With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013
With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

Friday, December 22, 2017

BROTHERHOOD OF BLADES II: THE INFERNAL BATTLEFIELD coming to digital, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD on February 13th

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield
Directed by Lu Yang
Starring Chang Chen
China,2017, 121 minutes

Director Lu Yang and star Chang Chen (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) re-team for an action-packed prequel to their 2014 success Brotherhood of Blades when the wuxia martial arts extravaganza Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield lands on digital, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD February 13th from Well Go USA Entertainment. Chen recreates his role as Shen Lian and the film depicts how he became such a fearsome imperial guard. Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield also stars Yang Mi (The Bullet Vanishes), Zhang Yi (Blood of Youth), Lei Jiayin (Guns and Roses), Xin Zhilei (Crosscurrent) and King Shih Chieh (The Guillotines). The bonus material includes behind-the-scenes footage.

Synopsis:
An imperial guard searches for the truth behind a conspiracy that framed him and his partners. The proof of his innocence lies with a wanted woman named Bei Zhai... but will she reveal what she knows? In this intense prequel to Brotherhood of Blades, the only thing he can truly trust is his sword.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Sci-fi thriller RESET debuting on Digital & Blu-ray February 6th, 2018

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Reset
Directed by Hong-Seung Yoon
Starring Yang Mi 
China, 2017, 107 minutes

From producer Jackie Chan and director Hong-Seung Yoon (The Target) comes the action-packed sci-fi thriller Reset, which will arrive on digital and Blu-ray February 6th from Well Go USA Entertainment. Yang Mi (Brotherhood of Blades II) stars as a scientist trying to save her son from death at the hands of kidnappers by using an experimental universe-hopping/time-travel technology to save him. Reset also stars Wallace Huo (Our Time Will Come), King Shih-Chieh (The Final Master), Liu Chang (“The Kings Woman”) and newcomers Hummer Zhang and Wang Lidan. Reset was nominated as Best Film at the 2017 Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival.

Synopsis:
In the near future, scientist Xia Tian (Yang Mi) is on the verge of a major discovery: time travel. After she successfully sends living tissue back in time by 110 minutes, her years of work seem to have paid off, but everything unravels when her young son is kidnapped and held for a hefty ransom - all of her research. When the drop goes sour and her son is killed, Xia Tian desperately sends herself back in time using her prototype, where she discovers multiple versions of her future self. Now, all of the Xia Tians must band together to save their son in this action-packed sci-fi thriller from producer Jackie Chan.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

LEGEND OF THE NAGA PEARLS coming to Digital, Blu-ray™ & DVD January 30th from Well Go USA

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Legend of the Naga Pearls / Jiao zhu zhuan
Directed by Yang Lei
China, 2017, 108 minutes

Lavish fantasy abounds in the magical adventure Legend of the Naga Pearls, debuting on digital, Blu-ray™ and DVD January 30th from Well Go USA Entertainment. A royal descendant of an ancient winged tribe embarks on a quest to find magical pearls. When they fall into the hands of a human, he joins a team of unlikely heroes in a race against time to prevent the destruction of his people. Helmed by first-time feature film director Yang Lei, Legend of the Naga Pearls stars Darren Wang (Railroad Tigers), Crystal Zhang (The Founding of an Army), Sheng Guansen (City Monkey), Simon Yam (The Midnight After) and Xing Yu (Call of Heroes).

Synopsis:
After being defeated by humans centuries ago, the Winged Tribe has lost their ability to fly. Seeking vengeance, a royal descendant of the tribe has begun searching for the magical Naga Pearls, which he plans to use to destroy the humans. When the legendary pearls fall into - and out of - the hands of Heiyu, a wily human street punk, he must join a team of unlikely heroes as they race to prevent the destruction of their people in this magical fantasy adventure.

Monday, December 18, 2017

"Directing Godzilla: The Life of Filmmaker Ishiro Honda" a talk by Steve Ryfle on February 21, 2018

Japan Society NY
presents
Photo Courtesy of Honda Film, INc.
Directing Godzilla: The Life of Filmmaker Ishiro Honda
A talk by Steve Ryfle
When: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 6:30 PM
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Tickets: $14/$11 Japan Society members, seniors & students 

Godzilla, Mothra, The Mysterians — Japan’s most celebrated monster movies and sci-fi classics were brought to the screen by filmmaker Ishiro Honda. A long-overlooked talent, Honda is now considered one of the most influential directors of Japanese cinematic history, wowing audiences with fantastical special effects while expressing the anxieties of Japan’s postwar reality.

At this talk, Steve Ryfle, noted scholar of Japanese science fiction cinema and author of Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, From Godzilla to Kurosawa, draws back the curtain on the man behind the monsters. Followed by a book signing reception.

Special Offer: Save $2 on the "Directing Godzilla: The Life of Filmmaker Ishiro Honda" talk, with your ticket purchase to the Godzilla film screening on February 2. To redeem, add both tickets to your cart and the discount will automatically be deducted. (No code necessary.)

Sunday, December 17, 2017

GODZILLA coming to Japan Society New York on February 2nd, 2018

Japan Society NY
presents
Godzilla (c) 1954 Toho Co., Ltd.
Godzilla / Gojira
Directed by Ishiro Honda
With Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, and Takashi Shimura 
Japan 1954, 96 minutes 
DCP, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, February 2, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Map
Tickets: $13/$10 seniors & students / $5 Japan Society members

The seminal classic that introduced the world to kaiju eiga and everyone's favorite city-stomping radioactive monster.

Directed by Ishiro Honda, Godzilla provided the ultimate allegory for post-war nuclear anxiety through the story of a prehistoric sea creature rampaging through Tokyo after being awakened by underwater H-bomb testing.

A domestic box office hit that went on to enrapture international audiences and spawn over two dozen sequels and countless imitations, the original film still retains the power to inspire awe in its evocation of humanity's confrontation with the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation.

Related Event:
Directing Godzilla: The Life of Filmmaker Ishiro Honda
Wednesday, February 21, 6:30 PM

Special Offer: Save $2 on the Directing Godzilla: The Life of Filmmaker Ishiro Honda talk with your ticket purchase to this screening. To redeem, add both tickets to your cart and the discount will automatically be deducted. (No code necessary.)

Saturday, December 16, 2017

HIROSHIMA coming to Japan Society NY on January 19th, 2018

Japan Society NY
presents
Hiroshima
Directed by Hideo Sekigawa
With Eiji Okada, Yumeji Tsukioka, Takashi Kanda, and Isuzu Yamada
Japan, 1953, 104 minutes
Blu-ray, b&w, in Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, January 19, 2018 at 7:00 PM
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Tickets: $13/$10 seniors & students / $5 Japan Society members 

Based on Children of the Atom Bomb, a book of testimonies by children who experienced the bombing of Hiroshima, Hideo Sekigawa's harrowing drama details the destruction and suffering left in the wake of the A-bomb for a group of students, teachers and their families.

