(Feel The Wind) Catch A Fan Favourite - Richard

The entries just keep getting better here on the JFF blog, with a great piece from Richard Gray today on "Feel the Wind". The film has been winning awards for both the first time director and the great story, and is being touted as the Japanese "Chariots of Fire". It is a fun piece, and for that reason it will screen in 5 regions around Australia, second only to "About Her Brother" which featured across all 6 territories. Read why below!

"The Hakone Ekiden is one of the biggest university athletic events in Japan. Run every year on January 2 and 3, the two-day relay marathon follows a course of almost 220 kilometres between Tokyo and Hakone and is a matter of massive prestige for the universities involved. Seasoned writer Sumio Omori, who became the youngest winner of the Kuniko Mukoda Award for screenwriting, uses this difficult course to make his directorial debut with Feel the Wind, a fictionalised account of a struggling team to overcome great odds. Winner of Best New Director at the 19th Japan Movie Critic Awards and the 31st Yokohama Film Festival, Feel the Wind is the kind of film engineered to make audiences feel good.

University student Haiji (Keisuke Koide, from the blockbuster "Rookies" and "Cyborg She") is a former runner whose career has slid due to injury. He had all but given up on the dream of running the Hakone Ekiden until he meets elite runner Kakeru (Kento Hayashi), who has left running due to a fight with his coach. Gathering eight other housemates, who have never run before, they form the necessary team of 10 athletes to fulfil Haiji’s dream of qualifying for the ekiden (marathon relay). Most of them are not up to the challenge, but the rag-tag team of roommates are determined to help Haiji fulfil his seemingly impossible dream.

Sports movies are always popular with crowds, and there is something about marathon running that seems to particularly appeal to the masochist is all of us. From at least "Chariots of Fire" onwards, which was admittedly about sprinting taken to balletic heights, track athletics have been taken as a convenient outlet for personal pain and anguish. Everybody on the team has something to work through, from Haiji’s injury to the manga-obsessed Prince (Yuichi Nakamura) and his lack of self-worth, and by the end of Feel the Wind, we get the impression that their accomplishments in the race have also worked through some of those “issues” as well. As the distributor Shochiku succinctly puts its “Through the training and the experience, each member finds their inner strength and the joy of feeling the wind”. Wind joy, that’s what it’s all about.

Feel the Wind misses a few steps during the middle act, which drags on a little too long, and by the end of the marathon itself audiences may feel like they have run the entire distance. Perhaps this is a side-effect of the bookish origins, as the film is an adaptation of Shion Miura’s novel that centres on the race. One would imagine we get much more personal insight into the personal pain of the competitors in the novel, although this highly emotional film borders on the melodramatic at times. However, Feel the Wind has that "Rocky" spirit, without Sylvester Stallone’s endless monologues to nobody in particular.

It’s appeal is indicated by Feel the Wind‘s Top 10 rankings in Japanese Film of 2009 lists in both the Kinema Junpo  and Yokohama Film Festival. Indeed, the latter puts it in such fine company as the brilliant "Love Exposure", Japanese Film Festival stable-mates "Dear Doctor" and "Villon's Wife", and one of my personal favourite films of the year, "Summer Wars". On the Brisbane leg of the 14th Japanese Film Festival, this was voted an audience favourite. This will no doubt connect with audiences, but just be prepared to watch a lot of running." by Richard Gray, DVD Bits.

Feel the Wind screens on Thursday, and is one of the few films in the festival that the whole family can come along to. It is rated PG so feel free to bring the little ones along for a trip to Japan, well at least for a couple of hours!

See you at the festival!

(About Her Brother) Family Matters - Karen

To celebrate opening night of the festival we are covering the wonderful performances of Japanese starlet, Yu Aoi. She can be seen up on the big screen for the first 2 nights of the festival, in "About Her Brother" and "Flowers" respectively. You can catch Joseph's review of "Flowers" here, or read on below to see first time contributor Karen Michelmore's piece on "About Her Brother".

I don’t know anyone who has a normal family. 

Usually there is one crazy cousin somewhere, or sibling who is eccentrically and outlandishly always themselves. 

There’s also usually a wide array of personality types, and issues bubbling away, which can combine on occasion into a powder keg of emotion. 

'About Her Brother' is no different. It’s pretty real in this way. 

It’s the story of a small family in a quiet part of Tokyo.

Three generations of women in one house, and the result of this situation.

