20th Century Boys 3:Final - Our Flag

I watched the movie "20th Century Boys 3: Final chapter - Our Flag"!!

It's a blockbuster film and is showing now in Japan. 20th Century Boys 3 has released in August 29th, and this movie is No.1 at the box office for three weeks in a row. Already, it has exceeded two billion yen!!

This time, I dare not write about this movie's storyline.
Finally, 'friend''s under the mask has disclosed in the 20th Century Boys: Final chapter. Of course, until the last scene, the storyline is full of excitement !

Through this 20th Century Boys series, The films features ordinary middle age characters. They are more dull than ordinary, maybe. They are an owner of sluggish convenience store, business man of medium-sized company, a woman who has bad-luck with men.
They think... "if child-self saw me, how he or she feel?" and they worry that "I'm an ordinary person. How do I fight with evil...?" They were waverer but finally they stood up!
I think they are great adult! and I want to being like them.

...In 1969, the year the Apollo 11 landed lunar surface, the year Kenji and his friends made 'prophecy'. Childhood of characters with sparkling eyes are very impressive.
Do children have sparkling eyes nowadays...?

After I watched this movie, I realized that my treasure of my life is good friends, good friendship. To tell the truth, I've not said about my everything to my friends because I'm a wimp, I'm a coward.

The last scene...Kenji's line is still in my mind.
"Take off your mask and try again." (Gather your courage and make real friend)

the movie "20th Century Boys " would be the most interesting film forever for me.

EVANGELION 2.0 ：破

I watched the movie "EVANGELION 2.0 : 破", a second film of the EVANGELION tetralogy ! It was released on June 27th. The movie attracted about ome million people in the first 10 days and it was grossed over 2 billion yen at the box office in the first 17 days !! Its theme song is "Beautiful World" by Hikaru Utada, same song as the first film "EVANGELION 1.0 ： 序".

EVANGELION's view of the world is like that,

...The year 2000, a massive meteor fell into the South Pole. Then, the catastrophe "Second Impact" had happen. The population of the world great decreased into half. 15 years after, the world reflects the sign of recovery, but another crisis has come. It's called "Angel", unknown huge weapons that descend on the world one after another. Human race made the all-purpose battle weapon, artificial human "EVANGELION". Then, a boy (Shinji Ikari) and 2 girls (Rei Ayanami & Asuka Shikinami) have been chosen for the pilot...

Its TV series was televised from 1998 to 1999. Though the story is very complicated and It's not easy to understand (I think the story is very gloomy..), EVANGLION caught many people's heart and "EVANGELION boom" arose in Japan at that time. Anyway, it's awesome that EVANGELION attracts not only anime fans but also not anime fans though 10 years has passed since the TV series was televised !

However, "What is 'Angel' ?" "What is 'The Instrumentality Project' ?" , these are still not clear, still remain a mystery. The movie version is little different from the TV series. Also, new character appears in the second film. The last scene of this second film...It's unexpected !!! Then, the story continues to "EVANGELION 3.0 : Q" . (Its release date is not clear). Will many mysteries become clear in the Q !?

I watched the EVANGELION 2.0 破\ alone. There were many otaku guys in the theater, so I felt little bit nervous (^-^;. To meet such a otaku guy's expectation, there were a lot of 'service scenes' in the movie (laugh) !! Rei and Aska (especially Rei), are very popular with men, and their costumes also very popular with cosplay fans in Japan. I think, they are forever, everlasting heroines !!

YATTERMAN - Incredible live-action

Hello ! It has been while again ! (^^;) I watched interesting movie "YATTERMAN" !
"YATTERMAN" live-action has released in March. Maybe, it has already finished showing in Japan, but it was very interesting. So I decided to write about it.
As is well known, YATTERMAN is originally an animation. The animation has been released not only in Japan, so you may know what is it about.

The story line is like that.
The DOKURO stone, which can grant any wishes was split into four parts in long time ago. Now, DORONBO, a group of thieves are trying to collect whole parts of DOKURO stone for DOKUROBEE, their god of thieve. However, because of the power, the world has being affected by the stone.
Mt.Fuji disappeared, "Tuesday" disappeared, and incredible object also disappeared (laugh)!! Finally, the friend of love and justice "YATTERMAN" stand up !

YATTERMAN 1, the main character is played by Sho Sakurai, a member of ARASHI, Johnny's artist. Sho Sakurai also anchors a news program now. He is a good young man with intelligence.
The person who stole the show the most is Kyoko Fukada as Dronjo, the leader of DORONBO. She had been a actress who has an image of being pure and innocent, so anyone couldn't imagine her in a bondage. Dronjo, Kyoko Fukada played, is more cute than the anime's.
Every actors and actress match the image of original characters. Also, Takashi Miike, the director has attracted attention as a film wizard.

