Netflix’s Japanese action-thriller film, Hard Days, directed by Fujii Michihito, brings out the consequences of corruption and bribery that pull down the image of an individual. It is because of these habits and certain wrong decisions that Yuji Kudo, a detective, gets into trouble. He messes with Takayuki Yazaki in a quest for monetary benefits. The film stars well-known faces like Jun’ichi Okada, Gou Ayano, and others. The top-notch twists and thrills presented in the movie will pave the path for the film to reach the top of the action thrillers list this year. Will Kudo be able to save his family? Will he be able to lay his hands on the illegal money? Let’s find out!
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens To Detective Kudo?
There are charges of corruption against Detective Kudo, and his association with the Senba Syndicate has been brought up by Internal Affairs. While Kudo is tense about it,...
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens To Detective Kudo?
There are charges of corruption against Detective Kudo, and his association with the Senba Syndicate has been brought up by Internal Affairs. While Kudo is tense about it,...
- 12/1/2023
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
Tokyo-based production executive Bill Ireton is stepping down from his role at Sony Pictures International Productions, Japan, where he oversaw local production, to launch an independent production venture effective January 1, 2023.
The new venture will develop and produce content for multiple platforms, primarily based on Japanese I.P. for audiences around the world.
During his time at Sony, Ireton oversaw production on a slate of Japanese-language features, including Hell Dogs, starring Junichi Okada and directed by Masato Harada; I Am Makimoto, starring Sadao Abe, and Violence Action, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
“Making movies with Sony Pictures over the past four years has been a wonderful experience which has helped catapult this thrilling new chapter of my career,” said Ireton.
Sanford Panitch, President of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, said: “I want to thank Bill for his work the past few years. The making of Japanese films continues to be...
The new venture will develop and produce content for multiple platforms, primarily based on Japanese I.P. for audiences around the world.
During his time at Sony, Ireton oversaw production on a slate of Japanese-language features, including Hell Dogs, starring Junichi Okada and directed by Masato Harada; I Am Makimoto, starring Sadao Abe, and Violence Action, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
“Making movies with Sony Pictures over the past four years has been a wonderful experience which has helped catapult this thrilling new chapter of my career,” said Ireton.
Sanford Panitch, President of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, said: “I want to thank Bill for his work the past few years. The making of Japanese films continues to be...
- 12/23/2022
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Hayao Miyazaki — easily the most recognizable face behind Studio Ghibli — has long said that he would retire. Since then, all eyes have turned to his first son and heir, Goro Miyazaki. Goro Miyazaki seems to chafe under his father’s strictly traditional ways; his most recent release, “Earwig and the Witch” (2020) made a splash along Cannes headlines for being the first CGI film produced by the mostly paper-and-paint-based studio. In turn, his earlier work “From up on Poppy Hill” feels like an externalization of Goro’s internal struggle. Modernity and tradition collide again in this postwar port city, where a single executive move might tear down a historic building. It takes the entirety of a school to salvage what might otherwise be erased forever.
As per every other Ghibli film, “From Up on Poppy Hill” follows a young female protagonist. In 1963 Yokohama, Umi Matsuzaki (Masami Nagasawa) is...
As per every other Ghibli film, “From Up on Poppy Hill” follows a young female protagonist. In 1963 Yokohama, Umi Matsuzaki (Masami Nagasawa) is...
- 9/22/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Kids On A Bike: Goro’s Seaside Sophomore Effort Floats
Being the son of animation’s unequivocal living master who’s body of work ranks among the greatest cinematic creations ever made, Goro Miyazaki understandably had much trepidation about taking up his father, Hayao’s craft. When he finally succumbed to the family business after being approached by Toshio Suzuki, one of Studio Ghibli’s longest running producorial collaborators, neither Ghibli’s seasoned animators or the majesty of the company’s lineage could save Goro’s paltry debut, Tales from Earthsea. Notably missing Hayao’s direct involvement thanks to familiar disagreements, the film, rich with dragons and magic, became one of the least enchanting releases of Ghibli’s generally pristine catalog. Approaching Goro’s sophomore effort with the same apprehension he began his directorial career, with doubts of creative significance lingering in the long, overbearing shadow of his father, we...