"Gingko is a pharmacist and a widow. Her daughter Koharu (Yu Aoi) – and the film’s sometimes narrator - marries and divorces a pretty ordinary doctor. And her mother complains constantly about her own loneliness and lack of companionship. But no one’s listening. But the film isn’t a story about the relationships between these women. They are not really explored in any meaningful way. As the title suggests, it’s all about Gingko (Sayuri Yoshinaga - Kabei Our Mother - 12th JFF) and her alcoholic brother, Tetsuro.

Tetsuro is the kind of person who bumbles through life, blissfully unaware of the mayhem he’s created. Or seemingly so. The 126-minute film – directed by veteran Yoji Yamada – is dotted with comedy from Tetsuro, played by Tsurube Shofukutei (also seen in Dear Doctor - 14th JFF). During one particularly memorable wedding scene, you’ll probably laugh out loud (well I did), as he gets drunk and wreaks a trail of destruction at a rather staid event, much to the horror of guests. He challenges the fuddy-duddy nature of some Tokyo traditions, reminding us in his own unconventional way that it is supposed to be a celebration after all.

His initial scenes reminded me of the old black and white Jerry Lewis movies and are a pleasant injection of humor and sparkle into a film that has a poignant underlying message, and takes quite a depressing turn when Tetsuro becomes ill. Behind Tetsuro’s mirth is a subtle but sad story of addiction and isolation. This film will make you think about the family dynamics of guilt, obligation and frustration. The message is pretty simple. Sometimes family members infuriate us. Most of the time we love them unconditionally anyway." by Karen Michelmore

Thanks to Karen for that piece. While the main story arc of the film is the relationship between Gingko and 'Her Brother', the plot of the film revolves around Aoi's Koharu, and her perofrmance can not be discounted. She has a strong bond with Tetsuro (he named her afterall) and this is tried and tested throughout. Aoi is able to play the innocent girl being married off to a new family quite profoundly, something she does in both "About Her Brother" and "Flowers". The 2 roles differ slightly in their outcome, but both portray the trials and tribulations of a young woman in Japanese society, and the life choices that are presented to them.

Having won best supporting actress for three films in a row (Honey and Clover, Hula Girls and Rainbow Song) and with these two emerging roles, Yu Aoi is one to watch for the future. Don't miss her at the 14th Japanese Film Festival in Sydney tonight!

See you at the festival!

What I Like About Japan - Ivan

Another day, another entry here on the JFF blog! The festival is fast approaching and we have so much to cover. Just a quick note, we are running a competition over on the JFF website, where you can win a great Onitsuka Tiger prize pack including a double pass to Feel the Wind. Get your entry in now.

Today festival volunteer Ivan Tongue takes a look at what it is that intrigues us about Japan. After reading below, let us know what your favourite things about Japan are!

"Playstation, Hello Kitty, Toyota, sushi, anime, cosplay, karaoke. Do all these words sound familiar? That’s right. They all come from Japan. With the 14th Japanese Film Festival just around the corner, I’d like to know from anyone attending the festival, what do you like about Japanese culture? Do you have a favourite manga, anime or Playstation game? What Japanese delicacies do you like to eat or would like to try? Do you love karaoke, like cosplaying or do you simply enjoy the Japanese culture?

Here is a list of what I love about Japan.

MANGA:

I don’t have an encyclopedia-sized collection of manga that more avid and crazy fans have and I don’t consider myself as an otaku. But I do collect manga, mostly my favourite titles, and like many other otaku of manga series, I am one of those eager fans who read scanlated versions of manga that are released weekly on several manga fan sites.

So far I have a collection of Claymore and Bleach manga (not all that have been released so far, but most) as you can see below. I will soon begin collecting the Fullmetal Alchemist series, which, after watching the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood series not too long ago, has become my favourite Japanese anime/manga. All of these titles and many more can be bought at Kinokuniya, located at the Galeries in Town Hall.

My manga collection ...

… cannot compare to the collection from these crazy but dedicated manga fans.

ANIME:

In my opinion Japanese anime series have some of the most interesting and unique stories and characters in the world, which is probably why Hollywood cannot make one good film adaptation of a Japanese anime or manga (remember the Dragonball movie released last year?). Nevertheless, Hollywood is planning on producing a number of live-action films based on several manga and anime series. Rumors have it that these series will be adapted: Akira, Battle Angel Alita, Bleach, Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, a reboot of Dragonball, Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, Macross/Robotech and Ninja Scroll. Whatever happens, I hope they do a much more better job at it then they did on Dragonball, Streetfighter, and even Resident Evil. And with word that Steven Spielberg and James Cameron will be involved in several of these projects, it’s possible.

