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*Genra: ACTION / SAMURAI /118min
*Director: SORI (VEXILLE, Ping Pong)
*Starring: Haruka Ayase (The Magic Hour, Cyborg Girl, HERO), Takao Osawa (Midnight Eagle, Helen the Baby Fox), Shidou Nakamura (Red Cliff, Letters from Iwo Jima, Yamato)
The story follows, Ichi, a lone blind shamisen-instrument player on the road, always facing people who treat her coldly and trying to take advantage of her. However, Ichi stands tall with dignity, and her emotions burst with action with the hidden sword in the walking cane that she swings to fight back. When she is involved in a battle within two yakuza groups, she realizes love for the first time and the border between life and death. |
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*Genre: HORROR / THRILLER/106 min
*Director: Ataru Oikawa(TOMIE, Apartment 1303)
*Starring: Gouki Maeda, Rin Asuka, Airi Matsuyama
It is early summer and Keiichi had just moved to a remote mountain village. As he becomes close friends with a group of cute girls, he starts enjoying his life in the village. However when he starts to become suspicious of the girls that Keiichi trusted may be deeply involved in successive murders that occur every summer, the situation around Keiichi gradually starts to turn. As if the girls' characters had completely changed, a sewing needle is found in his food, he is chased by mysterious men, and is involved in an accident which could have killed him. He could no longer trust anyone, and then... One mystery leads to another, bringing out a shockingly bloody ending!!! |
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*Genre: ACTION / FANTASY
*Director: Katsuhide Motoki(KITARO, 10 Promises to My Dog)
*Starring: Eiji Wentz (KITARO, Brave Story -voice), Kie Kitano (Speed Master, Life-TV Series), Ken Ogata (Love and Honor, A Long Walk)
A half human, half yokai/monster hero Kitaro and his buddies (performed by returning cast members), investigate a series of mysterious disappearance and finds out that it is somehow related to the curse caused by "forbidden love" which occurred 1,000 years ago. Behind these incidents, was the conspiracy plotted by the evil yokai and his followings. Kitaro and his friend must collect 5 treasures to stop the curse, and also fight against evil to shutter the vicious cycle. Will he be able to bring love and peace to the world? |
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*Genre: Monster Movie with Political Satire
*Director:Minoru Kawasaki (The World Sinks Except Japan, The Calamari Wrestler)
*Starring: Natsuki Kato (Battle Royale II: Requiem) , Kazuki Kato (Kamen Rider the Next, Hotaru no Hikari -TV Series) Guest appearance by Beat Takeshi (Zatoichi, Takeshi's)
In the summer of 2008, the G8 summit is being held at Lake Toya, a beautiful resort near the volcano in Hokkaido. At the same time, the Chinese rocket falls into Japan, causing the monster to be born from the spore attached to the rocket. The monster, Guilala, moves toward the summit conference site for the pursuit of volcanic energy. Now the world leaders have to terminate Guilala to show their country's prestige. First mission is missile attack by Japan, then Italy, Germany and... Deadly combat between human beings and the monster from outer space continues, but just when everyone starts to give up, two journalists finds a strange group worshipping the traditional "idol" at the lakeside.
