Source: SRS Cinema LLC
Special Thanks to Avery Guerra

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Promo art for THE LEGEND OF THE STARDUST BROTHERS.
Photo courtesy of Avery Guerra.

Distributor SRS Cinema has licensed North American home media rights to THE LEGEND OF THE STARDUST BROTHERS (星くず兄弟の伝説, Hoshikuzukyodai no Densetsu) from Macoto Tezuka (son of the great manga artist Osamu Tezuka) and musician/TV personality Haruo Chicada.

In 1985, Macoto was just 22 years old, a film student with many short experimental films under his belt, but yet to make a feature debut and — of course — had the pressure of the TEZUKA name. Then he met Chicada, who had made a soundtrack to a movie which didn’t actually exist: “The Legend of the Stardust Brothers”. With Chicada as producer, Tezka then adapted this “fake sountrack” into a real musical story.

With inspiration from PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE and ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, Tezuka assembled a cast of some of Japan’s most famous musicians of the time, including such greats as Kiyohiko Ozaki, ISSAY, Sunplaza Nakano and Hiroshi Takano, alongside many famous names in manga such as Monkey Punch (Lupin the 3rd), Shinji Nagashima (Hanaichi Monme), Yosuke Takahashi (Mugen Shinsi), Genki Yoshimura (Sailor Moon) and even many upcoming film directors of the time such as Kiyoshi Kurosawa (TOKYO SONATA) and Daihachi Yoshida (THE KIRISHIMA THING).
Continued…

Source: Well Go USA, ddPR
Official Site: wiiber.com (Japan), wellgousa.com/films/crazy-samurai-400-vs-1 (US)
Special Thanks to Leif Helland

Image courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment. © 2020 CRAZY
SAMURAI MUSASHI FILM PARTNERS

Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray of the groundbreakingly innovative action epic CRAZY SAMURAI: 400 vs. 1 (狂武蔵, Kyō Musashi, 2020). The highlight of this extraordinary film is a 77-minute action sequence shot in one continuous take, a “marathon battle [that] rivals any ever filmed” (Forbes).

Director Yuji Shimomura (DEATH TRANCE, RE: BORN) has crafted an epic achievement in action choreography around martial arts icon Tak Sakaguchi (VERSUS, RISE OF THE MACHINE GIRL), who plays Japan’s most legendary swordsman — Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645), a warrior undefeated in at least 60 documented duels — as he takes on his most difficult battle.
Continued…

Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group press release
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Image courtesy of MVD Entertainment. © 1968 Toei Co., Ltd.

Arrow Video US and MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new Blu-ray of Toei’s SHOGUN’S JOY OF TORTURE (徳川女刑罰史, Tokugawa Onna Keibatsu-shi, 1968), cult director Teruo Ishii’s infamous omnibus of three shocking tales of crime and punishment based on true-life documented cases set during the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The SHOGUN’S JOY OF TORTURE Blu-ray will be released February 23 by Arrow Video US. The movies feature a High Definition (1080p) presentation with the original Japanese version with optional English subtitles. Extras include a new commentary by Japanese film expert Tom Mes, interviews, the trailer, an image gallery, a reversible sleeve featuring newly-commissioned artwork by Jacob Phillips. This first pressing also comes with an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mark Schilling.
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Source: Well Go USA, ddPR
Official Site: wellgousa.com/films/ne-zha (US)
Special Thanks to Leif Helland

Image courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment. ©2020 Opus
Pictures Co., Ltd

Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray of the action-packed epic THE SWORDSMAN (검객, Geomgaek, 2020). From first time writer/director Choi Jae-hoon, the film stars Jang Hyuk (VOLCANO HIGH, WINDSTRUCK), Kim Hyeon-soo (BE WITH YOU), Joe Taslim (THE RAID: REDEMPTION, FAST & FURIOUS 6), Jeong Man-sik (BEASTS CLAWING AT STRAWS), Lee Na-kyung (BATTLE FOR INCHEON: OPERATION CHROMITE) and Lee Min-hyuk (A LOVE TO KILL).

