SciFi Japan

    Who would have guessed the poker would be prevalent on the Starship Enterprise?

    Asian Cinema

    The sci-fi movie genre is probably one of the last where you would expect to find gambling themes. You’d be forgiven for thinking that sci-fi characters would be more interested in saving the planet or escaping the clutches of alien forces to worry about the river card in a game of Texas Holdem poker. However, gambling has taken a key role in the storylines of some of the biggest ever sci-fi franchises. This article shines a spotlight on the sci-fi genre’s most popular sojourns with gambling, played by the sic-fi characters that millions of us have grown to know and love worldwide. Sabacc and Star Wars You’ll be surprised to read that the Star Wars franchise was obsessed with gambling across the galaxy. A little-known card game called Sabacc was regularly played among characters to settle debts and arguments. Sabacc was played at highstakes in a similar

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©2019 LEAVING THE SCENE Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: hikinige-movie.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE An accident, a crime, and an endless aftermath... Toei Co. has provided information and photos from their new thriller LEAVING THE SCENE (???? -???????-, Hikinige -Saik? no Saiakuna Hi-), the second film from respected actor Yutaka Mizutani (PARTNERS: THE MOVIE series) who made his directorial debut with TAP: THE LAST SHOW (?????????????, Tappu za Rasuto Sh?) in 2017. The original drama written by Mizutani himself examines the emotions brought out by a hit-and-run crime. STORY A car accident in a small city. A woman loses her life, and it becomes a case of hit and run. Driving was Shuichi Munakata. Beside him in the passenger seat was his best friend, Teru Morita. The two were hurrying to a meeting over Munakata’s upcoming wedding to Sanae Shirakawa, whose father is Vice-President

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©2019 LITTLE LOVE SONG Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: chiikoi.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and photos from the teen film LITTLE LOVE SONG (???????, Ch?sana Koi no Uta), inspired by the song of the same name from the band MONGOL800. At the helm is Kojiro Hashimoto, a student of Somai Shinji and Takita Yojiro, who made his feature-length debut with ORANGE. STORY In a small town on Okinawa where the two countries of Japan and America exist fenced off from one another, a band at a high school is becoming popular. They are scouted by a record company for their original songs and unmistakable talents, but just when their professional debut is arranged, the band is involved in a traffic accident. Now their future is uncertain. CREDITS Japanese Release Date: May 24, 2019 (Roadshow) Running Time: 123 Minutes Cast

    Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©Yuki Ando/SHUEISHA ©2019 “Almost a Miracle” Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, Nippon TV Official Site: machidakun-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Warner Bros. Pictures Japan and Nippon TV have provided information and photos from ALMOST A MIRACLE (???????, Machida-kun no Sekai), based on the manga by Yuki Ando. STORY A new type of main character, who is both extremely ordinary and universally lovable. Machida is unlike any protagonist you`ve seen before. He`s dull, he wears glasses, and he has no distinguishing features. His only talent is his ability to love everyone, unconditionally. However, as he gets to know his classmate Inohara, who says she hates people, he is forced to confront an emotion growing within himself that he has never felt before... Suddenly, a series of unexpected events is set in motion, with unpredictable consequences. Before long, Machida drags more and more people into his orbit, which ultimately

    Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. ©2019 “Diner” Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, Nippon TV Official Site: diner-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Welcome to a restaurant exclusively for assassins: the Diner. Its owner is a highly proficient killer, and so are its customers... Warner Bros. Pictures Japan and Nippon TV have provided information and photos from DINER (????, Dain?su), an adaptation of the novel by Yumeaki Hirayama. STORY Kanako Oba is all alone, and thinks her life can`t get any worse...until she applies for a dubious part-time job on a whim, and is instantly torn from her mundane existence. She ends up being sold to a restaurant with fortress-like walls, thick iron doors, and an intensely colorful interior. Trapped within, she has no choice but to work as a waitress for the owner Bombero, a genius chef who also happens to be a retired assassin. "This establishment caters exclusively to killers. Even

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©Miki Aihara, Shogakukan/2019 Hot Gimmick Production Committee

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: hotgimmick-movie.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and photos from HOT GIMMICK (??????? ?????????, Hotto Gimikku G?ru M?tsu B?i). The live action adaptation of Miki Aihara`s popular manga Hot Gimmick is written and directed by Yuki Yamato, a filmmaker who has an established reputation for depicting the emotions of adolescent girls in the films THAT GIRL IS DANCING BY THE SEASIDE (???????????, Ano ko ga Umibe de Odotteru, 2012) and DROWNING LOVE (??????, Oboreru Naifu, 2016). STORY High school girl Hatsumi Narita (Miona Hori) lives a quiet life with her kind older brother Shinogu (Shotaro Mamiya) and the rest of her family. One day however, Ryoki Tachibana (Hiroya Shimizu), who lives in the same apartment complex, learns she has bought a pregnancy test kit for her younger sister and so in order

    Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2019 YOKOGAO FILM PARTNERS & COMME DES CINEMAS

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Kadokawa Pictures Official Site: yokogao-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Kadokawa Pictures has provided information and pics for A GIRL MISSING (????, Yokogao), their co-production with the French studio Comme Des Cinemas. The film is a challenging work that tackles the theme of an "innocent assailant". The original script is by director Fukada Koji, who won the Prix du Jury in the Un Certain Regard program with his 2016 movie HARMONIUM (????, Fuchi ni Tatsu) at the 69th Cannes International Film Festival. STORY Risa (Mariko Tsutsui) specifically requests Kazumichi Yoneda (Sosuke Ikematsu) as her hair stylist. Until six months ago she was working as a home-care nurse with the name of Ichiko, but an incident causes her life to fall apart. To get revenge she tries to get close to Kazumichi using the alias of Risa. CREDITS Japanese Theatrical Release Date:

    Photo courtesy of Toho. ©2019 Fuji TV ©Toho

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toho Co., Ltd., Pony Canyon Official Site: kiokunashi-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE “I have no recollection…” Koki Mitani`s long-awaited new film is a hilarious “political comedy”!!! Toho Co., Ltd. and Pony Canyon have provided SciFi Japan with press notes and high-res photos from HIT ME ANYONE ONE MORE TIME (??????????, Kioku ni Gozaimasen!), an all-new film by the popular screenwriter, producer and film director Koki Mitani (A GHOST OF A CHANCE, THE KIYOSU CONFERENCE), master of laughter and emotion. His 8th full length feature film is set in the world of politics, Prime Minister Keisuke Kuroda is widely despised by his people and his approval ratings are the lowest in the history of Japan. One day while delivering a speech, a rock is hurled at him and knocks him unconscious. When he comes to the next day, his memory

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©2019 THE WITNESS Film Partners ©MoonWatcher and N.E.W.

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: mienaimokugekisha.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and photos from the new thriller THE WITNESS (???????, Mienai Mokugeki-sha). The movie is a remake of the 2011 Korean film BLIND (????, Beulraindeu), the story reworked to take into account the nature of Japanese society. Junichi Mori of the LITTLE FOREST (?????????, Ritoru Foresuto, 2014-15) film series directs. STORY Once an outstanding policewoman, Natsume Hamanaka (Riho Yoshioka) is in the pit of despair after losing her sight and her younger brother to a blunder of her own doing. One night she has a near collision with a car from which she could hear the voice a small girl. She reports this to the police who turn a deaf ear so she begins her own investigation and tracks down another witness at the scene, Haruma (Mahiro Takasugi).

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©2019 “Closed Ward” Production Committee

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: heisabyoto.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and photos from CLOSED WARD (????????????, Heisa By?t? ?Sorezore no Asa?), aka FAMILY OF STRANGERS. The film is adapted from the prize-winning novel of the same name by psychiatrist Hosei Hahakigi, which has sold more than 850,000 copies in Japan. CLOSED WARD is directed by Hideyuki Hirayama (BEGGING FOR LOVE, EVEREST: THE SUMMIT OF THE GODS). STORY This film takes places in a psychiatric hospital in Komoro, Nagano Prefecture, where all the patients are dealing with their pasts. Hidemaru Kajiki (played by comedian Tsurube Shofukutei) was sentenced to death for killing his mother and wife, but a mistake was made during the execution, and he survived. Chu (Go Ayano) was once an ordinary office worker, but started hearing voices and acting violently, and is now

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©2019 TALKING THE PICTURES Production Committee

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: katsuben.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and photos from TALKING THE PICTURES (?????, Katsuben!). The film is set roughly 100 years ago, when motion pictures were still silent and in monochrome. Silent film narrators, or "katsuben" (Katsudo Benshi) were a huge thing; they created a unique world with their narrative to draw the audience into the film and captivate them. Here, everything begins when a young boy who dreams of becoming a silent film narrator, ends up at a theater of a small town. TALKING THE PICTURES is directed by Masayuki Suo, who has received many awards with SUMO DO, SUMO DON`T (????????? Shiko Funjatta, 1992) including Best Film at the Japan Academy Prize. SHALL WE DANCE (Shall We ????, Shall We Dansu?, 1996) was awarded in 13 categories at the

    Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2019 Chihuahua-chan Production Committee

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Kadokawa Pictures Official Site: chiwawa-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Kadokawa Pictures has provided information and pics for CHIWAWA (??????, Chiwawa-chan), the live-action adaptation of the short work published in 1994 by manga artist Kyoko Okazaki. The film is directed by Ken Ninomiya, who made his feature film debut with THE LIMIT OF SLEEPING BEAUTY (????????????????????? , Rimitto Obu Suripingu Byuti, 2017). STORY When a dead girl found in Tokyo Bay is identified as Yoshiko Chiwaki—a 20-year-old nursing student—Miki is unaware that it`s her friend Chiwawa. After all their time together, Miki didn`t even know Chiwawa`s real name. Miki first met Chiwawa when she was having fun with a group of friends at their favorite bar where Yoshida brought along Chiwawa as his new girl. Miki had once dated Yoshida so she wasn`t all that happy about Chiwawa turning up. Later on in the

    Photo courtesy of Shochiku. ©2019 “Samurai Shifters” Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: hikkoshi-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Shochiku has provided information and large, high-res photos from SAMURAI SHIFTERS (???????, Hikkoshi Daimy?!), the new film from the creator and producers of the SAMURAI HUSTLE series. THE FLOATING CASTLE director Isshin Inudo adapts the novel Hikkoshi Daimyo by Akihiro Dobashi, which is based on an anecdote about the true-life feudal lord, Naonori Matsudairai. STORY In the Edo period, it cost an absolute fortune for a lord to transfer from one fief to another, and if the shogunate reduced their stipend as well, numerous samurai had to be released from service and rendered masterless, making it a cruel fate for all involved. One day, Naonori Matsudaira, the lord of Himeji fiefdom, is ordered to relocate to Oita by the shogunate. The strain of these repeated relocations takes its toll on

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©22019 BACK STREET GIRLS: GOKUDOLS Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: gokudorus.toeiad.co.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and promotional art for BACK STREET GIRLS: GOKUDOLS (???????????? ?????, Bakku Sutor?to G?ruzu Gokudoruzu), the live-action adaptation of the controversial comedy manga Back Street Girls serialized in Weekly Young Magazine. Fledgling yakuza members Kentaro (Jin Shirasu), Ryo (Reiya Masaki) and Kazuhiko (Masato Hanazawa) screw up on the job. On a whim, their boss sends them to Thailand for sex change operations and head-to-toe plastic surgery, and they are ordered to make money in the entertainment industry as Airi (Natsumi Okamoto), Mari (Ruka Matsuda) and Chika (Akane Sakanoue) in the idol group Gokudols. However, this extraordinary plan achieves unexpected success. BACK STREET GIRLS: GOKUDOLS is directed by Keinosuke Hara of OGAWACHO SERENADE. STORY “In our hearts, we will always be yakuza! Men among men! Please accept

    Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©2019 AIUTA -MY PROMISE TO NAKUHITO- Film Partners

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: aiuta-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and large, high-res photos from AIUTA –MY PROMISE TO NAKUHITO- (??????????, Ai Uta – Yakusoku no Nakuhito), a fantastical coming-of-age drama inspired by a hit song from the Japanese pop music group, GReeeeN. The film stars the young actor Ryusei Yokohama who played the GReeeeN member Navi in the movie KISEKI -SOBITO OF THAT DAY- (??? ?????????, Kiseki -Ano Nitsu no Sobito-, 2017). Two years from the blockbuster success of KISEKI -SOBITO OF THAT DAY-, GReeeeN’s very first song, "Aiuta" (i.e. "Love Song") is transformed into a love story. STORY Aiuta: a song of love and destiny for 3 people... Toru has lived a rather bland life. One day he is told that he has only 3 months to live. Wracked with despair, Toru stumbles

    Takumi Saito plays a mahjong player who time travels from post-war Japan to the not-so-distant future in A GAMBLER`S ODYSSEY 2020. Photo courtesy of Toei Co., Ltd. ©