A direct indictment against nuclear war and the mistreatment of Hiroshima's stigmatized survivors, this independently produced and distributed film was funded by the Japan Teachers Union in an effort to "preserve peace" and utilized tens of thousands of Hiroshima citizens as extras, including many survivors.

Recently rediscovered after decades of obscurity, Hiroshima is a major work of anti-war cinema and a chilling reminder of the consequences of nuclear warfare.

Part of Monthly Classics
Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema. Only $5 for Japan society members!

Friday, December 15, 2017

SECTION23 FILMS announces its January 2018 slate of releases

 

Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its January slate of releases which includes Sentai Filmworks’ premium box set for the “sleeper” comedy, Tanaka-kun is Always Listless, the anime adaptation of the popular web manga by Square Enix.

Product details follow, in order of release.

Title: KISSDUM R - ENGAGE PLANET COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Maiden Japan
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 650 min.
Street Date: 1/2/2018
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $89.98

SYNOPSIS: The destruction of a cruise ship leaves thousands dead, but the body count is only beginning. As researchers try to make sense of the strange new fish and insects appearing around the world, scientist Rurika Yuno and the N.I.D.F. attempt to track down the source of the mutation, a mysterious artifact called the Book of The Dead. When the Book is finally located, all Hell breaks loose. Literally. As swarms of hellspawned fireflies and giant unearthly creatures attack mercilessly across the planet, Rurika is forced to use the Book to resurrect her dead lover, fighter pilot Aiba Shu. But can even humanity's last desperate line of defense - the Necrodiver - defeat an ancient evil whose only goal is to exterminate all mankind? The final war has begun in KISSDUM R - ENGAGE PLANET!


Title: NAISHO NO TSUBOMI COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 85 min.
Street Date: 1/9/2018
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $19.98

SYNOPSIS: Just as Tsubomi is getting ready to start the fifth grade, everything she thought she knew about her life suddenly starts to change. Not only has her mother just told her that she's about to become a big sister, but Tsubomi's been starting to feel a little strange herself and it seems that there's a lot more to growing up than she thought! Unfortunately, people's bodies don't come with owners' manuals, so Tsubomi will have to rely on advice from her friends at school and most of them don't know any more than she does. (Some of them are even BOYS!) Fortunately, there's that mysterious new transfer student, Saya, who seems to be a bit more knowledgeable, and with some help from Mom, Tsubomi just might make it through adolescence unscathed in NAISHO NO TSUBOMI!


Title: HAIKYU!! SEASON 2
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 625 min.
Street Date: 1/16/2018
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $99.98, $79.98, $199.98

SYNOPSIS: The drama heats up, both on and off the volleyball court, as the rivalry between teammates Shoyo Hinata and Tobio Kageyama continues to develop in new and unexpected ways. After the team's dramatic setback in Inter-High Preliminaries, Karasuno gets the unexpected opportunity to go to a training camp in Tokyo alongside other top schools in the nation... including their rival team, Nekoma! In order to attend, though, the dynamic duo must pass their exams, and getting Hinata and Kageyama through that challenge will be the trial by fire for Hitoka Yachi, who could be joining Kiyoko Shimizu as a team manager. With the eyes of their opponents fixed on their progress, will it be the spark needed to get the team moving in the right direction? Passions burn, and tempers flare as the fuse is lit for HAIKYU!! SEASON 2!


Title: TYPHOON NORUDA BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 26 min.
Street Date: 1/23/2018
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $19.98

SYNOPSIS: As an unexpected typhoon bears down on a small tropical island, a group of students trapped at school find themselves forced to put aside their personal issues and work together. Not only to save themselves, but possibly the lives of everyone on the planet! Because there's something very strange about this storm, and as the driving rain, hurricane-force winds and multiple lightning strikes threaten to tear their world apart, everything seems to revolve around a mysterious girl who appears as suddenly as the storm itself. Only hours before, Shuichi Azuma and Saijo Kunta were at each other's throats over baseball; now they'll have to join together to unravel the secret of the ultimate rider on the storm in TYPHOON NORUDA!


Title: TANAKA-KUN IS ALWAYS LISTLESS COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 1/30/2018
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98, $59.98, $149.98

SYNOPSIS: Tanaka-kun can't help it. Put him someplace nice and warm, and he'll start nodding off, even in class or on the way to school. You would think that this would eat into Tanaka's social life, but, fortunately, our consciousness-challenged protagonist has a guardian angel in the form of his best friend Ota, a gentle giant who (literally) carries Tanaka from place to place. Then there's class-rep Shiraishi, who's convinced that Tanaka's unique perspective lets him see past her beautiful appearance; Miyano, their hyper pint-sized classmate who somehow becomes Tanaka's unwanted apprentice in listlessness; and Echizen, a self-proclaimed delinquent who's determined to fight him. As for Tanaka, being the center of attention is the last place he wants to be, but the world just won't leave him alone in TANAKA-KUN IS ALWAYS LISTLESS.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

CHASING THE DRAGON coming to Digital, Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD January 23rd from Well Go USA

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Chasing the Dragon
Directd by Jing Wong
Hong Kong/China, 2017, 129 minutes

Iconic action stars Donnie Yen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, IP Man franchise) and Andy Lau (House of Flying Daggers) team up for the stylish Hong Kong crime thriller Chasing the Dragon, debuting on digital, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD January 23 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Based on a true story, Yen plays an illegal immigrant from Mainland China who sneaks into corrupt British-colonized Hong Kong in 1963 and transforms himself into a ruthless drug lord. Lau reprises the role of the corrupt cop seeking money and power he originated in the Lee Rock franchise. As The Action Elite noted, “Donnie Yen and Andy Lau are superb, there’s plenty of R-rated action and the story is never dull for a second.”

Chasing the Dragon also stars Kent Cheng (IP Man franchise), Philip Keung (Drug War, The Stool Pigeon), Wilfred Lau (Young Bruce Lee), Yu Kang (Kung Fu Killer), Michelle Hu (Once Upon a Time in Shanghai) and Raquel Xu (Chinese Wine). Hong Kong cinema fans should look out for cameo appearances from movie legends Kenneth Tsang (Rush Hour 2) and Chan Wai-man (Dragon Strike).

Synopsis:
Donnie Yen stars as infamous real-life drug kingpin Crippled Ho, who came to Hong Kong an illegal immigrant in 1963 and ruthlessly carved an empire from the chaotic underworld of drug dealers and corrupt police that ruled the city under notorious detective Lee Rock (Andy Lau).

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

MEMOIR OF A MURDERER coming exclusively to digital on December 19th

Well Go USA
presents
Memoir of a Murderer
Directed by Won Shin-Yun
Starring Sol Kyung-Gu, Kim Nam-Gil & Kim Seol-Hyun
South Korea, 2017, 118 minutes

Based on a bestselling book by Kim Young-ha, Memoir of a Murderer debuts exclusively on digital next Tuesday, December 19th from Well Go USA Entertainment. Directed by Won Shin-Yun (Seven Days), MEMOIR OF A MURDERER stars Sol Kyung-Gu (Oasis), Kim Nam-Gil (The Pirates, No Regret) and Kim Seol-Hyun (Gangnam Blues) in a horror-thriller about a former serial killer with Alzheimer’s who fights to protect his daughter from her psychotic boyfriend.

