A woman buries her anger deep under a lake of serenity only to discover that every small action or decision can set off a chain of reverberating ripples, in the latest movie from director Naoko Ogigami, aptly named “Ripples” (波紋 Hamon). Her trademark quirky comedy style and unique perspective are still here, but this time her narrative voice is a notch more dramatic.
Ripples is screening at Five Flavours
A prologue set in the aftermath of a fictional eco-disaster, introduces the Sudo family living in a tranquil suburban neighbourhood. Yoriko Sudo (Mariko Tsutsui) is a woman in her 50s, defined by her roles of wife of a salaryman, mother of a disaffected young man and reluctant carer of Osamu's bedridden – but well able to fondle her – father. Water is scarce, as probably contaminated after the earthquake, and bottled water has become a precious good. One ordinary day, Yoriko calls everybody...
Ripples is screening at Five Flavours
A prologue set in the aftermath of a fictional eco-disaster, introduces the Sudo family living in a tranquil suburban neighbourhood. Yoriko Sudo (Mariko Tsutsui) is a woman in her 50s, defined by her roles of wife of a salaryman, mother of a disaffected young man and reluctant carer of Osamu's bedridden – but well able to fondle her – father. Water is scarce, as probably contaminated after the earthquake, and bottled water has become a precious good. One ordinary day, Yoriko calls everybody...
- 11/15/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
A woman buries her anger deep under a lake of serenity only to discover that every small action or decision can set off a chain of reverberating ripples, in the latest movie from director Naoko Ogigami, aptly named “Ripples” (波紋 Hamon). Her trademark quirky comedy style and unique perspective are still here, but this time her narrative voice is a notch more dramatic.
Ripples is screening at Camera Japan
A prologue set in the aftermath of a fictional eco-disaster, introduces the Sudo family living in a tranquil suburban neighbourhood. Yoriko Sudo (Mariko Tsutsui) is a woman in her 50s, defined by her roles of wife of a salaryman, mother of a disaffected young man and reluctant carer of Osamu’s bedridden – but well able to fondle her – father. Water is scarce, as probably contaminated after the earthquake, and bottled water has become a precious good. One ordinary day, Yoriko calls...
Ripples is screening at Camera Japan
A prologue set in the aftermath of a fictional eco-disaster, introduces the Sudo family living in a tranquil suburban neighbourhood. Yoriko Sudo (Mariko Tsutsui) is a woman in her 50s, defined by her roles of wife of a salaryman, mother of a disaffected young man and reluctant carer of Osamu’s bedridden – but well able to fondle her – father. Water is scarce, as probably contaminated after the earthquake, and bottled water has become a precious good. One ordinary day, Yoriko calls...
- 10/1/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Shuichi Okita, with a very personal style, delicate but assertive at the same time, has been able to make himself known and appreciated in the circuits of festivals and in less mainstream circles with films that are difficult to label, often defined as “dramedy” that is a mixture of drama and comedy. Like in “The Woodsman and The Rain”, “The Chef of South Polar” and “Mori: The Artist’s Habitat”, the backdrop of “The Mohican Comes Home” is also a small community on an imaginary island in the Soto Inland Sea, off the coast of Hiroshima, where Okita places one of his typical characters, always dazed and looking out of place.
on YesAsia
This time it is Eichiki (Ryuhei Matsuda), the titular “Mohican” (because of his haircut), who 7 years earlier had left his hometown for Tokyo, in search of work and fame in a death metal band.
on YesAsia
This time it is Eichiki (Ryuhei Matsuda), the titular “Mohican” (because of his haircut), who 7 years earlier had left his hometown for Tokyo, in search of work and fame in a death metal band.
- 8/2/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Writer and director Naoko Ogigami’s debut feature “Yoshino’s Barber Shop” is a sweet and pungent coming of age tale that also delivers a punch against futile gatekeeping. Winner of the 2004 Pia Film Festival Scholarship Award, it has launched the career of one of the most original, quirky independent female directors of Japan and it is a taste of the offbeat style that characterises her works.
Yoshino’s Barber Shop is screening at Japan Society
In the small idyllic town of Kaminoe, the titular Barber Shop stands proud as the symbolic (and practical) keeper of an ancient tradition. In fact, it is so ancient that nobody remembers how it all started. During the Mountain Day, the village honours the goddess of the mountain with a beautiful choir performance in the blossoming sakura season, and to keep at bay the goddess’ proverbial jealousy, only boys can sing to her. Moreover,...
Yoshino’s Barber Shop is screening at Japan Society
In the small idyllic town of Kaminoe, the titular Barber Shop stands proud as the symbolic (and practical) keeper of an ancient tradition. In fact, it is so ancient that nobody remembers how it all started. During the Mountain Day, the village honours the goddess of the mountain with a beautiful choir performance in the blossoming sakura season, and to keep at bay the goddess’ proverbial jealousy, only boys can sing to her. Moreover,...