The live-action "YATTERMAN" is full of gags and jokes which are exactly elementary school children would say, so there were many children in a theater. Of course, not only children but also adult people can enjoy it. You will grin at schtick and stereotyped story lines that you'd expected ! I hope this movie will be released in other country !

"As long as YATTERMAN is here, evil will have no place ! "
(ヤッターマンがいる限り、この世に悪は栄えない! ： YATTERMAN ga irukagiri, konoyo ni aku ha sakaenai)



"Believe" The theme song of YATTERMAN : by ARASHI

20th Century Boys 2 ： the movie

"Let's continue where we left off."

Year 2015...The world "friend" rules.
"Annihilation will come before long..." A new page of Prophecy has been opened.

It has been a while! I look forward to your continued acquaintance in this year !!

I watched the blockbuster Japanese movie "20th Century Boys 2nd Chapter - The Last Hope" !
The stage of the story is Shinjuku, 15 years after from huge explosion on New Year's Eve 2000. "friend", the guru of a cult religion is revered as a savior who saved the world from crisis of annihilation by terrorism on Bloody New Year's Eve 2000. On the other hand, Kenji who really tried to save the world from "friend"'s conspiracy, is placed on the wanted list as a terrorist.
In this 2nd chapter,the story revolves around Kanna, a niece of missing Kenji. Shinjuku is depicted as a high crime, the most dangerous area in the world ! wow !

The story of "Prophecy" is still continuing. In this 2nd film, existence of another "Prophecy" is brought to light. It was written by someone, not by Kenji.
It's sure that the writer of "New Prophecy" and "friend" is someone in Kenji's friends. "He is the "friend" ? " "No, He may be the "friend". " The way of this movie try to mislead audience and it made me full of nervous excitement !
The 1st film was faithful to the original, but different from the 1st, additional new setting is added in the 2nd film. therefore, it has a potential that conclusion or "friend"'s true colors is different from original.

If you are non-Japanese and if you watch this film, you may wonder that why Japanese people have no doubt and why they are blindly submitting to "friend"'s control. In Japan, there are many people who is indifferent to politics, believe everything media says, and don't go to vote. So from Japanese standpoint, "20th Century Boys" is very Japan !

Anyway, all characters are very intense so it's unforgettable (^^;). Director Yukihiko tsutsumi's sense of humor is great, and Airi Taira as Kanna is very cute.
Unfortunately, not in every country is showing this film. DVD of 20th Century Boys 1 is now on sale. 20th Century Boys 3 will be released in August.

Finally, identity of "friend" will be disclosed !

20世紀少年 第1章 -終わりの始まり-(Nijusseikisyounen Daiissyou - owari no hajimari)

Japanese culture in 20th Century Boys

20th Century Boys again !
If you watch the movie : 20th Century Boys, you may wonder at some scene.

1. As a lead character Kenji is getting ready to go to his friend's funeral, his mother say that "Don't forget to have salt!".
Why does he need salt ?
Because not to bring the "death" into home. After someone's funeral, Japanese sprinkle salt their body before enter own house. It's based on thought of Shinto religion. But Buddist may doesn't do that.

2. Do you know what it's called the character,a mask which "friend" is putting on ?
He is "Ninja Hattori-kun", a comic's character. It was serialized in a magazine series from in 1960s to 1980s and was adapted into a 2004 live-action film that starred Shingo Katori of SMAP.

3. A man who in a flag in front of Kenji's store,Do you know who is he ?
His name is "Ohsama". Ohsama means King. He is a musician who was active in 1997.

If you know these 3points, you may be well-versed in Japan !

Family that sit around sukiyaki on New Year's Eve and young people who are unconcerned with untrue information that is reported in the media. These scene are very Japan.
I'm interested in how these scene will be translated in English.

Twentieth Century Boys - the next chapter,
a new page will be open to the another "end"...

20th Century Boys ： the movie

"The world faces it's end...by our "friend"."

I watched an interesting Japanese movie, "20th Century Boys". I was really excited. This movie kept me on the edge of my seat.

The outline is,

In 1969,an elementary school boy Kenji and his friends made up a fantasy story "Prophecy".
28years later,a series of mysterious cases happened around them. It resembled the story of "Prophecy" closely.
The world was slowly being threatened by the occurs. At last,on New Year's Eve 2000,"it" has come...

