About Her Brother (おとうと) - 2010

•     Movie: About Her Brother (おとうと)
•     Director: Yoji Yamada
•     Writer: Yoji Yamada, Emiko Hiramatsu
•     Producer: Hiroshi Fukasawa, Kenichi Tamura
•     Cinematographer: Masashi Chikamori
•     Release Date: January 30, 2010
•     Runtime: 126 min.

In Tokyo, on a corner exists Takano Pharmacy. The owner is widow Ginko Takano (Sayuri Yoshinaga) who lost her husband a long time ago.

Ginko has one daughter named Koharu (Yu Aoi) who lives with her, and also living with them is Ginko's mother-in-law Kinuo (Haruko Kato).

 Ginko's daughter Koharu is engaged to an elite doctor. The day before the wedding, Ginko receives a wedding invitation that she mailed to her younger brother. The invitation was returned to sender. In Osaka, Ginko's younger brother Tetsuro (Tsurube Shofukutei) works as an actor and is an alcoholic. Tetsuro has been estranged from the family since he made a drunken scene at Ginko's husband's 13th death anniversary.

On the day of the wedding the mother-in-law is thankful that Tetsuro did not arrive. Ginko's older brother Shohei (Nenji Kobayashi) feels proud when Koharu states "...thank you for raising me." The atmosphere at the wedding is warm and calm, but later turns darker. Tetsuro, dressed in clean clothes, arrives at the wedding sweating.

 Shohei tells his younger brother "Please don't drink today." But, Tetsuro cannot help himself. With other young people at the wedding, Tetsuro starts drinking. Later, Tetsuro grabs the microphone and rambles incoherently. He then starts singing and knocks things over. Shohei can hear the groom's parents disproving comments. Shohei then tells them, "I will cut off all relations with Tetsuro ..."

 Feeling disappointed, Tetsuro finally returned home to Osaka to live a life in shambles over there. But the goodness of Ginko, Tetsuro old still be given bus fare.

 After six months on the embarrassing incident at her wedding, Koharu divorced her husband and a relationship with a carpenter, Toru (Ryo Kase).

 But unfortunately, the happier they are disturbed when a woman told Ginko Tetsuro collect debts for 1.3 million yen. Felt sick and sore, Ginko eventually membeludakkan anger against Tetsuro's sloppy-paced living. Tetsuro who do not feel guilty instead turned to scold Ginko and finally decided to return to Osaka, again.

 After several months of not hearing from Tetsuro, Ginko Osaka trying to contact the police station and report a missing person. Obtained by Ginko sad. Because the beloved sister was dying and was treated at a home in Osaka.Exactly on April 7, Tetsuro said his apology to her beloved brother and son who were named by him, Koharu. After apologizing, he made a V sign asking for the pictures, take pictures after he finally breathed his last breath in the arms of Ginko.

    "Ototo" has same title as Kon Ichikawa's 1960 film, but is not a remake.

The Last Ronin

16 years after the fateful "revenge of the Forty-seven Ronin," involving samurais from the Ako domain who avenged their leader and then commited seppuku (ritual suicide), the sole survivor of that incident, Kichiemon Terasaka (Koichi Sato) traverses the country on a mission. His purpose is to find the families of the fallen samurais and spread the truth of the ronin uprising.

 

 On his way to attend the 17th Buddhist ceremony for the 47 Ronins in Kyoto at Choho Shindo's (Masato Ibu) mansion, Kichiemon unexpectedly comes across his close & long time friend Magozaemon Senoo (Koji Yakusho) - who ran away the day before the ronin uprising. Prior to his disappearance, Magozaemon had lost his wife and had no children. His only purpose at the time was to serve Kuranosuke Oishi (Nizaemon Kataoka) and he swore to die for him if necessary. Why Magozaemon disappeared is a mystery Kichiemon still doesn't know the answer too.

After his disappearance, Magozaemon changed his name and hid from the world. Magozaemon gave up his position as a samurair He became a merchant who trades antiques. He lives in a remote house, hidden in a deep bamboo grove, with a beautiful girl named Kane (Nanami Sakuraba). Yu (Narumi Yasuda), who lives near Magozaemon's home, knew about them for the past 16 years.