- 2/7/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The concept of tourism and the way the people who travel perceive their vacations is a very interesting one, particularly when it involves urban residents visiting rural places, having very specific things in their minds about what they are going to experience. Naoko Ogigami directs a film that plays with the notion in a rather hilarious but also down-to-earth fashion.
Glasses is screening as part of Five Flavours Asian New Year’s Eve Online
Taeko, a woman who looks dangerously similar to Ogigami herself, visits an Okinawan island, having booked some nights in a small guesthouse, with the clear notion that she will be left alone there, in her search for peace and quiet. She is, thus, astonished when the hotel proprietor sits down to eat with her, along with two other people of the area, Haruna, a woman her age, and Sakura, an elderly lady whom she also finds...
Glasses is screening as part of Five Flavours Asian New Year’s Eve Online
Taeko, a woman who looks dangerously similar to Ogigami herself, visits an Okinawan island, having booked some nights in a small guesthouse, with the clear notion that she will be left alone there, in her search for peace and quiet. She is, thus, astonished when the hotel proprietor sits down to eat with her, along with two other people of the area, Haruna, a woman her age, and Sakura, an elderly lady whom she also finds...
- 1/3/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Senile dementia and loneliness, particularly in teenagers, are two of the issues that have been tormenting the Japanese society for some time now. Kikuchi presents his thoughts on the subjects, through the familiar norms of the Japanese indie film.
Written by Ayako Kato, the script revolves around two radically different high school girls. Hazuki is one the “cool” ones, with her gang actually “ruling” the class, which means that they spent their time mocking the other students who are not part of their group. One of those mocked is the class’s president, Aoi, who, despite her status, ranks very low on the social system of the school, spending most of her time alone.
“Hello, Goodbye” screened at Japan Filmfest Hamburg
However, both girls harbor some secrets. Hazuki suspects she is pregnant by her ex-boyfriend, who is now dating another girl from the gang. Aoi, despite coming from a high bourgeoisie family,...
Written by Ayako Kato, the script revolves around two radically different high school girls. Hazuki is one the “cool” ones, with her gang actually “ruling” the class, which means that they spent their time mocking the other students who are not part of their group. One of those mocked is the class’s president, Aoi, who, despite her status, ranks very low on the social system of the school, spending most of her time alone.
“Hello, Goodbye” screened at Japan Filmfest Hamburg
However, both girls harbor some secrets. Hazuki suspects she is pregnant by her ex-boyfriend, who is now dating another girl from the gang. Aoi, despite coming from a high bourgeoisie family,...
- 5/9/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Yesterday, the supporting cast of Yasuhiro Kawamura’s Akko’s Secret was revealed to Japanese media via press release.
The film is a live-action adaptation of Fujio Akatsuka’s classic “Himitsu no Akko-chan” manga series (1962-1965) about a 10-year-old girl who receives a magical mirror which lets her transform into whatever she wishes. In this live-action version, Haruka Ayase stars as Akko-chan after using the mirror to transform herself into a 22-year-old woman.
It was previously known that Masaki Okada would play Naoto Hayase, an elite employee of a cosmetics company Akko-chan begins working for.
The newly-announced additions include Teruyuki Kagawa as the spirit of the magical mirror, Shosuke Tanihara and Kazue Fukiishi as fellow company employees, Muga Tsukaji as a security guard who befriends Akko-chan, and Ren Osugi as the company’s former president.
Smaller supporting roles include Riko Yoshida as 10-year-old Akko-chan, Keiko Horiuchi as her mother, Shungiku Uchida...
The film is a live-action adaptation of Fujio Akatsuka’s classic “Himitsu no Akko-chan” manga series (1962-1965) about a 10-year-old girl who receives a magical mirror which lets her transform into whatever she wishes. In this live-action version, Haruka Ayase stars as Akko-chan after using the mirror to transform herself into a 22-year-old woman.
It was previously known that Masaki Okada would play Naoto Hayase, an elite employee of a cosmetics company Akko-chan begins working for.
The newly-announced additions include Teruyuki Kagawa as the spirit of the magical mirror, Shosuke Tanihara and Kazue Fukiishi as fellow company employees, Muga Tsukaji as a security guard who befriends Akko-chan, and Ren Osugi as the company’s former president.
Smaller supporting roles include Riko Yoshida as 10-year-old Akko-chan, Keiko Horiuchi as her mother, Shungiku Uchida...
- 4/13/2012
- Nippon Cinema
Takashi Yamazaki is set to direct a third film in the Always franchise. The new film, Always: Sanchome no Yuhi ‘64, is set in the year of the Tokyo Summer Olympics and will be shot in full stereoscopic 3D.
Based on Ryohei Saigan’s manga “Sanchome no Yuhi - Yuyake no Uta”, the films present a nostalgic view of a bustling Tokyo neighborhood during post-occupation Japan. The first two installments, released in 2005 and 2007, were set in the late 50s as the Tokyo Tower was being built. The leap forward to 1964 was not part of the original manga, but Saigan signed off on the new film and even added some of his own ideas to the screenplay.
