away from setting up a huge trap on Kamui… 120 min.

KANASHII BOY FRIEND

Director: Yoka Kusano

Fantasy

The latest film of Sony’s Cinemuseca (Movie + Music) series. An encounter with a junior high school girl causes a 37 year old man (Hirofumi Terawaki) to be transported back in time to relive his youthful days in Kobe. During his time in the past, he relives a particular junior high school romance he once had. 87 min.

KANI KOSEN

(e) THE CRAB CANNERY SHIP

Director: So Yamamura

Drama

Aboard the Japanese crab ship ‘Kanikosen’ equipped with a cannery facility, workers are forced to labor under pitiful conditions at minimum wages. Some even die of cruel labor and malnutrition. And to top it off, the factory superintendent Asakawa is the most brutal sort who does not treat the workers as human beings. Shinjo, one of the workers, persuades the others that they should wish to become rich in their next life as there is no future for them in the present. So all of them try to commit suicides, which ends up in a comedy of errors. Shinjo then escapes the Kanikosen and is rescued by a Soviet vessel. He is astonished by the new social system on the vessel that is so much different from the one he left behind. In realization, Shinjo returns to the ship to save the others. Premiered at the New York International Film Festival and the Pusan International Film Festival. 109 min.

KANNA-SAN DAISEIKO DESU!, THE MOVIE

(e) KANNA’S BIG SUCCESS!

Director: Koichi Inoue

Comedy

Yes, Kanna is extremely beautiful. The only thing that makes her different from other beautiful women is she is a subject of a whole-body-plastic-surgery-beauty that cost her entire savings. Since her beautiful transformation, both her love life and career has taken off leading her to a happy life. This was her world until someone shows up to reveal the fact about her makeover…!? A popular comic by Yumiko Suzuki which was made into a Korean film (English title: “200 Pounds Beauty”) in 2007. In 2009, a completely new Japanese version was produced. The film establishes a new genre of trendy girl comedy. 110 min.

KANSEN RETTO

(e) PANDEMIC

Director: Takahisa Zeze

Suspense

The Black Plague hit in the 14th century, Cholera in the 19th century, Spanish Flu in 1918, and now, 2010 in Japan, a new plague attacks. A script written over 18 months of research with epidemiology specialists. The film is a real-life look at the spread of an epidemic disease and the discord this would create in a perfectly realized dramatic form. The story starts when an urgent patient is carried in for Tsuyoshi Matsuoka, an ER doctor. 138 min.

KASABUTA HIME

(e) SCAB PRINCESS

Director: Shinichi Sanjo

Love

Saki and Koichi meet at a group date and are attracted each other. However, Saki couldn’t confess her strange habits. It’s an unique love story about a girl who has a secret fetish for peeling scab and a boy that loves her. The director Shinichi Miki is known for producing the big hit “Hana yori Dango final.” 112 min.

KATEN NO SHIRO

(e) CASTLE UNDER FIERY SKIES

Director: Mitsutoshi Tanaka

Drama

Based on a novel by Kenichi Yamamoto, KATEN NO SHIRO is a drama about Imperial Court carpenter, Mataemon Okabe (Toshiyuki Nishida) who was ordered by feudal lord, Nobunaga Oda to take part in the construction of Azuichi Castle. Oda Nobunada planned to have the castle built near water and also to have the castle built high enough so that it can be seen from the city of Kyoto. 139 min.

KAZE GA TSUYOKU FUITE IRU

(e) FEEL THE WIND

Director: Sumio Omori

Drama

A talented runner named Haiji was not able to run due to injuries. He meets Kakeru, another gifted runner who has left the track field after causing trouble. Their encounter revives their passion to run once again. As they decide to participate in an “Hakone Ekiden” (marathon relay) match, a dream for all university long-distance runners, they need to find 10 runners on the team. 10 runners, aiming for one goal. They grow up and deepen their bonds through running as they go one step ahead, one kilometer ahead. 133 min.

KAZE NO KATACHI ‐ SHONIGAN TO NAKAMATACHI NO JYUNEN

(e) SHAPE THE WIND

Director: Shinichi Ise

Documentary

105 min.

KEITAI KARESHI

(e) THE CELLULAR BOYFRIENDS

Director: Shinju Funabiki

Suspense

Ayumi commits suicide and leaves an email saying “will be killed by boyfriend”. Her classmates Satomi and Yuka investigate her suicide and linked her death to a cellphone dating simulation game called “Keitai Kareshi”. In this game, players pick avatars and exchange messages with other players. A love gauge determines how well the player is doing. 102 min.

KEITAI SHOSETSUKA NO AI

(e) THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRL’S PLATONIC LOVE

Director: Isao Kaneko

Drama

Ai is a quiet high school student who’s obsessed with cell-phone novels. Although she dreams of becoming a cell-phone novelist herself, she believes her lack of experience with love prevents her from this dream. She starts dating Tomoki, experiencing her first kiss and losing her virginity. As she went further into the relationship, she experienced more things such as gang rape and drugs. All of these experiences had enabled Ai to become a better writer. 100 min.

KENKA KOKO GUNDAN / TOKKO! KOKUCHIGIJUKU VS. ASAKO

(e) SAMURAI SCHOOL BOOGIE

Director: Yuichi Kanemaru

Action

Set in the late 70′s during the economic boom in Japan, there is a yearly “test of courage”, The students at Kunishi high school prepare to battle against other rival high schools. They prepare by equipping any possible weapon that they can find including wooden swords and brass knuckles. In addition to battling it out with other students, the students at Kunishi high school also have to try to collect school emblems as trophies. 115 min.

KERORO GUNSO GEKISHIN DRAGON WARRIORS DE ARIMASU !, THE SUPER MOVIE

(e) SERGEANT KERORO – THE SUPER DUPER MOVIE – DRAGON WARS

Director: Shin Yamaguchi

Animation

The Keroro Platoon are back and face a new threat from Ryu no Shippo (Dragon Tails). Ryu no Shippo are giant beings that have been appearing thoughout the whole world. As they were doing research on these beings, Tamama ends up missing. During their search to find Tamama, they meet a girl named Sion who holds the Ryu ni Hon (Dragon Book).

KIKANSHA YAEMON

(e) LOCOMOTIVE YAEMON

Director: Yukio Kaizawa

Animation

Based on a picture book by Hiroyuki Agawa (writer) and Fumihiko Okabe (illustrator), the new Kikansha Yaemon film will be reanimated along with 3D computer graphics. The film was released to celebebrate the 50th anniversary of the Kikansha Yaemon book. 60 min.

KIKOE

Director: Chikara Iwai

Documentary

This documentary is about Yoshihide Otomo, a musician who is highly valued for his artistic activity in the world stage. The director records Yoshihide’s wide range of activities including films, TV programs (particularly from the 1990s to 2007) and his friendship with other artists and critics. 99 min.

KILLER VIRGIN ROAD

(e) KILLER BRIDE’S PERFECT CRIME

Director: Goro Kishitani

Comedy/Drama

Hiroko (Juri Ueno) is a loser. She is about to get married when disaster strikes. Her landlord stops by her apartment where a pair of wayward scissors fall from a shelf and stabs him in the back. On the road to Mount Fuji where Hiroko plans on dumping the corpse, something suddenly falls on the hood of her car. That “something” is Fukuko (Yoshino Kimura), who is dying to die. Fukuko is irredeemably unhappy and has endeavored to commit suicide again and again. As Hiroko and Fukuko begin their journey to abandon the corpse, a weird friendship begins to build. 97 min.

KIRITORU

Director: Joe Tanaka

Drama

This low budget drama is about the life of a young woman under the economic depression in Japan. Kaya, a student of a dressmaking school, skips her classes as usual. While hanging around a smoking place, she is asked by a man to give him a light. After that, he aggressively takes Kaya to his favorite café. 62 min.

KOI KYOKUSEI

(e) DAYS WITH YOU

Director: Amiy Mori

Drama/Romance

KOI KYOKUSEI is about a young girl Natsuki who takes care of her autistic brother. She hasn’t experienced any happiness since the death of her father. She reunites with her childhood love Souta after a long absence. His kindness eventually brings a smile to Natsuki’s face. However, Natsuki finds out something about Souta that could put their happy reunion at risk. 103 min.

KOKYO SHIHEN EUREKA SEVEN – POCKET GA NIJI DE IPPAI

(e) EUREKA SEVEN: GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT, YOUNG LOVERS

Director: Tomoki Kyoda

Animation

Originally a very popular TV anime series. This is a feature version of EUREKA SEVEN that has finally arrived. Renton, son of scientists, and Eureka, a girl who can’t live under the sun, are raised together. One day, Eureka is taken away. Powerless at the time, Renton vows to rescue her. He enters the military and is soon assigned to the Independent Youths Unit 303 of the First Mobile Forces. He was assigned to the unit thanks to his exceptional performance alongside his Nirvash, a bio-mechanical armor/control system. Unknown to Renton lies a plot to extinguish the alien invasion that is happening. This involves not only him, but also Eureka…In this theatrical adaptation, a new mythos is included. 115 min.

KOMADORI SHIMAI GA YATTE KURU YA YA YA

Director: Eiko Kataoka

Documentary

A documentary film to trace the undiscovered life of the twin sister duo. Komadori-Shimai became a star overnight in Showa era 30′s and at 71 years old have been continuing to tour vigorously all over in Japan. The film covers their child era they sang to live, the violence that happened on the stage in their golden era, the downturn era, and many other facts hidden in the shadow of the stardoms that are disclosed one by one. The film is produced by Altamira Pictures (“Shall we dance?”). 71 min.

KOMANEKO NO CHRISTMAS – MAIGO NI NATTA PRESENT –

(e) KOMANEKO’S CHRISTMAS – A LOST PRESENT –

Director: Tsuneo Goda

Animation

Komaneko is looking forward to Christmas because she wants to see her mom and dad. She then gets a present which includes a letter that tells her, “We can’t be home for Christmas”. After reading this letter, Komaneko and her friend set out for an adventure. 20 min.

KONDO NO NICHIYOBI NI

(e) ON NEXT SUNDAY

Director: Satoshi Kenmochi

Drama

So-ra, graduated from school in Korea and goes to Japan to study film. She was looking forward to studying with Lee whom she admires, but found that he had gone back to his country. So-ra struggles adjusting to life in Japan. A project for film class called “Beyond Your Interest” was announced. So-ra chose a dull middle-aged man named Matsumoto as a subject for this project. As she documents him, he tries to see “love“ and “future” on collected glass bottles on her camera, So-ra starts exploring a little bit more about herself and starts regaining hope. 105 min.

KORYO SHIBONIN

(e) THE FACELESS DEAD

Director: Kishu Izuchi

Suspense

A serious spiritual movie from the Nippon Journalist School (NJS). Based on a true story about an unidentified man who lived using another person’s name for 15 years and died in a car accident. 24-year-old Misaki is working a part-time job at a supermarket aiming to be a non-fiction writer. One day, she gets a strange phone call from the hospital explaining that some woman who uses Misaki’s name has entered to the hospital. “Koryo Shibonin” means dead people who have died from hunger, coldness, sickness, murder, or suicide and the bodies are unclaimed. Premiered at the Montreal Film Festival. 112 min.

KOSANJI

(e) DOCUMENTARY KOSANJI

Director: Kang Woo Jung

Documentary

A documentary film that took three and a half years to shoot showcasing the tenth Kosanji Yanagiya who represents Edo Rakugo both from popularity and talent. The film shows not only professional playing Rakugo but also private person enjoying the ski and classical music. 104 min.

KUHIO TAISA

(e) WONDERFUL LIFE OF CAPTAIN KUHIO

Director: Daihachi Yoshida

Comedy

He is a self-proclaimed U.S. pilot. His father is supposedly the descendent of the Kamehameha Dynasty and his mother is a cousin of the husband of Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister. He claims to have fought around the world as a jet fighter pilot. With such a pack of lies and clever disguises, this man conned women of an estimated 100 million yen. Captain Kuhio is an extraordinary marriage swindler with three women around him. This is a human drama with an implausible ending of love affairs. Is love about deceiving someone, or about being deceived by someone? 112 min.