Being the son of animation’s unequivocal living master who’s body of work ranks among the greatest cinematic creations ever made, Goro Miyazaki understandably had much trepidation about taking up his father, Hayao’s craft. When he finally succumbed to the family business after being approached by Toshio Suzuki, one of Studio Ghibli’s longest running producorial collaborators, neither Ghibli’s seasoned animators or the majesty of the company’s lineage could save Goro’s paltry debut, Tales from Earthsea. Notably missing Hayao’s direct involvement thanks to familiar disagreements, the film, rich with dragons and magic, became one of the least enchanting releases of Ghibli’s generally pristine catalog. Approaching Goro’s sophomore effort with the same apprehension he began his directorial career, with doubts of creative significance lingering in the long, overbearing shadow of his father, we...
- 3/15/2013
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
From Sato Shinsuke, the director of Gantz and The Princess Blade comes yet another live action adaptation Library Wars (aka Toshokan Sensō). Based on a Japanese light novel series by Hiro Arikawa that spawned a manga and animated series & film, the social sci-fi depicts a battle between two opposing groups on the issue of book censorship laws in dystopian Japan. Set in the year 2019 in Japan. In order to crack down on free expression, a new law is passed, which allows for the government to create an armed force to find and destroy objectionable printed material. Meanwhile, to oppose this oppressive crackdown, the Library Force is created. The Library force, including instructor Atsushi Dojo (Junichi Okada) and Iku Kasahara (Nana Eikura), work...
- 12/17/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Tales From Earthsea (Studio Ghibli)
Stars: (Japanese) Bunta Sugawara, Junichi Okada, Aoi Teshima, Jun Fubuki, Kaoru Kobayashi, Yui Natsukawa, Y?ko Tanaka, Teruyuki Kagawa. (English) Timothy Dalton, Matt Levin, Blaire Restaneo, Mariska Hargitay, Susanne Blakeslee, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin | Written by Ursula K Le Guin, Gor? Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa & Hayao Miyazaki | Directed by Goro Miyazaki
“Goro Miyazaki’s debut feature as a director, Tales From Earthsea is an epic adventure, adapted from the much-loved series of novels by Ursula K Le Guin. It tells the story of Ged (voiced in English by Timothy Dalton), the most powerful wizard in Earthsea, and his attempts to protect Prince Arren (Matt Levin) from the evil machinations of rival wizard Cob (Willem Dafoe). Together with Therru, a young girl he rescued from slave takers, Arren must unite with Ged to defeat Cob and return balance to their world. Beautifully animated, Tales From Earthsea will...
Stars: (Japanese) Bunta Sugawara, Junichi Okada, Aoi Teshima, Jun Fubuki, Kaoru Kobayashi, Yui Natsukawa, Y?ko Tanaka, Teruyuki Kagawa. (English) Timothy Dalton, Matt Levin, Blaire Restaneo, Mariska Hargitay, Susanne Blakeslee, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin | Written by Ursula K Le Guin, Gor? Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa & Hayao Miyazaki | Directed by Goro Miyazaki
“Goro Miyazaki’s debut feature as a director, Tales From Earthsea is an epic adventure, adapted from the much-loved series of novels by Ursula K Le Guin. It tells the story of Ged (voiced in English by Timothy Dalton), the most powerful wizard in Earthsea, and his attempts to protect Prince Arren (Matt Levin) from the evil machinations of rival wizard Cob (Willem Dafoe). Together with Therru, a young girl he rescued from slave takers, Arren must unite with Ged to defeat Cob and return balance to their world. Beautifully animated, Tales From Earthsea will...
- 7/13/2012
- by Baron Fornightly
- Nerdly
The official website for Yojiro Takita’s upcoming movie Insight Into the Universe has been updated with a new trailer.
Based on a historical novel by Tow Ubukata, the movie is set in the early Edo period and stars Junichi Okada an astronomer and Go player named Yasui Santetsu (later changed to Shibukawa Shunkai) who was instrumental in the creation of the Jokyo calendar. Yasui’s knowledge of astronomy led to the first major revision of the Japanese calendar in over 800 years, finally fixing inaccuracies which had been slowly increasing during that time.
The new trailer summarizes some of the troubles Okada’s character goes through while receiving constant support from his wife, played by Aoi Miyazaki. At the end of it, she says something to the effect of “Somehow… please don’t die before me.”
“Insight Into the Universe” will be released by Shochiku in Japan on September 15, 2012.
Watch...
Based on a historical novel by Tow Ubukata, the movie is set in the early Edo period and stars Junichi Okada an astronomer and Go player named Yasui Santetsu (later changed to Shibukawa Shunkai) who was instrumental in the creation of the Jokyo calendar. Yasui’s knowledge of astronomy led to the first major revision of the Japanese calendar in over 800 years, finally fixing inaccuracies which had been slowly increasing during that time.