Synopsis:
Byung-soo, a retired serial killer, lives a quiet life with his daughter Eun-hee, who has cared for him ever since his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. When Eun-hee brings home her new boyfriend Tae-ju, Byung-soo realizes Tae-ju is a serial killer too. To save his daughter, Byung-soo must fight Tae-ju as well as his own mind.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Animated neo-noir HAVE A NICE DAY to open in NY on January 26th

STRAND RELEASING
presents
Have a Nice Day / Hao ji le
Directed by LIU Jian
Music by The Shanghai Restoration Project
China, 2017, 77 minutes
In Mandarin with English subtitles

OFFICIAL SELECTION: Berlin international Film festival

2017 WINNER! BEST ANIMATED FEATURE- 54 GOLDEN HORSE AWARDS

Opens theatrically in New York on Friday, January 26th
with a national release to follow

Filmmaker Liu Jian cements his place as a pioneering force in independent Chinese animation with the whirlwind neo-noir HAVE A NICE DAY.

Synopsis:
A hard rain is about to fall on a small town in Southern China. In a desperate attempt to find money to save his fiancée's failed plastic surgery, Xiao Zhang, a humble driver, steals a bag containing 1 million Yuan from his boss. News of the robbery spreads fast within the town and, over the course of one night, everyone starts looking for Xiao Zhang and his money.

Tuesday, December 05, 2017

THE ADVENTURERS is available on digital today; a Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack will be coming on January 2nd

Well Go USA
presents
The Adventurers / Xia dao lian meng
Directed by Stephen Fung
Starring Andy Lau & Jean Reno
China/Hong Kong/Czech Republic, 2017, 104 minutes

Hong Kong Superstar Andy Lau (House of Flying Daggers, Internal Affairs) is a charismatic thief who is pursued by French icon Jean Reno (Leon: The Professional, The Da Vinci Code, Mission Impossible) as a tenacious detective in the globetrotting caper film The Adventurers. It's available on digital starting today, Tuesday, December 5th from Well Go USA Entertainment. A Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack will become available on January 2nd, 2018.

Infamous thief Cheung Tan (Lau) has recently been released from prison. Cheung immediately plots a heist with his partners in order to steal precious jewels in Europe. Meanwhile, French detective Pierre (Reno) has been hot on Cheung’s trails for many years. This time, he decides to capture Cheung and his gang of thieves for good.

Directed by Stephen Fung (Tai Chi Zero, Tai Chi Hero), The Adventurers also stars Shu Qi (The Transporter, The Assassin) and Zhang Jingchu (Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation). Bonus materials include a three-part Making-of featurette that highlights the talented cast.

Synopsis:
In this slick, high-stakes action-adventure, the world’s top thieves – the infamous and charismatic Cheung (Andy Lau), his former partner in crime, Xiao (Tony Yang), and beautiful chameleon Ye (Shu Qi) - join forces to pull off the heist of a lifetime. But when they find themselves pursued across Europe by a legendary French detective (Jean Reno), they’ll have to take their game to the next level.

Friday, December 01, 2017

YUZO KAWASHIMA X AYAKO WAKAO film series at Japan Society NY this Saturday and Sunday

Japan Society NY
presents
Elegant Beast © 1962 Kadokawa
Yuzo Kawashima X Ayako Wakao
When: December 2nd and 3rd, 2017
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC

Just ahead of his centenary, Japan Society presents three brand-new 4K restorations of director Yuzo Kawashima’s collaborations with legendary actress Ayako Wakao. Each of the three films (schedule with links below) will be shown once each day.

Known for his acidic urban comedies and satires, the highly modern Kawashima (1918-1963) left behind 51 films, all of which remain criminally underseen in the U.S. These bold Kawashima gems featuring the luminous Wakao, full of playful visual surprises and sharp social commentary, offer a rare opportunity to reintroduce a master filmmaker who bridges the gap between the classical Japanese cinema of the 1950s and the New Wave of the 1960s.

“I know of no other director who reveals so much of himself in his work.”
— Shohei Imamura

Schedule:

Women Are Born Twice (a.k.a. A Geisha's Diary)
Saturday, December 2, 2:15 PM
Sunday, December 3, 4:30 PM

Elegant Beast
Saturday, December 2, 4:30 PM
Sunday, December 3, 6:45 PM

The Temple of Wild Geese
Saturday, December 2, 6:45 PM
Sunday, December 3, 2:15 PM

Tickets (per screening): $13/$10 seniors & students/$9 Japan Society members
Special Offer: Purchase all three Yuzo Kawashima x Ayako Wakao films in the same transaction and receive $2 off each ticket!

Related Screening: Manji, an erotic and darkly comic melodrama by Japanese New Wave auteur Yasuzo Masumura that stars a stunning Ayako Wakao; tonight, Friday, Dec. 1st at 7:00 PM

Monday, November 20, 2017

Yasuzo Masumura's MANJI at Japan Society NY on Friday, December 1st

Japan Society NY
presents
© 1964 KADOKAWA
Manji
Directed by Yasuzo Masumura
With Ayako Wakao, Kyoko Kishida, Eiji Funakoshi, Yusuke Kawazu
Japan, 1964, 91 minutes
35mm, color
In Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, December 1, 7 PM 
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Map
Tickets: $13/$10 seniors & students/$5 Japan Society members

This erotic and darkly comic melodrama by Japanese New Wave auteur Yasuzo Masumura stars a stunning Ayako Wakao as Mitsuko, a beguiling woman at the center of a tangled bisexual love quadrangle between bored housewife Sonoko (Kyoko Kishida), her husband and Mitsuko’s equally deceptive former fiancé. Adapted from the novel by Junichiro Tanizaki, the film’s story of destructive obsession, jealousy and manipulation is brilliantly rendered visually by Masumura and cinematographer Setsuo Kobayashi (Fires on the Plain), whose highly stylized compositions effectively portray the increasingly fractured psyches of four people constantly trying to out-maneuver each other for love at the risk of death.


Related Film Series: Yuzo Kawashima x Ayako Wakao (December 2 & 3, 2017)

Thursday, November 09, 2017

WOLF WARRIOR 2 will debut on Digital, Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, & DVD on December 12th

Well Go USA
Entertainment
presents
Wolf Warrior 2 / Zhan lang II
Directed by and starring Wu Jing
China, 2017, 124 minutes

With Wolf Warrior 2, the iconic character is back, bigger and badder than ever, in this action-packed sequel to the 2015 blockbuster hit that debuts on digital, Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack and DVD December 12 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Directed by and starring Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior, Shaolin, Badges of Fury) as a loose cannon Chinese soldier who takes on a special mission in an African country protecting medical aid workers from local rebels and vicious arms dealers.

