[NIHON BUNKA KENKYUU] BUNKEN 101: Reviews, comments, and insights on Japanese pop culture.
I'm foregoring the next article in favor of some press releases from the JAPAN FOUNDATION MANILA.
EIGA SAI 2005
MOVIE LINE-UP
Pulse (Kairo) Color / 2001 / 117 mins. / 35mm
Directed by: Kurosawa Kiyoshi
Cast: Kato Haruhiko, Aso Kumiko, Koyuki, Arisaka Kurume, Matsuo Masatoshi
Synopsis: A freighter roaming endlessly in the ocean, the captain seeks contact, in vain, with the shore. Among the few people aboard is a young woman, Michi. She starts her story. When she was working for a small company and visited a friend she hadn't heard from a while, she found him at home. But nor much later, he hung himself. On the wall was a strange black patch, as if there had been a huge shortcircuit. His friends search the apartment and a found a diskette that seems to have a strange virus. Is there any link with the suicide? A young man looking for games on the internet puts the diskette in his machine and seems to spy on the boring life of strangers with a webcam. A message appears: “Do you want to meet a ghost?"
Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) Color / 1995 / 100 mins. / 16mm
Directed by: Hirayama Hideyuki
Cast: Nomura Hironobu (Komukai Shin’ichi, teacher), Toyama Masumi (Shinoda Aki), Atsuta Hajime (Nakamura Kensuke), Tsunoda Jun’ichiro (Segawa Shota), Machida Kohei (Chiba Hitoshi), Machida Shohei (Chiba Kazuo), Yonezawa Shiori (Shinoda Mika, Aki’s sister), Okamoto Aya (Komuro Kaori)
Synopsis: There are tales about a haunted school - Doors unlocked open up to tempt innocent children, once entered, there is no way for returning. This summer, comes news of missing children, the young teacher who tries to search for the missing children is also trapped. Among the missing children includes a pair of twin brothers who possess supernatural power, and things are never normal again. What exactly is happening inside the haunted school? Will they ever be able to escape?
House (Hausu) Color / 1977 / 88 min. / 16mm
Directed by: Obayashi Nobuhiko
Cast: Ikegami Kimiko (Oshare & her mother), Oba Kimiko (Fanta), Matsubara Ai (Gari), Jimbo Miki (Kunfu), Sato Mieko (Mac), Miyako Masayo (Sweet), Tanaka Eriko (Melody), Minamida Yoko (Oshare's aunt)
Synopsis: Summer vacation is coming. A junior high school student OSHARE is keeping company with a dreamer, FANTA, a grind, GARI, a karate expert, KUNFU, ever hungry, MAC, cute but chicken hearted, SWEET, and a music lover, MELODY. One day, Oshare is told her father is remarrying and is introduced to his fiance Ryoko. Shocked Oshare, remembers her aunt who is living in the country. She writes her aunt a letter asking the permission to visit, with her friends, during the summer vacation. Seven girls arrive at the Hausu Mansion, feeling uneasily but free from the chaperone Togo, their teacher, who was supposed to go with them. The fresh air in the country makes the seven girls happy. Oshare’s aunt although confined to a wheelchair is kind and takes care of them. After a short time, some mysterious phenomenon begins to occur. First, Mac, who goes to get a cool watermelon in the well, does not return, so the other girls go to search for her. To their surprise, Mac is in the well! After this, many attacks on the girls happen in rapid succession. One girl is eaten by a piano; one is chopped by a clock, etc. Later it is learned that Oshare’s aunt had died several years earlier, and became the spirit in the wheelchair. This “Hausu Mansion" is her remaining ghost! Why does the house attack the girls? The reason is revealed later that the aunt who still loves her fiance who died in a war many years earlier will become younger and able to wear the wedding dress that she was supposed to wear only by eating the flesh of young girls. The girls are vanishing one by one in the Hausu Mansion. Finally, Ryoko is leaving to go to the mansion. Oshare is waiting for her, but is she really Oshare or her spirit?
