DVD Review: Samurai Warrior – A Film By Kenichiro Nishiumi
A coming-of-age story about a boys journey into manhood!
Learning his trade from Takashi Mike as assistant director, Kenichiro Nishiumi directs this 65 minute martial arts action saga about brotherhood, masculinity and self-discovery during Japan’s Warring States Period.
Three young men, Ryu, Yonesuke and Gon, known collectively as ‘The Devils’, set out to have feudal battles with other like-minded gangs from surrounding villages to see who is the toughest. This they do to create a fearsome reputation for pride and honour, and to win the Read more…
Film Review: Heart, Beating In The Dark (2005) – A Film By Shunichi Nagasaki
A new view on the relationship between the past and the present!
Heart, Beating in the Dark (screened as part of the ICA Japanese cinema season Whose Film Is It Anyway? Contemporary Japanese Auteurs) is partially a remake of and a sequel to Shunichi Nagasaki’s 1982 film of the same name, incorporating Read more…
DVD Review: Helldriver – A J-Horror Film By Yoshihiro Nishimura
Warning: Review contains graphic images!
An outrageous, unshameful zombie romp!
Helldriver is a trip back into the extreme world of Yoshihiro Nishimura of Tokyo Gore Police fame and many other insanely named films. It’s the latest in a subgenre of horror flicks known as Splatter, of which the Japanese are, arguably, the forerunners of producing in high quantity – if not quality, although, the Sushi Typhoon brand in particular does them very well, which is evident in part with this film.
Japan is thrown into chaos when a mysterious gas cloud not from this world falls over the Northern provinces, turning the population into Read more…
Terracotta Far East Film Festival Announces Opening And Closing Film For 4th It’s Edition
An annual event which aim is to widen the audience for Far Eastern film in the UK!
Terracotta is London’s premier celebration of the film and culture of the Far East. With a stunning line-up of films hand-picked from the best of the region, encompassing diverse genres from comedy to drama to horror and everything in between, an unbeatable programme of exclusive cast and crew Q&As, intro’s and masterclasses and Read more…
DVD Review: TOMIE Unlimited – A J-Horror Film By Noboru Iguchi
Warning: Review contains graphic images!
The film’s strength lies within its absurdities.
The Cronenberg-style horror flick, TOMIE Unlimited, is the ninth, and nastiest, entry in the film series based on a popular manga by Junji Ito. Renowned for directing AV (Adult Video) and action/horror films on a meagre budget, Noboru Iguchi, true to form, delivers a totally in-your-face splatterfest that is rife with buckets of blood and dismembered bodies.
Schoolgirl Tsukiko (Moe Arai) is a photography enthusiast with an inferiority complex caused by the jealousy she has towards her Read more…
Volunteers Wanted For Hyper Japan 2012 Spring Event
Fancy being a part of the biggest J-Culture event in the UK? Then read on…
With less than one more week to go, excitement is building for Hyper Japan 2012 Spring and promises to be the best one yet! The event organisers are working extremely hard putting together the final touches and are now seeking enthusastic volunteers to help out during Read more…
MyM Magazine To Launch At Midlands Comic Con 2012
An announcement by MyM magazine!
Your new magazine for games and anime has arrived! MyM will be making its first public appearance at this Saturday’s Midlands Comic Con inTelford. Read more…
Stage Play Review: “The Bee” – A Tale Of The Macabre Starring Hideki Noda & Kathryn Hunter
A story of a vengeful Tokyo businessman who succumbs to madness!
Upon his return home from the office, salaryman (Japanese businessman), Ido, is met by an invasive media crowd who insensitively inform him that an escape convict is holding his wife and child hostage in his own home. Rather than letting the police deal with the situation accordingly, Mr. Ido decides to take matters into his own hands and plays the criminal at his own game by taking his wife and child captive in their home. A stand-off ensues leading both men to perform a series of sadistic proceedings on each others’ captive family members who are the true victims Read more…
Seven Beach Aid Presents: You Are Not Forgotten – Japan Earthquake And Tsunami Aid
An event to remember the people affected by the tsunami
In association with Golders Green Parish Church
Sunday 11 th March 2012
14:00 – 16:30 (doors open at 13:30)
Admission free Read more…
Terracotta Far East Film Festival & Friday 13th: Terrorcotta Night
Terracotta Far East Film Festival announces new dates, new logo and a Friday 13th: Terrorcotta Night for 2012!
