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A sick girl returns home after being discharged from the hospital. Her father was advised to keep an eye on her but there is a wall between them, and for some reason she is afraid to look into her mirror. As strange happenings begin to occur around her, the girl runs away from home but meets a mysterious woman …

A fantasy drama directed by Andrew Shin (Flying Rabbit in the Night Sky) with cast members including Amisa, Momoko Yukawa, Mame Yamada and Hikohiko Sugiyama. Theatrical release in Japan will be on May 25, 2024.

Ryuhei Matsuda was born on the 9th of May, 1983, in Tokyo, to actress and producer Miyuki Matsuda and actor Yûsaku Matsuda, and only six years later he loses his father to cancer at the premature age of 40. At only 15, Ryuhei is approached by Nagisa Oshima with the life changing offer of a prominent role in his film Gohatto. Since then, Matsuda's magnetic charisma and remarkable versatility have allowed him to portray a wide range of characters, from brooding antiheroes to quirky and endearing figures, captivating audiences both in Japan and internationally.

With a unique ability to immerse himself in diverse roles, he has left an indelible mark on Japanese cinema and continues to be a beloved and influential figure in the world of acting. However, Matsuda's congenital air of disdain for the whole world, his glacial aloofness mixed with his innate handsomeness make him the prototype of effortless coolness,...

What began with “Pornostar” and “Blue Spring”, found its apogee in “9 Souls”, one of the greatest samples of Japanese indie cinema.

Nine convicts escape prison, since the tenth, Yamamoto, lost it just before a rat, which showed the others the way out, appeared on their cell. The convicts have decided to search for a money stash hidden by Yamamoto and so they function as a team, despite the fact that they differ in age, natire of crime and general background. Torakichi is the eldest and acts as the leader of the group. He has killed his own son. Kazuma is a young man, former member of a bike gang. He stabbed four members of his own group. Inui is a bomber (of sorts) who suffers from epilepsy. Shiratory is a dwarf, and a doctor who aided suicide. Michiru, the last one to enter prison, is an adolescent who killed his father.

The producers of the TV series “Masters of Horror,” an anthology shot by various directors, chose Miike to direct an episode. However, given the artistic freedom they allowed him, the result was a given. “Imprint” was violent enough for the people at Showtime to refuse to broadcast it. Let us see what caused this reaction.

In 19th century Japan, Christopher, an American journalist searches for his lost love, a woman he abandoned despite his promises. His investigation leads him to a secluded island, where a prostitute informs him that his loved one is deceased. Subsequently, she begins describing the life of the girl, a dramatic story of torture and hidden secrets.

Miike presents a grotesque edition of Japanese folklore and a love story that transforms into something irrational and evil. From the beginning, with the pregnant corpse hanging above a river, to the whore house with the...

The film is based on the ero guro manga by Suehiro Maruo, which circulated in 1984 and was previously adapted in an anime film, in 1992, titled “Midori”.

The story revolves around 14-years-old Midori, an orphan who is picked by the Aka Neko circus troup. The other members include Kanabun, a seemingly cute transvestite who harbors a truly dark side, as he has no issue in killing two puppies with his heels in order to cook them for the troupe. Muchisute is a man with no arms filled with bandages, who is capable of doing everything with his legs, including shooting a bow. The rest of the members are a brute who swallows swords, a sultry woman named Kojiro Arashi and two utterly peculiar creatures of unknown origin. All of them seem to bully Midori, occasionally becoming violent towards her, even blaming her for the commercial failures the circus is experiencing. Everything changes however,...

Torico is a director, fashion designer and blogger. Her first short film, “Mikagami” (2004) received great reviews after its screening in Fantasia International Film Festival and Yubari, and was later screened at festivals all around the world. In 2006, she made her debut feature film, “Ikerushinibana”, which was again screened in festivals around the world, garnering very positive reactions. Her latest film “Midori: The Camellia Girl” is based on the infamous ero guro manga, “Shojo Tsubaki” by Suehiro Maruo. Torico has also published a photobook, has her own blog about fashion on Numero Tokyo, is the director and designer of the Mewee Dinkeee brand, and the founder of the Chiyuri Association.

We talk to her about her career, her latest movie, ero guro, the Japanese movie industry and many other topics.

“Midori: The Camellia Girl” screened at Japan Filmfest Hamburg

You are foremost a fashion designer. Why did you decide to become a filmmaker,...

What started with “Pornostar“, continued in the best way possible in “Blue Spring”, with the concept of the guerilla/punk film finding its apogee here, in probably Toshiaki Toyoda’s best work to date.

The script of the film is based on a series of autobiographical short stories by the manga author Matsumoto Taiyo, and takes place in a rundown boys’ high school, which seems to be attended only by delinquents and lost causes. The protagonist, Kujo, becomes the leader of a seven-member gang of the school’s seniors, by winning a suicidal clapping game. Initially, he seems to cherish his role, punishing those who do not treat the rest of the gang members with respect, occasionally using a baseball bat to do so. However, after awhile he gets bored, a tendency that expands onto everything he does.

Aoki, a childhood friend of Kujo’s, becomes his right hand; nevertheless,...

Se Asian movies, at least as they are perceived in their whole by the majority of international audience, are known for a number of things: Horror, violence, Wong Kar Wai, Park Chan-wook and Takashi Miike (ok, I am just oversimplifying things here). So, for this list I decided to show another aspect of Asian movies, not so frequently mentioned or even considered for that matter, apart from the Bollywood movies that is. Without further ado, here are 12 great dancing scenes from Asian movies, with the lion’s share belonging to Wong Kar Wai, who has presented a number of astonishing sequences through the years.

1. Lai Yiu-fai and Ho Po-wing are dancing in a kitchen (Wong Kar Wai, Happy Together,1997, Hong Kong)

Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung are tangoing in the middle of a kitchen, with their love and adoration for each other becoming evident by the way they look at and lean on each other.