After being blinded in a coup against the king, Joseon’s greatest swordsman (Jang Hyuk) goes into hiding, far removed from his city’s anguish. But when traffickers kidnap his daughter, he has no choice but to unsheathe his sword once more.
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Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Official Site: shochiku.co.jp/ichidoshindemita (Japan)

Theatrical poster with new release date. Image courtesy
of Shochiku. ©2020 “Damashie no Kiba” Film Partners

Originally scheduled for June 19, 2020, the drama KIBA: THE FANGS OF FICTION (騙し絵の牙, Damashie no Kiba) will now open in Japanese cinemas on March 26, 2021. Distributor Shochiku Co., Ltd. delayed the theatrical release due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The movie is adapted from the 2016 best-selling novel by Takeshi Shiota, and the main character in the story was based on actor Yo Oizumi (I AM A HERO, TOKYO GHOUL), who ended up playing the role in the film. Oizumi plays Teruya Hayami, the chief editor for a magazine that is on the brink of cancellation. With the support of his assistant Megumi Takano (Mayu Matsuoka), he goes to extreme lengths to save the magazine.

For more information and high-res images, please see the KIBA: THE FANGS OF FICTION Info and Pics From Shochiku article here on SciFi Japan.

Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2021 “Yakuza and the Family” Production Committee

Source: Kadokawa Pictures
Official Site: yakuzatokazoku.com (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Kadokawa Pictures has provided information and photos from YAKUZA AND THE FAMILY (ヤクザと家族 The Family, Yakuza to Kazoku The Family). The movie is the latest entry from the director and producers of THE JOURNALIST (新聞記者, Shinbun Kisha, 2019), which won the Triple Crown at the 2020 Japan Academy Prize.
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Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group press release
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Blu-ray cover art, courtesy of MVD Entertainment.
©Myung Films

Arrow Video US and MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new, extras-packed Blu-ray of JSA: JOINT SECURITY AREA (공동경비구역 JSA, Gongdong Gyeongbi Guyeok Jeieseuei, 2000), the award winning South Korean thriller from the director of OLDBOY.

Before OLDBOY, before THE HANDMAIDEN, visionary filmmaker Park Chan-wook helmed this gripping tale of deceit, misunderstanding and the senselessness of war. Gunfire breaks out in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, leaving two North Korean soldiers dead while a wounded South Korean soldier (Lee Byung-hun, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD) flees to safety. With the tenuous peace between the two warring nations on a knife-edge, a neutral team of investigators, headed by Swiss Army Major Sophie Jean (Lee Young-ae, LADY VENGEANCE), is dispatched to question both sides to determine what really happened under cover of darkness out in no-man’s land.
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The Over-the-Top Action Epic Starring Action Icon Tak Sakaguchi Debuts Exclusively on Streaming Service Hi-YAH! February 12 Before Hitting Digital, Blu-ray & DVD March 2
Source: Well Go USA, ddPR press release
Official Site: wiiber.com (Japan), wellgousa.com/films/crazy-samurai-400-vs-1 (US)
Special Thanks to Leif Helland
#CrazySamurai

Image courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment. © 2020
CRAZY SAMURAI MUSASHI FILM PARTNERS

Leading Japanese martial arts icon Tak Sakaguchi (VERSUS, RISE OF THE MACHINE GIRL) stars in the groundbreakingly innovative action epic CRAZY SAMURAI: 400 vs. 1 (狂武蔵, Kyō Musashi, 2020), which will debut exclusively on the martial arts streaming service Hi-YAH! on February 12, before hitting Digital, Blu-ray and DVD March 2 from Well Go USA Entertainment. The highlight of this extraordinary film is a 77-minute action sequence shot in one continuous take, a “marathon battle [that] rivals any ever filmed” (Forbes).

Director Yuji Shimomura (DEATH TRANCE, RE: BORN) has crafted an epic achievement in action choreography around Sakaguchi, who plays Japan’s most legendary swordsman — Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645), a warrior undefeated in at least 60 documented duels — as he takes on his most difficult battle.
Continued…

Contents of the Limited Edition SteelBook. Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©2003 Show East

Source: Arrow Films
Special Thanks to James Flower

Often cited as one of the best films of the 2000s and possibly the definitive example of extreme Asian cinema, OLDBOY (올드보이, Oldeuboi, 2003) is a brutal, lyrical modern classic of the revenge genre.