KUJIRA GOKUDO NO SHOKUTAKU

Director: Kazuhiro Yokoyama

Drama

55-year-old divorced yakuza boss Raizo Kuji – nickname Kujira (Ken Matsudaira) secretly starts going to cooking classes at night at a local high school. He starts to realize his deferred dream from his younger days that he never had the chance to follow due to his lifestyle. He immediately becomes friendly with a fellow classmate named Sakiko. But when one of his yakuza underlings shows up unexpectedly, Kujira’s second shot at youth suddenly gets a lot more complicated. 120 min.

KUKI NINGYO

(e) AIR DOLL

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda

Drama

Adapted for the screen by director Kore-eda himself, the film tells the story of a life sized Kuki Ningyo (Air Doll) that develops a soul. Exploring the world around her, she (Bae Doo-na) soon falls in love with Junichi (Arata), a video store clerk. Just when everything seems perfect an unexpected turn of events throws her fragile existence into a turmoil. At the core, the film is a love story which explores the profound questions of human existence. Where do we find meaning in our own lives? What ultimately makes us human? Premiered at the Cannes, Tribeca, Toronto, and Pusan International Film Festival. 116 min.

KYARAMARU-KUN TO DOKUMARU-KUN

Director: Toshiyuki Honda

Animation

A warm hearted animated story of two energetic kids with supernatural powers. Kyaramaru-kun is gentle to his friends and can control his body at will to make it bigger or smaller. Dokumaru-kun is tricky and can sneak through anything. They are best friends and embark on an adventurous journey. It’s a story about characters loved by everybody. 26 min x 3.

KYO KARA HITMAN

Director: Kenji Yokoi

Action

Tokichi Inaba is an ordinary salaryman who is facing bankruptcy and a stuck with a 35 year mortgage. When he becomes involved in the death of a a legendary hitman, he is talked into becoming a hitman by a woman named Chinatsu. As a result, he needs to lead a double life as the hitman’s successor. Shinji Takeda play this dual role, in addition he wrote and performed the movie’s theme song, “The Hitman.” 101 min.

KYUKETSU SHOJO TAI SHOJO FRANKEN

(e) VAMPIRE GIRL VS. FRANKENSTEIN GIRL

Directors: Naoyuki Tomomatsu, Yoshiyuki Nishimura

Comedy

High school student Mikio receives Valentines Day chocolate containing vampire blood from new transfer student Monami. He gets infected from eating them. Overtaken by jealousy from seeing the two together, Mikio’s girlfriend Keiko teases Monami relentlessly and finds out her true identity of being a vampire. Mikio decides to fully become a vampire with Monami’s help. Keiko sees the two on the school rooftop kissing and in a state of hysteria, attempts to throw Monami off the roof but falls off herself instead. Keiko dies but her father, the mad scientist, resurrects her as Franken girl. Thus beginning a deadly combat between Franken Keiko and Vampire Monami in the name of love. 85 min.

LALAPIPO

(e) LALA PIPO – A LOT OF PEOPLE

Director: Masayuki Miyano

Comedy

The Japanese society today suffers a large status disparity and as the adage goes, only the fittest can survive. The underdogs are desperately clawing their way in the urban jungle of Tokyo. With the screenplay by Tetsuya Nakashima (“Memories of Matsuko”), LALA PIPO is a story of a miracle, a tale of survival of losers at the bottom of the chain. Kurio (Hiroaki Narimiya), an ambitious scout for the sex entertainment business is one of those people striving for a better life and to get ahead. One day, Kuriko gets Tomoko the part of ‘the daughter’ in a mother-daughter porn, and.. 94 min.

LAYTON KYOJU TO EIEN NO UTAHIME

(e) PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE ETERNAL DIVA, THE MOVIE

Director: Masakazu Hashimoto

Animation

“A movie to tease the brain! Pokemon producer Masakazu Kubo brings the best-selling Professor Layton series of puzzle games for Nintendo DS to the screen as a brand-new animated adventure film! The most puzzling detective story ever told! One day a letter from a former student who is now an opera singer arrives with tickets for Professor Layton. The letters states that a friend of hers who died a year ago has reappeared as a seven year-old girl, claiming to have obtained immortal life. Layton, young Luke, and his assistant Remi set out for the ‘Crown Petone Theater’……” 90 min.

©LEVEL-5 / Team Layton 2009

LIVE TAPE

Director: Tetsuaki Matsue

Documentary

The latest film by Tetsuaki Matsue (“Doutei wo Produce” “Annyong. Yumika”). The film is a miraculous live documentary capturing musician Kenta Maeno’s New Year’s Day guerrilla show in a single 74-minute shot! On New Year’s Day in 2009, Musician Kenta Maeno strums his guitar and sings in a pilgrimage from Kichijoji Hachiman Shrine. The shrine is packed with people paying respects for the New Year, to Inokashira Park, where he joins his band on the outdoor stage. The film is shot by Tatsuto Kondo (“Ultra Miracle Story”). Illustration is by Kiminori Wakasugi (“Detroit Metal City”). 74 min.

LIVESPIRE: AI TO SEISHUN NO TAKARAZUKA

Directors: Nagatomo Nagashima, Kenji Aoyama

Live x Digital Cinema

Livespire is the service by SONY of distributing its digitally filmed live events (opera, musical, play, music, sports, and others). LIVESPIRE –AI TO SEISHUN NO TAKARAZUKA is digitally filmed Takarazuka’s final stage of their long-running performance in 2008. The story takes place in 1939, depicts the passion of young women who are realizing their dreams under the time of World War II. 170 min.

LIVESPIRE: ARASHI NI NARU MADE MATTE

(e) WAIT UNTIL THE STORM COMES

Director: Katsunori Sato

Live x Digital Cinema

Livespire’s first collaboration work with popular theater group, Caramel Box. Their stage play “Arashi ni narumade matte” was shot from multiple angles using eight cameras and edited with unique techniques. The breathing and facial expressions of the actors, and the realism of the stage can be very vivid on the screen. “LIVESPIRE x Caramel Box” film series have been attracting both play fans and traditional film fans as a new entertainment trend. 124 min. Photo by Kazunori Ito

LIVESPIRE: HIKARI NO TEIKOKU

(e) THE EMPIRE OF LIGHTS

Director: Riku Onda

Live x Digital Cinema

Digitally filmed Caramel Box’s stage in March 2009. The story is about an elementary school student with the supernatural powers to memorize everything once he reads it. 76 min. Photo by Kazunori Ito

LIVESPIRE: KIMINO SHINZO NO KODO GA KIKOERU BASHO

(e) THE PLACE I CAN HEAR YOUR HEARTBEAT

Director: Katsunori Sato

Live x Digital Cinema

Digitally filmed Caramel Box’s stage during 2008 Christmas tour. It depicts the fantastic miracle of the reunion of a father and daughter. 127 min. Photo by Kazunori Ito

LIVESPIRE: SUBETE NO FUKEI NO NAKA NI ANATA GA IMASU

(e)THE PLACE I CAN HEAR YOUR HEARTBEAT

Director: Shinji Kajio Fantasy Live x Digital Cinema

Another digitalized version of Caramel Box’s stage in March 2009. It tells a story of a man who is looking for a woman whom he met during mountain climbing in terrible weather. 74 min. Photo by Kazunori Ito

LONG CARAVAN

Director: Go Shichitaka

Drama

Shibaken (Matsu of EXILE) is unemployed and in his 30s. He suddenly decides to take a road trip with his friends, Daichan and Uttsu. 3 men with no money but with a passion for surfing continue an easy-going trip looking to surf. “We’ve got gas, we’ve got boards, it’s perfect, let’s go !” — During their trip, they meet with various people along the way, including a girl (Miki Fujimoto of ex-Morning Musume) in which Shibaken falls in love at first sight. An surf-road-movie that makes you laugh and cry. 110 min.

LOST GIRL

Director: Daisuke Yamaoka

Drama

Ryoko (Makiko Watanabe) is a chef/owner of a popular restaurant who suffers an emotional blow due to a sudden food poisoning incident at her restaurant. Not only is she ill from the incident, but also stressed from personal and sexual confusion. Kyoko hides herself in a closet and lives on snacks. She splits up with her husband, Daichi who is a co-owner of the restaurant. She tries hard to get out of the closet to get her pride and job back, but her trials fail and goes back to the closet. After violent argument with Daichi, Ryoko seeks comfort with Yuka, a prickly female artist friend, but….The film was directed by Daisuke Yamaoka, whose latest film is nominated for Sundace/NHK Int’l Filmmakers Awards 2010 Finalist. 63 min.

©Mountain-Cross.ltd

LOVE DOLL DAKISHIMETAI !

(e) LOVE DOLL – WANNA HOLD YOU !

Director: Kenji Murakami

Documentary

This was written to introduce beautiful Japanese dolls and their history to the world as an epoch. Set in Tokyo, nine dolls were escorted to the living room, downtown, old town and the industrial region. This is the second love documentary movie of sub-culture film maker Kenji Murakami. This films follows “Love hotel collection Amaikioku”. This film was shot by the video function of a steel camera with the most-advanced SLR in order to bring out the attractiveness of the subjects. 65 min.

LOVE HOTEL COLLECTION – AMAI KOKUHAKU – EAST JAPAN/ WEST JAPAN (e) LOVE HOTEL COLLECTION – SWEET MEMORIES – EAST JAPAN / WEST JAPAN

Director: Kenji Murakami

Documentary

“Love Hotel” is a Japanese cultural heritage, but will die by the new entertainment business laws. Kenji Murakami directed this film for recording an interior design’s erotic “true-north”. The Japanese creative spirits fixated on erotic things from round beds, mirrored walls/ceilings, rainbow-colored shaggy carpets, and “forbidden” design elements to tint the Japanese blood and breath a horny shade of pink. 63 min (East Japan) / 53 min (West Japan).

LUNAR NO KODOMO

(e) LUNAR CHILD

Director: Akihiro Suzuki

Drama

In Roman Mythology, Luna, the Roman Goddess of the moon was the guardian of the night. This film is an experiment that attempts to show a world opposite of the world supported by masculine virtue. A young runaway suffering from the stigma and remorse of an abortion, a lesbian girl who’s unable to fall in love for fear of being hurt, a homemaker who yearns to be loved without being pressured into a physical relationship. Without intersecting, their 3 stories create a world bound together by the moon in the sky they all wistfully gaze upwards to. 108 min.

LUPIN 3 SEI- TV SERIES

Directors: Yasuo Otsuka, Isao Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki

Animation

3 popular episodes from the first series of Lupin in 1971, directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro). Lupin 3 is based on a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiko Kato under the pen name “Monkey Punch.” The story follows the adventures of a gang of thieves as they travel throughout the world to steal treasures and escape from the law. 25 min x 3.

LUSH LIFE

Director: Tetsuya Mariko, Tomoko Toyama, Tadashi Nohara, Mai Nishino

Drama

As a best-seller with heavy adaptations to films, Kotoro Isaka’s novel gets another film adaptation. However this film is different from the usual as the film is directed by a team of four student from Tokyo University of the Arts’ Graduate School of Film and New Media. The project was able to get top tier actors despite the low budget. The story involves Kurosawa who is an aloof thief, Kawarazaki who turns to God after his father’s suicide, Kyoko who is a manipulative marriage councilor, and Toyoda who recently lost his job. When four characters’ lives interact, a one time special one day is born. The Japanese title「ラッシュライフ」is purposely ambiguous, and can be read in several ways and are correct either as “Rush Life”, “Rash Life”, “Lush Life”, or “Lash Life”. 121 min.

MACROSS FRONTIER – ITSUWARI NO UTAHIME, THE MOVIE

(e) MACROSS FRONTIER – THE FALSE SONGSTRESS, THE MOVIE

Director: Shoji Kawamori

Animation

This is the theatrical film adaptation of the MACROSS FRONTIER TV anime series. The film includes new footage of Sheryl’s concert and Megumi Nakajima (who plays Ranka’s new song, “Sō Da Yo”). MACROSS FRONTIER marks the 25th anniversary of Studio Nue’s classic anime franchise that combines transforming robotic mecha, love triangles, and interplanetary war. 120 min.