Kwaidan (Kaidan) Color / 1964 / 182 min. / 16mm
Directed by: obayashi Masaki
Cast:
Part I Kurokami (Black Hair) - Mikuni Rentaro (Samurai), Aratama Michiyo (Wife), Watanabe Misako (Second Wife)
Part II Yuki-Onna (Snow-Woman) - Nakadai Tatsuya (Minokuchi), Kishi Keiko (Yuki - Wife)
Part III Hoichi The Earless - Nakamura Katsuo (Hoichi), Tanba Tetsuro (Warrior), Shimura Takashi (Priest)
Part IV In a Teacup - Nakamura Kanemon (Kannai), Takizawa Osamu (Author)
Synopsis: Kwaidan consists of four separate stories set in pre-modern Japan, all of which involve supernatural happenings.
"Black Hair," the first tale, concerns a samurai who cannot support his wife; he leaves her for a life of wealth and ease with a princess. Returning years later, he spends the night with his wife in their now-dilapidated house, only to awake to a horrifying discovery which drives him insane. In "Snow-Woman," two woodcutters seek refuge during a snowstorm in what appears to be an abandoned hut. A snow witch appears and kills one of them but lets his partner free. Years later, the survivor meets and married a lovely young woman, only to learn about her true identity. "Hoichi the Earless" tells about a blind musician who is asked by the ghost of a samurai to play for his late infant lord at a tomb. The monks who house the musician cover him with tattoos to prevent any harm coming to him, but they forget his ears. He returns from the engagement with his ears cut off; however, his misadventure propels him to fame. "In a Cup of Tea" concerns a samurai who is haunted by the vision of a man he sees reflected in his tea. Even after he drinks from the cup, he still sees the man while on guard duty.
The Ugetsu Story (Ugetsu Monogatari) B & W / 1953 / 97 mins. / 16mm
Directed by: Mizoguchi Kenji
Cast: Kyo Machiko (Wakasa), Mori Masayuki (Genjuro), Tanaka Kinuyo (Miyaki, Genjuro’s wife), Ozawa Sakae (Tobei), Mito Mitsuko (Oharu, Tobei’s wife), Aoyama Sugisaku (Old Priest)
Synopsis: In 1953 when Lake Biwa vicinity is chaotic with civil wars, a potter Genjuro and his brother-in-law Tobei with their wives and children go off to a castle town to peddle a large quantity of their ware. On their way, Genjuro feels uneasiness and danger of war and lets his wife and children return back home. In a commodity-lacking castle town, their ware sells like wildfire. Tobei, now in possession of a sizeable profit, buys weapons and becomes a samurai despite the objection of his wife Oharu. When he delivers a large purchase of ware to the Kuchiki residence, Genjuro is welcomed by beautiful Wakasa. He is bewitched by her and lured on to spend joyful days with her. Tobei upon capturing the head of an enemy general, who killed himself, attains rank of a samurai general and boasted it. However, he later discovers his wife had become a prostitute at a relay station; he is made aware of his foolishness. Genjuro was also brought to his senses when he learns that Wakasa is a ghost of the Kuchiki family which has fallen down due to the war. He returns home, where he is welcomed warmly by his wife Miyaki. Next morning, he can't find her anywhere. In reality, she has been killed on her way to return home. He now realizes that his wife who extended him a warm welcome was a ghost.
Illusion of Blood (Yotsuya Kaidan) Color / 1966 / 105 mins. / 16mm
Directed by: Shida Toyoda
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai (Iuemon Tamiya), Mariko Okada (Oiwa), Junko Ikeuchi (Osode), Kanzaburo Nakamura (Gonbei Naosuke), Mayumi Ozora (Oume), Yasushi Nagata (Samon Yotsuya), Ritaro Ozawa (Kihei Ito), Masao Mishima (Takuetsu)
Synopsis: A classic Japanese ghost story unfolds as a samurai (Tatsuya Nakadai) slowly slips into madness as a result of being haunted by the spirit of his wife whom he cruelly tormented and murdered.