Directed with immense flair by Park Chan-wook (JSA, THE HANDMAIDEN) as the second installment of his Vengeance Trilogy, OLDBOY blazed a trail at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival where it was lauded by the President of the Jury, director Quentin Tarantino. The film went on to become a huge international smash, blowing audiences’ minds with its concoction of filmmaking virtuosity, ingenious plotting, violence and pathos. Now, this masterpiece has been restored in 4K and is presented here with the feature-length documentary OLD DAYS, and a massive array of extras.
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From the Debauched Mind of Exploitation Legend Teruo Ishii, an Anthology of Taboo Delights and Horrors!
Source: Arrow Films, MVD Entertainment Group
Special Thanks to James Flower and Clint Weiler

Image courtesy of MVD Entertainment. © 1968 Toei Co., Ltd.

From the outrageous imagination of cult director Teruo Ishii (ORGIES OF EDO, HORRORS OF MALFORMED MEN) comes SHOGUN’S JOY OF TORTURE (徳川女刑罰史, Tokugawa Onna Keibatsu-shi, 1968), the infamous omnibus of three shocking tales of crime and punishment based on true-life documented cases set during the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Ishii’s notorious portmanteau of Edo-era excess signaled a change in direction for a director until then regarded for his crime and yakuza films, setting the ball rolling on the run of grotesque historical anthologies for which he is now best remembered. Vehemently denounced by the critics of the day, SHOGUN’S JOY OF TORTURE set a new benchmark for the depiction of sex, sadism and depravity in Japanese exploitation, with Ishii staging his elaborate torture methods with an unmatched verve and inventiveness.
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One People, Two Countries, Every Life on Earth at Stake
Source: Arrow Films, MVD Entertainment Group
Special Thanks to James Flower and Clint Weiler

Blu-ray cover art, courtesy of MVD Entertainment. ©Myung Films

On January 19, Arrow Video will release a deluxe Blu-ray edition of JSA: JOINT SECURITY AREA (공동경비구역 JSA, Gongdong Gyeongbi Guyeok Jeieseuei, 2000), the award winning South Korean thriller from the director of OLDBOY.

Before OLDBOY, before THE HANDMAIDEN, visionary filmmaker Park Chan-wook helmed this gripping tale of deceit, misunderstanding and the senselessness of war. Gunfire breaks out in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, leaving two North Korean soldiers dead while a wounded South Korean soldier (Lee Byung-hun, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD) flees to safety. With the tenuous peace between the two warring nations on a knife-edge, a neutral team of investigators, headed by Swiss Army Major Sophie Jean (Lee Young-ae, LADY VENGEANCE), is dispatched to question both sides to determine what really happened under cover of darkness out in no-man’s land.
Continued…

Source: Warner Bros. Japan, Pony Canyon
Official Site: the-promised-neverland-movie.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Theatrical poster. Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
Pictures Japan. ©2020 Iipyao・Yujiro Koyama /
Shueisha・”Tonkatsu DJ Agetaro” Film Partners

Will Agetaro be able to reach his ideal as the Tonkatsu DJ?
The juicy sound of frying pork and the funky beat firing up the dance floor make for a mouthwatering mix!
Get ready for a hilariously yummy comedy that you’ve never heard or experienced before!

Warner Bros. Japan and Pony Canyon have provided SciFi Japan with press notes and high-res photos from TONKATSU DJ AGETARO (とんかつDJアゲ太郎, Tonkatsu DJ Agetarō), the live action adaptation of the hit manga.
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Win the SURVIVOR BALLADS: THREE FILMS BY SHOHEI IMAMURA Blu-ray Box Set from Arrow Video!
Photo courtesy of Arrow Video. © Toei Co., Ltd.

Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group press release
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Arrow Video US and MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new Blu-ray Box Set SURVIVOR BALLADS: THREE FILMS BY SHOHEI IMAMURA. The three films in this collection have won 36 international awards with an additional 18 nominations, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards.
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Yuriko Ishida, Koichi Sato and Hidetoshi Nishijima star in SILENT TOKYO, a suspenseful tale of a bomber threatening the city at Christmas.
Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. Ⓒ2020 Silent Tokyo Film Partners