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*Genre: Drama / 116min
*Director: Shingo Matsubara (Ultraman Tiga, Seishun Kakeochi-hen)
*Starring: Takao Osawa (Midnight Eagle, Helen the Baby Fox), Lena Tanaka (10 Promises to My Dog, KITARO)
Set in Tsukji Fish Market, the top supplier of fish in the world, this is the life and the world of fish trading! Shuntaro Akagi leads a fruitful career at a general trading company and a steady relationship with his girlfriend, Asuka whom he has been thinking of settling down with. It seemed that this would go on, until he somehow winds up helping out a well-established 'fish trading' business which Asuka's father runs. With rules and tradition of Tsukiji, all Shuntaro can rely on is his sense of taste. His days of struggles now begin! |
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*Genre: Drama / 131min
*Director: TAKITA Yojiro (ASHURA, When The Last Sword Is Drawn, SECRET)
*Music: Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, HANABI, Sonatine)
*Starring: Masahiro Motoki (The Bird People of China,GEMINI,GONIN), Ryoko Hirosue (WASABI,Love Collage) , Tsutomu Yamazaki(Kagemusha, Tampopo), Kimiko Yo (Café Lumière)
Daigo Kobayashi, who was a cellist in an orchestra which had just been dissolved, suddenly is thrown out onto the streets without a job and hope for life. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife. However, his life is revived when he starts working as an "encoffineer." He cleans up the body, places the dead into the coffin, and sends the dead to the next world in the best way possible… he is the gatekeeper between life and death. The job is despised by his wife and the people around him, but through the "Deaths" that he encounters, he finally starts to find what "Life" is all about. |
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*Genre: Drama
*Written and Directed by Junji Sakamoto (Aegis, FACE)
Based on the novel "Children of the Dark" by Yan Sogil (Blood and Bones)
*Starring: Yosuke Eguchi (Silk, Synesthesia) , Aoi Miyazaki (Eureka, Synesthesia, NANA), Satoshi Tsumabuki (Dororo, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish)
In the darkest corners of Thailand, child prostitution and organ sales flourish. In order to save a child's life, another life must be taken. An outraged Japanese journalist and a passionate young Japanese NGO member attempt to save "children of the dark" from being consumed by arrogance and greed. However, the harsh realities of life intervene... Adapting Yan Sogil's novel, which unflinchingly portrays the tragic realities unfolding today, filmmaker Junji Sakamoto directs a talented multinational cast to bring these stark events to life. |
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*Genre: DOCUMENTARY
*Director: Tadashi Mori (notable documentary director)
In the peaceful and happy life that the pandas seem to be leading, we see that they are not just cuddly and cute animals. With only 1,600 pandas left on earth, every minute of their life is important, and every second leads to their next generation. Co-produced with China, it is the first time to be able to shoot the new born baby panda in the mother's arms. Spending over a year of shooting to follow each pandas, we were able to shoot an extremely rare material on the "way of life" for the pandas, and what they face. A warm feeling and a prayer for the future on earth will sure to follow after watching this documentary. |
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*Genre: Drama / Comedy
*Director: Kensaku Watanabe (Loved Gun)
*Starring: Yui Aragaki (Sky of Love), Ayato Nagayama, Takashi Naito (ASHURA, Spirited Away - Voice, After Life)
Momoko (Yui Aragaki) is a quiet and lonely high school girl who's only passion is to cheer traditional cheer squad, but all she could gather were good for nothing guys, who could not find places in school. They start the cheer squad with a disaster, but when they finally find the true meaning of "cheering" someone, their passion becomes power and gives strength to those that are cheered. |
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*Genra: Drama / 133 min
*Director: Yoji Yamada (Love and Honor, The Hidden Blade, The Twilight Samurai)
*Starring: Sayuri Yoshinaga (Year One in the North, The Makioka Sisters), Mitsugoro Bando (Love and Honor), Tadanobu Asano (Café Lumière, Mongol, Zatoichi)
Set in Tokyo in 1940, the peaceful life of the Nogami Family suddenly changes when the father, Shigeru, is arrested for crying peace and accused of talking against the country. His wife Kayo works frantically from morning to night to maintain the household and bring up her two daughters with the support of Shigeru's sister Hisako and Shigeru's ex-student Yamazaki. However, her husband does not return. WWII breaks out and casts dark shadows on the entire country, but Kayo still tries to keep her cheerful determination, and sustain the family with her love. |
