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黒の試走車 [Kuro no tesuto kā / Black Test Car] (Yasuzō Masumura, 1962)
Jan
18
We watch over a man's shoulder. He's behind a table, wearing a pinstripe suit. In front of him drinks and chopsticks on a chopstick rest. He's signing the top leaf of a chequebook. DP: Yoshihisa Nakagawa.
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儀式 [Gishiki / The Ceremony] (Nagisa Ōshima, 1971)
Jan
1
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姿三四郎 [Sugata Sanshirō / Judo Saga] (Akira Kurosawa, 1943)
Dec
26
8 p.m.
A letter beckoning to come to Ukyō-ku, on December 26, at 8 o'clock. DP: Akira Mimura.
“On the night of December 26, at 8:00 on Ukyō-ku.”
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大佛廻國 [Daibutsu kaikoku / The Great Buddha Arrival] (Yoshirō Edamasa, 1934)
Dec
22
Buddha takes a holiday. A gigantic Buddha statue rests his hand on a multi-story building in possibly Kyoto. In front and sprawling out are multiple small wooden establishments with people in kimono and several bicycles in front of them. A tram, the only thing that suggests the 20th century, can be seen almost off-screen. (via). DPs: Haruzo Ando & Harumi Machii.
Something tall*
In this very early kaiju moving picture, Buddha returns and goes on a sightseeing trip through Japan.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for December has a few dateless themes. This is one of them.
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祇園囃子 [Gion bayashi / Gion Festival Music] (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1953)
Dec
15
茶
Studying the tea ceremony, accompanied by director Mizoguchi (via). DP: Kazuo Miyagawa.
Having tea*
“A geisha’s lie is not a real lie. It’s a cornerstone of our profession.”
– Miyoharu
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for December has a few dateless themes. This is one of them.
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宇宙人東京に現わる [Uchūjin Tōkyō ni arawaru / Warning from Space] (Kōji Shima, 1956)
Nov
30
1955
“A scientist is not like a politician who can answer every question.”
– Japanese Bar' Ucyū-ken' Madam Ohana
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有りがたうさん [Arigatō-san / Mr. Thank You] (Hiroshi Shimizu, 1936)
Nov
6
Arigatō-san (Ken Uehara) courteously thanks someone who shares the road for giving way. DP: Isamu Aoki.
A movie that makes you want to travel*
“Arigatō! [Thank you!]”
– Mr Thank You to everyone – poultry included – he passes on his bus
Friendly and helpful, Arigatō-san (Ken Uehara) is there for his passengers and non-bus travellers alike. A sweet roadmovie from a Japan now lost to time.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.
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拳銃は俺のパスポート [Koruto wa ore no pasupōto / A Colt Is My Passport] (Takashi Nomura, 1967)
Nov
3
A blurry shot of a man with a moustache in a space with chairs and a round table. DP: Shigeyoshi Mine.
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仁義なき戦い [Jingi naki tatakai / Battles Without Honor and Humanity] (Kinji Fukasaku, 1973)
Oct
16
Tetsuya Sakai (Hiroki Matsukata, L) and several of the other yakuza. DP: Sadaji Yoshida.
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0課の女 赤い手錠 [Zeroka no onna: Akai wappa / Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs] (Yukio Noda, 1974)
Oct
15
1937
Rei (Miki Sugimoto) wielding the long red chain of her handcuffs. DP: Yoshio Nakajima.
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