Illusion of Blood takes place in the mid-19th century and concerns a masterless samurai named Iuemon Tamiya (Tatsuya Nakadai) whose single-minded ambition to gain a fief leads him and those close to him to ruin. His troubles begin when he murders his father-in-law for forcing his pregnant wife Oiwa (Mariko Okada) to leave him due to his loss of position. Reuniting with his wife and child, an opportunity to marry into an influential family proves too much of a temptation. He gives Oiwa a poison provided by the equally devious mother of his bride-to-be. But instead of killing Oiwa, it only leaves her face horribly deformed. In a moment of revulsion and wickedness, Iuemon kills her and a young witness and nails their bodies to either side of a door. Iuemon is free to pursue his evil ambitions, but Oiwa's vengeful spirit gives him no peace and this soon brings ruin to his new family and himself. A side story involves Iuemon's slightly less-evil friend Gonbei Naosuke (Kanzaburo Nakamura). He lusts after Oiwa's sister, kills her fiance on the same night that Iuemon kills her father, and he then marries her with the false promise of finding the killer. But since this is a morality play, he's also doomed to get his comeuppance.
Tomie: Rebirth Color/2005/100 mins./35mmB
Director: Takeshi Shimizu
Cast: Sakai Miki, Tsumubaki Satoshi, Endou Kumiko, Kikawada Masaya, Nakajima Yutaka
Synopsis: Hideo, an art student, is painting a portrait of Tomie. Suddenly and abruptly, Tomie destroys Hideo's portrait of herself. In a moment of rage, Hideo picks up an art knife and attacks Tomie, killing her. In an attempt to liven Hideo's spirits after the murder, his friends, Takumi and Shunichi, throw a party. When an uninvited guest turns up at the gathering, the two notice something strange about the intruder. She seems to have a facial mole in the same spot as Tomie. Later, the two realize she resembles Tomie in other ways, and they notice that Hideo has gone missing. From that evening on, the resurrected Tomie begins appearing wherever Takumi and Shunichi go. And every time she shows up, strange things begin to happen.
SCREENING SCHEDULE
SHANGRI-LA PLAZA MALL
31 Aug (Wed)
7:00 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins (Opening Film)
01 Sep (Thu)
2:00 PM: Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) 1 hr 40 mins
5:00 PM: Illusion of Blood (Yotsuya Kaidan) 1 hr 45 mins
8:00 PM: Kwaidan (Kaidan) 3 hrs 2 mins
02 Sep (Fri)
2:00 PM: Illusion of Blood (Yotsuya Kaidan) 1 hr 45 mins
5:00 PM: The Ugetsu Story (Ugetsu Monogatari) 1 hr 37 mins
8:00 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins
03 Sep (Sat)
2:00 PM: Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) 1 hr 40 mins
5:00 PM: House (Hausu) 1 hr 28 mins
8:00 PM: Tomie: Rebirth 1 hr 40 mins
04 Sep (Sun)
2:00 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins
5:00 PM: Illusion of Blood (Yotsuya Kaidan) 1 hr 45 mins
8:00 PM: Kwaidan (Kaidan) 3 hrs 2 mins
2:00 PM: The Ugetsu Story (Ugetsu Monogatari) 1 hr 37 mins
5:00 PM: House (Hausu) 1 hr 28 mins
8:00 PM: Kwaidan (Kaidan) 3 hrs 2 mins
UP FILM INSTITUTE
13 Sep (Tue)
5:00 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins
7:30 PM: The Ugetsu Story (Ugetsu Monogatari) 1 hr 37 mins
14 Sep (Wed)
2:00 PM: Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) 1 hr 40 mins
5:00 PM: House (Hausu) 1 hr 28 mins
7:30 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins
15 Sep (Thu)
2:00 PM: The Ugetsu Story (Ugetsu Monogatari) 1 hr 37 mins
5:00 PM: Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) 1 hr 40 mins
16 Sep (Fri)
2:00 PM: House (Hausu) 1 hr 28 mins
5:00 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins
17 Sep (Sat)
2:00 PM: Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) 1 hr 40 mins
5:00 PM: House (Hausu) 1 hr 28 mins
CCP DREAM THEATER
21 Sep (Tue)
4:00 PM: The Ugetsu Story (Ugetsu Monogatari) 1 hr 37 mins
7:00 PM: Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) 1 hr 40 mins
22 Sep (Wed)
