Anime Blog Tracker

Sep 6, 2021 • Subscribe

Robinson’s Garden (1988) [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Yamamoto is not able to create a composition that engages the spectator with its highly relevant message.”

Feb 10, 2024 • Subscribe

Spaghetti Code Love (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Maruyama’s narrative speaks powerfully to the spectator’s subjectivity – his fears and hopes – and enables his evocation of a glimmer of hope that remains present in this…

Oct 16, 2021 • Subscribe

Mari and Mari (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“A beautiful narrative that seems to bear no relation to our romantic life at first, but ultimately hits close to home.”

Sep 12, 2021 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Honeymoon (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“A pleasing narrative about the arbitrariness of language and culture.”

Nov 9, 2021 • Subscribe

Kiba: Fangs of Fiction (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Daihachi Yoshida succeeds in turning Shiota’s interesting story and fascinating world of publishing and bookstores into an engaging and pleasant filmic narrative.”

Aug 31, 2021 • Subscribe

Kiba

The Great Yokai War – Guardians (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“A pleasant and truly satisfying ride for the whole family.”

Aug 28, 2021 • Subscribe

Japan Cuts Announces Lineup for 2021 Hybrid Edition

In-person & online Aug. 20 – Sept. 2

Aug 17, 2021 • Subscribe

Town Without Sea (2020) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“A visually engaging narrative about the nature of happiness and the importance of desire that is highly relevant for Japanese youth.”

Sep 15, 2021 • Subscribe

Talking The Pictures (2019) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Mayayuki’s celebration of cinematic history deeply satisfies the spectator’s desire to see cinema as an experience that can touch our being and the art of the benshi triumph.&#82…

Sep 6, 2021 • Subscribe

Hiroku The Goblin (1991) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

‘A classic that offers an unforgettable experience that is as touchingly lighthearted as is it disturbingly horrifying.’

Sep 3, 2021 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Go Seppukku Yourselves (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“An enthralling audiovisual experience and a powerful critique of the Japanese political system.”

Oct 9, 2021 • Subscribe

The Goldfish Dreaming Of The Sea (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Ogawa’s thoughtful lyricism that gives the emotionality of the performances their power to touch the spectator and enables her exploration of the difficulty to separate from one’s mother…

Sep 9, 2021 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Born Pisces (2020) review [Japan Cuts 2021]

“Yamanaka does not only reaffirm that she has talent but also that she improved her compositional style and her storytelling.”

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

Jan 14, 2022 • Subscribe

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2021 (August 20th – September 02nd)

Japan Cuts 2021 Line-up and ticketing details

Aug 17, 2021 • Subscribe

Kiba

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2024 Lineup

At Japan Society New York from July 10 to 21

Jul 3, 2024 • Subscribe

JAPAN CUTS Announces 2023 Lineup

At Japan Society New York July 26 to Aug. 6

Jun 22, 2023 • Subscribe

Best Wishes To All (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

A surprisingly satisfying horror-narrative

Dec 3, 2023 • Subscribe

Spiraken Mini Movie Review: Tom & Jerry 2021

In this mini movie review, Xan gives his initial impression on the latest addition to the Tom & Jerry franchise. Is it worth watching or was it dud?…

Spiraken Review Podcast

Feb 27, 2021 • Subscribe

Mari and Mari 彼女来来 (2021) Director: Tatsuya Yamanishi [Japan Cuts 2021]

Sep 8, 2021 • Subscribe

Japan Weighing Major Changes to Border, Quarantine Policy in March

Japanese government sources give those stuck outside Japan or planning re-entry reason for cautious optimism.

Unseen Japan

Feb 16, 2022 • Subscribe

Kubi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

One of best period dramas in recent years.

Jul 3, 2024 • Subscribe

Amiko (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

A fabulous narrative that explores the destructive effects caused by the radical misunderstanding that marks the field of speech and the refusal to speak to one’s child as…

Jan 23, 2024 • Subscribe

Winny (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

Matsumoto offers a serene insight in how the Other of the law curtails a subject and, indirectly, sabotages the prospects of a new industry.

Aug 5, 2023 • Subscribe

Single8 (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

Konaka offers the spectator a heartwarming invitation to re-find, within oneself, one’s (nearly extinguished) passion for creation.

Aug 16, 2023 • Subscribe

Hand (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

Matsui avoids delivering an exploitative erotic piece merely to be enjoyed by male audiences.