MADO NO SOTO NO SEKAI

Director: Kiyohide Matsumura

Drama

This drama shows the conflicts and friendships of young people. Jun who has just started to run a small store sends emails to Misa, a woman who puts her paintings on websites. After exchanging letters, Jun visits her to find that she suffers from an intractable disease ALS. Jun is attracted by her positive attitude to her illness. 60 min.

©mobcast

MAGARE ! SPOON

(e) GO FIND A PSYCHIC!

Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro

Comedy

A sidesplitting ESP comedy dedicated to everyone who has tried to bend spoons with psycho kinesis. On Christmas Eve at Cafe Kinesis, an ESP party is held once a year. The psycho kinetics gather to present their supernatural powers which they keep secret in their daily lives. Meanwhile Yone Sakurai (Masami Nagasawa), an assistant TV director about the paranormal, sets out on a journey to find the supernatural based on information provided by viewers. Her sudden visit throws the psycho kinetics in frenzy. 106 min.

MAI MAI SHINKO TO SENNEN NO MAHO

(e) MAI MAI MIRACLE

Director: Sunao Katabuchi

Animation

From the assistant director of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” (Hayao Miyazaki) and the animation studio that brought us “The Girl the Leapt Through Time” (Madhouse) comes a new heartwarming fantasy. Shinko, a third grade elementary school student loves to daydream about the world of one thousand years ago. Her fantasies travel far into the days of the Heian Period (year 794-1185)… One day a girl called Kiiko transfers from Tokyo and joins Shinko’s class where they become good friends. Before long, the two become engulfed in a strange incident of one thousand years ago… 95 min.

MAICHIMONJI KEN

(e) GOO THE KUNG-FUSION BOY

Director: Shoichiro Masumoto

Comedy

Ye Long is a kung fu apprentice in Henan Province, China. When his master gets wounded by the “Thunder Demon Fist,” he tells Ye Long that his real name is Ken Maichimonji and that he must return to Japan in order to learn the “Wind Fang God Fist.” Following his dying master’s wishes, Ken goes out to Japan and enrolls in a boys’ high school in hopes of learning this new technique. But he just happened to join the comedy club by mistake. 54 min.

MANATSU NO ORION

(e) LAST OPERATIONS UNDER THE ORION

Director: Tetsuo Shinohara

Suspense

Izumi (Keiko Kitagawa) receives a letter from an American girl whose grandfather was a naval captain during World War II. The letter states that she has a music score sheet which was written by Izumi’s grandmother. “Why does she have it?” To investigate, Izumi visits Suzuki who is the only survivor left from the 14 day battle lead by her grandfather. The story goes back to 64 years ago during World War II on a naval battle between an American destroyer and a Japanese submarine led by Captain Kuramoto (Tetsuya Tamaki). Before heading off to battle, his wife Shizuko (Keiko Kitagawa’s double role) gives him a present: the score of a song called “Manatsu no Orion.” The film includes scenes shot on location in Albany, NY. 119 min.

MANATSU NO YO NO YUME

(e) A MIDSUMMER’S OKINAWAN DREAM

Director: Yuji Nakae

Fantasy

A love fantasy fiction inspired by Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” In the South Sea is a small island that is blessed and has long been protected by fairies named Kijimun. One summer day, Yuriko returns to the island for the first time since her family moved away 20 years ago. She nurses a broken heart from her relationship with a married man. Waiting patiently for Yuriko for many years was Majiru, an inexperienced Kijimun. Majiru’s affection for Yuriko drives him to use a secret elixir. The elixir manipulates the amorous desires of Yuriko’s lover and his wife, who have arrived on the island..105 min.

MEITANTEI CONAN: SHIKKOKU NO TSUISEKISHA

(e) DETECTIVE CONAN: THE RAVEN CHASER

Director: Yasuichiro Yamamoto

Animation

This is the 13th movie of the “Detective Conan” series. This film squares off Detective Conan against the Black Organization. A new member of the Black Organization that shrinked Shinichi’s body finds out about Shinichi’s transformation into Detective Conan. When this was discovered, Gin and the other Black Organization members set out to eliminate Shinichi and his friends. 110 min.

MEN-UCHI

Director: Nagaru Miyake

Documentary

With an established international reputation, Director Nagaru Miyake brings us a documentary about a young genius “Nohmenshi” (carver of Nohmen) Tetsuya Arai. The story shows the detailed process of carving Nohmen. Nowadays in Japan, there is a boom of creating Nohmen which takes part of healing people’s weary souls. 60 min.

Image courtesy of UPLINK

MINAMI NO SHIMA NO FURIMUN

(e) FURIMUN’S PARADISE

Director: Gori

Comedy

A funny love story about a young man in Okinawa. A man named Eisho works for a pig farm and spends a happy life with a shamisen player named Masaru and younger friend Hitoshi. One day Eisho falls in love with a dancer named Orange at a bar. However, besides Eisho, a muscular American named Max also approaches her. The two start to have a love battle. All of the scenes were shot only in Okinawa. 97 min.

MIYAMOTO MUSASHI – SOKEN NI HASERU YUME -

(e) MUSASHI: THE DREAM OF THE LAST SAMURAI

Director: Mizuho Nishikubo

Animation

The creative team of “Ghost in the Shell”, ” Innocence”, “The Sky Crawlers” and “Kill Bill: Vol. 1″ resurrects the legendary swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi on the big screen! Centering on Mamoru Oshii and his original concept/screenplay, his long-time collaborator, Mizuho Nishikubo took the directorial role with Kazuto Nakazawa for character design, and Kazuchika Kise for supervisor. The result is a brilliant combination of 2D and 3DCGI animation with live action footage of different narratives and visual styles. Sword master Miyamoto Musashi wrote a master treatise on military strategy, The Book of Five Rings and sought ways to enlighten his spirit and cultivate his mind. With this text as his guide, Oshii unsheathes his unique vision of the greatest swordsman in Japanese history, cynically demolishing many clichés deeply rooted in popular imagery. 72 min.

MIYOKO ASAGAYA KIBUN

Director: Yoshifumi Tsubota

Drama

Set in the 1970s, this story is based on the private life of a comic writer named Shinichi and his girlfriend Miyoko. They live together in Asagaya, a small town in Tokyo. After Shinichi’s work about their own life became a hit, his business comes to a dead end and his depression and impatience eventually drives him mad. 86 min.

MOGERA WOGURA

Director: Shogo Kusano

Comedy

A story about people from ages 10 to 65 years old respectively. People are facing problems of trying to restart their lives as a result of a rumor of an earthquake. Set at Keio University and Waseda University, the film was produced by an all-student staff across the boundaries of the university. Different from the other commercial films, this film is attractive with the work world filled with a pure passion for filmmaking. 90 min.

MOMOMATSURI PRESENTS KISS!

Director: (omnibus of 9 directors)

Romance

“Momomatsuri” is a film festival organized by 9 young female directors. Through “Kiss,” the following 9 slightly bitter but sweet love stories depict real human nature. 9 films by 9 directors are: TAMAYURA by Toyoko Yamazaki, SHUKAKU by Keiko Awazu, TOUCH ME by Saki Yamada, MAKO NO TEKI by Etsuko Shinohara, TSUKIYO NO BUNNY by Mayumi Yabe, ATO NO MATSURI by Natsuki Seda, JIZO NO TSUJI by Naomi Takemoto, SORE WO NANI TO YOBU by Yoshie Nagashima, and KUSHIKOSU POST by Yumiko Beppu.

MONOCHROME NO SHOJO

Director: Toshihiro Goto

Drama/Fantasy

The story is about young people who learn of the importance of losing and change in their adolescence. In order to find a missing key holder, Hiroshi and Kurumi visit their secondary school’s building which was collapsed by an earthquake. The two discover a picture of smiling young girls in an old wooden box. Strangely the girls in the picture start to talk about their history. The story features beautiful scenes in a Japanese local town. 99 min.

MUBOBI (e) NAKED OF DEFENSES

Director: Masahide Ichii

Drama

An emotional human drama directed by up and coming Masahide Ichii who won the Grand Prix at the Pusan International Film Festival and the 2nd Grand Prix at the PIA Film Festival with his last film. The heroine’s suffocating through everyday life and her refreshing reversal are impressive. Premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. 87 min.

MW – MOO -

Director: Hitoshi Iwamoto

Thriller

MW is Osamu Tezuka’s forbidden and controversial story that follows two men at the mercy of fate. But in this story he also addressed his universal theme, the effects of excessive high-technology to nature. One is the Darkness from hell that God brought and the other is the last Light that God left behind. 16 years ago, an incident occurred and all inhabitants on an island were killed. The truth was covered up overnight by the authorities. However, there were two boys who happened to survive by a twist of fate. Michio became an incredibly beautiful, clever and evil person who plots revenge on the government. Yutaro became a priest who pursues peace and justice. They share the same past, but it brought them to be completely opposites of each other. Yukio finds “MW”; the chemical-weapon which caused the incident. 129 min.

NAKINAGARA IKITE

(e) WE CRY, WE LIVE

Director: Toshiki Nakamura

Documentary

A tear-jerking documentary compelling the project which was shot over a 15-year-period and originally aired as a series on Fuji TV. It tells the story of Shangbiao Ding, a Chinese man who scraped and borrowed to come to Japan, toiling at menial jobs to pay back his loans and earn enough money to send his only child, daughter Lin, to university in the US. The brief shots of Lin in the US, working towards being a doctor and speaking fluent English, carry an emotive punch. 108 min.

NAKITAI TOKI NO KUSURI

Directory: Saburo Fukushima

Drama

One evening, a man on a train suddenly starts crying in front of passengers. Among those passengers is a young man with deep wounds in his heart, an office lady who has been exhausted from meaningless work, a train conductor who works for Nakigusurishi station, high school girls who are daughters of the crying man, and a single salary man who cannot cry. Watching the man’s cry triggers something in each of them. They feel comfortable crying around other people, and even notice some important changes in their respective lives. 101 min.

NAKU MONKA

(e) NO MORE CRY!!!

Director: Nobuo Mizuta

Comedy

The “Maiko Haaaan!!!”’ creators teamed up again to produce another entertainment hit! Written by Kankuro Kudo, this is a story about brothers who are destined to be the plaything of fortune. Two were separated when they were little. Despite their unhappy childhood, they promise that they will not cry. The big brother Yuta works hard, appreciating his adoptive father. The little brother Yusuke is now half of a popular comic duo called the Kinjo Brothers. Even though the “Brothers” are not related, a tearjerker autobiography containing false accounts of their childhood becomes a best-seller and the fact that they’re not real brothers is a secret to hide. Laughter in all the tears, and tears in all the laughter. Is it a funny tragedy or a sad comedy? 154 min.

NANKYOKU RYORININ

(e) THE CHEF OF SOUTH POLAR

Director: Shuichi Okita

Drama

Antarctica got a lot of attention in 2009 for the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. Based on the hilarious autobiographical essay, this is a good food and human drama. Full of laughter and love! Eight men join a research expedition in Antarctica, 14,000 km away from home. Jun Nishimura’s (Masato Sakai) job is to cook for the members every day. From extravagant cuisine with spiny lobster, Japanese high-grade beef, foie gras, to more down-to-earth meals like rice balls and ramen noodles…..As long as there is good food, it gives them the strength to go on even with tremendous hardships. (The film was shot on location in winter in Abashiri, the coldest places in Japan. As the cast spent time together on the shoot, they bonded just like the actual characters of the film.) 125 min.

NARUTO- SHIPPU DEN – HI NO ISHI WO TSUGU MONO, THE MOVIE

(e) NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: THE WILL OF FIRE STILL BURNS

Director: Masahiko Murata

Animation

In this 3rd “Naruto” film, four skillful ninjas are protecting four nations (“Kumo”, “Iwa”, “Kiri” and “Suna”) with their super natural powers called “Kesho-genkai” to control the balance of forces among the nations. One day, these ninjas suddenly disappear which causes the world to start a war. Under these circumstances, the ninja of the nation of “Hi” can avoid this accident. In order to avoid the war, the king of Hi orders Naruto and his party to find the truth of the accident. 96 min.