Returning cast members include Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki, Maki Horikita, Masako Motai, Tomokazu Miura, and Hiroko Yakushimaru.
Filming began on January 12 and will be completed by the end of April. Theatrical release is slated...
Based on Ryohei Saigan’s manga “Sanchome no Yuhi - Yuyake no Uta”, the films present a nostalgic view of a bustling Tokyo neighborhood during post-occupation Japan. The first two installments, released in 2005 and 2007, were set in the late 50s as the Tokyo Tower was being built. The leap forward to 1964 was not part of the original manga, but Saigan signed off on the new film and even added some of his own ideas to the screenplay.
Returning cast members include Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki, Maki Horikita, Masako Motai, Tomokazu Miura, and Hiroko Yakushimaru.
Filming began on January 12 and will be completed by the end of April. Theatrical release is slated...
- 1/20/2011
- Nippon Cinema
Not too long ago I watched Kamome Diner, a pleasant little film made by female director Naoko Ogigami. I was pretty taken with that film and it sparked enough interest to seek out more of her work. First in line was her feature length debut, Yoshino's Barber Shop, a sweet-looking comedy featuring the down-tempo atmosphere of the Japanese countryside. Lucky for me it proved to be every bit as good as expected.
Some directors are able dazzle you with their talent and completely screw up the next film, others produce a constant stream of quality work without ever blowing any fuses. Even though it's a little early to make a definite judgment, Ogigami seems to fall into the latter category. She doesn't really give me the impression that she can create a true masterpiece, on the other hand I won't expect to see anything less than great coming from her.
Some directors are able dazzle you with their talent and completely screw up the next film, others produce a constant stream of quality work without ever blowing any fuses. Even though it's a little early to make a definite judgment, Ogigami seems to fall into the latter category. She doesn't really give me the impression that she can create a true masterpiece, on the other hand I won't expect to see anything less than great coming from her.
- 8/13/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Japanese distributor Vap, Inc. will be releasing Naoko Ogigami‘s Kamome Diner (Kamome Shokudo, 2006) on region free Blu-ray with English subtitles in September, almost 4 years to the day after the original DVD release.
Based on a novel by Yoko Mure, Kamome Diner stars Satomi Kobayashi as a woman named Sachie who has started up a new cafe in Helinski, Finland serving Japanese food. However, it has yet to attract any customers. Eventually, a Finnish anime fan comes in for coffee and becomes the fledgling cafe’s first regular. Soon another Japanese woman in Helinski named Midori (Hairi Katagiri) meets Sachie and begins working at the cafe alongside her. Later, an older Japanese woman named Masako (Masako Motai) finds her way to the cafe after the airport loses her luggage and also begins working there as more customers start to show up daily and chat with these three unique women.
Specs: Region free Blu-ray,...
Based on a novel by Yoko Mure, Kamome Diner stars Satomi Kobayashi as a woman named Sachie who has started up a new cafe in Helinski, Finland serving Japanese food. However, it has yet to attract any customers. Eventually, a Finnish anime fan comes in for coffee and becomes the fledgling cafe’s first regular. Soon another Japanese woman in Helinski named Midori (Hairi Katagiri) meets Sachie and begins working at the cafe alongside her. Later, an older Japanese woman named Masako (Masako Motai) finds her way to the cafe after the airport loses her luggage and also begins working there as more customers start to show up daily and chat with these three unique women.
Specs: Region free Blu-ray,...
- 8/12/2010
- Nippon Cinema
Earlier today, a press event was held in Kyoto to announce the production of a new film called Mother Water, which involves many of the same cast and staff who previously brought us “Kamome Diner”, “Megane”, and “Pool”. The film’s seven main cast members were all in attendence: Satomi Kobayashi, Kyoko Koizumi, Ryo Kase, Mikako Ichikawa, Kento Nagayama, Ken Mitsuishi, and Masako Motai.
Set in Kyoto, the breezy tale focuses on circumstances surrounding three women and their relationships with other people around town. Much like “Kamome Diner”, the film has a peaceful, indifferent theme and involves ordinary characters brought together by a local establishment. However, instead of focusing entirely on one place, several different characters run their own businesses.
Kobayashi plays a whiskey bar owner named Setsuko, Ichikawa plays a tofu maker named Hatsume, Kase plays a used furniture dealer named Yamanoha, Mitsuishi plays a public bath owner named Otome,...
Set in Kyoto, the breezy tale focuses on circumstances surrounding three women and their relationships with other people around town. Much like “Kamome Diner”, the film has a peaceful, indifferent theme and involves ordinary characters brought together by a local establishment. However, instead of focusing entirely on one place, several different characters run their own businesses.
Kobayashi plays a whiskey bar owner named Setsuko, Ichikawa plays a tofu maker named Hatsume, Kase plays a used furniture dealer named Yamanoha, Mitsuishi plays a public bath owner named Otome,...
- 3/29/2010
- Nippon Cinema
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