Anime Blog Tracker

Sep 14, 2021 • Subscribe

To Sleep So as to Dream (夢みるように眠りたい, Kaizo Hayashi, 1986)

A detective becomes lost in the labyrinths of cinema while chasing a ghost of the silver screen in Kaizo Hayashi’s ethereal ode to the silent movie

Sep 7, 2021 • Subscribe

School Radio to Major Tom (Japan, 2021) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Takuya Chisaka's short film School Radio to Major Tom.

VCinema

Aug 31, 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

Among Four of Us (Japan, 2020) [OAFF 2021/JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Mayu Nakamura’s short Among Four of Us.

VCinema

Aug 30, 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

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

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

Nov 9, 2021 • Subscribe

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

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

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

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

Fanart Friday, Too: Hush, It’s Time to Sleep and Dream

Artist 半节 illustrates a serene scene featuring Touhou Project’s Doremy Sweet. It’s enough to make me long for a peaceful sleep on a field of flowers underneath a…

Beneath the Tangles

Feb 2, 2024 • Subscribe

Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions (Japan, 2020) [JAPAN CUTS 2021]

Jason Maher reviews Haruka Komori and Natsumi Seo's documentary Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions.

VCinema

Sep 15, 2021 • Subscribe

Sayaka Kanda (1986-2021)

The actress Sayaka Kanda, who died yesterday, will be remembered as a media hyphenate – a performer on stage and screen, and a voice performer not only for…

All the Anime

Dec 19, 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

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

Sep 8, 2021 • Subscribe

As Tourism Abounds in Japan, So Do Unlicensed Taxis

With tourism booming in Japan, people are finding it tough to get around - and unlicensed taxi services are filling the gap.

Unseen Japan

Dec 26, 2023 • 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

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

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

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

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

Hand (2022) review [Japan Cuts 2023]

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

Aug 22, 2023 • 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

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

Sep 23, 2021 • Subscribe

Miss Dream Update 1/12/23: Nakayoshi Deluxe 1986 Second Half

This week we bring downloads and galleries of the second half of 1986’s Nakayoshi Deluxe magazine collection!

Miss Dream

Jan 13, 2023 • Subscribe

Miss Dream Update 1/3/23: Nakayoshi Deluxe 1986 First Half

This week we resume content updates by bringing downloads and galleries of the first half of 1986’s Nakayoshi Deluxe magazine collection!

Miss Dream

Jan 4, 2023 • 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

Rose of Versailles, Space Runaway Ideon, Techno Police, Tokimeki Tonight, Dance Till Tomorrow

Aug 18, 2024 • Subscribe

Anime tourism grows as visitors return to Japan

Plus: Experimenting with NFTs in manga businesses; Saudi media group invests in anime production committees; Contracts in anime voice acting; and more

Animenomics

Oct 25, 2023 • Subscribe

Anime tourism grows as visitors return to Japan

Plus: Experimenting with NFTs in the manga businesses; Saudi media group invests in anime production committees; Contracts in anime voice acting; and more

Animenomics

Oct 25, 2023 • Subscribe

Anime tourism grows as visitors return to Japan

Plus: Experimenting with NFTs in manga businesses; Saudi media group invests in anime production committees; Contracts in anime voice acting; and more

Animenomics

Oct 25, 2023 • Subscribe

Botchan (1986)

Seishun Anime Zenshuu (translated as Animated Classics of Japanese Literature for its English release) is a 1986 anthology series that retold well-known stories from modern Japanese literature. It's…

Collectr's Blog

Jan 17, 2026 • Subscribe

So I called Japan...

I have accused Japan of pedophilia many, many, many times. And whilst the numerous loli and shota titles that come out of Japan every year ...

Taikutsu Remedy

Nov 11, 2009 • Subscribe

Why is Japan So Averse to Depicting Body Hair?

Inspired by a discussion on a certain HypMic Discord channel. Now, I’m not Japanese myself so I may be generalising a bit here (although as noted later in…

The Animanga Spellbook

Jan 31, 2026 • 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.