Film / Reviews Dec 2, 2021
‘Ruined’: Fury fuels a mission for retribution
Minori Hagiwara gives a compelling performance as a young woman who returns to her hometown to get answers and revenge in Taro Miyaoka’s “Ruined.”
Books Nov 26, 2021
A look behind the scenes with Godzilla, the ‘king of monsters’
Norman England's new book, "Behind the Kaiju Curtain," gives an insider's take on Japan's kaijū craftsmanship and monster movie-making.
Film / Reviews Nov 25, 2021
‘Spaghetti Code Love’: Disaffected Tokyoites don’t have much to say
Takeshi Murayama’s stylish first feature about somewhat intertwining lives in Tokyo looks like a slick music video, but its characters are mostly two-dimensional.
Film / Reviews Nov 18, 2021
‘Come and Go’: A hearty serving from Osaka’s multicultural melting pot
With “Come and Go,” which explores life in Osaka through a kaleidoscope of perspectives, director Lim Kah Wai shows how Japan’s population is not as homogenous as many believe.
Film Nov 18, 2021
Lim Kah Wai creates an intricate mosaic of Osakans in ‘Come and Go’
Director Lim Kah Wai’s final installment of his Osaka trilogy is a compelling ensemble drama that reflects the diversity of nationalities and lifestyles that coexist in the city.
Film / Reviews Nov 11, 2021
‘We Couldn't Become Adults’: A loving look back at brighter days
Yoshihiro Mori’s film about broken dreams and lost love meticulously recreates Tokyo as it was in the 1990s, and its two leads deliver finely nuanced performances.
Film / Reviews Nov 4, 2021
‘Dancing Mary’: No love lost for this spooky fantasy
Naoto Kataoka of pop group Exile takes on his first leading role in Sabu’s ghostly rom-com/actioner, but the film’s mix of genre elements doesn’t quite gel.
Film / Reviews Oct 28, 2021
‘She is Alone’: Traumas of relationships past come a-haunting
Natsuki Nakagawa’s first feature focuses on two mirroring student-teacher love affairs and edges on the melodramatic while being anchored by strong performances from its leads.
Film Oct 22, 2021
TIFF ambassador Ai Hashimoto wants a cinema comeback
The in-demand veteran actress will serve as ambassador at Tokyo International Film Festival's 34th iteration.
Film / Reviews Oct 21, 2021
‘Skeleton Flowers’: A quiet drama of honesty and growth
In Rikiya Imaizumi’s latest film, newcomer Sara Shida gives a centered performance as an artsy teen coming to terms with her father’s new relationship and her mother’s reappearance.