 Yu adores Kane, who had no mother, and taught her etiquette, as well as reading and writing. Yu used to be the most popular courtesan in the famous Shimabara district of Kyoto. Yu eventually became a concubine of merchant Jiro Chayashiro (Yoshi Oida), who works a fabric dealer, and gained the favor of the Japan's feudal government. Now, Yu lives a quiet life.

 

 Meanwhile in Kyoto, a puppet show takes place which brings unexpected good fortune for Kane. The sole successor of the Chaya family, Shuichiro (Koji Yamamoto), comes to watch the performance and falls in love with Kane at first sight. Shuichiro doesn't know who Kane is so he asks Magozaemon to find Kane by using his position as a merchant.

 On the plot there is hesitancy Magozaemon whether he should obey Mr. Jiro to find Kane, a beautiful girl who will dipersunting by Shuichiro. All the way home, Mr. Jiro Magozaemon think demand. Upon arriving home, he immediately gave to Kane's question, whether he wants to marry Shuichiro? Kane also firmly rejects the request and plead with Magozaemon if life and the joy he felt was his own full rights to organize. But keep push Magozaemon by Mr. Jiro to find who Kane is.

 

 On the other hand, Shindo Choho old friend suspected that Kuranosuke Oishi Oishi Kane was the son of a woman who he had given before the attack 16 years ago. Because of the suspicion is growing because of the presence Magozaemon unfold, Mr. Choho Kichiemon Terasaka was ordered to pursue Magozaemon to get home. What will happen next? I suggest you should watch a drama that really stirred the heart of this.

 

  

Notes

• "The Last Ronin" is adapted from Shoichiro Ikemiya's 1994 novel "Saigo no Chushingura" which is a fictionalized account of the true story of the 47 Ronins that took place in the early 18th century.
• "The Last Ronin" will mark Warner Bros. Japan's first Japanese language picture.
• Filming began Nov. 11th in Kyoto, Japan.
• Nanami Sakuraba has been cast as one of the principle characters in "The Last Ronin". She will play Kane, secret daughter of Seo Magojaemon (Koji Yakusho) & love interest of wealthy Chaya Shuichiro (Koji Yamamoto).

The Unbroken

This day I saw a great movie from Ken Watanabe, The Unbroken..

On this movie, Ken becomes a Hajime Onchi, works for Goku Airlines. He becomes the head of the labor union and fights to improve working conditions for the workers. The corporate bosses at Goku Airlines doesn't take kindly to Hajime's efforts and soon banishes him to distant work locations. Hajime spends the next ten years working in branch offices located in Pakistan, Iran, and Kenya. His corporate bosses offer to bring him back to Japan if he would leave the union and apologize for his actions. Hajime refuses.
Meanwhile, his fellow labor union partner, Shiro Gyoten (Tomokazu Miura), has long sold out to management and is climbing the ranks in the corporate office. Hajime feels betrayed by his co-worker, but stoically works in Kenya with nothing much else to do except watch the sun.
Finally, after 10 years in exile, Hajime is ordered back to the head office in Japan. But everything is not roses on his return. His co-workers like Kazuo Yagi (Teruyuki Kagawa) are bullied for their labor union actions, while sellouts like Shiro Gyoten are rapidly ascending the corporate ladder. Hajime's new job is a difficult one as well. The worst airline accident in Japanese history then occurs. A Goku jumbo jet crashes and kills hundreds of passengers. Hajime is assigned to console the victim's families and provide restitution to those families.

After 5 hours I saw this movie, I'm so sad, because I don't understand what the meaning about this movie..But the simple thing I now about main of the topics is...NAL same like JAL, who have a crush on 1985..

OH God, please give me a good reason why I must see this complicated movie, ever!