So going back to my favourite anime series, it’s very hard to decide because of how good many of these anime series are. I’ve already said that Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is my favourite anime/manga but not far behind are series such as Death Note, Trigun, Ghost in the Shell, Claymore (excluding the ending), Bleach (excluding the fillers), Samurai 7, Gurren Lagann, Burst Angel, Scrapped Princess and Kenichi. There are probably many other series that I haven’t watched that could be added to the list, but with so many to choose from, it’s easier said than done. I’ve also excluded my childhood favourites such as Pokémon, Digimon, Dragonball and Zoids. Most of these anime series can be found at JB Hi-Fi.

FILMS:

I’ll admit I haven’t watched as many Japanese films as I should, and from the films I have already watched, it’s a shame that I haven’t watched more because Japan offers a number of remarkable and memorable films. That said, it’s probably no surprise that Hayao Miyazaki is one of my favourite directors. His animated films are both fantastical and visually inventive. Princess Mononoke is my favourite from Miyazaki because the animations are just as stunning as his artistry while the narrative is deep, complex and thought provoking. 

The film is about a boy named Ashitaka who has been cursed with a wound on his arm that will eventually kill him. He seeks to find a cure for the curse but ends up in the middle of a struggle between creatures who live to protect the forest and humans from a village called Iron Town who consume the forest’s resources. It is an incredible film and a must watch for those who have enjoyed Miyazaki’s other works such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo.

J-HORROR:

Among other Japanese films I’ve seen are the original Ring and The Grudge films. Unlike the failures of live-action adaptations of anime and manga series, it seems Hollywood is much better at remaking Japanese horror films such as The Ring, The Grudge, Dark Water, One Missed Call and Pulse. It’s easy to understand why these films have become so popular among Western audiences. The original Ring and The Grudge series are among the most terrifying yet thrilling horror films that I have ever seen and ranks among my favourite horror films.

Another film I have found interest in is Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, a computer-animated sequel to the Playstation game, Final Fantasy VII. I didn’t particularly enjoy the film itself despite the visually stunning graphics the film had to offer. However, I was particularly impressed with the release of the Limited Edition Collector’s Set of Advent Children. It included: a 2-Disc DVD set of the film, the script, the novel and some postcards containing very amazing artwork from Tetsuya Nomura, all packed in a specially designed box. It’s a must have for any Final Fantasy fan like me, and can be purchased at JB Hi-Fi.

GAMES:

Speaking of Final Fantasy, these are among my favourite games to play. From the ones I have played (IX, X, X-2, Tactics) IX has been my favourite, closely followed by X. The reason IX is my favourite is because of the gameplay, which I find to be the most important factor for a game. While the storyline could have been better, it was the extra quests and minigames that convinced me. The storyline to X is one of the best I have seen and the Blitzball minigame is both fun and addictive, but there wasn’t much variety to the sidequests.

Among other titles I have played, including Chrono Cross, Grandia, Legend of Dragoon (I love Japanese RPG games), Chrono Cross is my all time favourite game. It’s unique battle system, complex narrative and vast selection of characters really made it a worthwhile game to play and finish over and over again with its new game plus feature.

ANIME CONVENTIONS:

While the anime conventions held in Sydney and around Australia can in no way compete with the size and grandeur of those held in Japan and the United States, they are still a great place for fans and geeks alike to come together to share their same appreciation for manga and anime series. 

The three major conventions in Sydney are Supanova, Animania and SMASH! (which is one of the special event partners of the Japanese Film Festival). I’ve had the privilege of attending and volunteering for these events, and its clear to see why it attracts thousands of people. 

One of the major features of these conventions is the hundreds of otaku who cosplay in their favourite characters. It’s amazing to see how much time and effort these hardcore fans put in to like their heroes. Check out the cosplayers below!

JAPANESE CUISINE:

Sushi is no doubt the most popular Japanese delicacy in Australia and probably in the world. It really doesn’t matter what type of fillings and toppings are included in them but to me they all taste exquisite. Whether it’s seafood, vegetables or meat, they are a treat. Many sushi restaurants can be found in Sydney. There is a Sushi Train restaurant located right next to Event Cinemas for all you sushi enthusiasts.