NENNEN SAISAI

Director: Masaki Adachi

Drama

Masaki Aoki who worked as an assistant director for “The Ring” and “Ju-on” produced a drama about the love within a family with broken hearts. A high school student girl, Mizuki’s happiest times were when she spent time with her warm hearted father who always listened to her. In contrast, her mother is cold to her. One day while Mizuki is at home, her cousin Aoi visits and stays with them as a member of Mizuki’s family. Mizuki, confused at beggining, gradually gets close to Aoi. Aoi starts recognizing Mizuki’s mother’s cold attitudes towards Mizuki…85 min.

NIGHT☆KING

Director: Kenichi Fujiwara

Drama/Comedy

NIGHT☆KING is set in the late 60s where the first host and hostess clubs started to appear in Tokyo. Takeshi Enomoto (Issey Ishida) moved to Shinjuku with his only good skill of wooing women. This skill eventually gets him fired from his job which led him to his true calling of becoming a male host. During his job as a male host, he encounters some rivalries along the way. 92 min.

NIJI IRO NO GLASS

(e) RAINBOW COLOR GLASS

Director: Kenji Yokoi

Drama/Boys Love

In this campus-life story, all male high school student named Takumi has a happy life with his friends. His lover Gii, is a prince of his school which makes his classmates jealous. One day, Gii proposes to have a Halloween party and to invite Morita, the most handsome boy in their school. This makes Takumi feel jealous and to suspect that Gii has feelings for Morita. 74 min.

NIPPON NO DAI KAZOKU SAIKO! THE LARGE FAMILY HOSOKINSHI GEKIJO-BAN

Director: Veronica Addison

Drama

A human documentary about a big Japanese family by an American film maker. The Ura family living in Saitama looks like a normal family, but behind scenes they have many problems such as a missing of the youngest daughter, the oldest son’s social withdrawal and the younger son’s rebellious phase. Despite these problems, the family tries to live every moment with all their energy. 96 min.

NISESATSU

(e) COUNTERFEIT

Director: Yuichi Kimura

Suspense

Comedian Yuichi Kimura‘s feature-length directorial debut. The film is based on a true story set after Japan’s defeat in World War II. The country is quickly shifted toward a democratic government. A brand new currency begins it’s circulation, but takes a long time to reach remote areas where small towns and villages continue using their old currency. Kageko Sada (Mitsuko Baisho) is the vice principal of her school that has outdated books. Without any books for the children to read, Kageko is approached by stock broker Shingo Ootsu about an organized counterfeiting ring that can save the village. Premiered at the Montreal Film Festival. 94 min.

NO BOYS NO CRY

(e) THE BOAT

Director: Kim Yong-nam

Drama

Popular actors from Japan and Korea, Hyong-ku (Ha Jung Woo) and Toru (Tsumabuki Satoshi) team up for this film which involves around friendship. Hyung-ku smuggles to Japan where Toru takes care of matters on the Japan side. They both risk their lives to make money and form a friendship. Toru feels a heavy responsibility for taking care of his family. The two encounter a girl named Chisu who was kidnapped by their boss and they start to find her missing father. 114 min.

NODAME CANTABILE

Director: Hideki Takeuchi

Comedy

“Nodame Cantabile”, the delightful crescendos couple: a quirky piano wunderkind, Nodame and her brilliant mentor-conductor, Chiaki are now in a major motion picture – Movie I & II. Headlining Juri Ueno and Hiroshi Tamaki once again (followed TV drama series), the shooting took place in Japan, France, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Chiaki wins the prestigious Platini Int’l Music Competition leading to him being the new conductor for the Le Marlet Orchestra. Nodame spends her days steeped in piano practice at a music conservatory. When Chiaki asks Nodame to perform with his orchestra as celesta for Ravel’s Bolero, she is filled with joy…until circumstances lead to her giving way to gifted pianist, Rui.

NONCHAN NORIBEN

(e) NORIBEN – THE RECIPE FOR FORTUNE

Director: Akira Ogata

Drama

Komaki Nagai is a woman in her 30s who has lost faith in her husband. She decides to divorce him and moves back to her home town of Kyojima, Tokyo taking along her daugher Non-chan. Struggling to make ends meet, Komaki decides to run a bento shop. For this film, Akira Ogata won best director and Manami Konishi won best actress at the 31st annual Yokohama Film Festival 2009.

OARAI NIMO HOSHI WA FURUNARI

(e) CHASING MY GIRL

Director: Yuichi Fukuda

Comedy

Six guys are working at a beach house during the summer receive a letter from their dream girl, Eriko. The ‘love letter’ says that she will be waiting at the beach house on Xmas Eve. Realizing that the letter was not specifically addressed to one of them, the guys assume that she set them up to compete with one another to win her love. They start their ridiculously intense battle to prove their passion. A stern lawyer expected to settle the rivalry also falls in love with her after listening to their delusional fantasies of a girl he has never even met before. What sort of unexpected twist can we expect at the end? It marks the cinematic debut of the highly regarded mystery writer, Yuichi Fukuda. 103 min.

OCCULT

Director: Koji Shiraishi

Horror

OCCULT is a fake documentary horror film by Koji Shiraishi (“Kuchisake Onna”). The film involves spiritual phenomena, predictive dreams, murder, suicides, ancient writings, UFOs, and others. The director goes further into these events by interviewing notable people such as film director Kiyoshi Kurosawa about these occurrences. 110 min.

OGONKA HISUREBA HANA, SHIZUREBA CHO

(e) GOLDEN FLOWER: WHAT IS HIDDEN IS THE TURUE FLOWER. WHAT IS GONE IS BUTTERFLY

Director: Takeo Kimura

Drama

The second feature-length film directed by 91-year-old incumbent Takeo Kimura, who took the arm strenuously for many years as an art director. The cast arrange a face to their array of indispensable actors in the movie Industry including Yoshio Harada, Yuusuke Kawazu , Chieko Matsubara, and Miki Sanjo. Be drawn into a fantastic story with a mix of the harsh reality of their memories of the past on the verge of death. 79 min.

©PROJECT LAMU / UZUMASA

OKINA IE ‐TAIMAGURA NO MORI NO KODOMO TACHI‐

(e) OUR BIG HOUSE

Director: Yoshihiko Sumikawa

Documentary

A documentary tracing the everyday life of three children who moved from Tokyo to the foot of mount Hayachine, in the Iwate Prefecture, surrounding the nature. The sight of the children who feel sensitively to the changes of the seasons in nature, makes one think of the relationship between people and nature. 67 min.

ONE PIECE FILM: STRONG WORLD

Director: Munehisa Sakai

Animation

The 10th ONE PIECE film was released during the 2009 Xmas holiday season. This time around, Eiichiro Oda (the creator of the manga and anime series since 1997) has personally taken over the film’s production aiming to make this release different from the 9 previous installments. Oda came up with the film’s story and about 120 rough drawings for director Munehisa Sakai to work from. Sakai has previously worked as one of the directors of the animated TV series. ONE PIECE FILM STRONG WORLD saw its opening weekend with 1.038 billion yen (about US$11.7 million). By comparison, Ponyo took in 1.025 billion yen (US$11.55 million) during its opening weekend in 2008. 113 min.

ONNA GOKORO

(e) GIRL WITH FRIGIDITY IN TOKYO

Director: Ayato Matsuda

Drama

This film tells the story about the lonely life of Ako who tries to fill that lonely void by having many sexual encounters. Due to the lack of emotion with the men she’s been with, she’s gotten the reputation of being a “frigid” person. The only time she’s content is whenever she is playing a game of darts. During a game of darts, she plays a game of darts against a man and stakes her heart against the man’s money. 100 min.

ONNA GOROSHI ABURA NO JIGOKU

(e) WOMAN-KILLER IN OIL HELL

Director: Shinobu Sakagami

Drama/Erotic

Set in 18th century Japan, the story centers on the life and murder of a bored wife of a wealthy Osaka oil merchant. The story is originated from 1721′s bunraku (a traditional Japanese puppet theatre) by Monzaemon Chikamatsu who is known as the Japanese Shakespeare, but this film is much more erotic. 89 min.

ONNA NO KO MONOGATARI

Director: Toshiyuki Morioka

Drama

Natsumi is manga writer of 36 years old. She drinks beer under daylight, water bathes in the basin, takes naps on the couch… She is a hopeless manga writer who shows no sign to climb out of the doldrums. Disgusted, novice editor Zaizen finally throws her some harsh words; “You don’t have any friends, do you?” Those words made Natsumi hark back to the days when she was a girl; her hometown and childhood friends that were always together. Based on a true story of a cutting-edge Manga Writer. 110 min.

OPPAI VOLLEY

(e) OPPAI VOLLEYBALL

Director: Eiichiro Hazumi

Comedy

Based on a true story. This is a funny and touching film! Mikako (Haruka Ayase) is a young junior high school teacher who has just transferred to a new school. Excited to start her new job, she volunteers to coach the boys volleyball club. But, she finds out that there is almost no activity in the club and the 5 members don’t play volleyball and only think about girls. To give them an incentive to try hard, she promises them that she will show them her “oppai” (boobs) if they win a game! 112 min.

OSAKA HAMLET

Director: Fujiro Mitsuishi

Drama

Set in downtown Osaka, a middle school punk, Yukio is confused after his father’s death. His clumsy uncle showed up strangely in their family. Yukio’s mother (Keiko Matsuzaka) welcomed him to their family as if he was her husband. Since then, strange events take place..One day at school, Yukio’s teacher told him that he resembles Shakespeare’s Hamlet, making him question the idea. His older brother is spends all his time with his girlfriend who is 8 years aolder. His younger brother wants to be a girl…Awarded several prizes including the Excellent Prize by the agency for Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival. 107 min.

OTO・ NA・RI

Director: Naoto Kumazawa

Romance/Drama

Satoshi (Junichi Okada) is a photographer who likes to take landscape photos rather than taking photos of models for magazines. Nanao (Kumiko Aso) is a part-time florist who lives next door to Satoshi and dreams of someday moving to France. Although they never met, they usually eavesdrop on each other through the apartment wall they share….“Otonari” means “neighbors” and also “Oto nari” means “sounds”. This is a story about a lonely man and a woman in their thirties that get attracted to each other with the sounds they make in their daily lives. “What I came to love first was the sounds you make in your living”. This is a beautiful love story. 119 min.

PANDORA NO HAKO

(e) PANDORA’S BOX

Director: Masanori Tominaga

Drama

Set shortly after World War II, a teenage boy named Risuke (Shota Sometani) has contracted tuberculosis and is sent to a nursing facility to receive treatment. In this sanatorium, all the patients and nurses go by nicknames instead of their actual names. This gives Risuke a chance to nickname himself Hibari (lark). During his stay at the sanatorium, he develops several relationships with other patients and two nurses…The story is told in the form of letters from Hibari to his friend Tsukushi (Yosuke Tsubozuka), who has already left the sanatorium. Original story follows Osamu Dazai’s novel with the same title. Jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi provided the soundtrack to the film. 94 min.

PANIC 4, THE MOVIE

Director: Hirotaka Inoue & Hidetoshi Morimoto

Comedy/Panic

PANIC 4 ROOMS THE MOVIE comes from a stage performance of Shimokitazawa Little Theater in Tokyo. Hariko, a secondary school student has had great success as an illusionist. Hariko’s mother plans to break down her apartment to build a new one from the increasing revenue of Hariko’s performance. However, there are 4 residents who stongly refuse to move out of her apartment. It is now up to Hariko to try to persuade them to move out. 77 min.

PARALLEL

Director: Toshiyuki Kirumi

Drama

Based on the life of Kyoya Kazuyuki who became paralyzed from the chest down after a car accident in 1993. The former J-league soccer player married his fiancee Yoko 11 days after his unfortunate accident. He started competing in wheelchair basketball a few months later. Eventaully he would make it to the Sydney Paralympics. 88 min.

PATTENRAI !!