Shot on locations in Africa and China, Wolf Warrior 2 was one of the top five highest-crossing films worldwide in 2017 and the biggest box-office champ ever in China. The film also stars Frank Grillo (Captain America franchise), Celina Jade (“Arrow”), Wu Gang (White Deer Plain), Hans Zhang (Zombie Fight Club), Ding Haifeng (White Vengeance) and Chungyu Shanshan (Witness), with special appearances by Yu Nan (The Expendables 2), Yu Qian (The Unfortunate Car) and Shi Zhaoqi.

Synopsis:
The Wolf Warrior is back, bigger and badder than ever, in this action-packed sequel to the 2015 blockbuster hit. With his career in tatters, China’s deadliest Special Forces operative has settled into a quiet life on the sea. But when he crosses paths with a sadistic band of mercenaries terrorizing innocent civilians, he must reaffirm his duty as a soldier and save the day once again. Fists (and bullets, tanks, missiles and much more) will fly in this adrenaline-fueled tour de force of bravura action filmmaking, all culminating into a climactic battle between the Wolf Warrior and the mercenary leader (Frank Grillo).

Bonus Materials Include:
-- 4-Part Behind the Scenes Featurette
  -- “Action Scenes”
  -- “Filming in Africa”
  -- “Director Wu Jing”
  -- “Wu Gang”
-- Trailer

Wednesday, November 08, 2017

SANRIZUKA - HETA VILLAGE at Japan Society this Saturday evening

Japan Society NY
presents
Image © Athénée Français Cultural Center
Sanrizuka – Heta Village / Sanrizuka Heta Buraku
Directed by Shinsuke Ogawa
Japan, 1973, 146 minutes
Digital, b&w
In Japanese with English subtitles

When: Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Map
Tickets: $13/$10 seniors and students/$5 Japan Society members

“The first of two masterpieces by Ogawa Productions” - Markus Nornes, author of Forest of Pressure: Ogawa Shinsuke and Postwar Japanese Documentary (University of Minnesota Press, 2006)

In the summer of 1968, Ogawa Productions, led by visionary filmmaker Shinsuke Ogawa, entrenched themselves in the middle of the site of violent conflict wherein ongoing resistance to the construction of the Narita International Airport was demonstrated by local farmers, activists and students. Committing their lives to documenting the farmers’ struggle, the collective produced their most famous series of seven films known as the “Sanrizuka Series.” Amidst increasing police violence and tragedy, this meditative sixth film in the series focuses on life in Heta village itself, documenting its customs and people through eleven quiet scenes that convey deep empathy for the villagers and their experiences.

Related Screening: Barbara Hammer’s Devotion: A Film About Ogawa Productions (Saturday, November 11th at 4:00 PM)

Monday, November 06, 2017

DEVOTION: A FILM ABOUT OGAWA PRODUCTIONS at Japan Society this Saturday, November 11th

Japan Society NY
presents

(c) Barbara Hammer, Devotion (still), 2000. Courtesy of Barbara Hammer
Devotion: A Film About Ogawa Productions
Directed by Barbara Hammer
Japan/USA, 2000, 84 minutes
Digital, color
In Japanese with English subtitles

When: Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 4:00 PM
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Map
Tickets: $13/$10 seniors & students/$9 Japan Society members

Introduction and Q&A with director Barbara Hammer
moderated by documentary filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda

Lesbian feminist artist and filmmaker Barbara Hammer (whose life work is currently being celebrated throughout New York City) screens her documentary about the influential and controversial Japanese filmmaking collective Ogawa Productions that most famously made films about the lives of farmers who stood in direct opposition to the construction of Narita International Airport on their land. Shot shortly after the death of the influential founding filmmaker Shinsuke Ogawa, this probing documentary utilizes archival material and firsthand interviews with Ogawa’s closest collaborators to parse out the complex, fascinating inner workings of one of Japanese cinema’s most uncompromising film movements.

"My film came alive when I interviewed the previously unheard voices of the few women that were in the collective and who had been relegated to the kitchen during their life in the commune." - Barbara Hammer, Hammer! Making Movies out of Sex and Life (The Feminist Press, The City University of New York, 2010).

This screening is co-organized with Carmel Curtis and Staci Bu Shea, curators of Barbara Hammer: Evidentiary Bodies at the Leslie Lohman Museum for Gay & Lesbian Art on exhibition from October 7, 2017 – January 28, 2018.

At 7:00 PM in Saturday, there will be a separate showing at Japan Society of SANRIZUKA - HETA VILLAGE, a documentary from Ogawa Productions.

Monday, October 30, 2017

THE VILLAINESS coming to digital November 7th, Blu-ray Combo pAck and DVD on November 21st

Well Go USA
Presents
The Villainess / Ak-Nyeo
Directed by JUNG Byung-gil
South Korea, 2017, 124 minutes

Bloody revenge is at the heart of the stylish, kinetic action-thriller The Villainess, debuting on digital November 7 and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD November 21 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Certified “Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, this welcome shot of adrenaline to the classic femme fatale story follows a ruthless female assassin who leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks her blood-spattered revenge.

Directed by JUNG Byung-gil (Confession of Murder), The Villainess stars KIM Ok-bin (Thirst, The Front Line), SHIN Ha-kyun (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) and BANG Sung-jun (Horror Stories 2, Pluto).

Bonus materials include a Making-of featurette that highlights the action choreography and the characters.

Synopsis:
Honed from childhood into a merciless killing machine by a criminal organization, assassin Sook-hee is recruited as a sleeper agent with the promise of freedom after ten years of service - and she jumps at the chance for a normal life. But soon enough, secrets from her past destroy everything she’s worked for, and now nobody can stand in her way as she embarks on a roaring rampage of revenge.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

DAGUERROTYPE opens on VOD on Tuesday, November 7th

UNDER THE MILKY WAY
Presents
(Photo Credit: Under The Milky Way)
Daguerrotype / Le secret de la chambre noire
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Starring Tahar Rahim, Constance Rousseau, and Oliver Gourmet 
France/Belgium/Japan, 2016, 131 minutes
In French with English subtitles

From acclaimed Japanese master Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Creepy, Pulse), comes Daguerrotype, a classic ghost story bent through the lens of one of the most singular horror visionaries at work today. It will open on VOD Nationwide on Tuesday, November 7 on all major platforms including iTunes, Sony, Google Play, Amazon, Microsoft, Vudu, Comcast, Charter, Cox, Vimeo, and various other cable operators.

Jean (Tahar Rahim, A Prophet), a young Parisian with few skills and even fewer prospects, seems an unlikely candidate for assistant to famed photographer Stéphane (Olivier Gourmet), an obsessive perfectionist living in isolation since his wife’s unexpected death. Yet he soon finds himself in his new employer’s vast, decaying mansion, helping to create life-sized daguerrotypes so vivid they seem almost to contain some portion of their subjects’ souls.

Their model is most often Stéphane’s daughter and muse, Marie (Constance Rousseau), and as she and Jean fall in love they realize they must hatch a plot to leave Stéphane’s haunted world forever. But is there something malevolent within the massive daguerrotypes that will prevent their escape?