The new trailer summarizes some of the troubles Okada’s character goes through while receiving constant support from his wife, played by Aoi Miyazaki. At the end of it, she says something to the effect of “Somehow… please don’t die before me.”
“Insight Into the Universe” will be released by Shochiku in Japan on September 15, 2012.
Watch...
- 6/22/2012
- Nippon Cinema
Today it was revealed that Junichi Okada of the boy band V6 will be playing Zero fighter pilot Kyuzo Miyabe in a film adaptation of Naoki Hyakuta’s popular novel Eien no Zero. Takashi Yamazaki of the Always: Sunset on Third Street franchise will direct.
Okada, who has never appeared in a war-themed project before, is taking the role very seriously and plans to chop a good deal of his hair off before filming begins. Co-stars Haruma Miura are Mao Inoue are equally prepared for the June start date.
In the film, Miura plays a young man named Kentaro Saeki who has been trying unsuccessfully to realize his dream of passing the bar exam. Together, with his freelance writer sister, he begins investigating the circumstances surrounding their grandfather Kyuzo’s death in a kamikaze attack during the Pacific War.
Kyuzo had an unusually strong fear of death and unmatched will to survive,...
Okada, who has never appeared in a war-themed project before, is taking the role very seriously and plans to chop a good deal of his hair off before filming begins. Co-stars Haruma Miura are Mao Inoue are equally prepared for the June start date.
In the film, Miura plays a young man named Kentaro Saeki who has been trying unsuccessfully to realize his dream of passing the bar exam. Together, with his freelance writer sister, he begins investigating the circumstances surrounding their grandfather Kyuzo’s death in a kamikaze attack during the Pacific War.
Kyuzo had an unusually strong fear of death and unmatched will to survive,...
- 5/20/2012
- Nippon Cinema
The official website for Yojiro Takita’s Insight Into the Universe has been updated with a second teaser trailer. Unlike the first teaser, which featured only Junichi Okada, the new teaser also includes brief shots of other cast members and Okada’s co-star, Aoi Miyazaki.
Based on a historical novel by Tow Ubukata, the movie is set in the early Edo period and revolves around an astronomer and Go player named Shibukawa (Okada) who was instrumental in the creation of the Jokyo calendar. Shibukawa’s knowledge of astronomy led to the first major revision of the Japanese calendar in over 800 years, finally fixing inaccuracies which had been slowly increasing during that time. Other cast members include Miyazaki as Shibukawa’s wife, Kiichi Nakai, and Koshiro Matsumoto.
“Insight Into the Universe” will be released by Shochiku in Japan on September 15, 2012.
Based on a historical novel by Tow Ubukata, the movie is set in the early Edo period and revolves around an astronomer and Go player named Shibukawa (Okada) who was instrumental in the creation of the Jokyo calendar. Shibukawa’s knowledge of astronomy led to the first major revision of the Japanese calendar in over 800 years, finally fixing inaccuracies which had been slowly increasing during that time. Other cast members include Miyazaki as Shibukawa’s wife, Kiichi Nakai, and Koshiro Matsumoto.
“Insight Into the Universe” will be released by Shochiku in Japan on September 15, 2012.
- 3/25/2012
- Nippon Cinema
The Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli (behind such Oscar winners as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro), is known for its whimsical characters and complex themes, such as the relationship between humans and death, which both adults and children can glean from. Adapted from a manga written by Tetsuo Sayama and Chizuru Takahashi, From Up on Poppy Hill strays from the characteristics of their productions by losing the unconventional settings and characters in this melodrama. This is a story of the preservation of Japanese history and human relationships. Gorō Miyazaki, son of Hayao Miyazaki, the screenwriter of From Up on Poppy Hill and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, directed this film.
Umi (Masami Nagasawa) is a high school girl who is spirited and headstrong. She raises signal flags to honor her father, a captain, who died in the Korean War. She lives at a lodging house with her sister and a few other women,...
Umi (Masami Nagasawa) is a high school girl who is spirited and headstrong. She raises signal flags to honor her father, a captain, who died in the Korean War. She lives at a lodging house with her sister and a few other women,...
- 9/23/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Arren in Tales from Earthsea
Photo: Walt Disney Pictures Note: The screening of Tales from Earthsea I attended was the original Japanese-language version with English subtitles. The version that will be released domestically is dubbed in English and uses voice work from the likes of Timothy Dalton, Mariska Hargitay, Willem Dafoe and Cheech Marin. The following review is in reference to the version I saw, not the English-dubbed version that will be released in the States.