Rinco's Restaurant - 食堂かたつむり

Rinco's Restaurant Review

A young woman (Kou Shibasaki) in her mid 20's becomes so heart broken she loses her voice. To recover, the woman decides to go back to her hometown and stay with her free-spirited mother whom she has not been very close to in the past. The young woman then decides to open a restaurant which accepts only one customer a day, allowing for thoughtful preparation for that customer.

without voice, Rinco's find the secret recipes for her new restaurant.

Rinco's always make special food for her consumer.
Rinco's always using her heart and her soul to make a food.

In the end of story, Her momy (Ruriko) says : "I want to make a special food for my weeding party. I think we need a special ham from Hermes."

Rinco's Restaurant Sneak & Peak:

• Movie: Rinco's Restaurant
• Romaji: Shokudo Katatsumuri
• Japanese: 食堂かたつむり
• Director: Mai Tominaga
• Writer: Ito Ogawa (novel), Hiroko Takai
• Release Date: February 6, 2010
• Studio: Toho, TBS
• Distributor: Toho
• Language: Japanese
• Country: Japan

Finally I found a best movie from Japan. When I see this movie, I think we can see a lot of amazing graphic. But in the end of story, you will found the meaning of mother love for her children. Hiks..! I cry a lot for this screen.

The Homeless Student - ホームレス中学生

• Movie: The Homeless Student
• Romaji: Hômuresu chûgakusei
• Japanese: ホームレス中学生
• Director: Tomoyuki Furumaya
• Writer: Hiroshi Tamura (novel)
• Release Date: October 25, 2008
• Runtime: 116 min
• Distributor: Toho
• Movie Studio: Toho
• Language: Japanese
• Country: Japan

Movie is based on the best selling autobiographical novel “The Homeless Junior High School Student”, by Hiroshi Tamura (of the comedian duo Kirin).

In his autobiographical novel, Tamura wrote that he was homeless during his high school days after the breakup of his parents. He lived in a public park at night, going through such hardships like eating cardboard paper for food.

Hiroshi Tamura found his house for sold, because his father can't afford their rent.

The Tamura Family now know that their has been lost the house.

Hiroshi Tamura falling love with another girl student in his school.

"Hei, The Dumb Prince..Come back the ee palace of me!" said the fat boys.

"Ikeru! Now your ee place is my house!!" tell Hiroshi Tamura feel sadnest.

"Give me your best rain! Yeah..The best shower time ever!" said Hiroshi Tamura feel happy.

Finally, the Tamura family have a small rent house. But, they are still hunger.

The Homeless Student - ホームレス中学生 now avilable in DVD. (^o^)v

After you see this movie, you will know that Tokyo have a high standard life. If you can't reach a good money, you will homeless and hunger.

But, if you have want to fighting of your life, you will found the great honor of the world.

waterboys - ウォーターボーイズ

• Movie: Waterboys
• Japanese: ウォーターボーイズ
• Director: Shinobu Yaguchi
• Writer: Shinobu Yaguchi, Yasushi Fukuda
• Producer: Yoshino Sasaki, Daisuke Sekiguchi, Akifumi Takuma
• Cinematographer: Yuichi Nagata, Shinobu Yaguchi
• Release Date: September 15, 2001
• Runtime: 90 min.
• Production Company: Fuji TV, Toho, Altamira Pictures, DENTSU Music And Entertainment
• Distributor: Toho
• Language: Japanese
• Country: Japan

Based on a true story - members of the swimming team at Kawagoe High School, a boy's prep school in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, dreamed up an unusual event for their school festival: "men's synchronized swimming." Inspired by the popular Olympic synchronized swimming exhibitions on TV, the young men choreographed and successfully performed their own synchronized swimming event.

It's springtime in Japan and the Tadano High School swim team is barely keeping afloat. When a pretty new coach turns up with the nutty idea of creating a top synchronized swimming team of her own, she has just a few problems to overcome. First, she's teaching at an all-boys school; second, the 5 boys who have committed to the team are all hopelessly bad swimmers; third, she suddenly discovers she's 8 months pregnant and due for maternity leave.