Festival will take place in London April 12th – April 15th2012 and will continue its support of films and emerging film-makers from across the Far East .
Terracotta Far East Film Festival curates and exhibits a selection of films from Asia which are hand-picked from the best of each years vintage.
Happily returning to the Prince Charles Cinema , in the Read more…
Video Interview: Antony Cummins – Author & Ninja Historian
Antony Cummins disples the many myths surrounding the ninja!
For centuries the legend of the ninja has been steeped in mystery, infused by lies fabricated in Japan throughout the 50′s and 60′s, not to mention the countless films produced in the West and Middle East during the 70′s and 80′s making stars of actors like Sho Kosugi (Pray For Death and Revenge of the Ninja).
The image of the ninja dressed in black from head to toe scurrying up walls with a katana on his back has now Read more…
A Guide To Culinary Schools In Japan
Aspiring chefs can find top-notch schools here!
Have you ever wanted to learn how to master traditional Japanese dishes such as sushi? Or does the idea of studying to become a chef in a culturally rich country such as Japan sound exciting and adventurous? There are many Read more…
DVD Review: Ninja Battle – A Film By Seiji Chiba Starring Actress/Idol Aki Ito
More ninja action from cult director Seiji Chiba!
In 1581, the Iga province of Japan was annihilated by Oda Nobunaga and the Koga allied forces with many blaming the Iga’s downfall on the treachery of the Iga shinobi Shimoyama Kai. Prior to these events, a team of ninja agents were dispatched on a covert mission to prevent Oda and the Koga from gaining the upper hand. This is their story…
When a small group of Iga ninjas find their comrade Yoshimori lying dead in a cave next to a bound a gagged girl, they immediately suspect her of somehow being involved in Read more…
Best Battlers To Win Signed Copies Of ‘The Last Story’ At Midlands Comic Con
Midlands Comic Con – International Centre,Telford – 18 FEB.
Visitors to the Midlands Comic Con in Telford on 18 February will get the chance to win copies of Nintendo’s epic new Wii™ RPG The Last Story™ signed by its creator, legendary games director Hironobu Sakaguchi.
Nintendo will be holding player battles at its stand throughout the show – and the victor of each Read more…
Poetry Reading: “The Undying Day” By Hans Brinckmann – Translations By Hiromi Mizoguchi
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 2:00 – 4:00pm Admission free, book here
Daiwa Foundation Japan House 13/14 Cornwall Terrace, Outer Circle London NW1 4QP Nearest Station: Baker Street Map
Hans Brinckmann, author of The Undying Day: Poems by Hans Brinckmann, will be reading a selection of his poems followed by translations by Hiromi Mizoguchi. After the reading, there will be a discussion on the writing and translation of poetry.
Brinckmann’s book The Undying Day: Poems by Hans Brinckmann, contains Read more…
Event: Video Games In Japan: Past, Present And Future
Event 1 – The Past: Game Over? How to preserve Video Game Culture and why it is important to do so.
Date: 21st February 2012
Event 2 – The Present and Future: Progress to Next Level? Where is the Japanese Read more…
Show Your Love! A Message From Team J-MELO
This message comes to you from Team J-MELO!
As the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake is approaching, we’re inviting J-MELO viewers to send messages for us to share with the people of Japan. We’d be most grateful for a message from you. You can send one through Read more…
DVD Review: Tekken – Blood Vengence
The animation style and fight scenes are reminiscent of the Tekken games!
Tekken – Blood Vengeance is a CGI animated Sci-Fi Martial Arts action movie based on the Tekken series of video games and features all of the main characters that fans of the franchise will instantly recognise.
Rival Corporations Mishima Zaibatsu and G Corporation employ sisters and deadly rival professional assassins Nina and Anna Williams in the search for the carrier of the mysterious Read more…
Exclusive Interview: Nao Nagasawa – Actress, Singer And Idol – Super Sentai And Kamen Rider Heroine
“I want to be in a Hollywood movie in the future.” Nao Nagasawa
Nao Nagasawa (長澤 奈央 ), best known to her fans for her roles in various Super Sentai and Kamen Rider TV shows, is someone with more than just a pretty face and a gorgeous body. She’s been a recording artist, releasing singles like “Kiss, Kiss” and ”Game”, and a dancer. But it’s her skills as an actress were she excels and has even led to her winning the Best Actress Award at the Myrtle Film Festival for her English-speaking lead role in Read more…