Is the criminal one of us? Who is the "friend"...?

The original is a comic book series "Twentieth Century Boys" by Naoki Urasawa.

The interesting thing is this movie uses "20th Century Boy" by T.REX as a theme song.

I heard that the actors are look-alike for the characters of original comics. (But I've never read the original comics.)

Etsushi Toyokawa as Otcho is very cool ! too cool !! He doesn't look around fifty at all !

This movie is the first film in the "20th Century Boys" trilogy and the second film will be released in Japan on January 31th. I can't wait it !

Does anyone know whether this movie is being released in other countries now?

http://www.20thboys.com/index.html

MACROSS F × Yoko Kanno × Maaya Sakamoto

In Japan,new TV programs go on air in April and October. This Spring,a new TV animation series "MACROSS Frontier (MACROSS F)" is coming. Music by Yoko Kanno!! Yatta～\(^0^)/
I listened to her music for the first time by Japanese anime MACROSS PLUS more than 10 years ago. I was surprised at splendor of her music. The music Yoko Kanno composes is very fantastic!I love her music very much.
There are some series of MACROSS. Below is the history. ↓

In 1982, TV:Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS
In 1984, Film:Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS (Do you remember Love ?)
In 1992, OVA:MACROSS Ⅱ
In 1994, OVA:MACROSS PLUS
In 1994, TV:MACROSS seven
In 2002,OVA:MACROSS zero
In 2008,TV:MACROSS Frontier (MACROSS F)

In all titles,songs are the key of the story in common. so,music is very important in "MACROSS". I've seen "Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS (Do you remember Love?)". It's a old anime film but the quality of the story is amazing. I've seen "MACROSS 7",too. It's very interesting and songs are very good!

In new series,Maaya Sakamoto sing the theme song "Triangular". I like her cute voice very mach.
MACROSS Frontier × Yoko Kanno × Maaya Sakamoto !!
I'm looking forward to MACROSS F and Yoko Kanno's music !!!

AKIRA - live-action version

Japanese animation film AKIRA will be made into a live-action movie in Hollywood.
AKIRA was directed by Katsuhiro Otomo in 1988. Katsuhiro Otomo is a master of Japanese animation. AKIRA is one of my favorite animation film.

In animation version,the stage of the story is Neo-Tokyo in 2019,after 31 years of destruction with new bomb. Grotesque structure of city that wiring and pipes are exposed,lining huge buildings that emits brilliant neon lights,old section of city in ruins... The image of chaotic city is "Tokyo" exactly.

Music of AKIRA is amazing,too. The music was composed by Syoji Yamashiro (Geinoh Yamashirogimi). I think this music makes AKIRA more attractive work. When I watched this anime,I was absorbed in the story completely.

In live-action version, the stage of the story is Manhattan (N.Y.). Leonardo Dicaprio takes part in this work as a producer.

I have a simple question. "AKIRA" is Japanese boy's name. He is a key of the story.
Is the name changed into an American boy's name in Hollywood version...? If the title is changed,it's no longer AKIRA...(^_^;)

Anyway,I want the live-action version's AKIRA to become a cool and wonderful movie!

Toward the TERRA

This year,an animation was televised in Japan. The title of the TVanimation is "Toward The TERRA".
The original is a comic book "To TERRA" drawn by Keiko Takemiya 30 years ago. "To TERRA" was made into an animation film in 1980, and got into the news at that time.

This animation was produced quite newly this year as a TV series"Toward The TERRA". The image and music of "Toward The TERRA" are very beautiful. And because the characters are attractive, it was especially popular among the woman.

I think, "Toward The TERRA" conveys a message of to respect the environment. I feel such a message also from a famous animation film "NAUSICAA" and "Princess Mononoke" that directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Fan of "To TERRA" since 30 years ago seems to have watched "Toward The TERRA" with their children. After broadcasting the tv series had ended, a big event of "Toward The TERRA" was still held in Tokyo.

A lot of programs and CM, etc. of which the theme was ecology were televised in Japan this year. Environmental problems are so serious. I actually feel that the temperature of Tokyo goes up every year.
Some time, I want to invest in an enterprise that works on environmental problems.

I received the impact to the appearance of the earth that had been drawn in "Toward The TERRA". And the story of the last moved me greatly!

The 1st opening theme's title of Toward The TERRA is "endscape". Music by UVERworld. Recently,UVERworld is very popular rock band in Japan. 2nd opening theme is "Jet Boy Jet Girl". Song by Hitomi Takahashi. Their music is perfectly with image of Toward The TERRA!