Director: Noboru Ishiguro

Animation

In 1910, a civil engineer named Yoichi Hatta has to travel to Japanese-ruled Taiwan in order to build a complex irrigation system in the southwest. He was able to overcome the initial doubts of the farmers, but his confidence is put to the test once an unexpected tunnel accident puts a halt to the construction plans. Based on the true story of Yoichi Hatta, animation was produced by Mushi production. 90 min.

PENGUIN NO MONDAI SHIAWASE NO AOI TORI DE GOPENNASAI, THE MOVIE

Director: Jun Kamiya

Animation

Based on the manga written by Yuji Nagai on Coro Coro comic magazine. The story is about a penguin named Beckham Kinoshita. Beckham goes to an elementary school with humans and craves for “Mac” hamburgers and fries.

POCHI NO KOKUHAKU

(e) CONFESSIONS OF A DOG

Director: Gen Takahashi

Suspense

Takeda is a cop with a sense of justice and tries to expose the drug dealings and corruption of the police force. While Takeda is in custody, the judge ignores his plea due to being threatened by the police. The only person who can save Takeda is a journalist named Kusama. Kusama holds a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan with evidence of police crime that Takeda obtained. 195 min.

POOL

Director: Mika Omori

Drama

A story of 6 days with 5 Japanese gathered around a small sparkling pool at Chiang Mai in Thailand. With the same staff of “Kamome Diner” and “MEGANE” that brought a new wave in Japanese movies, POOL is another inspiring film about unique but ordinary people who live their lives according to their ways. 4 years ago, Kyoko started to live alone in Thailand, leaving her mother and her daughter, Sayo, in Japan. Just before the graduation of University, Sayo sets afoot in Thailand to visit her mother. However, contrary to her expectations, it was not her mother who came to pick up Sayo, but Ichio who works for Kyoko…96 min.

PRECURE ALL STARS DX: MINNA TOMODACHI – KISEKI NO ZENIN DAISHUGO!

Director: Takashi Otsuka

Animation

Precure girls Love, Miki and Inori are on their way to a dance contest in Minato Mirai. Getting lost along their way, they unfortunately encounter a monster. As they begin to fight it, other precure girls join in to help. All of them must combine their powers in order to defeat this enemy. 70 min.

PRIDE

Director: Shusuke Kaneko

Drama

Based on Yukari Ichijo’s popular manga series “Pride,” which received the Excellence Prize at the 2007 Japan Media Arts Festival. Shio Asami (Stephanie) was born into wealth and her mother was a devoted opera singer. Due to her father’s sudden bankruptcy of his business, Shio was forced to give up on becoming an opera singer. This caused her rival Moe Midorikawa (Hikari Mitsushima) to claim a victory at an opera singing contest. 126 min.

PYU TO FUKU! JAGUAR IMA, THE MOVIE

Director: Frogman

Animation

Piyohiko has a dream of becoming a successful guitar player. He then meets a strange man by the name of Jaguar who likes to play the recorder. Every time Piyohiko goes to an audition, he would bump into Jaguar causing him to miss his audition. When Piyohiko finally gets accepted to a record company, he finds out that his dorm roomate is none other than this strange man Jaguar. 99 min.

RAIN FALL: AME NO KIBA

Director: Max Mannix

Suspense

A half-Japanese assassin John Rain has to protect the daughter of one of his victims. She is suspected to have evidence exposing the corruption of the high-government. During John Rain’s time in Vietnam back when he was in the U.S. Special Forces, he was betrayed by a man who would later become the head of CIA operations in Tokyo. 111 min.

RANDIES

Director: Kenichi Fujiwara

Action

Based on a manga by Kouichi Nagata, Ran Sakurai and his friend Kenji start an operation called “Randies” in which they get paid to solve problems. They named their group “Randies” as a tribute to a baseball player named Randy Bass who played for the Hanshin Tigers. 101 min.

RISE UP

Director: Ryo Nakajima

Romance/Drama

Lui (Rio Yamashita) lost her sight a year ago due to a hit-and-run accident. Since then she has been in shock and refused to go to rehabilitation facilities. One day Lui meets a wonderful boy, Wataru (Kento Hayashi). Wataru is a high school student with great enthusiasm for paragliding. He dreams to fly in a big ascending air current called “lion” which rarely occurs. Lui is haughty and insolent to Wataru and his friend at first. Little by little, she opens her mind to Wataru after becoming familiar with each other. Wataru helps Lui to get her life back with photo shooting. However, an ironic and cruel fact awaits. The two must face them on their own. 85 min.

ROBOGEISHA

Director: Noboru Iguchi

Action/Adventure

SAMURAI SENTAI SHINKENJA GINMAKU-BAN TENKA WAKEME NO TATAKAI

Director: Shojiro Nakazawa

Action

A movie version of the popular TV series, “Samurai Sentai Shinkenja”. It features vigorous action scenes in digital 3D. Evil Maupuku leads his party Gedoshu from hell and attacks Shinkenja. Being outnumbered by Manpuku’s force, the last resort for Shikenja is to find out a secret disk to seal Manpuku. 90 min.

SANADA KUNOICHI NINPO DEN – KASUMI – INSHU NO MURA WO KIRE!

Director: Seiki Watanabe

Action

The latest installment of the “Sanada Kunoichi Ninpoden” series. To overthrow the Tokugawa family, Kasumi continues to fight as Sanada Kunoichi. Noticing her mental and physical fatigues, master Mufu lets Kasumi rest. On the way to her hometown to reunite with her brother Kotaro, Kasumi meets with Toyo, who is aiming for Okusawa village to meet her fiancé, Yohei. Invited by Toyo, Kasumi drops by Okusawa village. Touched by Toyo’s pureness, Kasumi feels peace she has never felt before. However… 71 min.

SARUTAHIKO DOCHU JINJA

(e) ART DOCUMENTARY SARUTAHIKO DOCHU JINJA – TORAJI HIROYUKI SUZUKI

Director: Koshi Namiki

Documentary

The Onbashira-sai festival in Suwa is a shinto ritual in which a tree is sacrificed for use in shrine(jinja) rebuilding. Another festival called the Hi-matsuri festival, in Nachi, is a shinto fire ritual. Japan has an abundance of such festivals, each perhaps an expression of a wish for a connection with the five elemental aspects of nature: wood, fire, earth, gold and water. This art documentary follows the process of completing the Sarutahiko Dochu Jinja project,which took place over the course of one of whole year. 61 min.

SASORI

Director: Joe Ma

Action

An action story of a series of battles between a young woman and the death squad that trapped her. Nami (Miki Mizuno) and her boyfriend Kenichi have an impending wedding. While Kenichi is away, Nami gets attacked by a mysterious death squad and was cornered to the situation where she has to kill Kenichi’s father and sister. As a result, she is sent to a jail as an atrocious criminal where the manager’s sexual harassment and the convicts’ teasing awaits her. 100 min.

SATOYAMA

Director: Tetsunori Kikuchi

Documentary

The movie is based on the 3rd series of “Satoyama”, popular NHK TV documentary program about forests which has received numerous awards from film festivals and aired all over the world. Set in the forests of the northern area of Shiga prefecture, NHK’s high vision filming technology documents the sublime world of the forests. 90 min.

SEI SHIRAYURI KISHIDAN

(e) SUPER GORE GIRL

Director: Hisao Tabuchi

Action/Adventure

Set in a suburban town, a certain group of students reign over their catholic girls’ school. Despite their beautiful appearance, they are aggressive and violent when it comes to battling evil. Looking for a more peaceful experience than her classmates, Sachiko joins the silent bible reading club headed by senior Yukie (Sayaka Akimoto of AKB48). That was quickly short-lived as the student council suspends the reading club when they find out of its true nature. 43 min.

SEISHIN

(e) MENTAL

Director: Kazuhiro Soda

Documentary

MENTAL is a feature-length documentary that observes the complex world of an outpatient mental health clinic in Okayama, Japan. The documentary captures moments through a series of portraits of patients, doctors, and staff through cinema-verite style. The film breaks a major taboo against discussing mental illness prevalent in Japanese society. Depicting the daily lives and the “joyful sadness” of patients, the director Soda questions the conventional boundary that separates the mentally ill and healthy people making us laugh every 5 minutes and cry even more. MENTAL has won Best Documentary Award at Pusan International Film Festival and Best Documentary Award at Dubai International Film Festival. The film was also oficially selected by 15 festivals/organizations including Berlin International Film Festival (Forum) and Documentary Fortnight (MoMA). 135 min.

SENGOKU IGA NO RAN

Director: Seiji Chiba

Action/Adventure

Set in the Sengoku era of Japan, the Iga ninja make a final stand as they battle the large armies of the Oda Nobunaga and the Koga ninja approach. This is the third film in Seiji Chiba’s ninja series. 65 min.

SENKYO

(e) CAMPAIGN

Director: Kazuhiro Soda

Documentary

The film was a hit at the Berlin Film Festival 2007. Kazuhiro Soda’s cinema-verite documentary closely follows a heated election campaign in Japan revealing the true nature of “democracy.” In the fall of 2005, 40-year-old, self-employed Kazuhiko “Yama-san” Yamauchi’s peaceful life was turned upside-down. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had suddenly chosen him as its official candidate to run for a vacant seat on the Kawasaki city council. Yama-san had zero experience in politics, no charisma, no supporters, no constituency, and no time to prepare for the impending election…. The main question of focus is: Can a candidate with no political experience /charisma win an election if he is backed by political giant Prime Minister Koizumi and his Liberal Democratic Party? 120 min.

SENRITSU MEIKYU 3D THE SHOCK LABYRINTH

(e) THE SHOCK LABYRITH: EXTREME

Director: Takashi Shimizu

Horror

“Ju-On” creator Takashi Shimizu’s latest dive into deep terror, SENRIRSU MEIKYU 3D THE SHOCK LABYRINTH marks Japan’s first foray into the world of live-action 3-D feature films. The story follows a group of teenagers dealing with the disappearance of Yuki at a ghost house in an amusement park. On a rainy day 10 years later, Yuki inexplicably returns. However, as soon as she is reunited with her friends, she collapses. The group rushes Yuki to a nearby hospital. But after checking in, they discover that things are not quite normal at the medical center. As the night wears on, the group sinks deeper and deeper into events from a decade ago that led to Yuki’s disappearance.

SHAYO

(e) THE SETTING SUN

Director: Masatoshi Akihara

Drama

SHAYO focuses on an aristocratic family that quickly crumbles following the end of World War II. With their money supply running out, they are forced to move out of Tokyo giving up their many personal servants. The main character Kazuko has to witness her mother slowly dying while also watching the self-destruction of her brother, who is an opium addict. Kazuko wants to find a purpose in a society that no longer have use for her. 80 min.

©KAERUCAFE

SHIKISAI NO KIOKU

(e) THE BEAUTIFUL WA OF LIFE

Director: Osamu Minorikawa

Documentary

This is a documentary movie about art. This film focuses on various forms of art such as painting, stitched works and the art of hair cutting. 70 min.

SHIKISOKU GENERATION

(e) OH, MY BUDDHA!

Director: Tomorowo Taguchi

Comedy

Tomorowo Taguchi is back as the director of a film adapted from semi-autobiographical novel by Japanese pop culture guru Jun Miura! It’s a story about a teenage boy growing up in the 70′s who travels to the Island looking for free sun and sex. A miracle castings including Lily Franky, Chiemi Hori (idol of 80’s ), Kaunobu MIneda (Gin Nan Boyz), and others made this film special. A high school student Jun yearns for Bob Dylan and a rocker’s life. Meanwhile he spends his monotonous life with his nice parents in Kyoto. One day, Jun is asked by his friend to take a trip to Oki Island, Shimane by a night train and ferry. 114 min.

SHIMA NO IRO SHIZUKANA KOE

(e) SILENT COLOR SILENT VOICE

Director: Ayako Mogi

Documentary

At the slow paced island of Iriomote, Okinawa, Akiko Ishigaki spins, dyes and weaves thread into fabric. Kinsei Ishigaki lives a traditional island life of rituals, festivals and music. The white thread that she spins is dyed with brilliant colors and woven into a fabric that incorporates the spirits of nature and the souls of the humans that create it. Often humorous, the two are firmly rooted in the earth and their unadorned words reflect the wisdom of living with nature. The poetic images capture a disappearing way of life that follow natural rhythms. 78 min.