Daguerrotype was an official selection of the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Sentai Filmworks Has Acquired ‘The Life of Budori Gusko’



Sentai Filmworks has announced its acquisition of the Japanese animated feature film, The Life of Budori Gusko.

Based on the 1932 fantasy novel by Kenji Miyazawa, the film is a fairy tale that follows an anthromorphic cat named Budori living in the forests of Ihatov. After a series of misfortunes, including the spiriting away of his beloved sister, Budori sets off to build a better life - but a deadly winter is coming, and Budori finds himself the unlikely hero with a plan that can save everyone.

The Life of Budori Gusko will soon be available on select digital outlets, with a home video release to follow.

Sunday, October 15, 2017

SECTION23 FILMS ANNOUNCES DECEMBER SLATE OF RELEASES


INITIAL D LEGEND 1: AWAKENING! Available December 5th

Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its December slate of releases which includes the first of the three New Theatrical Initial D Legend movies by Sentai Filmworks, INITIAL D LEGEND 1: AWAKENING!

Product details in order of release:

Title: CLANNAD / CLANNAD AFTER STORY COMPLETE SEASONS 1 & 2 BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 1225 min.
Street Date: 12/5/2017
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $149.98

SYNOPSIS: Ever since the death of his mother, Tomoyo's life has been in a downward spiral. Nagisa's declining health has been so fragile that she's been forced to repeat a year of school. But when he agrees to help her restart the school's disbanded Drama Club, they learn that sometimes, if you find the right people to help you, you can get a second chance at happiness. Join the ambitious Tomoyo, who dreams of becoming class president; Kotomi, a troubled genius with a secret past; and the mysterious Fuko, whose connection with the world has become so tenuous that she's literally fading from existence. Discover the healing power of kindred souls, and experience the complete classic story of life, love, and the power of the human spirit in two extraordinary series: CLANNAD and CLANNAD AFTER STORY.


Title: HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 650 min.
Street Date: 12/5/2017
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $99.98

SYNOPSIS: Strangely, even though they aren’t brothers, Shino and Sosuke bear identical birthmarks. And when a fire destroys their village, leaving the two of them and Hamaji as the only survivors, they are forced out into the world. There they meet Genpachi and Kobungo, two soldiers who also have the same birthmark and whose confrontations with demons have left them irrevocably changed. Now however, they are on the run as the Imperial Church tries to capture Shino and take his mysterious powers for themselves. The unlikely quartet’s only hope is to discover the secret behind their birthmarks, which will lead them to eight magical gems and their owners. Brothers-in-arms unite as one of Japan’s greatest works of literature is born again in the complete collection of HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST – Seasons One & Two!


Title: INITIAL D LEGEND 1: AWAKENING
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 60 min.
Street Date: 12/5/2017
Format: COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98

SYNOPSIS: When aspiring racer Koichiro Iketani witnesses an unplanned street duel between Keisuke Takahashi, a member of a rival race team, and a mysterious Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86, Koichiro's totally blown away by the skill of the 86's driver. What Koichiro doesn't know is that the driver is fellow gas station attendant Takumi Fujiwara, who was making a late-night tofu delivery for his father, a legendary Mt. Akina driver himself. Unforeseen events are about to springboard Takumi into the center of the street-racing world, turning the rivalry between Iketani's Akina Speedsters and Takahashi's Akagi Red Suns into an all-out street war! The legendary series that introduced the west to the sport of drift racing is reinvented in an all new feature film that's even faster and more furious than ever before: NEW THEATRICAL MOVIE INITIAL D LEGEND 1: AWAKENING!


Title: CHAIKA THE COFFIN PRINCESS COMPLETE SERIES BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 575 min.
Street Date: 12/12/2017
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $99.98

SYNOPSIS: The war with the Gaz Empire ended with the act of cutting the Emperor's body into pieces which were then carried off across the kingdoms. Without a war to fight in, it didn't take much convincing for unemployed saboteur Toru Acura and his sister Akari to join a coffin-carrying girl on her ghoulish mission of gathering those severed parts. But is Chaika the dead man's daughter, picking up the pieces for burial, or is there something far more sinister in the works? As rumors come forth of other, identical girls engaged in the same task, the winds of war seem to be stirring, and there are those who believe that rejoining the Emperor's scattered body could unleash a new nightmare! At long last, both seasons of the CHAIKA series are collected together in CHAIKA ~ THE COFFIN PRINCESS and CHAIKA ~ THE COFFIN PRINCESS: AVENGING BATTLE!


Title: GARO TV COLLECTION 2 BLU-RAY
Published by: Kraken Releasing
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 12/12/2017
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $39.98

SYNOPSIS: For thousands of years, the Makai Knights and their allies have fought a secret war against the Horrors. But now the threads of trust that have held the Knights together are unraveling. As Kouga and Zaruba continue to seek a cure for Kaoru's lethal exposure to Horror blood, the tension between the current wearer of the golden Garo armor and the wearer of the silver Zero armor, Rei, hits the breaking point. Was Kouga somehow responsible for the death of Rei's family? Why are the watchdogs forcing them to work together when they know what Rei believes? And meanwhile, will Kaoru's trusted advisor turn out to have the darkest secret of all? Friends die, love shatters, heroes fall, and monsters reign in the spectacular conclusion to the first epic series of GARO!


Title: WHEN THEY CRY COMPLETE SERIES BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 1400 min.
Street Date: 12/12/2017
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $129.98

SYNOPSIS: It's hard enough moving to a town where everyone has known each other their entire lives. Ever since Keiichi arrived in the picturesque town of Hinamizawa, he keeps discovering ominous happenings that don't make any sense. Unsolved murders. Disappearances. Mutilations. The worst part is that he can't be sure whether or not his new friends like Rena, Mion, Satoko, and Rika are aware of the events or involved in what's happening. All he knows is that it's not paranoia if someone really is trying to kill him, and escaping Hinamizawa alive may no longer be an option. All the buried secrets will be revealed, and all the horrors will be unleashed as the entire epic horror series that shocked Japan finally becomes available in the complete collection of WHEN THEY CRY!


Title: CROSS ANGE: RONDO OF ANGEL AND DRAGON COMPLETE SERIES BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 625 min.
Street Date: 12/19/2017
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $99.98

SYNOPSIS: Betrayed, stripped of her birthright, and declared less than human. Everything that Princess Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi of the Misurugi Empire thought she knew about her world was a lie. Now, for the crime of not being able to use magic, she's been sentenced to certain death as a slave-soldier. The girl now known as Ange is no longer an innocent Princess: she's learning how to kill draconic invaders, defending the same traitors who stole her life. However, they made a fatal mistake: they gave her access to an incredible weapon. Get ready for a stunning new epic in animation as giant robots, a princess, and dragons engage in the ultimate duel to the death in CROSS ANGE: RONDO OF ANGEL AND DRAGON - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION!


