Category Archives: Movies

J-Cin Sundays: Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Biker Gangs and How to Get Angry in Japan

Posted on September 11, 2011 by E.

Title: Godspeed You! Black Emperor Director: Mitsuo Yanagimachi Year: 1976 Notes: This documentary was the inspiration for the name of post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, which honestly is the only reason I sought it out. TLDR: A bunch of … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged cinema, documentaries, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, japanese, movies | 1 Comment

J-Cin Sundays: “The Great Happiness Space” – Illusion and Reality in the Japanese Sex Industry

Posted on August 28, 2011 by E.

Title: The Great Happiness Space Director: Jake Clennell Year: 2006 Notes: This isn’t a “Japanese Film” per se, it’s a British Documentary on a Japanese cultural phenomenon. For some reason there’s no trailers online, but you can find the entire movie streaming if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Uncategorized | Tagged documentaries, host clubs, japan, movies, sexuality | 6 Comments

J-Cin Sundays: “Achilles and the Tortoise” and the Contemporary Japanese Art World

Posted on June 26, 2011 by E.

Title: Achilles and the Tortoise Director: Takeshi Kitano Year: 2008 Notes: Though the clip is animated, this is a live-action film.

Posted in Movies, Uncategorized | Tagged achilles and the tortoise, art, cinema, contemporary art, contemporary japanese art, japanese art, japanese cinema, movies, rilke, takashi murakami, takeshi kitano | 3 Comments

J-Cin Sundays: Suicide Club

Posted on June 12, 2011 by E.

Title: Suicide Club (自殺サークル, literally, “Suicide Circle”) Director: Sion Sono Year: 2002 Notes: This review contains spoilers. And it’s a cult cinema comedy-horror film by an avant-garde street poet, so assume all videos are disturbing – except for the Rebecca Black video. Or, maybe that … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | 2 Comments

J-Cin Sundays: “Air Doll.”

Posted on May 22, 2011 by E.

Title: Air Doll Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Year: 2009 Notes: Based on the comic “Kuuki Ningyo,” by Yoshiie Gōda. TLDR: Amelie, if Amelie was an inflatable sex doll that magically came to life, and if Amelie made you really, really sad.

Posted in Movies, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

J-Cin Sundays: Battle Royale and Japanese Nationalism

Posted on May 1, 2011 by E.

Title: Battle Royale Director: Kinji Fukasaku Year: 2000 Notes: A 3D version of this film is being re-edited for American release in 2011. This article refers to a subtitled Japanese edition of the original, 2000 theatrical release. TLDR: High school kids are inexplicably drafted … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Tradition | 8 Comments