SHIN KAIJU RAIGA

(e) RAIGA THE MONSTER FROM THE DEEP SEA

Director: Shinpei Hayashiya

Fantasy

Set 60 years after the events from the previous film “Deep Sea Monster Reigo”, the threat of global warming is causing the southern polar ice-cap to slowly melt. Because of this, the ecosystem is disturbed and sea monsters are heading to Japan. If things couldn’t get any worse, a huge sea monster by the name of Raiga arrives at Asakusa and begins its path of destruction on the town. 83 min.

SHINJUKUKU KABUKICHO HOIKUEN

(e) A CRECHE IN A DOWNTOWN

Director: Hideo Jojo

Comedy

Kenji, Susumu, Tatsuya, and Yu who work at a host club just get caught up with a yakuza and were handed a baby by a Filipino woman. Centering around the night life in Shinjuku Kabuki-cho, the film describes the emperors of the night uniting to take care of a baby. The hopeless yet beautiful hosts are played by popular Japanese actors such as Kenta Kamakari and Ryunosuke Kawai. 95 min.

SHIRLY NO KOSHOKU JINSEI TO TENRAKU JINSEI

(e) SHIRLEY’S LECHERY LIFE & FALL LIFE

Director: Hisashi Sato

Drama

A drama that consists of “Koshoku” (lecherous) and “Tenraku” (fall), both which compliment each other’s story. Shirly leaves his home island with his old friend Nakauchi to visit Nakauchi’s sister. The two men start to stay at her house, but there are 3 other women with different ages and personalities who try to tempt Shirly. Meanwhile, Shirly’s wife Namiko is looking for the whereabouts of Shirly back in his hometown. 111 min.

SHIROI HANA WA NAZE SHIROI -TECHAN・EIZOUSAKKA-

Director: Shinichi Ise

Documentary

82 min.

SHIZUKANARU DON – SHINSHO VOL.1 & 2

(e) THE QUIET DON: A NEW CHAPTER

Director: Hideo Shirosada

Action/Adventure

A new live-action film based on Tatsuo Nitta’s yakuza crime manga which has reached its 1,000th-installment milestone early this year. Changed from the previous TV drama series and the original video series, Yoshihiko Hakamada plays don in this new film . Shizuya Kondō is the only son of a yakuza boss who walks away from the family business to become an underwear designer. When his father is assassinated, Kondō agrees to take over the yakuza organization on one condition: that he keeps his day job at the underwear company “Pretty”. 83 min. (vol. 1), 82 min. (vol. 2).

SHIZUMANU TAIYO

(e) UNBROKEN

Director: Setsuro Wakamatsu

Drama

The film takes place during Japan’s rapid economic growth to the ‘bubble economy’ of the late 1980s. Hajime Onchi (Ken Watanabe) works for Goku Airlines and heads the labor union for better work conditions. Because of this activity, he was punished and transfered to overseas for the next 10 years. After his return, the worst airline crash in Japan occurs involving a Goku jumbo jet. Running for over three hours, this is a stirring human drama of lamentation, moving in its tempestuous course from the world’s deadliest single-plane aviation disaster and Japan’s political corruption out to the wider world of the Middle East, Africa, and the U.S. 202 min.

SHONEN MERIKENSACK

(e) THE SHONEN MERIKENSACK

Director: Kankuro Kudo

Comedy

A punk rock comedy directed by Kankuro Kudo. An unsuccessful A&R staff at Maple Records, Kanna (Aoi Miyazaki) discovers a savage punk rock band called Shonen Merikensack through the internet. What she didn’t realized was that the clip she discovered was actually from the band’s heyday in 1982. The band never succeeded above cult status. But the defunct band’s clip draws a big online traffic. Kanna’s boss tells her to sign Shonen Merikensack and to take them on a tour to Japan’s punk clubs. Shonen Merikensack consist of 50 year old men and a yakuza-like road manager. They start practicing for the gigs. Music is by Japanese group Ging Nang Boyz. 125 min.

SHO NO MICHI

Director: Koji Kawano

Drama

Junichi quits boxing and enters college with no clear direction on what to do. He then encounters a calligraphy club where he meets a few friends who also have an unclear goal. With a little encouragement from the club leader, Junichi and his fellow club members train hard for the upcoming calligraphy tournament. 93 min.

SHOWA 84 NEN

(e) 84 YEARS OF SHOWA

Director: Yoshiaki Ito

Documentary

Susumu Iida, 86 years old, lives alone in Yokohama. He spent most of his youth on the battlefield and in prison. Since the end of WWⅡ, the word “war” has engrained itself in Mr Iida’s consciousness for more than 60 years. Now he works hard writing his take on “War”, so he could pass it on to the future generations. This film retraces his footsteps; how he faced society, his family, and himself throughout the age of drastic changes. He is still searching for a way to communicate his messages. This is a documentary about an old man, living his youth. 84 min.

SHUGO TENSHI

(e) GUARDIAN ANGEL

Director: Yuichi Sato

Romance/Comedy

Keiichi is a middle-aged salaryman who is completely obedient to his controlling wife. During his subway commute, he encounters a teenage girl and immediately falls in love with her. When he finds out through a blog that this girl is in danger of being kidnapped by perverts, he forms a team to rescue her. No money, no job, no future….But, because of this economical and emotional depression, anyone can be a hero?! 109 min.

SIDEWAYS

Director: Cellin Gluck

Romance/Drama

Michio, a script writer and middle aged man has a dull life both in his career and private. He travels to California to attend his best friend, Daisuke’s wedding. They go on a week long driving trip to Napa valley, home to Californian wine to enjoy the last days of Daisuke’s bachelor life. Michio reunites with Mayuko (Kyoka Suzuki) who used to be his tutor 20 years ago when he came to study. This arouses his unforgotten feelings for her. On the other hand, Daisuke has a crush on Mayuko’s friend, Mina (Rinko Kikuchi) in spite of the upcoming wedding! With its own palatable blend of comedy and observation of human imperfection, this is the Japanese version of “Sideway”, Alexander Payne’s 2004 hit . A suggestion for a one week side trip in your life. 123 min.

SLACKERS

Director: Masahiro Muramatsu

Comedy

Childhood friends Tomu and Hiroshi had always wanted to play baseball but upon entering their new school, they found out that the baseball team had been disbanded. With the baseball team nonexistent, Tomu and Hiroshi became yankees (bad boys) instead and were eventually expelled due to suspicion of smoking. The principal of the school wants an Enka singer and alumnus Saotome to do a new school song to improve the school’s image. Saotome was a star slugger back in his school days, and refuses to do the song unless the baseball team is resurrected. 80 min.

SNOW PRINCE KINJIRARETA KOI NO MELODY

(e) SNOW PRINCE

Director: Joji Matsuoka

Drama/Animal

The creators of the OSCAR winning film “Departures” now gather once again to strike the melody of the pure first love. 10-year-old Sota lives with his grandfather and a dog named Chibi in a small snowy village. They live in such poverty that Sota can’t even afford to go to school. But he keeps his dream alive to become a painter. He has been friends with Sayo, a girl brought up in a wealthy family. Despite the difficulties of being friends because of their differnent family positions, Sota manages to complete a piece of painting which he wishes to give Sayo. 115 min.

SOKO KIHEI BOTTOMS

(e) ARMORED TROOPER VOTOMS PAILSEN FILES THE MOVIE

Director: Ryosuke Takahashi

Animation

This film is about a VOTOMS pilot named Chirico Cuvie who has a very high survival rate. He is assigned to Barcoff Squad which has team members with similar survival rates. The Barcoff Squad is an experiment by the head of the Melkian Department of Intelligence and are sent on impossible missions. The missions are meant to test the findings of the infamous Yoran Pailsen. 110 min.

SOLO CONTEST

Director: Gaku Shimojo

Drama

SORE IKE! ANPANMAN DADANDAN TO FUTAGO NO HOSHI

Director: Jun Kawagoe

Animation

The 21st work of the Anpanman series shows his exciting adventure with two new characters, twin star fairies Kirara and Kirari. The twins like to make shooting stars and one day they accidentally fall down to earth. During their absence, the devil star is getting bigger and bigger in the sky. 51 min.

SOUL RED MATSUDA YUSAKU

Director: Osamu Minorikawa

Documentary

The man of legend – Yusaku Matsuda’s first official documentary film. The year 2009 was the 60th year of the birth & the 20th year after the death of Yusaku Matsuda. Produced and supervised by Miyuki Matsuda (actress, and the widow of Yusaku), this documentary not only traces his way of living as a lifetime performer, but includes special secret footage. Through the words of celebrities from his era and leading figures in the Japanese film world who are deeply influenced by him, Yusaku’s presence comes back to screen. 120 min.

SR SAITAMA RAPPER

(e) 8000 MILES

Director: Yu Irie

Comedy

Fukuya City, Saitama. This is a story of a group of men who make an unwise aim to be rappers. All songs are original. Actors dared to shoot after practicing rap music for two months. An all-out rap music and youthful movie is born here for the first time in Japanese film history. Directed by Yu Irie ( “Japonica Virus”), his 79-minute comedy drama SR: SAITAMA’S RAPPER won the grand prix at 2009’s Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan. This film’s International title “8,000 MILES” means “8,000 miles to America (from Japan). 80 min.

STOP THE BITCH ENJO KOSAI BOKUMETSU UNDO

(e) STOP THE BITCH CAMPAIGN

Director: Kosuke Suzuki

Action/Adventure

“Enjo Kosai” means prostitution. But it is in fashion for some high school girls especially in Tokyo. Kuni deplores the phenomenon but cannot deny a strong desire for the girls. Thus, he punishes the girls by having sex with them without paying them. He calls this operation “Stop the Bitch Campaign” for public justice. Aoi, works in a sex trade shop where abnormal people receive satisfaction for their lust. He tries to find out about the man who raped her in the past. One day, Aoi meets Kuni. The battle between a violent yet beautiful girl and an abnormal dirty man is set to start again! 85 min.

SUBARU

(e) DANCE SUBARU

Director: Chi-ngai Lee

Drama

Adapted from a popular manga of the same title, SUBARU! is a motivating tale about the self-realization of a young ballerina under adversity. Subaru (Melisa Kuroki) and her twin brother Kazuma share a dream of becoming ballet dancers. However, their passion is discouraged by their father. After Kazuma’s death from a hereditary illness, dancing became Subaru¡¦s only happiness and she yearns to lose herself in dance. Through overcoming harsher challenges to become a professional ballerina, Subaru gradually learns about herself as a dancer and as person with her dancer friends. 105 min.

SUIT WO KAU

(e) BUY A SUIT

Director: Jun Ichikawa

Drama

SUIT WO KAU is a 47 minute film about the quiet connections among people living through the restlessness and hollowness of Tokyo. This is the last film done by director Jun Ichikawa. 47 min.

SUMMER WARS

Director: Mamoru Hosoda

Animation

“The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” directed by Mamoru Hosoda has received 23 awards in total all over the world including “Best Animation” from the Sitges Int’l Film Festival of Catalunya in 2008. In 2009, Hosoda and the staff of “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” return for “SUMMER WARS,” a story about a big family whose lives are thrown into a loop by a global crisis emerging from the Internet! In the near future, the creation of virtual city of OZ has made possible for everyone to access Internet from anywhere and anytime. Users control their avatars on OZ to shop, pay their bills, and have fun. Kenji is a typical high school student and is invited by the girl of his dreams, Natsuki, to accompany her back to home town Nagoya for summer vacation… 114 min.

SYMBOL

Director: Hitoshi Matsumoto

Comedy

After “Dai Nipponjin”, Hitoshi Matsumoto came back with a new film. Matsumoto took on the roles of screenwriter, director, and lead actor. The film was premiered at The Toronto International Film Festival. A man in pajamas finds himself in a brightly lit white room. As the man is wondering why he is in this room to begin with, he sees something on the wall. As he touches the wall, this sets off an unexpected chain of events. 93 min.