Aug 22, 2023 • Subscribe

Plastic (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

Miyazaki creates a moody narrative that highlights the equivocal functionality of music for the subject as well as the destructive impact of not being able to create an…

Aug 19, 2023 • Subscribe

Special - Japan Cuts Film Festival 2024

Table of Contents Hello everyone, Once again this year, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Japan Cuts 2024 film…

Heroic Purgatory

Jul 21, 2024 • Subscribe

Life For Sale (售命, Tom Teng, 2021)

A nihilistic insurance broker decides to sell his life but is drawn into a dark web of crime and conspiracy in Tom Teng’s stylish thriller.

Jul 19, 2022 • Subscribe

Japan Cuts 2018 Film Festival at the Japan Society

This past few weeks I volunteered for the Japan Society Film Department’s annual Japan Cuts film festival, which screens a host of new Japanese blockbusters, avant-garde films, and…

踊る猿life is kyōgen

Aug 3, 2018 • Subscribe

Holiday Food in Japan from Major Chains

Here's a list of the best and tastiest holiday food in Japan from major brands to add to your festive table.

GaijinPot

Dec 5, 2024 • Subscribe

An Interview with Mayu Nakamura, Director of Among Four of Us [OAFF 2021/JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Sep 23, 2021 • Subscribe

Back to School with Anime: 2021 Edition

The school year is now here, and Krystallina again provides some cool anime and otaku suggestions in Back to School with Anime: 2021 Edition!

TheOASG

Aug 4, 2021 • Subscribe

Amiko Wins Obayashi Prize at 2023 JAPAN CUTS

Prize introduced in 2020 is awarded an independently produced narrative feature from an emerging filmmaker.

Aug 8, 2023 • Subscribe

Six Singing Women (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A great narrative, yet one that stumbles over its own thematical fixation

Weekly Shounen Sunday Edition

Aug 18, 2024 • Subscribe

MAJOR sunday: Interview with MAJOR and MAJOR 2nd mangaka Takuya Mitsuda.

Hey all! Since there's no Sunday this week (The magazine. We didn't suddenly lose an entire day.) I figured I'd flush out my queue of interv...

Apr 29, 2025 • Subscribe

MAJOR 2nd, Musashi, Musashi no Ken, Tomorrow's Joe, Ganbare Genki

To Sleep So as to Dream 夢みるように眠りたい (1986) Director: Kaizo Hayashi [Japan Cuts 2021]

Sep 14, 2021 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Bottle George (2024) [Japan Cuts 2024]

An instant stop-motion classic

Jun 26, 2024 • Subscribe

The Legend and The Butterfly (2023) [Japan Cuts 2023]

The combination of historical anchor points, a phantasmatic romance to link those points together, and satisfying burst of action will surely be able to satisfy those who thirst…

Aug 31, 2023 • Subscribe

Kubi 首 (2023) Director: Takeshi Kitano [Japan Cuts 2024]

Kubi 首 (2023), directed by Takeshi Kitano, is a historical epic that amps up the violence and sex for satire’s sake as Kitano takes aim at the absurd samurai social…

Jul 17, 2024 • Subscribe

All The Long Nights (2024) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A splendid drama that shows how symptoms can disturb a subject’s life and how the social field attains its cruel complexity due to the riddle of desire.

Jul 20, 2024 • Subscribe

Mirai Radio to Jinkou-bato (The Future Radio and the Artificial Pigeons)

This VN has a pretty unique premise in that it’s set in a world where Artificial Pigeons have shut down the world’s telecommunications. There is an explanation for…

Hexa Blog

Oct 29, 2024 • Subscribe

Mirai

Films: Japan 2021

by Jeremy Clarke. So, Scotland Loves Anime is over (save a few stragglers at the Film House) and you’re wondering where you can see more Japanese movies. Today,…

All the Anime

Oct 18, 2021 • Subscribe

Japan Life Update: School Edition

So I was going to write another list post about random tidbits you maybe didn’t know about Japan schools, but first I figured I’d give an update on…

Umai Yomu Anime Blog

Jun 14, 2020 • Subscribe

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2024 (July 10th – July 21st)

Details on the line-up for Japan Cuts 2024 (July 10th – July 21st))

Jun 10, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Nezumikozō Jirokichi (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

The mix of elements supports the film’s aim well, that is to entice spectators to seek out the three films that remain from this somewhat forgotten master

Jul 13, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Social Circles (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

A highly experimental and conceptual experience that might not be for everyone

Jul 16, 2024 • Subscribe

Short Movie Time: Hail Mary (2023) review [Japan Cuts 2024]

Nakamura succeeds in making the spectator care for Maria and impact him/her emotionally with her tragedy.

Jun 23, 2024 • Subscribe

A Preview of Japan Cuts 2023 (July 26th – August 06th)

Details on the line-up for Japan Cuts 2023 (July 26th – August 06th)