Title: FAMILIAR OF ZERO COMPLETE SERIES BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 1250 min.
Street Date: 12/19/2017
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $129.98

SYNOPSIS: Between her poor spellwork and long name, the other students at the Tristain Academy of Magic have taken to calling poor Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, "Louise the Zero." Things only get worse when the students summon up their familiars, because while others receive fantastic creatures like dragons, Louise summons a normal teenager from Tokyo! While Louise may be stuck with Hiraga Saito, and Saito's stuck with the lousy life of being her familiar, maybe there's more going on than meets the eye. Maybe Saito's not quite as normal as everyone thinks, and Louise just hasn't figured out what she's good at yet. In fact, they might even have the makings of a great team once they start to get 'familiar' with each other! One of anime's wildest romances is unleashed in the ultimate complete collection of THE FAMILIAR OF ZERO!


Title: TO LOVE RU COMPLETE SERIES BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 1600 min.
Street Date: 12/19/2017
Format: BD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $129.98

SYNOPSIS: The bathroom is the most dangerous room in most people's houses, but when Rito Yuki's washroom becomes the site of an unexpected close encounter, the fabric of the entire galaxy might unravel! That's because fabric's the one thing that Princess Lala of Deviluke isn't wearing when she teleports into Rito's tub, and on Deviluke boobie-touching is a proposal of marriage. Suddenly Rito has an alien girl with a tail moving in, a potential father-in-law who looks like the Devil, and, oh yes, Rito's going to be the Prince of an alien planet if he can survive all the challengers, rivals, assassins, femme fatales and alien hangers-on who start showing up on his doorstep! At long last the complete series that answers the question "What do you say to a naked alien?" is available in the ultimate epic collection of TO LOVE RU!

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Sentai Filmworks Announces Acquisition Of ‘DYNAMIC CHORD’


Sentai Filmworks has announced its newest addition to the Fall 2017 simulcast season: DYNAMIC CHORD.

This anime adaptation of the otome game by Honeybee Black follows the professional and personal lives of four hot boy bands under the “DYNAMIC CHORD” agency and music label. There’s progressive rock band rêve parfait; newcomer Liar-S; veteran rock band KYOHSO; and international sensation, apple-polisher.

Shigenori Kageyama (Himawari!) will both direct and handle series composition duties. Character designs will be helmed by Yasuomi Umetsu (Kite, Kite Liberator, Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil). The show’s art director will be Shinji Katahira (Hellsing, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, Restaurant to Another World), with animation production courtesy of Pierrot (Naruto, Tokyo Ghoul, Black Clover).

DYNAMIC CHORD is scheduled for an October 2017 broadcast in Japan. It will soon be available to stream on HIDIVE and select digital outlets for the Fall 2017 simulcast season, with a home video release to follow.

Monday, October 09, 2017

Sentai Filmworks Licenses ‘Hozuki’s Coolheadedness 2’


Dare to tread into Hell for a second time with Sentai Filmworks’ newest addition to the Fall 2017 simulcast lineup: Hozuki’s Coolheadedness 2.

The second season of the supernatural comedy Hozuki’s Coolheadedness thrusts viewers back into Eternal Hell! Just as in this life, the afterlife needs a calm troubleshooter to deal with the bureaucratic headaches that come from keeping things in order. After all, Lord Enma is a very busy (and kind of incompetent) overlord, and he needs the help of his most charismatic shadow hero to keep Hell from calling into chaos. Enter Hozuki: a cool and collected demon who’s badly in need of a vacation.

Kazuhiro Yoneda (Kabukibu!, Yona of the Dawn, Hozuki’s Coolheadedness OAV 2) acts as director for the second season. Midori Gotou (Clean Freak! Aoyama-kun), who was in charge of script writing for the first season, returns for the same role. Studio DEEN (Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto, Rurouni Kenshin) will handle animation production for the second season.

Hozuki’s Coolheadness 2 is scheduled for an October 2017 broadcast in Japan. It will soon be available to stream on select digital outlets for the Fall 2017 simulcast season, with a home video release to follow.

Sunday, October 08, 2017

Musical Madness Returns to Sentai Filmworks with ‘ClassicaLoid 2’


Sentai Filmworks welcomes back Motz, Beet-san, Cho-chan, and the rest of their favorite musical masters in ClassicaLoid 2!

The second season of the slapstick comedy ClassicaLoid reunites normal high school girl Kanae with her least favorite house guests. There’s Beet-san (otherwise known as Ludwig van Beethoven) and free-spirited Motz (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), as well as fellow squatters Chopin, Liszt, and Schubert. These maestros have already proven they have the skill to save the world with their explosive melodies called "Musik," but with the addition of two new Classicaloids – Richard Wagner and Antonin Dvorak – Kanae is sure to be at her wits' end. What new realities will these Classicaloids compose with their Musik?

Kei Umabiki takes over as director for the second season ClassicaLoid. First season director Yoichi Fujita will act as story supervisor, with Michihiro Tsuchiya returning for series composition. The show was created by NHK & BN Pictures..

The person involved with the music for works like Final Fantasy X and more, Masashi Hamauzu, is in charge of BGM creation, with “mujik” contributions by Japanese electronic producers and rock musicians, including Tomoyasu Hotei (Transformers Live Action), Daisuke Asakura (producer of T.M. Revolution), Tsunku (composer and lyricist for Morning Musume), and MTV Video Music Award nominee tofubeats. ClassicaLoid 2 proudly adds two additions to the musical staff: Chisato (from rock band, Penicillin) and Kouchi Tsutaya (music producer of groups like Ikimono-gakari and more).

ClassicaLoid 2 is scheduled for an October 2017 broadcast in Japan. It will soon be available to stream on select digital outlets for the Fall 2017 simulcast season, with a home video release to follow.

Saturday, October 07, 2017

Sentai Filmworks Announces Acquisition Of ‘Just Because!’


Sentai Filmworks has announced its newest acquisition for the Fall 2017 season: Just Because! The series will soon be available to stream in the U.S. on Anime Strike, the curated on-demand anime subscription from Amazon Channels.

For a group of high school seniors, a chance reunion with a transfer student will change the course of their final year. Eita Izumi has come back to his hometown after four years and encounters some unlikely acquaintances: Haruto Soma, Eita’s childhood friend; Ena Komiya, the photography student who witnesses Eita and Haruto's reunion; Mio Natsume, whose feelings for her middle school crush still linger; and Hazuki Morikawa, a girl who seems uninterested in romantic relationships. When the paths of these five cross, their fates turn in a way none of them could have seen coming.

The series will be helmed by Atsushi Kobayashi in his directorial debut, with scripts by Hajime Kamoshida and original character design by Kiseki Himura. Animation production will be handled by PINE JAM (GAMERS!, Mahou Shoujo Nante Mouiidesukara).

Just Because! will soon be available to stream on Anime Strike for $4.99 per month after a 7-day free trial, and available to non-US territories through select digital outlets for the October 2017 simulcast season, with a home video release to follow.