Source: Toei Co., Ltd.
Official Site: silent-tokyo.com (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toei has provided information and high-res photos from their upcoming thriller, SILENT TOKYO (サイレント・トーキョー, Sairento Tōkyō), about a terrorist bomber that strikes Tokyo at Christmas. The movie is based on the novel Silent Tokyo And so this is Xmas by Takehiko Hata which was, in turn, inspired by the John Lennon/Yoko Ono song “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” that has been covered by artists all over the world.
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Tao Tsuchiya and EXILE NAOTO star in the new drama FOOD LUCK. Photo courtesy of Shochiku. ©2020 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Official Site: movies.shochiku.co.jp/foodluck (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Shochiku has provided information and large, high-res photos from FOOD LUCK (フード・ラック！食運, Fūdo Rakku! Shokuun). The movie is the directorial debut of Jimon Terakado from the comedy trio Dachou Club. Terakado is well known as a top TV celebrity foodie, with a particular love for beef, who has experience eating cuisine throughout Japan. With not only an eye for the food, but respect for the masters who make it, FOOD LUCK depicts both the love between mother and son and the comedy of life through yakiniku (grilled meat) and delicious food.
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Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. ©2020 “Runway” Film Partners

Source: Kadokawa Pictures
Official Site: kassouro-movie.jp (Japan)

Kadokawa Pictures has provided information and photos for their new film RUNWAY (滑走路, Kassoro). Tanka Poetry Collection (歌集　滑走路, Kashu Kassoro), by the poet Shinichiro Haghihara who died at the age of 32, serves as the basis for this drama. The movie is directed by Norichika Oba, who was an assistant director on SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016) before helming the award-winning film CYCLOPS (キュクロプス, Kyukuropusu, 2019).
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Photo courtesy of Shochiku. ©Kanako Nishi/ ”SAKURA” Film Partners

Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Official Site: sakura-movie.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Shochiku has provided information and large, high-res photos from their upcoming drama SAKURA (さくら), the story of an ordinary family that faces what seem to be devastating trials sent from God. But the family stays hopeful and mantains their sense of humor to overcome their troubles.
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Two detectives (Keiko Kitagawa, Go Ayano) hunt a serial killer in the thriller THE LEGACY OF DR DEATH: BLACK FILE.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©2020 “The Legacy of Dr. Death -BLACK FILE-” Film Partners

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan
Official Site: doctordeathmovie.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information and photos from the new thriller THE LEGACY OF DR DEATH: BLACK FILE (ドクター・デスの遺産−BLACK FILE−, Dokutā Desu no Isan −BLACK FILE−). PUNK SAMURAI SLASH DOWN (パンク侍、斬られて候, Panku Samurai Kirarete Soro, 2018) co-stars Go Ayano (RAGE, THE PROMISED LAND) and Keiko Kitagawa (ROOMMATE, STOLEN IDENTITY) reunite to portray two detectives hunting a bizarre serial killer engaging in euthanasia.
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Source: Toei Co., Ltd.
Official Site: 461obento.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Poster courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. © 2020 “461
Bento” Production Committee

Toei will release the autobiographical drama 461 DAYS OF BENTO: A PROMISE BETWEEN FATHER AND SON (461個のおべんとう, 461ko no Obento) In Japanese theaters this Friday, November 6. The film is based on a story by hip hop performer Toshimi Watanabe and is directed by Atsushi Kaneshige (KISEKI: SOBITO OF THAT DAY).
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Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group press release
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Blu-ray cover art, courtesy of MVD Entertainment. Napalm Films

A relentless one-of-a-kind sensory assault chock-full of hyper-kinetic fight scenes, gangster shootouts, sword-slashing violence and gory zombie horror, VERSUS (-ヴァーサス-, Vāsasu, 2000) was a key title amongst the barrage of innovative horror and action movies that appeared as if from nowhere from Japan at the turn of the millennium, leading to a new wave of appreciation for Asian extreme cinema.

