REVIEW: たそがれ清兵衛 (山田洋次) – The Twilight Samurai (Yamada Yoji)

June 26, 2022 Jennifer Leave a comment

First Thoughts

Directed by the highly esteemed Yamada Yoji (山田洋次), Twilight Samurai is one of many samurai films set in nineteenth-century feudal Japan. But unlike other films in this genre of Japanese cinema, which tend to be more action epics with lots of fighting, fountains of blood, and overriding themes of good versus evil or honor versus dishonor, Yamada Yoji paints a picture filled with intimate psychological drama that results in an engaging and truly touching movie.

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News, TV

オクトー～感情捜査官　心野朱梨～ – Octo ～Kanjou Sousakan Shinno Akari～

Video June 23, 2022 Jennifer Leave a comment

Although I’m not living in Japan anymore, I do still get media news updates of what’s coming out on television and this upcoming drama piqued my interest – especially as I am a ~~sucker~~ fan of both the tantei (探偵; “detective”) and keiji (刑事; “police detective”) genres. Scheduled to air on Thursdays starting from July 7th (7/7) this year, Octo ～Kanjou Sousakan Shinno Akari～ (オクトー～感情捜査官　心野朱梨～; “Octo ～ Emotions Police Investigator Shinno Akari～”) has a pretty intriguing premise that could yield some interesting cases as an investigative drama.

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History, Literature, Movies, Papers, Theatre, Writings

PAPER: Mishima Yukio’s “Patriotism”

June 22, 2022 Jennifer Leave a comment

Written in December 2011 Wrote this paper based on my personal interest in Mishima Yukio's works, namely his short story "Patriotism" which he later adapted for film that he wrote, directed, and starred in as the lead role and how both works express Mishima's personal ideals and beliefs.

Mishima Yukio’s “Patriotism”: Of Death, Purity, Honor, and Love

“Patriotism” is known to have been a story of personal significance to author Mishima Yukio, as he had expressed on multiple occasions how much of himself he had thrown into this particular story: “[Patriotism] embodies so many of my qualities as a writer, both the good and the bad.” The fact that it is also the only work that Mishima handled personally when adapting it for film, as in directed, produced, wrote the screenplay, and starred in as lead actor, is testament to how important it was to him. The film “Patriotism”, however, is not much of an adaptation in the conventional sense, and more of an expression of Mishima’s personal ideals and beliefs. Especially in regards to Mishima’s views on the intimate relationship between death and “beauty”, which he considered synonymous with love, sex, and purity. In both the story and the film, it is clear Mishima wanted to portray the act of seppuku as both “an act of beauty” and a purifying ritual.

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Movies, News

貞子DX – Sadako DX

Video June 21, 2022 Jennifer Leave a comment

Although the trailer has been out for over a month now, given that my doctoral dissertation was all about feminine vengeful spirits in Japanese theatre and cinema, I feel almost obligated to make a post about the latest “Sadako” film in the Ringu (リング) franchise.

Directed by Kimura Hisashi (木村ひさし) and scheduled to be released in fall later this year, Sadako DX promises new innovations to one of the greatest J-horror film franchises in Japanese cinema.

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Personal/Site Updates

Presenting at ConnectiCon 2022 (Hartford, CT): Panel Schedule & Descriptions

June 20, 2022 Jennifer Leave a comment

I have been out of the game for some time, but I am very much looking forward to returning to ConnectiCon this year as a panelist.

This year I will be presenting 4 panels, two with co-panelist Sam Kyung Yoo. Detailed schedule and descriptions are below (full convention schedule). Hoping to see some people there!

SATURDAY, July 16

From Noh to TeniMyu: A Crash Course in Anime on Stage

10:15-11:15 AM in Utopia Unicorns (CTCC Meeting Room 27)

The theatre of Japan is among the most distinct and easily recognizable arts known today. Recent years have seen more and more production and performance of theatre shows based on popular anime, manga, and video games in Japan. Join us on a crash course of all there is to know about anime adapted for the live stae, including the mysterious noh masked theatre and its use of VR to recreate Ghost in the Shell, the flashy Prince of Tennis Musical (TeniMyu) that sparked an entire genre of anime theatrical adaptation in Japanese theatre, and recent kabuki productions of anime/manga such as Naruto and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.

Japanese Horror: Monstrous Mothers & Dead Wet Girls

11:30 AM-12:30 PM in Utopia Unicorns (CTCC Meeting Room 27)

No Japanese horror (J-horror) or ghost film is complete without its haunting woman specter, dating back from as early as the time of Akira Kurosawa to as recent as the latest Sadako film of the Ringu (The Ring) franchise. Join us and find out why the monstrous feminine has dominated J-horror cinema and why some of the most iconic women figures of the genre are the way they are.

Japanese Folklore: Ghosts, Monsters & Strange Tales

4:45-6:15 PM in Gotham Gundam (CTCC Meeting Room 11-13)

Ever wondered what a “tanuki” really is, or what the difference is between a youkai and a yuurei? Find out the answers here! Join us as we explore the supernatural side of Japan, its monstrous creatures and demons, its strange stories and superstitions, as well as its continued influence on popular culture.

SUNDAY, July 17

Blood and Honor: The Story of the Samurai in Japanese Cinema

10:45-11:45 AM in Zootopia Zebras (Marriott Conference Room 1/2)

From Kurosawa Akira to Yamada Yoji, Japanese directors have been telling the story of the samurai for decades. From the classics to the latest groundbreaking films and trends in cinema, find out all you need to know about this truly unique and essential genre of Japanese film!