Friday, October 06, 2017

Sentai Filmworks Licenses ‘My Girlfriend is Shobitch’


Sentai Filmworks’ has announced its newest acquisition for the Fall 2017 season: My Girlfriend is Shobitch. The series will soon be available to stream in the U.S. on Anime Strike, the curated on-demand anime subscription from Amazon Channels.

When high school student Haruka Shinozaki confesses his feelings to the beautiful and aloof class representative, Akiho Kosaka, the last thing he expected was for her to say “yes.” Like everything else in her diligent life, Kosaka takes dating quite seriously. In an effort to be a good girlfriend, Kosaka decides to meticulously study (and bluntly suggest) all manner of ways to keep Shinozaki sexually satisfied… in the theoretical sense, that is. This innocently lewd relationship is only just beginning!

Animation production for the series will be helmed by diomedea (Aho-Girl, Girlish Number, Squid Girl) and Studio Blanc. Nobuyoshi Nagayama directs the series, with Hideki Shirane (Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?) in charge of series composition.

My Girlfriend is Shobitch is scheduled for an October 2017 release in Japan. It will soon be available to stream on Anime Strike for $4.99 per month after a 7-day free trial, and available in non-US territories through select digital outlets for the Fall 2017 simulcast season, with a home video release to follow.

Thursday, October 05, 2017

COLA TIME! Sentai Filmworks Licenses ‘Himouto! Umaru-chan R’


Grab a refill of cola and strap in for another season of our favorite hamster-hooded, snack-loving menace! Sentai Filmworks is proud to license Himouto! Umaru-chan R, the second season of the wildly popular comedy series, Himouto! Umaru-chan. The series will soon be available to stream in the U.S. on Anime Strike, the curated on-demand anime subscription from Amazon Channels.

Umaru Doma has a secret: in public, she’s a reserved and perfect beauty. At home, she devolves into a junk food connoisseur whose talents include video games, reading manga, watching anime, and annoying her big brother, Taihei. This season reunites Umaru with her friends: busty country girl Nana, quiet Kirie, and closet nerd Sylphynford. What adventures await Umaru-chan now?

Masahiko Ohta, director of the first season of Himouto! Umaru-chan, returns to direct the second season, along with original series composition writer Takashi Aoshima. Doga Kobo (New Game!, Majestic Prince, Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun) is once again in charge of animation production.

Himouto! Umaru-chan R is scheduled for an October 2017 release in Japan. It will soon be available to stream on Anime Strike for $4.99 per month after a 7-day free trial, and in non-US territories through select digital outlets for the Fall 2017 simulcast season with a home video release to follow.

Wednesday, October 04, 2017

Sentai Filmworks Announces Acquisition Of ‘Land of the Lustrous’


Sentai Filmworks delves into a mysterious new land in their newest acquisition for the Fall 2017 season: Land of the Lustrous. The series will soon be available to stream in the U.S. on Anime Strike, the curated on-demand anime subscription from Amazon Channels.

In the distant future, microscopic organisms have left the planet desolate and given way to a new life form: Houseki. However, all is not peaceful. The 28 Houseki must fight against the Moon Dwellers, beings who attack them without discrimination and use their shattered bodies as decorations. For this reason, each Houseki is assigned a role, whether it be a fighter or a medic. Phosphophyllite, or Phos, is the youngest of their kin, and has not been given an assignment due to a lack of skill. Everything changes when Kongou, the leader of the Houseki, assigns Phos the task of creating an encyclopedia of natural history.

Animation Production will be handled by Orange (Dimension W, Ginga Kikotai Majestic Prince Movie). Takahiko Kyogoku (GATE, Love Live! School Idol Project) will direct the series, with series composition by Toshiya Ono (Gatchman Crowds, Perfect Insider).

Land of the Lustrous will soon be available to stream on Anime Strike for $4.99 per month after a 7-day free trial, and available in non-US territories through select digital outlets for the October 2017 simulcast season, with a home video release to follow

Monday, October 02, 2017

GLOBAL YAOI MANGA PUBLISHER SUBLIME ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATION AT YAOICON 2017

FINDER 
© 2017 Ayano Yamane/libre

Yaoi Manga Publisher SuBLime Hosts Exciting Panel And Offers
Convention-Exclusive Discounts On Fan-Favorite Titles

SuBLime, the leading global English-language yaoi manga publisher, heads to North America’s largest dedicated yaoi fan convention as it announces its participation at YaoiCon 2017. YaoiCon takes place October 6th-8th at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara, CA. SuBLime will be located in Booth #22 in the Dealer’s Hall.

This year, SuBLime is proud to welcome YaoiCon 2017 official Guest of Honor, Sakira, who is the creator of SuBLime’s PRETTY MEN FIGHTING DIRTY. Attendees are also invited to catch the official SuBLime panel and stop by the SuBLime booth for exclusive discounts on a variety of top yaoi manga.

YaoiCon is a one-of-a-kind 18+ convention for fans of all things yaoi. The annual convention delights attendees with a fun, fan-centric atmosphere and unique programming, which includes the Guest of Honor panel and autograph session, industry and fan panels, and the iconic and not-to-be-missed Bishounen Auction. Additional information is available at YaoiCon.com.

Saturday, October 7th

5:00pm – 6:30pm SuBLime Industry Panel, Bayshore Panel Room 2
Will your OTP finally make its debut in English? Join SuBLime for its panel full of yaoi news, games, and prizes and be the first to hear this year's new yaoi title announcements!

During YaoiCon 2017, SuBLime’s booth will offer a wide array of popular yaoi manga titles for sale at discounted rates, including THE WORLD’S GREATEST FIRST LOVE, FINDER DELUXE EDITION, TEN COUNT and more! Fans can also pick up a prestreet copy of JACKASS! before it’s available anywhere else.

FINDER DELUXE EDITION • By Ayano Yamane
Show Special Price: $10 each or $36 for all 4 volumes available!
Freelance photographer Akihito Takaba is captured by the very subject he’s been stalking in his viewfinder – the handsome and enigmatic crime lord Ryuichi Asami! The older man ravages him, both body and mind. Does this mean the end for the naive photographer, or will he live to shoot another day?

JACKASS!
© 2016 Beriko Scarlett  / SHINSHOKAN

JACKASS! • By Scarlet Beriko
Show Special Price: $10 – prestreet!
Practical Keisuke’s incredibly handsome best friend Masayuki has always rubbed him just a little bit the wrong way. Maybe it’s because Masayuki is rich, carefree, and so stunningly handsome that he can, and does, have any girl he wants? But one day, when Keisuke accidentally wears his older sister’s panty hose to gym class, it’s suddenly his hot friend who’s doing the rubbing…on Keisuke’s panty hose-clad legs! Has he unwittingly unleashed a secret fetish that will change their relationship forever?

THE WORLD’S GREATEST FIRST LOVE • By Shungiku Nakamura
Show Special Price: $10 each or $72 for all 8 volumes available!
When Ritsu Onodera changes jobs, looking for a fresh start, he's not exactly thrilled when his new boss turns out to be his old flame. Ritsu's determined to leave all that in the past – but how can he when his boss is just as determined that they have a future!