I had high hopes, but I wasn't sure what to expect from Goro Miyazaki's Tales from Earthsea. Goro is the son of the highly awarded Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo, Spirited Away) and Earthsea serves as his writing and directorial debut. Based on the six-book "Earthsea" fantasy series by Ursula Le Guin, Goro co-wrote the script with fellow first time screenwriter Keiko Niwa, and unfortunately their filmmaking infancy shows. Tales from Earthsea is moderately impressive to look at,...
Photo: Walt Disney Pictures Note: The screening of Tales from Earthsea I attended was the original Japanese-language version with English subtitles. The version that will be released domestically is dubbed in English and uses voice work from the likes of Timothy Dalton, Mariska Hargitay, Willem Dafoe and Cheech Marin. The following review is in reference to the version I saw, not the English-dubbed version that will be released in the States.
I had high hopes, but I wasn't sure what to expect from Goro Miyazaki's Tales from Earthsea. Goro is the son of the highly awarded Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo, Spirited Away) and Earthsea serves as his writing and directorial debut. Based on the six-book "Earthsea" fantasy series by Ursula Le Guin, Goro co-wrote the script with fellow first time screenwriter Keiko Niwa, and unfortunately their filmmaking infancy shows. Tales from Earthsea is moderately impressive to look at,...
- 8/13/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
A 30-second teaser for Takafumi Hatano‘s upcoming 2-part “Sp” (Security Police) theatrical release premiered in Japanese theaters on June 12th.
The film picks up after the events of the 11-episode drama series which aired on Fuji TV from November 2007 - January 2008. Junichi Okada reprises his role as young security police member Kaoru Inoue. The security police are tasked with guarding VIPs from assassination attempts with their own lives if necessary and are the last line of defense against terrorist plots. Although young, Inoue has exhibited innate skills, such as his photographic memory, which elevate him above his peers.
Plot: “It couldn’t be helped… It was for the greater good.” Those words from Ogata (Shinichi Tsutsumi) still fill Inoue with confusion and suspicion. It is now one month later, and Tokyo has become a hotbed of terrorist plots that threaten to rock the very foundation of Japan’s political system,...
The film picks up after the events of the 11-episode drama series which aired on Fuji TV from November 2007 - January 2008. Junichi Okada reprises his role as young security police member Kaoru Inoue. The security police are tasked with guarding VIPs from assassination attempts with their own lives if necessary and are the last line of defense against terrorist plots. Although young, Inoue has exhibited innate skills, such as his photographic memory, which elevate him above his peers.
Plot: “It couldn’t be helped… It was for the greater good.” Those words from Ogata (Shinichi Tsutsumi) still fill Inoue with confusion and suspicion. It is now one month later, and Tokyo has become a hotbed of terrorist plots that threaten to rock the very foundation of Japan’s political system,...
- 6/19/2010
- Nippon Cinema
SYDNEY -- Acclaimed Japanese director Koreeda Hirokazu, best known for his 2004 hit Nobody Knows, will direct his first historical samurai film for entertainment major Shochiku, the company announced Wednesday. Slated for a spring release, Hana Yori mo Naho is a major departure for Koreeda, who is better known for contemporary documentary-style features. Based on an original story by Koreeda and set in the 17th century, the film stars Junichi Okada, (Tokyo Tower, Fly, Daddy Fly), Rie Miyazawa (The Twilight Samurai), and Tadanobu Asano (Zatoichi, Cafe Lumiere). Producers are Sato Shiho and Enoki Nozomu.
- 10/27/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
SYDNEY -- Acclaimed Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu, best known for his 2004 hit Nobody Knows, will direct his first historical samurai film for entertainment major Shochiku, the company announced Wednesday. Slated for release next spring, Hana Yori mo Naho is a major departure for Kore-eda, who is better known for contemporary documentary-style features. Based on an original story by Kore-eda and set in the 17th century, the film stars Junichi Okada, (Tokyo Tower, Fly, Daddy Fly), Rie Miyazawa (The Twilight Samurai), and Tadanobu Asano (Zatoichi, Cafe Lumiere). Producers are Sato Shiho and Enoki Nozomu. It's Kore-eda's fifth film. Twentieth Century Fox snapped up remake rights to his second offering, After Life, while his third film, Distance, was In Competition at the Festival de Cannes in 2001.
- 10/27/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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