4:00 PM: House (Hausu) 1 hr 28 mins
7:00 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins
23 Sep (Thu)
4:00 PM: Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) 1 hr 40 mins
7:00 PM: House (Hausu) 1 hr 28 mins
24 Sep (Fri)
4:00 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins
7:00 PM: The Ugetsu Story (Ugetsu Monogatari) 1 hr 37 mins
25 Sep (Sat)
4:00 PM: The Ugetsu Story (Ugetsu Monogatari) 1 hr 37 mins
7:00 PM: Haunted School (Gakko no Kaidan) 1 hr 40 mins
26 Sep (Sun)
4:00 PM: House (Hausu) 1 hr 28 mins
7:00 PM: Pulse (Kairo) 1 hr 55 mins
Schedules subject to change without prior notice.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAMS
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) will be held on Sunday, December 4, 2005; it will commence simultaneously at 9:00 a.m. in three different venues - at the De La Salle University, Taft Ave. Manila, Philippine Nikkei-Jin Kai, Inc., Mamay Rd., Lanang, Davao City, and at the University of San Carlos, P. Del Rosario St., Cebu City.
The JLPT is administered once a year -worldwide, by the Japan Foundation in cooperation with other cultural exchange/educational institutions, in order to evaluate and certify the Japanese language proficiency of non-native speakers.
Criteria
The test comprises four levels (1 to 4) based on proficiency and covers writing-vocabulary, listening and reading-grammar. Examinees should be careful in choosing the level which best corresponds to their Japanese-Ianguage proficiency/ability and classroom training.
Level 1: The examinee has mastered grammar to a high level, knows about 2,000 Kanji and 10,000 words, and has an integrated command of the language sufficient for life in Japanese society and providing a useful base for study at a Japanese university. This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for about 900 hours.
Level 2: The examinee has mastered grammar to a relatively high level, knows about 1,000 Kanji and 6,000 words, and has the ability to converse, read and write about matters of a general nature. This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for about 600 hours and after completion of an intermediate course.
Level 3: The examinee has mastered grammar to a limited level, knows about 300 Kanji and 1 ,500 words, has the ability to take part in everyday conversation and to read and write simple sentences. This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for around 300 hours and after completion of an elementary course.
Level 4: The examinee has mastered the basic elements of grammar, knows about 100 Kanji and 800 words and has the ability to engage in simple conversation and to read and write short, simple sentences. This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for about 150 hours and finishing the first half of the elementary course.
Application
Application forms will be available from August 1 (Monday) at the following offices:
The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFManila)
12/F Pacific Star Bldg. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia Ext.) corner Makati Ave.
Tel. # 811-6155 to 58 Fax # 811-6153
Philippine Nikkei-jin Kai, Inc. (PNJK)
Mamay Road, Lanang, Davao City
Tel. # (082) 235-2971 & (082) 233-0013 / 0081
Japanese Association Cebu, Inc.
5/F Clotilde Commercial Center
Tel. # (032) 343-7662 / Fax # (032) 343-7663
Deadline for Application
Examination Fees are to be paid upon submission of duly accomplished forms with two (2) prescribed photos as scheduled below and in the respective localities:
Aug. 16 - Sep. 7, 2005 (10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon / 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
The Japan Foundation, Manila (Makati City)
Philippine Nikkei-jin kai School of Davao (Davao City)
Japanese Association Cebu, Inc. (Mandaue City)
Level 1 & 2: PhP 600.00
Level 3 & 4: PhP 500.00
Announcement of Results
Successful examinees will be issued Certificates of Proficiency by the end of March 2006. All examinees will receive a Score Report.