Apart from sushi, other Japanese cuisines I enjoy include sashimi, ramen, tempura, and teriyaki. If there is one thing I don’t enjoy it would be Miso soup. There’s just something in that soup that makes me cringe every time I taste it. Nevertheless there is an abundance of Japanese restaurants in the Sydney CBD so if you’re preparing to have lunch or dinner before watching a film at the festival try these places: 

Ichiban – located next to Kinokuniya in The Galeries

Sakura – Pitt Street

Tetsuya’s – Kent Street

Kushiyaki Azuma – George Street

And if you’re up for some good old fashioned KARAOKE try Mizuya Japanese Restaurant & Karaoke located on George Street.

So there you have it: my list of what I like about Japan. There’s so much more I can put into this list but this post will go on for ages. If there is something that you enjoy about Japan that I haven’t mentioned fell free to comment about it :)" - Ivan Tongue

WOW! There really are so many interesting things about Japan! What is it that fascinates you? Post your reply below so we can all find out the best tidbits about Japanese Culture that may have passed us by.

Behind The Scenes Of JFF14 - Jes

Welcome back to the JFF Blog which is starting to get some great attention and hopefully will provide you with a healthy sampling of pre-festival content. Today's entry comes from our new Japan Foundation intern Jes, which covers her first day in the office and much more!

"With the Japanese Film Festival less than a month away, preparations are already underway to make this year’s film festival our greatest festival to date! Whilst most of you are preparing to buy your tickets and mark the dates in your diary, we here at The Japan Foundation are busy making sure that we’ve planned for everything and anything, and getting everyone pumped and excited for this year’s festivities!

So for this blog entry, I thought I’d introduce you to some of the people here and the preparations they’re doing in the lead up to the festival.

Firstly, allow me to introduce myself to you all. My name is Jes, and I’m an intern here at The Japan Foundation. I’m a third year Macquarie University student, and today is my first day of a two week internship. I’ve had no previous experience in an office environment, and had no idea what to expect.

The Programs Arrive!

Turns out, my stay here is a timely convenience, with only 4 weeks left, preparations for the festival have top priority. Today’s task was getting the information out there and getting everyone excited and pumped at the same time. In order to do this, a group of volunteers and myself have gone through boxes upon boxes of promotional Japanese Film Festival programs and fliers, then addressed, sealed and stamped them ready to be mailed out.

 

So Cute and yet Informative!

Members of The Japan Foundation can expect theirs in the mail within 2 to 3 days. If you’re not a member but would like one, check your local Japanese restaurant, cafe, book store, library or media outlet where you are bound to spot them.

With such a big event that is the 14^th Japanese Film Festival, we’ve enlisted some volunteers to help the staff and myself here at the Japan Foundation with some of the preparations. I interviewed JFF volees Danni and Nicole who were lucky enough to be the first people to get their hands on the program! I asked them why they were volunteering and what they were going to see at the festival.

Why are you volunteering for the 14^th Japanese Film Festival?

‘For fun, and because we have an interest in Japanese culture because we’re learning Japanese.’

‘I like to participate in anything related to Japanese culture’

What tasks have you done so far?

‘Last week we contacted different businesses to ask permission to send them our promotional booklets'

‘Today, we’re mailing out the fliers’

How did you find out about volunteering?

‘On the Japanese Film Festival website’

Will you be going to the festival?

‘Yes, for both volunteering and to watch movies as well’

What will you be watching? Do you have any movie recommendations?

‘I’ll watch Hanamizuki because I like the actor, and also Confessions, because I read the novel and it was interesting’

‘I’m going to watch Precious, the picture and the description is attractive. But I’ll watch anything’ 

Our Sydney volee roster is now full, we've had an amazing 90+ applications to be a part of the festival! Thanks to Danni and Nicole for their time and hard work in the office. 

For more information about the festival schedule and for ticketing details, check out our website. Remember to keep watching this space for updates on what we’re doing here behind the scenes of the 14^th Japanese Film Festival!" - Jes, The Japan Foundation, Intern.

Thanks again to Jes for this entry and hopefully this has enlightened you to a bit of the crazy office happenings here at The Japan Foundation. 35,000 JFF Programs will be heading out around Sydney this week, so make sure you grab a copy! Don't forget tickets for the Sydney leg of JFF go on sale this Friday, in the meantime make sure you sign up for our festival newsletter for the chance to win free tickets!. 

See you next time on the blog!