A mysterious face-off in a wooded clearing between two escaped convicts and a carload of sharply dressed yakuza holding a beautiful woman captive ends in hails of bullets and showers of blood. The location for this violent encounter is the mythic Forest of Resurrection, the site of the 444th portal of the 666 hidden gates that link this earthly domain to the netherworld – and it didn’t get this name for nothing. As one of the surviving prisoners escapes with the girl into the darkness of the forest, disgruntled gangsters soon become the least of their worries as an earlier battle between a lone warrior against hordes of zombie samurai is carried over from a millennium ago into the present day.
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TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA comes to 4K Ultra Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD in November.
Photos courtesy of Well Go USA. ©2020 Next Entertainment World & RedPeter Films

Bonus Features Include a Making-Of Featurette, Interviews with Cast & Crew and an All-New English Dub!
Source: Well Go USA, ddPR
Official Site: traintobusanpeninsula.com
Special Thanks to Leif Helland

Four years after South Korea’s total decimation in TRAIN TO BUSAN (부산행, Busanhaeng, 2016), the zombie thriller that captivated audiences worldwide, acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho brings fans TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA (반도, Bando, 2020), the next nail-biting chapter in his post-apocalyptic world, available early on Digital October 27 in time for Halloween or on 4K Ultra Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD November 24 from Well Go USA Entertainment.
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All of Sam’s haunting stories of Halloweens past and present together for the first time ever in one definitive collection, now on sale online and in stores
Source: Legendary Comics press release
Special Thanks to Tracy Brown

Cover art by GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS
concept artist Christopher Shy. Image courtesy of
Legendary Comics. © Legendary

In time for Halloween and in celebration of the beloved horror saga, Legendary Comics has released the omnibus of the TRICK ‘R TREAT comic book collection from the deliciously dark imagination of the film’s creator Michael Dougherty (writer and director of GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, and the holiday horror hit, KRAMPUS). The celebratory edition — uniting the past two previously released graphic novels for the first time ever and featuring a new special introduction from Dougherty, new cover art and other cool extras — is now on sale in stores and online.

“In these unprecedented and hard times, it is important to keep the Halloween spirit alive and I can’t think of a better way to kick off the season than sharing it with the Halloween icon Sam in this special Trick ‘r Treat collection,” said Robert Napton, Senior Vice President of Legendary Comics. “Fans of the film who want to revisit these twisted stories, as well as new readers discovering them for the first time, are in for a real treat. And, as we embark on new ways to celebrate Halloween with virtual trick or treating and drive through haunted houses, just remember to uphold the old Halloween traditions as well and keep your jack-o’-lanterns burning or you might just find Sam at your front doorstep.”
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Source: Well Go USA, ddPR
Special Thanks to Leif Helland

Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.

Well Go USA Entertainment is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray of the pulse-pounding action-adventure epic INVINCIBLE DRAGON, starring China’s next-level action superstar Max Zhang (IP MAN 3, MASTER Z: IP MAN LEGACY). Director Fruit Chan (THE MIDNIGHT AFTER) assembled a dynamic supporting cast, including champion UFC fighter Anderson Silva (NEVER SURRENDER, TAPPED OUT), Kevin Cheng (MASTER Z: IP MAN LEGACY) and Stephy Tang (THE EMPTY HANDS) for Zhang, who portrays a brilliant but trigger-happy detective who pays a high price when he is outsmarted by a vicious serial killer.

INVINCIBLE DRAGON debuts on Blu-ray (SLP: $29.98), Digital and DVD (SLP: $24.98) October 6 from Well Go USA Entertainment. The film is presented in the original Cantonese with English and Chinese subtitles, has a runtime of approximately 99 minutes and is not rated.
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Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Box art courtesy of MVD Entertainment. Toei Co., Ltd.

Arrow Video US and MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new GRAVEYARDS OF HONOR Blu-ray Set. Two peerless masters of Japanese cinema — Kinji Fukasaku (BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY, BATTLE ROYALE) and Takashi Miike (DEAD OR ALIVE, AUDITION) — present their own distinctive adaptations of yakuza expert Goro Fujita’s gangster novel Graveyard of Honor, each tapping into the zeitgeist of a distinct period of Japanese history, in this exclusive two-disc set.

The GRAVEYARDS OF HONOR Blu-ray Set will be released September 8 by Arrow Video US. The movies feature a High Definition (1080p) presentation with the original Japanese soundtracks and optional English subtitles. Extras include new audio commentaries by author and critic Mark Schilling and Miike biographer Tom Mes, archival featurettes, trailers, image galleries, and a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan. This first pressing also comes with an illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the films by Jasper Sharp. The suggested retail price is $69.95.
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Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. Toei Co., Ltd.

Arrow Video US and MVD Entertainment are offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win the new Blu-ray of Toei’s BLACK TEST CAR/THE BLACK REPORT from maverick director Yasuzo Masumura (BLIND BEAST).

