All articles tagged with #japanese cinema
Tatsuya Nakadai, a renowned Japanese actor known for his collaborations with Kurosawa and Kobayashi and his roles in samurai films, has died at age 92 from pneumonia, leaving a legacy of over 100 films and significant contributions to Japanese cinema.
Japanese actor and singer Miho Nakayama, renowned for her role in the 1995 film "Love Letter" and her music career, has died at 54. She was found at her Tokyo home, and the cause of death is still being investigated. Her management expressed shock and sadness over the sudden loss.
Japanese singer and actress Miho Nakayama, known for her roles in films like 'Love Letter' and her successful J-Pop career, has died at the age of 54. She was found at her home in Tokyo after canceling a concert due to health issues. Nakayama's career spanned music, film, and television, making her a prominent figure in Japan's cultural scene during the 1980s and 1990s. The cause of her death is under investigation. She is survived by her son with former husband Hitonari Tsuji.
Miho Nakayama, a renowned Japanese singer and actress best known for her role in the 1995 film "Love Letter," has died at the age of 54. She was found dead in her Tokyo home, and the cause of death is under investigation. Nakayama was a prominent figure in Japan's entertainment industry, with a career spanning music, film, and television. She released 22 studio albums and starred in 14 films, earning accolades for her performances. Nakayama is survived by her son with former husband Hitonari Tsuji.
Japanese J-pop star and actress Miho Nakayama, known for her role in the 1995 film 'Love Letter,' was found dead at her Tokyo home at the age of 54. Her death is under investigation, and she had recently canceled a performance due to poor health. Nakayama was a prominent figure in the 1980s and 90s J-pop scene and had a successful acting career. She is survived by her son, who is in the custody of her ex-husband, musician Hitonari Tsuji.
Wim Wenders' latest film "Perfect Days" explores the theme of finding beauty in life's limitations through the story of a Tokyo-based toilet cleaner, Hirayama, played by Kōji Yakusho. The film, shot entirely in Japanese, presents a sentimental fable that questions how to live in the face of need, loneliness, and disappointment. While the portrayal of Hirayama's seemingly perfect days may flirt with glibness, the movie ultimately nudges viewers toward appreciating transient beauty in the flawed world, making their days better.
Kōji Yakusho delivers a masterful performance in Wim Wenders' "Perfect Days," portraying the life of a Japanese toilet cleaner with depth and nuance, elevating everyday routines into profound moments. The film challenges preconceptions and offers a poignant portrayal of an "invisible" member of society. Yakusho's portrayal of the character's internal struggles and moments of joy is described as a sublime and emotionally resonant experience, culminating in a climactic shot that is hailed as one of the most astounding in recent cinema.
"Godzilla Minus One" is a fresh and fierce Japanese import that takes a throwback approach to the iconic city-stomping monster. Set during the final days of World War II, the film follows a failed kamikaze pilot who encounters Godzilla on a Japanese island. The story delves into the immediate aftereffects of the war in Japan, exploring postwar struggle alongside the havoc wreaked by the giant radioactive lizard. With impressive effects and a nod to Godzilla's old-school charm, the film offers a gritty and nostalgic take on the franchise.
The trailer for "Godzilla Minus One," the new live-action Japanese Godzilla movie from Toho, reveals a return to the kaiju's terrifying past. Set in the late 1940s, the film depicts Godzilla attacking a post-World War II Japan already devastated by defeat. The trailer highlights the historical link between Godzilla and Japan's darkest days, featuring scenes of nuclear explosions, dead soldiers, and postwar misery. Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, "Godzilla Minus One" aims to restore the monster's elemental scariness. Toho's deal with Legendary Pictures prevents them from releasing a live-action film in the same year, so they plan to swiftly release the movie in the U.S. before Legendary's "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" in 2024.
Studio Ghibli will release Hayao Miyazaki's final film, How Do You Live?, without any trailers or promotional materials ahead of its July 14 release in Japan. The studio has only released one poster for the film and has not revealed any plot details or voice cast. The decision is in line with Ghibli's approach of prioritizing a pure experience of its works over commercial considerations. Lead producer Toshio Suzuki contrasted the move with Hollywood's usual marketing methods and said it was inspired by a compliment from Miyazaki about the poster.
Studio Ghibli's highly anticipated film, How Do You Live?, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, will be released in Japan on July 14 with no trailer or promotional materials. The studio has not revealed any plot summary, voice cast, or setting for the film. The decision to forgo marketing is in line with Ghibli's approach of prioritizing a pure experience of its works over commercial considerations. The film is loosely inspired by a 1937 novel and is described as a grand fantasy.
Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu's latest film "Monster" initially presents a convoluted and dark portrait of a troubled boy, but ultimately delivers a message about the unfair pressures placed on children who don't fit societal norms. The nonlinear structure and misleading clues distract from the film's true subject, which is how children are socialized. The film explores themes of bullying, aggression, and suicide, but ultimately reveals a message of hope and acceptance. The film also touches on LGBTQ+ representation, as the protagonist struggles with his feelings for a boy in his class. "Monster" is competing at the Cannes Film Festival.
Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest film, "Monster," explores childhood bullying, stigma, peer pressure, and homophobia through a multi-perspective Rashomon-esque prism. While the film is frustrating in many ways, its underlying melancholy and poignant depictions of the solace of friendship make it worthwhile. The film marks Kore-eda's return to a Japanese-language project for the first time since "Shoplifters" and is competing at the Cannes Film Festival.
Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest film "Monster" is a dense and looping melodrama that explores the unknown and dismantles the idea of "monstrousness." The film follows a mother's fear of losing her son to forces beyond her control and is sustained by the inertia of unanswered questions. While the script's destabilizing structure softens the impact of some piercing moments, the film takes advantage of its strange chronology in powerfully unexpected ways. "Monster" premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and is currently seeking U.S. distribution.
Hirokazu Kore-Eda's latest film, Monster, is a return to his Japanese storytelling roots and a family-centered drama that explores the lasting effects of grief and the walls we build for ourselves. The film employs a Rashomon-style to flesh out details and uncover layers of truth, with superb casting and a moving final musical score from the late great composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Monster is Kore-Eda's seventh film in the main Cannes competition and his ninth overall.