VIZ Media launches award winning manga series GOLDEN KAMUY

GOLDEN KAMUY © 2014 by Satoru Noda/SHUEISHA Inc.

New VIZ Signature Series Depicting A War Veteran’s

Quest For Hidden Gold In Japan’s Wild Northern

Frontier Launches This Summer

VIZ Media has announced the forthcoming launch of the acclaimed manga series GOLDEN KAMUY on June 20th.

The series debuts in print under the VIZ Signature imprint, is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers and will carry an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $17.99 CAN. Future volumes of GOLDEN KAMUY, which is ongoing in Japan, will be published in English by VIZ Media on a quarterly basis.

In the early twentieth century, Russo-Japanese War veteran Saichi Sugimoto searches the wilderness of the Japanese frontier of Hokkaido for a hoard of hidden gold. With only a cryptic map and a native Ainu girl to help him, Saichi must also deal with every murderous cutthroat, bandit and rogue who knows about the treasure!

GOLDEN KAMUY was the winner of the 2016 Manga Taisho Award and was nominated for the 40th Annual Kodansha Manga Award.

“Manga fans and history buffs will appreciate the historical aspects of GOLDEN KAMUY. Set in Japan’s wild and dangerous northern frontier in the early 20th century, the series also integrates an accurate portrayal of the lives and culture of the Ainu, the indigenous people of the region,” says Michael Montesa, Editor. “Don’t miss the launch of this extraordinary new series this summer!”

For additional information on GOLDEN KAMUY or other manga titles available from VIZ Media, visit VIZ.com.

VIZ Media launches new manga series AFTER HOURS on June 13th

AFTER HOURS  © 2015 Yuhta NISHIO/SHOGAKUKAN

Love Between Two Young Women Blooms

In Tokyo’s Lively Club Scene

In New Yuri Release

VIZ Media presents a refreshing modern romance between two women that defy stereotypes and clichés of the “yuri,” or “girls’ love,” genre with the launch of AFTER HOURS on June 13th.

The manga series, created by Yuhta Nishio, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. The series also launches digitally on June 13th via VIZ.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology and Google Play stores.

In AFTER HOURS, Emi Ashiana is 24, unemployed and not really sure what she wants do with her life. When a friend invites her to a dance club, Emi doesn’t expect much. But when she meets vivacious DJ Kei, whole new avenues of passion and purpose open up to her.

“AFTER HOURS is a lively, heartfelt story set amidst Tokyo’s club scene about queer young women coming into their own,” says Pancha Diaz, Editor. “The series presents a wonderful entry point for Western readers as well as veteran manga fans to explore ‘yuri’ or ‘girls love’ manga with relatable characters and a very socially relevant storyline.”

Yuhta Nishio is a manga creator, illustrator and sometimes painter. His debut manga, Irikachi, started in IKKI magazine in 2014. His other manga series include Diorama Crew and Domuun. His artwork has appeared in the gallery shows KAI-YOU Presents Sekai to Asobu!, Hyakaten and A Nightmare Is a Dream Come True: Anime Expressionist Painting.

For additional information on AFTER HOURS and other manga titles available from VIZ Media, visit VIZ.com.

Japan Society's annual JAPAN CUTS film festival to run July 13 - 23, 2017

JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film

When: July 13—23, 2017

Where: Japan Society NY

333 East 47th Street, NYC

Map

Now in its 11th year, JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film, North America’s largest festival of contemporary Japanese cinema, returns for 10 days of impossible-to-see-anywhere-else screenings with special guest filmmakers and stars, parties, giveaways and much more!

Tickets are on sale exclusively for Japan Society members now, and go on sale to the General Public on Monday, June 12, 12 PM.

View Full Schedule

Kôji Fukada's award winning HARMONIUM opens at Lincoln Center next Friday, June 16th

Harmonium / Fuchi ni tatsu

Directed by Kôji Fukada

Japan/France, 2016, 118 minutes

Japanese with English subtitles

When: Opens June 16, 2017

Where: Howard Gilman Theater

Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center

Film Society of Lincoln Center

144 West 65th Street, NYC

Showtimes and Tickets

“Winner of the Prix du Jury in Un Certain Regard at Cannes, Harmonium observes a family as it’s dealt a tragic blow and then no less shaken by the process of recovery. Toshio (Kanji Furutachi) runs a garage workshop that opens right into the home he shares with his wife, Akié (Mariko Tsutsui), and their cute-as-a-button daughter, Hotaru (Momone Shinokawa). Trouble arrives when Toshio hires Yasaka (Tadanobu Asano), a friend with an unsavory past who’s in need of a break—though the complicated effects of his arrival on the close-knit family are best left unrevealed.” (Nicolas Rapold, Film Comment)

A Film Movement release.

Dante Lam's OPERATION MEKONG reviewed; available on Blu-ray and DVD today, Tuesday, June 6th

Well Go USA

Entertainment

Presents

Operation Mekong / Mei Gong he xing dong

Directed by Dante Lam

China/Hong Kong, 2016, 124 minutes

Dante Lam's high octane, action packed Operation Mekong becomes available today, Tuesday, June 6th, in a Blu-ray™/DVD Combo Pack and on DVD from Well Go USA Entertainment. (It's been available on digital since Tuesday, May 2nd.)

The film, based on actual events, concerns a task force of elite Chinese narcotics officers who hunt the leader of a drug cartel in the famed Golden Triangle, the infamous opium producing area of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. The Mekong River is the prime smuggling route for smuggling drugs into China.

The film stars Zhang Hanyu (The Taking of Tiger Mountain), Eddie Peng (Tai Chi Hero), Chen Baoguo (Moment in Peking), Sun Chun (1911), Feng Wenjuan (Helios), Wu Xudong (The Taking of Tiger Mountain) and Carl Ng (The Viral Factor).

One might wonder how closely the film hews to the actual events, but why bother. Lam (Stool Pigeon, Unbeatable) here displays incredible mastery in a variety of action set pieces that are sure to please.

Disc Specs:
-- Audio:
  -- Mandarin DTS:X
  -- Mandarin 2.0 Stereo
  --Mandarin DSS Headphone: X
-- Subtitles:
  -- English
  -- Off
-- Bonus:
  -- 6-Part “Making of” Featurette:
    -- Uncovering the Truth
    -- The Team
    -- The Secret Mission
    -- The Journey
    -- Two Heroes
    -- A Force of Nature
  -- Trailer
-- Previews
  -- The Prison
  -- Mine
  -- Cold War 2

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; highly recommended