Inspired by their darling coach's dream, the boys bumble through the spring and summer, preparing a routine for Tadano High's festival. They face great adversity: the derision of their fellow students, a swimming pool full of dead fish, the mounting pressures of college entrance exams, and worst of all, their own dismal record of constant failure. Their only encouragement comes from a gaggle of local drag queens and the crazy owner of an aquarium, whose idea of trainin them, is making them polish fish tanks round-the-clock.

When autumn finally rolls around, the boys have not only miraculously perfected a truly unique routine, they've won the respect and participation of a whole crew of new teammates. On the eve of the festival, the performance is threatened by one last catastrophe. Will the Waterboys hard work be wasted, or can they paddle their way to the success and recognition they've worked so hard to win?

Swing Girls - スウィングガールズ

Film director Shinobu Yaguchi ran across an account of a dwindling high school brass band that reinvented itself as a youthful Big Band. He decided to track the band down to the boondocks where he found an ensemble composed almost entirely of girls with bobbed hair breezing through jazz numbers. The contrast between the band's look and its sound inspired Yaguchi to create "Swiing Girs," set against the seasonal beauty of northeastern Japan.

Songs performed in "Swing Girls": "In the mood" by the Glenn Miller Orchestra (song playing while walking along the apartment complex), "Moonlight Serenade" by Glenn Milller (The first song played at the concert finale), "Mexican Flyers" by Ken Woodman (The second song played at the concert finale), "Sing Sing Sing with a Swing" by Benny Goodman (The final song played in the concert finale).

• Movie: Swing Girls
• Japanese: スウィングガールズ
• Director: Shinobu Yaguchi
• Writer: Shinobu Yaguchi
• Contributing Writer: Junko Yaguchi
• Producer: Shintaro Horikawa, Shoji Masui, Daisuke Sekiguchi
• Cinematographer: Takahide Shibanushi
• Release Date: September 11, 2004
• Runtime: 105 min.
• Production Company: Altamira Pictures, Toho, Fuji TV
• Distributor: Toho
• Language: Japanese
• Country: Japan

The Story

Tomoko and her classmates are given a reprieve from their dreary summer math class with the job of delivering lunch to their high school brass team. Unfortunately the girls fall asleep on the train and miss their intended stop. They get off at the next available stop, but then they still had to walk a considerable distance in the baking sun to get to the stadium.

By the time the girls got to the stadium and delivered the food, something strange happened. All the members of the brass team got sick, except for Nakamura (the girls ate his lunch while riding on the train).

The following day, Nakamura is left to reassemble the brass club, but only 3 girls show up for the auditions. 2 are heavy metal rock girls that bring their amps and guitar and bass. The other girl seems promising but brings a flute. Nakamura soon sees the girls from the math class, that delivered the lunch late, laughing in the hallway. He demands that they join the brass band or he will tell the faculty that the food wasn’t spoiled from the factory but that the girls were at fault.

The girls soon enough agreed, partially because of the threat and partially to avoid the monotony of taking summer math classes. The girls have no clue how to play and they are in terrible physical condtition. Nakamura takes it upon himself to train the girls, first with physical exercises to improve their stamina and then teaches them how to play their brass instruments.

There is only a week until the next game begins and the girls start to enjoy playing their instruments immensely. Unfortunately the original brass team recovers from their illnesses and rejoins bthe brass team. The girls are now left without a club to play their music for or have any instruments to play with in their free time.

After some moments of despair, the girls take the initiative to start their own Jazz band and they call themselves Swing Girls (And A Boy). Along with the help of their math teacher, who is somewhat of a Jazz aficionado, the girls train vigorously to compete in the upcoming student music festival.

Where The Legend Lives - まぼろしの邪馬台国

Yohei (Naoto Takenaka), a former railroad worker, has become obsessed with discovering the ancient country of Yamataikoku. His obsession sprouted from a day when he discovered ancient ceramics while repairing railroad tracks.

Now completely blind, Yohei relies on his wife (Sayuri Yoshinaga) to guide him through the country and read the maps in their pursuit of Yamataikoku.

this movie really make me cry. Because, you can see how big the love for finding a history.

I think, you can't found a better movie than this.