BLACK TEST CAR (黒の試走車, Kuro no Shisō-sha, 1962) is a bitingly satirical espionage thriller set in the heart of the Japanese auto industry, which launched a series of similarly themed “Black” films. In a bitter, take-no-prisoners corporate war between the Tiger Motorcar Company and their competitors, the Yamato Company, undercover spies have infiltrated both sides. As Tiger prepares to launch its newest “Pioneer” car and a prototype bursts into flames, Toru Toru (Hideo Takamatsu, THE LAST EMPEROR) heads a secretive task force to root out Yamato’s spy, and find out what they can about the competitor’s familiar-looking new model.

Making its worldwide Blu-ray debut, BLACK TEST CAR is paired here with the English-language video premiere of its follow-up THE BLACK REPORT (黒の報告書, Kuro no Hōkoku-sho, 1963).
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Source: Pixabay

Once upon a time, you could ask anyone if they’d seen the film The Ring in the western world and they’d normally respond: “The American one of the Japanese one?” The original Japanese film, 1998’s Ringu was cited by many as the scariest film to ever exist. As such, the film gained an American remake with 2002’s The Ring and catapulted the trend of J-horror. But just how influential is Japan when it comes to entertainment across the Pacific Ocean?
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Source: Pexels

Sci-fi and horror are influential themes throughout entertainment. In the world of film, there are countless blockbuster franchises dating backing decades, with future-gazing science fiction even being able to trace its roots back more than a century.

The genres have also made the switch to the smaller screen, with Netflix, Amazon Prime and many other leading streaming services getting a slice of the action. Platforms know that the shows will attract a ready-made audience of fans.

So, it’s perhaps no surprise that sci-fi and horror have started to transcend into other industries. In this article, we will examine an industry that has grown incredibly quickly during the last 20 years — online casino gaming — and understand the impact that the two genres have had on its development.
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SPIRITED AWAY © 2001 NIBARIKI • GNDDTM

Compared to most other countries, Japanese culture is constantly added to with each generation. That’s not to say that nations like the USA and the UK don’t have a culture – it’s that the ingenious way that Japanese artistic heritage from the Middle Ages and before has been adapted to become iconic applications such as the modern manga and anime we know today.

Most other countries can’t claim that their cultural offerings are grounded in as much history and tradition. As such, we can begin to see that anime – and its very specific style – is proliferating into western culture. Just how much does Japanese sci-fi and anime culture influence western TV and movies?
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Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group press release
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Box art courtesy of MVD Entertainment. Toei Co., Ltd.

Two peerless masters of Japanese cinema — Kinji Fukasaku (BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY, BATTLE ROYALE) and Takashi Miike (DEAD OR ALIVE, AUDITION) — present their own distinctive adaptations of yakuza expert Goro Fujita’s gangster novel Graveyard of Honor, each tapping into the zeitgeist of a distinct period of Japanese history, in this exclusive two-disc set.

With both films making their High Definition debut in a sumptuous limited edition packed with new and archival bonus content, Arrow Video is proud to present these two intertwined but unique crime thrillers from two celebrated filmmakers at the peak of their creative powers.
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Source: Arrow Video US, MVD Entertainment Group press release
Special Thanks to Clint Weiler

Photo courtesy of MVD Entertainment. Toei Co., Ltd.

Japanese maverick director Yasuzo Masumura (BLIND BEAST) helms a bitingly satirical espionage thriller set in the heart of the Japanese auto industry in his 1962 landmark BLACK TEST CAR (黒の試走車, Kuro no Shisō-sha), which launched a series of similarly themed “Black” films.

In a bitter, take-no-prisoners corporate war between the Tiger Motorcar Company and their competitors, the Yamato Company, undercover spies have infiltrated both sides. As Tiger prepares to launch its newest “Pioneer” car and a prototype bursts into flames, Toru (Hideo Takamatsu, The Last Emperor) heads a secretive task force to root out Yamato’s spy, and find out what they can about the competitor’s familiar-looking new model.

Making its worldwide Blu-ray debut, BLACK TEST CAR is paired here with the English-language video premiere of its follow-up THE BLACK REPORT (黒の報告書, Kuro no Hōkoku-sho, 1963), also directed by Masumura.
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