TEN COUNT • By Rihito Takarai
Show Special Price: $10 each or $45 for all 5 volumes available!
Corporate secretary Shirotani suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. One day he meets Kurose, a therapist who offers to take him through a ten-step program to cure him of his compulsion. As the two go through each of the ten steps, Shirotani 's attraction to his counselor grows.

Visit SuBLimeManga.com for a complete array of additional yaoi manga titles that are available digitally in a download-to-own format for $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) each and are viewable as a PDF on any enabled eReader device or computer or accessed via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

25th Anniversary Screening of PORCO ROSSO at Japan Society NY on Friday

Japan Society NY
Presents
Porco Rosso © 1992 Studio Ghibli—NN.
Porco Rosso / Kurenai no Buta
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Japan, 1992, 94 minutes
35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles

When: Friday, October 6, 2017 at 7:00 PM
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC

An ace fighter pilot and ex-member of the Italian Air Force during WWI is mysteriously cursed with a pig's face. Disillusioned with humanity, he adopts the name Porco Rosso ("Crimson Pig") and spends his time near the Adriatic Sea, drinking at a local bar and fighting off air pirates for cash. Famous for his unsurpassable flying skills, Porco draws the envy and antagonism of an American pilot who plots to take him down with the help of the fascist Italian police. This sixth film by Hayao Miyazaki is among the master animator's most personal and underrated, highlighting his deep love for aviation and pacifist worldview within an action-adventure story perfect for adults and children alike. Screening in 35mm!

Part of Monthly Classics
Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema. Only $5 for Japan society members!

Sunday, October 01, 2017

SECTION23 FILMS ANNOUNCES NOVEMBER SLATE OF RELEASES


HAIKYU!! SEASON 1! Available November 14th

Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its November slate of releases which includes three Sentai Filmworks titles that have Limited Edition Premium Box Sets! HAIKYU!! SEASON 1, HAVEN'T YOU HEARD? I'M SAKAMOTO COMPLETE COLLECTION and THE SQUID GIRL COMPLETE COLLECTION!

Product details in order of release:

Title: LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS! COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 650 min.
Street Date: 11/7/2017
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $99.98

SYNOPSIS: Thousands of Japanese students have "chunibyo", a state where they've convinced themselves that they have secret knowledge and hidden powers. Yuta Togashi knows that all too well, as he spent his middle school years living in a complete fantasy world. With work and effort, he's overcome his delusions, and he's ready to go to high school as a normal kid. Unfortunately, the girl who lives above him is deep into her own case of chuni, and she's decided that he's her soul mate! Can Yuta survive a girl who may be literally mad about him? And what happens when Yuta's FORMER "one true soul mate" returns? Maybe the best thing that could happen is for Yuta to re-embrace his own chunibyo as things get seriously wild and crazy in LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS! and LOVE, CHUNIBYO & OTHER DELUSIONS! -HEART THROB-


Title: TO HEART 2 COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Maiden Japan
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 11/7/2017
Format: BD, DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98, $49.98

SYNOPSIS: Sometimes life leads us in circles. Sometimes it takes us on strange detours. Takaaki and Konomi have been friends since they were kids, but now that they're in high school, Takaaki's finding out the fact that he's a boy and she's a girl can change everything, especially since there are a lot of other attractive girls who are also suddenly demanding his attention. Between the Himeyuri twins: electronics geek Sango and brash Ruri; the awkward class representative Manaka; mystery loving Karin; mountain biker Yuma; the mysterious Yuki; and even Lucy, who's convinced that she's an alien, Takaaki's not sure which way to turn. And when his OTHER female childhood friend, Tamaki, arrives having changed so much from attending an exclusive boarding school that the others barely recognize her, things are really going to get romantically complicated in TO HEART 2!


Title: HAIKYU!! SEASON 1 COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 625 min.
Street Date: 11/14/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $99.98 $79.98, $199.98

SYNOPSIS: Shoyo Hinata isn't a large guy, but he's got huge ambitions: to become the next big thing in high school volleyball. Unfortunately, his junior high team was trashed in their first and only match. But now that he's enrolled in a high school with a top volleyball program, things are going to be different. There's just one problem: Tobio Kageyama, whose team beat Hinata's and is already considered a star player, is attending the same school. Can a kid out of nowhere hold his own against the King of the Court? Or could the rivalry and competition actually be the best thing for both of them? Get ready for a knock-down, throw-down, ultimate showdown barrage of volleys, spikes, and blocks as two rivals face off in HAIKYU!!


Title: MEZZO FORTE
Published by: SoftCel Pictures
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 60 min.
Street Date: 11/14/2017
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $19.98

SYNOPSIS: Mob boss Momokichi Momoi has one way to deal with those who fail him: he kills them. Even when they're not criminals, but simply people who work for his legitimate businesses, no one is safe. Needless to say, that kind of poor employee relations has earned Momokichi a lot of enemies, and someone has recruited the elite Danger Services Agency to take him out of the picture. But the D.S.A., comprised of ex-cop Kurokawa, tech guru Harada, and the lovely but lethal Mikura, is going to have their hands (and other body parts) full handling this case. Because while Momokichi kills for profit, his daughter Momomi is even worse and kills because she gets off on it! Two ultimate bad girls face off as the blood and bullets fly in the adult-only anime classic that tops sex and violence… with a side helping of EXTRA violence: MEZZO FORTE!.


Title: HAVEN'T YOU HEARD? I'M SAKAMOTO COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 11/21/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98, $59.98, $169.98

SYNOPSIS: Step into classroom 1-2 and meet the coolest guy in school. In fact, Sakamoto may just be the coolest guy ever. And that's not just because he makes his student uniform and glasses look like a fashion magazine cover. There's also the fact that nothing ever seems to surprise or rattle him. The girls are all crazy for him, of course, but even the most macho delinquents start to feel a little funny when he's around. However, Sakamoto never seems to notice, let alone take advantage of the attention. He's too busy being cool and mysterious without even trying! This does drive some people crazy, but the more someone tries to challenge Sakamoto, the more they start to fall under his spell. Intrigued? Then come join the class and get a lesson in cool from the master in Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto!


Title: THE SQUID GIRL COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 675 min.
Street Date: 11/28/2017
Format: BD, DVD, COMBO
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $99.98, $79.98, $199.98

SYNOPSIS: Angered by mankind's pollution of her beloved ocean, Squid Girl rises from the dark and mysterious depths in order to punish the loathsome human race! Unfortunately, that plan immediately hits more snags than a dozen fishing lines in a washing machine. Not only does her small stature not intimidate humans, but instead of unleashing a tsunami of destruction, her attempts only cause minor damage to a pleasant little beachside restaurant. And then, the unexpectedly aggressive Aizawa sisters, who run the Lemon Beach House, force her to work there to pay it off! They even make her provide her own squid ink for a tasty squid ink spaghetti! Thus begins our tale of a poor not-quite fish out of water: SQUID GIRL