Before being widely known through his two “Baby Assassins” movies, Yugo Sakamoto has also shot a grittier, somewhat darker movie, “The Janitor”, who still implements, though, the chaotic narrative approach his later movies included.
on Hi-Yah!
The titular character is actually Akira Fukami, a man whose father was murdered and was taken in by his sworn blood brother, Majima, a yakuza leader who trained Fukami into becoming his most formidable assassin. As the movie begins, and as a side job, the young man poses as a janitor in a high school where Majima’s daughter, Yui is attending, secretly functioning as her bodyguard. Despite some issues here and there, his life proceeds smoothly, until Majima announces that he wants to take his business to Hong Kong. This enrages one of the underbosses, Nishimori, who immediately starts plotting to have him killed, using Fukami, to whom he reveals...
on Hi-Yah!
The titular character is actually Akira Fukami, a man whose father was murdered and was taken in by his sworn blood brother, Majima, a yakuza leader who trained Fukami into becoming his most formidable assassin. As the movie begins, and as a side job, the young man poses as a janitor in a high school where Majima’s daughter, Yui is attending, secretly functioning as her bodyguard. Despite some issues here and there, his life proceeds smoothly, until Majima announces that he wants to take his business to Hong Kong. This enrages one of the underbosses, Nishimori, who immediately starts plotting to have him killed, using Fukami, to whom he reveals...
- 10/20/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Michihito Fujii has emerged during the recent years as one of the most intriguing voices of Japanese cinema, with movies like “The Journalist”, “Yakuza and the Family” and “Day and Night” setting the tone for an impressive career. In the last few years, he seems to have been employed by Netflix in some way, since a number of his latest works premiere on the streaming platform. Not holding “Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 – Sustainable War” against him, since everyone who has dealt with that mess has left severely “scarred”, it was really interesting to see what his latest work, “Village” would be like, particularly since it seemed to incorporate a number of the genre elements he implemented excellently in his previous works.
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Yu Katayama is a young man who has been living in the Kamon village since childhood, not being able to leave,...
Click the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix
Yu Katayama is a young man who has been living in the Kamon village since childhood, not being able to leave,...
- 6/18/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The Village is a Japanese film starring Ryusei Yokohama, Haru Kuroki, and Arata Furuta and directed by Michihito Fujii. The movie takes us on a journey between fantasy and reality in a Japanese village that has become a dumpsite. This film blends ancient tradition with the harsh reality of modern times, making it very relevant.
About the Movie
The film constantly seeks the truth, which is commendable. It is a different kind of movie on Netflix, as it is full of realism and delves into a pressing issue of contemporary society: waste management and the social problems it brings. It is a good starting point, and after an excellent opening sequence about Kabuki theater, the film continues to maintain our interest by presenting a well-told story that finds its own rhythm. With a lot of personality and a strong message, the film develops and reaches a level of maturity.
This movie will have its audience,...
About the Movie
The film constantly seeks the truth, which is commendable. It is a different kind of movie on Netflix, as it is full of realism and delves into a pressing issue of contemporary society: waste management and the social problems it brings. It is a good starting point, and after an excellent opening sequence about Kabuki theater, the film continues to maintain our interest by presenting a well-told story that finds its own rhythm. With a lot of personality and a strong message, the film develops and reaches a level of maturity.
This movie will have its audience,...
- 6/16/2023
- by Martin Cid
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Although Netflix is still working its way around the Asian movies in its catalog, in terms of series the quality is quite high, with a quality in terms of production values of many of them being comparable, if not better with feature films. “Sanctuary”, which takes a look at the world of sumo, is definitely one of those films.
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The protagonist of the series is Kiyoshi Oze, a young delinquent from a broken family, which was destroyed when his father's debts forced him to close the shop, sending him into a being a traffic light attendant, and his wife, who obviously underwent some sort of shock, into prostituting. Kiyoshi was a judo champion at a teenager, but now finds himself bullying his way around life, until a proposition from Ensho, the owner of a sumo stable and the promise for...
Click the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix
The protagonist of the series is Kiyoshi Oze, a young delinquent from a broken family, which was destroyed when his father's debts forced him to close the shop, sending him into a being a traffic light attendant, and his wife, who obviously underwent some sort of shock, into prostituting. Kiyoshi was a judo champion at a teenager, but now finds himself bullying his way around life, until a proposition from Ensho, the owner of a sumo stable and the promise for...
- 5/20/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Sanctuary is a Japanese film directed by Kan Eguchi, starring Wataru Ichinose, Shôta Sometani y Shiori Kutsuna,
If you expect something traditional from the Japanese country… not at all. Sanctuary is a very modern and humorous series about the world of sumo, the Japanese most famous sport.
About the series
A very realistic series in certain aspects, but without ever forgetting the fictional premise. It is the story of a boy who reveals himself to be arrogant and full of flaws but ends up conquering the public in a sport rooted in tradition.
The series seeks a bit of this, to combine the traditional with the modern show, to give a pick of the ins and outs of this intricate sport.
Is it a great series? To be honest, we are not going to recommend it. It is not a series that stands out at the production level, although it...
If you expect something traditional from the Japanese country… not at all. Sanctuary is a very modern and humorous series about the world of sumo, the Japanese most famous sport.
About the series
A very realistic series in certain aspects, but without ever forgetting the fictional premise. It is the story of a boy who reveals himself to be arrogant and full of flaws but ends up conquering the public in a sport rooted in tradition.
