a re 楠 (kusu)

Congrats!!!

Thrilled to say that my video essay on Toei Ninkyō Eiga is part of this release! Thank you again @robotofilms.bsky.social for this great opportunity.

Theatre of Life is important in many respects - it launched Ninkyō Eiga… and Tsuruta / Takakura as iconic chivalrous yakuza heroes! Don’t miss it!

Publication day! This was one of the hardest stories I’ve ever translated, both for the language and content. It’s also one of the most important stories I’ve translated. I hope as many people as possible will read it and reflect on the reality of war.
#booksky #translation #literarytranslation

Aaah, I was trying to get tickets too, but I checked too late!

Long felt this was the best Urusei Yatsura film. Certainly not the easiest entry point, but the one that meant the most for the series.

Also obligatory to mention these were directed by Obayashi Nobuhiko

One of my favorite writers/directors. I'm so so excited to revisit some of them

Terence Stamp's first day shooting TOBY DAMMIT with Fellini. RIP.
Via Wyatt Doyle on Facebook.

Another reason to be excited for what I'm sure is going to be an excellent release!

Got a commentary from me on one of these!

It's fantastic that Third Window has been consistently at the forefront of such incredible Japanese releases, but really frustrating to see US based labels fall so far behind.

Thrilled to announce that I recorded a commentary track for Cult Epics’ upcoming blu-ray/DVD release of Nobuhiko Obayashi’s School in the Crosshairs!

Featuring OH YEAH new cover art from HOUSE poster designer @samsmyth.bsky.social.

It's great Tanaka Kinuyo's work will get a release, but I'm a little disappointed it's not getting a fuller release. It certainly deserves it.

poster for Pika-don depicting a boy standing on a small table in a Japanese room playing with a paper plane

a scene from the film: a woman with her baby child is being hit by the wind from the atomic blast

ピカドン Pika-don (Kinoshita Renzō, 1978)

It's July 30 again, the day Obayashi Nobuhiko's mainstream debut HOUSE/ハウス was released in 1977, 48 years ago

Thank you!!! 🙏🙏🙏

From the Amateur’s Palm: Obayashi’s Early Cinema and Film Writings - Alexander Platt (Kyoto University)

"From the Amateur’s Palm: Obayashi’s Early Cinema and Film Writings - Alexander Platt (Kyoto University)"
at the Kinema Club Conference this weekend, during the 25th edition of the Nippon Connection Film Festival.
Congrats @pratt360.bsky.social !

Back at it again

Finally got around to getting a copy of Obayashi's first book, My American Movie

he opens the book with a reflection on JP film within the context of the nation's recent history wherein he heavily criticizes the wartime film industry as being not simply complicit but cowardly in their lack of integrity and avoidance of responsibility.

Iwasaki Akira was a film critic who got started in the 1920s working for a film import company before deepening his interest in Marxist/Leftist politics, which left him ostracized by the militarist gov during the war. Vindicated by the postwar surge of liberal democracy/

To be clear, it's just as likely this is just proof of ownership by another Iwasaki, as it's a common name. Either way, fairly neat

Just bought this and realized it's probably the oldest book in my (current) collection. Not saying too much, it was just published in 58, but I was surprised to see it came with a hanko seal by the author, Iwasaki Akira

It's January 9 here in Japan, the day Obayashi Nobuhiko was born in 1938. He would be 87.
大林監督誕生日おめでとうございます！
#botd

This is just a little hidden gem in Okayama. Large floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides. Great place to people watch.

I'll have to check out Galant. I think so far my favorite one in Tokyo is ぶらじる in Jimbocho.

The server said the cafe was opened in 1976, and it really feels like nothing much has changed.

ＴＨＥ ＰＩＰＥ

VHS Rip. Still waiting for English subs. My Heart Belongs to Daddy (1988, no subtitles)

Everyone does! (No subs though)
youtu.be/SaVgRrOiBq4?...

Got access to a new (to me) Obayashi

Time to celebrate