TABIDACHI – ASHORO YORI -

(e) A FOND FAREWELL FROM ASHORO

Director: Kazuyuki Imai

Drama

This is based on true story written by Chiharu Matsuyama, a popular singer song writer from Ashoro, Hokkaido. — “Hokkaido Japan Folk Music Competition” was held in Sapporo 1975. A young guy arrives late in a patrol car. This was Chiharu who was 19 years old at the time. The audience laugh at his wired outlook but Chiharu shouts “Listen to my song!”, and starts playing his guitar and song. He was not chosen as the winner because of his saucy attitude but STV Radio director Kenji Takeda noticed his talent as he payed attention to his performance. “The chance will come soon. Make new songs as much as you can.”…. 112 min.

TAIWAN JINSEI

(e) TAIWAN IDENTITY

Director: Michiko Sakai

Documentary

A documentary about 5 Taiwanese people who spend their youth under the rule of Japan. Through their interviews, the story shows the Taiwanese modern history from the era of Japanese administration, World War 2, the Kumintang Party’s dictatorship, and the present. 81 min.

TAJOMARU

Director: Hiroyuki Nakano

Drama

Set in the late Muromachi period, Naomitsu (Shun Oguri) is the second son of the distinguished Hatakeyama family. His lifelong friend and love interest is Ako-hime. When Ako-hime’s father dies, Yoshimasa Ashikaga elicits a decree that will forever change their fates. Soon afterwards, Naomitsu is terribly betrayed by his very own brother, starting thinking to give up his live and flee into the mountans with Ako-hime.. While travelling through the mountains, Naoitsu soon faces another betrayal. Naomitsu Hatakeyama then comes back as Tajomaru…

TALES OF VESPERIA ~ THE FIRST STRIKE~

Director: Kanta Kamei

Animation

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An animated prequel to the “Tales of Vesperia” video game. In the world of “Tales of Vesperia”, the people of the planet Terca Lumireis have come to rely on “blastia”, an ancient technology with a wide array of capabilities such as creating barriers to protect them from monsters. The Imperial Knights also use “bodhi blastia” to enhance their abilities in combat. The blastia are created from a substance called “aer” that lends its power to the blastia’s ability, but can be fatal to humans in large concentrations. TALES OF VESPERIA ~ THE FIRST STRIKE ~‘s story begings 10 years after the Great War against the demon-beasts. The empire rules over the world and their prosperity relies on the massive use of aer. Yuri Lowell and Flynn Scifo are two young men who have just enrolled the ranks of the prestigious Imperial Knights. 110 min.

TEAM NACS FILMS N43°

Directors: Team Nacs

Comedy

TEAM NACS FILMS N43° features the episodes “Ganbare! Chicago Bull-bulls,” “Camui no Ji-chan,” “Heya Clean,” “Yasudatta 3D,” and “AFTER.” The films were wrtten, directed and acted by members of TEAM NACS (Yo Oizumi, Hiroyuki Morisaki, Ken Yasuda, Shigeyuki Totsugi and Takuma Oto).

TEKE TEKE 1 & 2

Director: Koji Shiraishi

Horror

In Japan, there is an urban legend from Hokkaido called “Teke-Teke”. The legend is about a girl who fell under a train and was cut in half. It took her awhile to die and her ghost roams through Japan dragging her top half using her claw-like hands. Every time she moves, she makes a “teke-teke” sound…This eerie film was made based on the legend. 70/72 min.

TENGEN TOPPA GURREN LAGANN: RAGAN-HEN

(e) GURREN LAGANN THE MOVIE: THE LIGHTS IN THE SKY AND STARS

Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi

Animation

RAGAN-HEN is the eagerly-awaited second theatrical feature, re-created and re-imagined from award-winning TV anime series.. Valiantly persevering through the traumatic aftermath of Kamina’s death, Team Dai-Gurren collectively destroys the Four Generals and finally reaches Teppelin, the royal capital where Simon wins a fierce battle against the Spiral King, Lordgenome. An oppressed surface world is at last liberated. However this hard-fought victory inadvertently sets into motion the advent of a far greater menace that is yet to come. Animation is by Gainax. In the US, TV series was aired on SciFi channel in 2008. 115 min.

TENJO-NIN TO ACUTO-NIN SAIGO NO TATAKAI SAIGO NO TATAKAI

(e) LAST WAR OF HEAVENLOIDS AND AKUTOLOIDS, THE MOVIE

Director: Yoshiji Kigami

Animation

This is the final version of theatrical movie “Munto” anime franchise. “Munto” is a popular OAV (Original Anime Video) series since 2003 by Kyoto Animation. This is a remake version of ”Munto”. The 9 episode TV anime series titled “Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai “ was created and aired in 2009. This TENJO-NIN TO ACTO-NIN SAIGO NO TATAKAI is the director’s cut of the climactic scenes from the TV anime series with new footage. The story centers on a seemingly ordinary girl named Yumemi who can see a magical world in the skies above our world, and the king named Munto who must find Yumemi to save his own world. 83 min.

TENSHI NO KOI

(e) MY RAINY DAYS

Director: Yuri Kantake

Romance

Due to the traumatic event from her past, beautiful high school sophomore Rio cannot trust others but money. Despite being in the center of her friends’ admiration. One day, she meets a lone university instructor Mitsuki, and falls deeply in love. She learns to love a person for the first time as she struggles with her undecisive feelings. . Popular fashion model Nozomi Sasaki’s movie debut. Premiered at TIFF. 119 min.

TENTAI SHOSETSU OTSUZAKURA GAKUENSAI 2

Director: Hirotaka Adachi

Drama

The 2nd series of the film Otsuzakura Gakuen-sai, collaborated by popular writer Hirotaka Adachi aka Otsuchi and Ami Sakurai (Otsu + Sakura = Otsuzakura). Attracted by the mix of their own stories and moving images, they made another impressive two pieces with the common theme of the star and book. It was screened only for a limited time for 2 weeks. 86 min.

THE HARIMAYA BRIDGE HARIMAYA BASHI

(e) THE HARIMAYA BRIDGE

Director: Aaron Woolfolk

Drama

Daniel Holder’s father was killed fighting the Japanese during World War II. When his beloved son Mickey takes a job in Japan, it creates a rift between them. Mickey dies in a traffic accident and Daniel’s profound regret at their estrangement is matched only by his increasing resentment towards Japan. Despite these feelings, he goes there to retrieve precious items belonging to his son. While he sees that his son was loved by the people there, he rejects their kindness to him, preferring to hold onto his hatred. But a series of unexpected discoveries about Mickey forces Daniel to reassess his feelings for Japan… 120 min.

THREE COUNT

Director: Masaharu Kubota

Drama/Sports

“Three Count” is a story about women’s wrestling. Women’s wrestling was popular at one point, but now fans are decreasing making business difficult. The Saitama Girls Professional Wrestling company, run by star woman wrestler Sanae is not an exception. After Saitama Studio goes bankrupt, Mahiru’s passion for pro-wrestling encourages her to restart Sanae’s Studio. Mahiru hopes that restarting the studio might provide a clue to finding out about her missing father. 100 min.

THREE DAY BOYS

Director: Taitiro Natsume

Comedy/Drama

A story of young ascetic monks (two boys and one girl) who run away from a temple in a hidden village. Everyday the three have poor meals, teasing, and no television in addition to the religious hard training. They could no longer bear this situation and decided to escape from their circumstances. Can they shake off their pursuers? 90 min.

TOCHKA

Director: Hiroyuki Matsumura

Drama

Nemuro in Hokkaido is a town on the eastern tip of Japan and along the Russian border. A solitary man appears on the desolate plain; in front of him are the ruins of the tochka (“pillboxes”) built during the Pacific War. Coincidentally, a woman is present to witness a moment that no soul was expected to see. Constructed minimally by just two characters interacting in a single setting throughout, depicting a story of location and memory. The film was premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2009. 93 min.

©TOCHKA UNION

TOGETHER

Director: Kazuaki Muto

Love

TSUMA NO KAO

Director: Akihito Kawamoto

Documentary

This feature documentary is about a family who suffered from bombings for 50 years. The 82 year old director records his own life along with his wife Kiyoko who is a victim of the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima. One day they visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to see their grandchildren’s painting which reminds them of the long struggle of his wife’s illness. 114 min.

TSUMI TOKA BATSU TOKA

(e) CRIME OR PUNISHMENT?!?

Director: Keralino Sandorovich

Comedy

Ayame is an unpopular and unsuccessful gravure idol who unexpectedly becomes a police chief for the day. Her handsome ex-boyfriend, Haruki who works for the criminal investigation unit is now her subordinate. Haruki is suspected of being a serial killer who loves women so much that he cannot help but kill them. In addition, his thieving neighbors end up kidnapping Ayame’s acquaintances, Momo, her classmate and popular bikini model, and Ayame’s manager, Kazama. The film was premiered at Fantasia Film Festival. 110 min.

TSUMIKI NO IE

TWILIGHT FILE VI: FUYU NO KAIDAN

Director: Koichi Ueno

Horror

When the grandmother’s conditions became worse, the world begins to lose its balance. Evil ghosts attack the world in order to succeed the power to blockade the demon world. 76 min.

TWILIGHT FILE VI: QUARTER

Director: Tadashi Ogawa

Drama

This film is about a woman named Sayo who has worked for 5 years for a company and seeks something important for her life. She wakes up at the same time, takes the same route and the same train to go to her office every day. One day, she notices that she is missing something important while looking outside through the train’s window. When coming to this realization, she suddenly decides to go back to her home town to find something important submerged in a corner of her mind. 96 min.

TWILIGHT FILE VI: WEDNESDAY

Directors: Shinji Azuma & Katsuya Nishimura

Drama

The story of a girl with the super natural ability to stop the clock. There is a theater group somewhere in Tokyo on the verge of being bankrupt. The members of the theater group try to rebuild it, but they constantly quarrel due to their different opinions. Suddenly, a girl named Sayo visits their place and stops the clock. Realizing the girl’s ability, the theater group members plan to make use of her power in order to earn money. 78 min.

©MIRAI

UCHU SENKAN YAMATO FUKKATSU-HEN

(e) SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO -RESURRECTION- (tentative)

Director: Yoshinobu Nishizaki

Animation

It has been 25 years since the final chapter, “Uchuu Senkan Yamato – Kanketsuhen”. Under circumstances, Yamato is resurrected. Yamato is revived with full CG effects with an impressive 3D model which tries to recreate the enormous scale of the actual ship. With the use of 3D-CG, the scenes throughout the film are explosive in this animation. In the year 2220 of the Western Era, a crisis is approaching Earth with the expansion of a moving black hole. An immigration operation is undertaken to move over 300-million people from Earth. The latest transportation fleet is attacked, but is defended by Space Battleship Yamato now commanded by Susumu Kodai. Aboard is daughter Miyuki who is the child of Susumu and Yuki.

UESHIMA JANE

Director: McCoy Saito

Documentary

47 year old Ryuhei Ueshima and friend Hiroyuki Ariyoshi take on the challenge of becoming a surfer in Shida Beach, Chiba Prefecture. Shida Beach is one of the top and popular surfing spots in Japan. They take on the waves of Shida Beach while also befriending the locals. This experience has rejuvenated Ryuhei Ueshima to feel as if he’s in his youth once again. 99 min.

ULTRA MIRACLE LOVE STORY

(e) BARE ESSENCE OF LIFE

Director: Satoko Yokohama

Love

The film starts with a panning colorful world of disparate objects and lots of alarm clocks to wake up Yujin on a beautiful morning. Yujin is very different 25 year old farmer who acts like an excitable child because his brain is wired differently and tends his grandmother’s organic vegetable garden in the country side. One day, Yujin, falls in love for the first time in his life with Machiko, a nursery teacher from Tokyo. Yujin unabashedly keeps telling her how much he loves her, regardless of the fact that she is unable to overcome the trauma of losing her boyfriend in a car accident. Yujin’s straightforward feelings for Machiko creates an outlandish miracle after another. Superstar Kenichi Matsuyama (“L, Change the world”, “Detroit Metal City”) is compelling as Yujin, finding a balance of strength and sensitivity in this an unusual farmer . ULTRA MIRACLE STORY renders a vivid portrait of rural Japan. Premiered at Toronto Film Festival. 120 min.

