The cynical practicality of the post-war generation is contrasted with the wistful romanticism of their forebears in Nakahira’s charmingly witty comedy
Apr 15, 2021 • Subscribe
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Crimson Wings (紅の翼, Ko Nakahira, 1958)
An earnest pilot’s mission to deliver the tetanus vaccine to a little boy is disrupted by a fugitive yakuza hitman in Ko Nakahira’s lighthearted thriller.
The Passionate Spinster (結婚相談, Ko Nakahira, 1965)
A woman still unmarried at the comparatively late age of 30 begins to go out of her mind while on a hellish descent into vice and crime in…
The Hunter’s Diary (猟人日記, Ko Nakahira, 1964)
A serial philanderer’s life is upended when his conquests start turning up dead in Ko Nakashira’s twisted noir.
Jungle Block (地図のない町, Ko Nakahira, 1960)
A jaded doctor finds himself fixating on vengeance when the slum he lives in is targeted for redevelopment in Ko Nakahira’s searing noir.
Review: Sugar Sweet Temptation
Bake your way to these girls' hearts in this heartwarming story of romance and dreams!
Whirlpool of Flesh (おんなの渦と淵と流れ, Ko Nakahira, 1964)
A intellectual professor and his wounded wife find themselves trapped in a toxic marriage after returning from Manchuria in Ko Nakahira’s fatalistic drama
The Temptation of Marielle Clarac
By Haruka Momo and Maro. Released in Japan as “Marielle Clarac no Saiai” by Ichijinsha Bunko Iris NEO. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Philip…
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I’ve neither read the Fruits Basket manga nor watched the original anime series, but even without knowing the end of the story, I cannot help but believe that…
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Inoue’s rags-to-riches narrative might not escape the territory of predictability, but he puts enough thematical meat on the table so that the spectator, in full knowlegde of how…
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Toshikazu Kono hits all the right emotional notes to deliver a satisfying tragic love story.
Overflow (Episode 7) – Under An Apron-Wearing Temptation
Ayane and Kotone have a day off and want to do something fun. Kazushi also has time so they plan on doing something together. Ayane has even offered…
Warm Current (暖流, Yasuzo Masumura, 1957)
A trio of youngsters tussle for the post-war future through the medium of a love triangle in Masumura’s ironic melodrama
Snow Country (雪国, Shiro Toyoda, 1957)
A self-absorbed, unappreciated painter is torn between an embittered geisha and her resentful yet pure sister in Toyoda’s adaptation of the classic Kawabata novel
Dancing Girl (踊子, Hiroshi Shimizu, 1957)
The arrival of a free-spirited younger sister creates chaos in the live of a chorus dancer and her violinist husband in Hiroshi Shimizu’s elegantly lensed melodrama.
On This Earth / 地上 / Chijo (1957)
Obscure Japanese Film #150 Hitomi Nozoe and Hiroshi Kawaguchi Kanazawa, central Japan, c.1920. Heiichiro (Hiroshi Kawaguchi) is a student ...
Wonder Egg Priority, Episode 11: “The Temptation of Death”?
Wonder Egg Priority is a beautiful, uncomfortable, moving and confusing series that starts out engaging all the things we don’t talk about—self-harm, abuse, rape, bullying, gender dysmorphia, and…
Untamed (あらくれ, Mikio Naruse, 1957)
A rebellious woman strives for independence in a patriarchal society but nevertheless finds herself hamstrung by feckless men in Naruse’s Taisho-era drama
Stepbrothers (異母兄弟, Miyoji Ieki, 1957)
The destructive effects of militarist folly are borne out in the fortunes of one bifurcated family in Miyoji Ieki’s impassioned social drama.
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The Lower Depths (どん底, Akira Kurosawa, 1957)
In the absence of salvation a comforting falsehood is the only means of survival in Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of the Gorky play.
Freelance Samurai (桃太郎侍, Kenji Misumi, 1957)
An abandoned son resolves to wander Japan killing the “demons” of Edo-era society in Kenji Misumi’s adaptation of the popular novel by Kiichiro Yamate.
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The Good Cartoon – Three Little Bops (1957 – Dir: Friz Freleng)
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An Osaka Story (大阪物語, Kozaburo Yoshimura, 1957)
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Cantankerous Edo (大江戸喧嘩纏, Kiyoshi Saeki, 1957)
A noble-hearted samurai on the run falls for a fireman’s sister in Kiyoshi Saeki’s hugely enjoyable jidaigeki musical adventure.
The Eagle and the Hawk (鷲と鷹, Umetsugu Inoue, 1957)
Strapping sailors meditate on revenge and forgiveness while trapped aboard a moribund cargo ship in Umetsugu Inoue’s otherwise charming musical youth drama.
Yellow Crow (黄色いからす, Heinosuke Gosho, 1957)
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Oshi no Ko – 04
「役者」 (Yakusha) "Actors" You are NOT the father!
Oshi no Ko – 10
「B小町」 (B Komachi) "B Komachi" “What if you win, wouldn't it be weird?" Why, so you guys could just lie to get me here?
Oshi no Ko – 07
Oshi no Ko kind of falls under the bloody trainwreck you can't look away from umbrella this week. Read more
Oshi no Ko – 03
This is not a show that's easy for me to appraise with detach. Read more
Oshi no Ko – 06
This was one of those days where the internet was a real minefield. Read more
Oshi no Ko – 04
So far so good, but damn, is the road ahead a minefield. Read more
Oshi no Ko – 08
「初めて」 (Hajimete) "First Time" Touched for the very first time.
Oshi no Ko – 10
"Water always seeks its own level", they say. Read more
Oshi no Ko – 01
「Mother and Children」 "This story is a work of fiction. Actually, most everything in this world is fiction."
Oshi no Ko Review
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「漫画原作ドラマ」 (Manga Gensaku Drama) "Manga-Based TV Drama " Coming soon on Netflix is the hit J-Drama I'll Go With Sweet Today. Professional model Melt Narushima stars in this heart-pounding rom-com…
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Just bought this super-cute A-ko sticker on eBay! This was exciting to run across, as it's not often you see fan works for Project A-ko like this for…
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