The Wind Rises: Jmovie (Anime) by Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli announced in August last year that it is restructuring its Film Production Division so that they are not going to produce films for some time.  Miyazaki Hayao is said to be retiring and if it is the case, this Anime, "The Wind Rises" released in 2013 is his last movie.

This movie is about Horikoshi Jiro (1903-1982) who is the designer/engineer of Zero-sen (The Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a long-range fighter aircraft used by the imperial Japanese navy in the WW2).  As a kid, he dreamed of flying.  Since his eyesight was not so good, he decided to create an airplane.  

(Spoiler)

Eternal Zero: Jmovie and Jdrama SP

 
Eien no Zero is a story about a Kamikaze Tokkou pilot in the WWII.  He was a skilled pilot who didn't want to die.  In the present day, his grandson and granddaughter got to know for the first time that he died as a Tokkou pilot 60 years ago.  They want to know more about him, so they go and meet his navy buddies.   Some say he was the biggest coward in the navy, others say he was a great person and they were willing to die for him.  He was a good instructor who felt pain teaching young men how to fly for a suicide mission and seeing them off on a one-way flight.

Although he never met or talked with his wife before the wedding and he and his wife lived together for only a week, he loved her dearly and promised to come back to see her and their daughter for sure.  His grandson and granddaughter try to find out why he "chose" to be on a Tokkou mission.  Through their investigation, they get to know more about their grandfather and things that their grandmother never told them.

N no Tame Ni Ep.9

The fire incident is finally settled.  We now know what really happened and why it happened.

One more episode to go.  We'll see why Operation N II did not go well, and why those at the murder scene lost touch with one another for 10 years.  I'm hoping that Nishizaki, Sugishita, Andou, and Naruse will be freed from the burden (= secret) they have been carrying ever since the murder. 

(Spoiler)

Shinya Shokudou - the Movie

This is a heart-warming movie about a small diner which opens at midnight.  It is run by Master (played by Kobayashi Kaoru).  The menu has only a few items, but Master will cook anything for a customer if he has the right ingredients.

I'm a big fan of Shinya Shokudou (Midnight Diner).  I loved the first and the second seasons.  The current season he(season 3), I must say I am less enthusiastic.  Somehow it doesn't touch my heartstrings compared to the previous 2 seasons.  But I have been watching it anyway.

(continued)

Thermae Romae II

Thermae Romae is back!  It's a comic-SF movie about a bath-house arhitect/designer Lucius (played by Abe Hiroshi) in the Roman Empire.  He travels ahead of time and goes to the present day Japanese hot springs and bath houses, and recreates them in the Roman Empire.  Bath houses designed by him immediately become popular among the Roman citizens.

(continued)

Shinya Shokudou is coming back! Movie & Drama

Shinya Shokudou (Late-night Diner) is coming back.  The season 3 drama series is starting in October this year.  And the movie is to premiere on January 30, 2015.

It's a short, heart-warming drama based on a manga with the same title.  Not a fancy restaurant, but a small diner where Master is the owner, manager and cook.  Not fancy gourmet, but every-day food.  It's a place people gather after midnight to feel warmth from food and other people.  

Coming Soon: Mahoro Ekimae Kyousoukyoku (Movie)

Here is another Mahoro Ekimae movie.  It's a story about two divorced men played by Eita and Matsuda Ryu'uhei who work as handymen, meddling with their clients' lives.  This is going to be a fun movie, I bet.  (continued) 

Genome Hazard (Movie): Must Watch for Nishijima Fans

pic 1

Here's a SF movie.  I'm not sure if this is a Korean or Japanese movie, but it does not really matter.  Casts and staff are both Korean and Japanese.  Japanese is mostly spoken.

I was very impressed with Kim Hyo Jin's Japanese.  She spoke fluently, which I understood perfectly.  I take my hat off to her speeches and acting.

Nishijima spoke a little Korean in the middle and a lot at the end.  However, I was not sure whether it was his real voice in the last scene.