ULULU NO MORI NO MONOGATARI

(e) A TALE OF ULULU’S WONDERFUL FOREST

Director: Makoto Naganuma

Animation

Subaru and Shizuku are siblings from Tokyo and move to Hokkaido when their mother was hospitalized. Their divorced father has lived there already. He is a veterinarian who provides emergency rescue for wild animals that have been injured. In Hokkaido, Subaru and Shizuku encounter magnificent natural splendor, wildlife and the gentle humanity . One day, Shizuku comes upon a dog like animal and names it Ululu. Ululu was not a dog, but a baby Ezo wolf which are believed to be extinct. After retrieving Ululu, Subaru and Shizuku head off on an epic journey try to return her to her mother. Their goal is the legendary “‘Horokeshi,” which means “Home of the Wolves” in Ainu dialect… 119 min.

UMI NO UE NO KIMI WA ITSU MO EGAO

Director: Ichiro Kita

Drama

WANGAN MIDNIGHT THE MOVIE

Director: Atsushi Muroga

Action/Adventure

Popular street-racing manga “Wangan Midnight” series has been adapted into several live action feature films, video games, and an TV anime series. WANGAN MIDNIGHT: THE MOVIE centers on a 3rd-year high school student Akio who salvages “Devil Z,” a custom-tuned Datsun Fairlady S30Z car with a supposedly cursed history. It stars Yuichi Nakamura of D-BOYS.

WARAU KEIKAN

(e) THE LAUGHING POLICEMAN

Director: Haruki Kadokawa

Suspense

Haruki Kadokawa’s return as a director 12 years after “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”. Based on Jo Sasaki’s true-crime novel inspired by corruption in the police force. Kadokawa made a suspense movie with Jazzy music and noir film aesthetics starring a stellar cast. A female police officer’s corpse was discovered in a Sapporo apartment. Sgt. Tsukui was identified as her ex-boyfriend and the prime suspect. Having partnered with Tsukui in the past, assistant inspector Saeki (Nao Omori) doesn’t feel right about the investigation. With Tsukui in hiding and the entire police force gunning for him, Saeki has only 24 hours to prove his friend’s innocence. Yasuko Matsuyuki co-stars as an incredibly resourceful military police officer who assists Saeki along the way. 123 min.

WAREWARE WA YUKICHI WO HUTATABI UTTAERU OKINAWA HICCHIHAIKU SATUJIN MISUIJIKEN NO ZEN SINSO

Director: McCoy Saito

Drama

A road movie that was recorded in a hitchhiking trip to cross from Okinawa with entertainer Ariyoshi Hiroyuki’s desire to go back to basics again. Directed by McCoy Saito, the true figure of Ariyoshi which can not been seen on TV is disclosed. 104 min.

WATASHI DASUWA

(e) IT’S ON ME

Director: Yoshimitsu Morita

Comedy

Maya Yamabuki (Koyuki), suddenly came back to her hometown from Tokyo with an enormous fortune. In the town where nothing has changed since her graduation from high school, she meets her ex-classmates after a long time. She gives them her big sum of money to them, telling them that she will fulfill their hopes and dreams .The friends eventually accept her unsparing offers with their puzzled feelings inside…How did she earn such a big amount of money? What is her purpose? What will happen after receiving the money? The film tells “how to seize your happiness” through the motif, money. . Premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival. 110 min.

WATASHI NO NAKA NO 8MM

(e) MY 8 MM

Director: Gitan Otsuru

Drama

A “Load” movie directed by Gitan Otsuru and shot by photographer Roland Kirishima. Due to a sudden bankruptcy of the company, Miharu has no choice but to leave the foreign country and go back to Japan. As she returns home, she finds a letter that reminds her of her old memories. Miharu decides to ride her motorcycle along with her leather jacket, and embark on an adventurous journey to the north. During her trip, she encounters a man with an 8mm video camera and asks her to shoot for his film. Though she rejects his proposal, Miharu develops an interest for him. 64 min.

WATASHI WA NEKO STALKER

(e) THE CAT STALKER

Director: Takuji Suzuki

Drama

This warm hearted human drama is based on a popular essay written by Haumin Aso. The story is about a cat lover named Haru and it involves more than 20 indoor and homeless cats. Haru has a dream of becoming an illustrator and likes to chase cats every day. She works a part time job for a book store with a cute cat named Chibitomu. After Chibitomu’s sudden disappearance, Haru starts to search for the cat in her neighborhood. 103 min.

YAKUSOKU NO CHI

Director: Tadanori Kano

Drama

Yu lost her parents and works at a horse riding club trusting only a beloved horse, Elizabeth. The horse was passed down from Yu’s father. One day, a family moved from Tokyo. A little boy named Ken tries to touch Elizabeth and makes Yu mad. It’s a story about a girl growing through meeting people. 93 min.

YAMAGATA SCREAM

Director: Naoto Takanaka

Comedy

The sixth work of the versatile and unique Japanese actor Naoto Takenaka. Yamagata Scream is about a series of battles between high school girls and stray samurais. These high school girls belong to a historical study club and visit a depopulated village to research the legend of stray samurai. The stray samurai was actually sealed off for 800 years, but somehow they were released throughout the village after the curse was accidentally broken. 106 min.

Image Courtesy of Celluloid-dream

YANAKA BOSHOKU

(e) DEEP IN THE VALLEY

Director: Atsushi Funahashi

Drama

Deep in the Valley interlaces a story of young romance set in Yanaka (part of old downtown Tokyo) with a Japanese period drama based on Five-Story Pagoda, a classic literary work by Rohan Koda. In the contemporary story, a young woman named Kaori works for a non-profit organization that restores home movies and learns that there used to be a five-story pagoda in the middle of Yanaka Cemetery. It burned down in 1957 and rumor has it that someone has an 8mm film of the fire. In a story set in the Edo period (18th century), a young and obscure carpenter named Jubei aspires to build the Five-Story Pagoda alone despite the opposition of his boss, his colleagues, and his wife. Premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. 120 min.

YATTERMAN

Director: Takashi Miike

Action/Adventure

Directed by Takashi Miike with refined character design by Katsuya Tarada (“Blood: the last vampire” “Cutie Honey”) and a new plot. An ultimate entertainment spectacle based on the globally popular TV anime series from 70′s is born with a new type of ROBOT ACTION ADVENTURE! Gan (Sho Sakurai) is the only son of the owner of Takada Toy Shop, and his girlfriend, Ai build Yatterwoof, a dog-shaped robot that shares their wills. When the world encounters a crisis, Gan and Ai transform into superheroes. The two and Yatterwoof form a fighting team to protect world from evil forces. They are YATTERMAN. Meanwhile Doronjo (Kyoko Fukada), the sexy female boss of the DORONBOW Gang are looking for the Skull Stone, which is said to grant its owner any wish. 111 min.

YATTERMAN SHIN MECHA DAISHUGO OMOCHA NO KUNI DE DAIKESSEN DA KORON

(e) YATTERMAN ANIME THE MOVIE

Director: Hiroshi Sasagawa

Animation

The movie version of the new TV series of Yatterman which started in 2008. Yatterman, Doronjo and her party visit Toy Toy Kingdom during the summer vacation. Behind the scenes, Pazzle, the minister of Toy Toy Kingdom, has a plan to destroy the earth. Yatterman gets involved in his plot and faces a huge crisis. The story features Yattaman’s new mecha in addition to all mechas in the past. 94 min.

YOJU MAMESHIBA

(e) MAMESHIBA

Director: Toru Kamei

Drama/Animal

Based on a TV drama that previously aired in Japan, YOJU MAMESHIBA is about a middle-aged “Parasite Single” (a single person who enjoy single life, unmarried, living with parents) who goes on a journey with a 2 month old puppy after the death of his father. During his journey, his growth as a man actually mirrors the growth of the puppy as well. 106 min.

YOMEI

(e) TIME LOST, TIME FOUND

Director: Jiro Shono

Drama

YOMEI was done by television director Jiro Shono. Yasuko Matsuyuki (“Detroit Metal City”) and Kippei Shiina (“Rain Fall”) star in the film. Shizuki is female doctor who has been married for 10 years to Ryosuke. She finally conceives a child, but she immediately learns that her breast cancer has relapsed, forcing her to make a decision between her unborn child and medical treatment for her illness. 131 min.

YOMEI IKKAGETSU NO HANAYOME

(e) APRIL BRIDE

Director: Ryuichi Hiroki

Drama

YOMEI IKKAGETSU NO HANAYOME has its genesis in a news report broadcast that was aired on TBS TV network in 2007. The broadcast reported on Chie Nagashima and her early-onset breast cancer. She took an unusual step of inviting a TV crew into her hospital room to make it more widely known that breast cancer can affect even young women. ‘The mere fact that tomorrow comes is a miracle,’ she came to think, a sentiment inspired by her relationship with her boyfriend that has been with her before she was diagnosed. He was her bridegroom just before her death. This film is the story of their love. 129 min.

YOMIGAERI NO CHI

(e) THE BLOOD OF REBIRTH

Director: Toshiaki Toyoda

Fantasy

Toshiaki Toyota (“Kuchu Teien””Aoi Haru”) returns with YOMIGAERI NO CHI, a primal exploration. This time the setting is in a mythical Japanese medieval past and is inspired by “Oguri Hangan,” a Japanese resurrection folkloric myth. The opening text sets the time during the Middle Ages “when demons ruled over humans.” But the main story leaves out the demons and focuses only on mortals who seem hopelessly dysfunctional. The protagonist Oguri is played by tTwin Tail drummer Tatsuya Nakamura. Premiered at the 2009 Festival Nouveau Cinema and the 2009 Tokyo Filmex 83 min.

YOMUTO SHINU: DEATH COMIC 1 & 2

Director: Korehisa Fukuda

Horror

Death Comic 1: An urban legend states that the mysteries from a red-covered manga in manga cafe have become reality. With the sudden death of Sayaka, her friends search for this particular red manga in order to shed some truth. 91 min. Death Comic 2: Shizuka and Ryoko try to uncover the mystery of the red-covered manga. During their search, they find a corpse that has been sewn together in red thread. This discovery leads them closer to the author of the manga. 84 min.

YONA YONA PENGUIN

Director: Rin Taro

Animation

ZEN

Director: Banmei Takahashi

Drama

ZEN is based on the life of Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher Dogen Zenji, the founder of the Soto school of Zen and an important philiosopher. Dogen Zenji traveled to China in search to find to his true master. During his journey in China, he met a monk who taught him the ways of Zen Buddhism. This inspired Dogen Zenji to spread Zen Buddhism in Japan. 127 min.

ZERO NEN DAI ZENKEI (omnibus)

Directors: Makoto Chokyu, Junpei Hatano

Drama

Three omnibus films, produced by Kei Horie. In one of the stories, Maki is sick of her life to the point where she decides that having a baby is the only solution. Another story shows the impending approach of the end of the world from the perspectives of different people. The last story is about how three people were brought together from an incident that happened 3 years ago. 198 min.

image courtesy of Argo Pictures

ZERO NO SHOTEN

(e) ZERO FOCUS

Director: Isshin Inudo

Suspense

Marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of writer Seicho Matsumoto, his most superb mystery work was adapted for film. Ryoko Hirosue (“Departures”), Miki Nakatani (“Memory of Matsuko”), and Tae Kimura (“All about us”) play 3 heroines caught up in a serial murder case. Kenichi and Teiko were married by an arranged marriage. 7 days after their honeymoon, Kenichi leaves on a business trip to Kanazawa and never returns. Hardly knowing Kenichi, Teiko heads to Kanazawa where she meets Sachiko, a wealthy woman from Kenichi’s past. She discovers that another woman named Hisako holds the key to the mystery behind her husband’s disappearance. As Teiko gets closer the truth, people involved in Kenichi’s disappearance are murdered, one by one. 130 min.

NYT J-FILM DATABASE 2009 PROJECT

Chief: Ryan Arreola

Staff: Junichi Inakagata