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*Genre: Action / Comedy / 98min
*Director: Issei Oda (Arch Angels)
*Starring:Zhang Zhuang, Pinko Izumi (Learning Circle, "Oshin" series)
A great action entertainment of a little Kung-fu genius comes on screen. Enter the "Little" Dragon! A little Kung-fu genius, Kung Fu is blown away to Japan by his master from China to defeat the "last opponent" in order to be conferred full Mastership of Kung-Fu. Appealed by his spirit and charm, Tai Chi skilled Izumi and her grand daughter Reiko take care of Kung Fu, as he searches for his last opponent. When Reiko is abducted by evil organization, Kung Fu finally finds out who his last opponent is. His battle now begins! |
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*Genre: Drama / Romance / 125min
*Director: Satoshi Isaka ([focus], g@me)
*Starring: Koji Yakusho (Memoirs of a Geisha, BABEL), Miki Imai (Brave Story - voice)
A higly moving drama starring Koji Yakusho of BABEL Yukihiro Fujiyama, 48 years old, is a hard working business man, who suddenly receives a pronouncement that he is in the terminal stages of lung cancer. With only six months left to live, he tries to ascertain what his life has been. His wife, Miwako, fully accepts his decision to "live now" rather than seek life-prolonging treatment. Confronted with "death," he discovers his surrounding a new as he enjoys every minute of the remaining time and finds the true meaning of happiness. |
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*Genre: ROMANCE / 116 min
*Director: Katsuhide Motoki(Kitaro, The Taste of Fish)
*Starring: Lena Tanaka (Kitaro, Give it All), Ryo Kase (Letters From Iwo Jima, HANA), Etsushi Toyokawa (Love Letter)
One day a puppy comes to the house of a 12-year old girl Akari. She immediately falls in love with the puppy and names it "Socks" . They were together day and night. However, as Akari grows up, her feelings and interest moves away from Socks and also leads to her physical distance as she moves to a far off city, and must leave Socks behind to a childhood friend. One day Akari remembers the 10 promises that she had made to Socks and her deceased mother… |
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*Genre: ACTION
*Director: Izuru Narushima (Fly, Daddy, Fly, The Hunter and the Hunted)
*Starring: Takao Osawa (Helen the Baby Fox, Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World), Yuko Takeuchi (Ring, Heaven's Bookstore), Hiroshi Tamaki (Waterboys, Heavenly Forest)
In the skies above the severe winter conditions of the Northern Alps, a top secret American forces' stealth bomber "Midnight Eagle" suddenly vanishes. Its payload is a "specialized warhead." If it were to explode, the entire nation of Japan would be hurled into an unprecedented calamity. An ex-war photographer Nishizaki accidentally encounters the incident, and gets behind the scene, preventing the weapon to fall into the wrong hands. |
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*Genre: HORROR / 128 min
*Director:Masato Harada (Kamikaze Taxi, Bounce ko GALS)
*Starring: Ryuhei Matsuda (Gohatto, NANA, Big Bang Love, Juvenile A), Yusuke Iseya (Casshern, Sea Without Exit, Sukiyaki Western, Blindness)
From the creator of "One Missed Call" comes the terrifying story of a suicide song based on a true story!
"The Suicide Song" follows the motif of "Gloomy Sunday", which was known as the 'Hungarian suicide song' in the 1930's. Kana, a high-school girl, suddenly commits suicide at her school. Her friend Anzu witnesses this disastrous scene, she hears Kana humming a strange song. Meanwhile, Riku, editor of a sensationalist magazine, hears a rumor about a 'suicide song'. Riku and Anzu encounter each other and try to stop the vicious cycle of continuous suicides.
Suicides occur one after another, and just when it seems the mystery has become hopelessly complex, Anzu becomes aware of what the song means. Does that song convey despair or hope? |
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*Genre: ROMANCE / 116 min
*Director: Hiroshi Chono (Debut, First assistant director for "The Grudge")
*Starring: Nao Matsushita (Asian Tam Blue, XX), Terunosuke Takezai (Masked Rider - Blade)
A beautiful love story based on two smash hit songs from a popular band DREAMS COME TRUE, "Mirai yosouzu" and "Mirai yosouzu II" (meaning "a map for the future"). A young couple Sayaka Miyamoto and Keita Fukushima attending the same university believing that their love for each other will never end. However, as time goes by and they graduate, their future starts to part as they both begin moving forward to capture their own dreams. The heart-wrenching story travels from Tokyo to the beautiful setting in Barcelona, as their paths cross once again. Will they be able to find a future together that they have rendered in the past? |
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