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: mahjongg2020.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei Co. has provided information and large, high-res photos from A GAMBLER`S ODYSSEY 2020 (?????2020, M?jang H?r?ki 2020), a sci-fi comedy from director Kazuya Shiraishi (THE DEVIL’S PATH, TWISTED JUSTICE, THE BLOOD OF WOLVES) and actor Takumi Saito (SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (???????, Sup?su Batorushippu Yamato, 2010), SHIN GODZILLA, YO-KAI WATCH THE MOVIE 2016 (?? ?????? ?????????????????????, Eiga Y?kai Uotchi Soratobu Kujira to Daburu Sekai no Daib?ken da Nyan!), FUKUSHIMA 50 (?????????, Fukushima Fifuti, 2020). Saito plays Boyatetsu, a surly mahjong ace living in the chaos of post-World War II Tokyo. After being struck by lightning, he awakens in the year 2020 to find Tokyo dominated by AI. Boyatetsu uses his gambling skills to survive while searching for a way home. A GAMBLER`S ODYSSEY 2020 is promoted as "a wildly imaginative

    Photo courtesy of Shochiku. ©2019 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: tora-san.jp/movie50 (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Japan`s most prominent and popular comedy film series celebrates its 50th anniversary with its 50th film. Tora-san is back on the screen! Shochiku has provided information and large, high-res photos from TORA-SAN, WISH YOU WERE HERE (?????? ??? ???, Otoko wa Tsuraiyo Okaeri Torasan), the new film commemorating the 50th anniversary of director Yoji Yamada`s humanistic comedy series Tora-san. The movie revives the series after a 22-year hiatus, and brings one of Japan`s most beloved characters back to the big screen through a combination of new footage and 4K restored images of marquee actor Atsumi wKiyoshi, who passed away in 1996. Chieko Baisho, Gin Maeda, Hidetaka Yoshioka and Kumiko Goto return to reprise their roles from the earlier films. TORA-SAN, WISH YOU WERE HERE was the opening film for the

    Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2019

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Kadokawa Pictures Official Site: rakuen-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Kadokawa Pictures has provided information and pics for THE PROMISED LAND (??, Rakuen), based on Yoshida Shuichi`s short story compilation Crime Novel Collection (Hanzai Shosetsu-shu). Takahisa Zeze, who scored a smash hit in 2016 with his 2-part adaptation of 64 (SIX FOUR), returns to write and direct this socially relevant thriller. STORY 12 years ago, a young girl named Aika was kidnapped at the junction of a Y-shaped road. The case remains unsolved. Tsumugi (Hana Sugisaki), a close friend of the victim, has been deeply emotionally scarred by the incident. Tsumugi can`t forgive herself as she was with Aika minutes before she was abducted. A local festival is held, and while it helping out, Tsugumi meets Tsuyoshi (Go Ayano), the town loner who lives with his mom and refurbishes used items

    Photo courtesy of Shochiku. ©2019

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: chushingura-movie.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Shochiku has provided information and large, high-res photos from the comedy THE 47 RONIN IN DEBT (??????, Kessan! Chushingura). The film is based on Hirofumi Yamamoto`s Chushingura`s Financial Statements that detailed samurai Kuranosuke Oishi`s records of the attack on Kozunosuke Kira during the Edo Period. THE 47 RONIN IN DEBT is directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura, who has helmed numerous period works including MUMON: THE LAND OF STEALTH. STORY The Ako retainers` vassal lord Asano Takumi no Kami was forced to commit harakiri for attacking Kozunosuke Kira with his sword. Chief retainer Kuranosuke Oishi (Shinichi Tsutsumi) aims to restore the feudal domain with accountant Chosuke Yato (Takashi Okamura), but the public demand revenge on Kira. However, the attack requires a huge sum of money. CREDITS Japanese Theatrical Release: November 22, 2019

    Photo courtesy of Shochiku. ©Shochiku Broadcasting Co., Ltd.

    Asian Cinema

    Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: special-actors.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Shochiku has provided information and large, high-res photos from the new comedy SPECIAL ACTORS (??????????, Supesharu Akut?zu), the second feature film from ONE CUT OF THE DEAD director Shinichiro Ueda. Ueda has taken a concept he has been incubating for many years and cast 15 unknown actors for this multiple protagonist movie. The seventh project produced under Shochiku Broadcasting`s original film banner, SPECIAL ACTORS leads the viewer down a mysterious road where nothing is what it appears to be... STORY Real actors acting fake...? Fake actors acting real...? Kazuto (Kazuhito Osawa) is not a typical actor...actually, he`s not an actor at all! He`s just a timid young guy who regularly faints from stress, hopelessly impressed with the psychic strength of the hero from the B-movie RESCUEMAN. Kazuto`s younger brother invites

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