The series seeks a bit of this, to combine the traditional with the modern show, to give a pick of the ins and outs of this intricate sport.
Is it a great series? To be honest, we are not going to recommend it. It is not a series that stands out at the production level, although it...
- 5/4/2023
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid - TV
Sanctuary is a Japanese film directed by Kan Eguchi, starring Wataru Ichinose, Shôta Sometani y Shiori Kutsuna,
A tough, desperate kid becomes a sumo wrestler, captivating fans with his cocky attitude — and upsetting an industry steeped in tradition.
Release Date
Mai 4, 2023
Where To Watch Sanctuary
Netflix
La entrada ‘Sanctuary’ (2023) Premiere on Netflix on May 4 se publicó primero en Martin Cid Magazine.
A tough, desperate kid becomes a sumo wrestler, captivating fans with his cocky attitude — and upsetting an industry steeped in tradition.
Release Date
Mai 4, 2023
Where To Watch Sanctuary
Netflix
La entrada ‘Sanctuary’ (2023) Premiere on Netflix on May 4 se publicó primero en Martin Cid Magazine.
- 4/25/2023
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Debt, violence, family dysfunction…
Pushed to the brink, delinquent Kiyoshi Oze (Wataru Ichinose) takes on the world of sumo as a wrestler under the name “Enno” in this bold and intense human drama.
While sumo is known across the globe as a part of traditional Japanese culture and a religious ritual passed down for over 1,500 years, the world of this sport remains veiled in secrecy. The “dohyo,” the ring where the sumo matches are fought, is truly a “sanctuary” built on the foundation of this unusual world.
Unmotivated to train, often skipping practice and defying his more experienced seniors, Oze is branded as a hopeless case, but he gradually delves deeper into the world of sumo. This human drama depicts Oze and the young people surrounding the world of sumo as they struggle to find their way in life, including Shimizu (Shota Sometani), who loves the sport but is not blessed with an ideal physique,...
Pushed to the brink, delinquent Kiyoshi Oze (Wataru Ichinose) takes on the world of sumo as a wrestler under the name “Enno” in this bold and intense human drama.
While sumo is known across the globe as a part of traditional Japanese culture and a religious ritual passed down for over 1,500 years, the world of this sport remains veiled in secrecy. The “dohyo,” the ring where the sumo matches are fought, is truly a “sanctuary” built on the foundation of this unusual world.
Unmotivated to train, often skipping practice and defying his more experienced seniors, Oze is branded as a hopeless case, but he gradually delves deeper into the world of sumo. This human drama depicts Oze and the young people surrounding the world of sumo as they struggle to find their way in life, including Shimizu (Shota Sometani), who loves the sport but is not blessed with an ideal physique,...
- 4/22/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Netflix is giving global fans a sneak peak at its forthcoming Japanese original series Sanctuary, a YA drama set within the reclusive world of Japanese professional sumo wrestling. (See the first teaser trailer and art from the show below.)
Set to launch on Netflix on May 4, the series follows a juvenile delinquent who becomes a sumo apprentice — and soon finds himself on a collision course with a voiceless wrestler carrying a secret.
Netflix describes the show as offering “a gritty look into the underbelly of professional sumo, a world full of young men with ambitions for money, women, fame, and power.”
“This is the story of the sumo ring,” the streamer adds, “where some may find sanctuary with a history of more than 1,500 years in Japan’s traditional culture and as a religious ceremony.”
The series is written by Tomoki Kanazawa (who recently penned the TBS medical drama Get Ready!
Set to launch on Netflix on May 4, the series follows a juvenile delinquent who becomes a sumo apprentice — and soon finds himself on a collision course with a voiceless wrestler carrying a secret.
Netflix describes the show as offering “a gritty look into the underbelly of professional sumo, a world full of young men with ambitions for money, women, fame, and power.”
“This is the story of the sumo ring,” the streamer adds, “where some may find sanctuary with a history of more than 1,500 years in Japan’s traditional culture and as a religious ceremony.”
The series is written by Tomoki Kanazawa (who recently penned the TBS medical drama Get Ready!
- 3/29/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tetsuya Mariko sent ripples across the international festival circuit back in 2016, when cult sensation “Destruction Babies” showed a unique view on sociopathic violence through the “shenanigans” of Yuya Yagira. This time, he seems to go a step even further with his third feature, as the barbarity is transferred to domestic settings, in an adaptation of a TV-drama he also directed, and itself an adaptation of the homonymous manga by Hideki Arai.
Miyamoto is screening at New York Asian Film Festival
The narrative unfolds in different timelines and revolves around a rather extreme love story, between Hiroshi Miyamoto and Misako Koda. As the film begins, a beat-up but happy Miyamoto tries to make his boss forgive him for his appearance and to allow him to keep his job as a salesman. He succeeds, and also receives some weird (maybe ironic?) advice from his direct higher up, who suggests to make rivals of everyone around him,...
Miyamoto is screening at New York Asian Film Festival
The narrative unfolds in different timelines and revolves around a rather extreme love story, between Hiroshi Miyamoto and Misako Koda. As the film begins, a beat-up but happy Miyamoto tries to make his boss forgive him for his appearance and to allow him to keep his job as a salesman. He succeeds, and also receives some weird (maybe ironic?) advice from his direct higher up, who suggests to make rivals of everyone around him,...
- 8/31/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
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