Live DVD plus CD of a concert by Ryuichi Sakamoto together with Alva Noto (Carsten Nicolai) and the Ensemble Modernes in Mannaheim, Germany, November 2007. Electronics plus classical music, the live DVD has various off stage footage, while the CD is just one track but it is 72 minutes long.
Life- Fluid, Invisible, Inaudble is an istallation by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Shiro Takatani, which was exhibited in Yamaguchi and ICC in 2007. The exhibition was captured on video, recomposed into a new video work and turned into a DVD. The work surrounds the viewer with stereo images and split screen video to create an installation space that reinterprets the original work into a new audio-visual experience. Price: £28.99
Life- Fluid, Invisible, Inaudble is an istallation by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Shiro Takatani, which was exhibited in Yamaguchi and ICC in 2007. The exhibition was captured on video, recomposed into a new video work and turned into a DVD. The work surrounds the viewer with stereo images and split screen video to create an installation space that reinterprets the original work into a new audio-visual experience.
Norihiko(Gaho) Sakai is a renowned koto player and composer of the Ikuta school. He performs together with Kazuko Sakai, Mikio Tani, Sumiko Ayabe (17 stringed koto), Hideyuki Hitomi, Sachiyo Abe, Reiko Miyake (san-gen), Keizan hamane, Yasunori Tani (shakuhachi). 7 tracks, 60 minutes of beautiful traditional music. NTSC, Region Code 2. 1. Kojo no Tuski for Solo 2. Small Pieces for Concert for Children and Beginners (Sakura Carlarin, Tonkororin, Aki no Sho-kumikyoku) 3. Poem 4. Tenjin Shikyoku 5. Two Classics (Gakkyo no Toki, For Elise) 6. Genso-kyoku 'Reki' 7. Kyoso-kyoku-fu 'Tsuyama no Sato' Price: £21.99
Volume 2 of the Hiroshi Shimizu film collection of 3 DVDs of his films, plus one extra feature DVD of the film Kodomo no Shiki, Four Seasons of Children. This selection is of his films that feature children. All DVDs come with Japanese and English subtitles, Region Code 2. The three titles below (Children in the Wind, Nobuko and Introspection Tower) plus Four Seasons of Children, the follow up to Children in the Wind, also based on a Joji Tsubota novel following the adventures of children over Spring and Autumn (Chapter 1) and Autumn and Winter (Chapter 2) (1939) 146 minutes. The final chapter is unfinished as the original film was lost.
Hiroshi Shimizu is known for his sensitive depictions of children and childhood. Children in the Wind (1937) is probably his most popular film in Japan, although one of his more lightweight works. Two brothers are ostracized by their friends because their father is unjustly accused of embezzlement. Based on a novel by Joji Tsubota, author of classic coming of age stories. Stars Reikichi Kawamura, Mitsuko Yoshikawa, Takeshi Sakamoto, Fumiko Okamoto, Shu Kasachi, Masao Hayama and Kozo Bakudan. 86 minutes. Region Code 2. Price: £22.99
Stars the actress and singer Mieko Takamine as the heroine Nobuko, a teacher working within the constraints of a conservative school. She soon starts to change the ways of the school with her novel teaching methods. Based on a novel by Bunroku Shishi, also stars Mitsuko Miura, Hideko Kasuga, Fumiko Okamura, Masami Morikawa, Eiko Takamtsu, Choko Iida. 90 minutes, 1940, Region Code 2, Japanese and English subtitles.
Introspection Tower is set at a boarding school in the countryside, and asks difficult questions about education through the various experiences of the teachers and students. Shu Kasachi, Shinyo Nara, Kuniko Miyake, Masami Morikawa, Jun Yokoyama, Shinichi Himori, Setsuko Shinobu. 1941, 111 minutes with Japanese and English subtitles, Region Code 2. Price: £22.99
First DVD from the excellent young shamisen player and performer of kouta (short shamisen songs) in concert from Tokyo. 80 minutes plus special feature (15 minutes). Artists are Mika Shigemori (vocals, shamisen), Yukino Yamamoti (vocals, shamisen), Harumi Mochizuki (hayashi), Kiko Katada (hayashi), Rio Tosha (fue). 1. Dodoitsu 2. Sanosa 3. Hahha Kudoki 4. Akebono 5. Gosho no Oniwa 6. Atsumori 7. Nasu to Kabocha - Ume wa Saitaka - Mushibue - Hagi Kikyo (Medley) 8. Nekoja Nekoja 9. Niagari Sumo Jinku 10. Dangoe 11. Shuran Doshi 12. Uso to Makoto 13. Karakasa - Yakko-san - Asai Kawa - Sawagi 14. Kappore 15. Yojo no Hashi kara
Popular comedy programme by a theatre company in Okinawa. Episodes 1 to 4 originally broadcast in July 2006. 90 minutes. Price: £9.99
Release delayed until July 2008. With English and Japanese subtitles, English text, high quality wide screen and multi angle. Region Code 2. Two nights of Noh performance by two young stars, Mansai Nomura and Yoshimasa Kanze in collaboration with Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) of Sogetsu school by Akane Kushigawara. The Kyogen play is Kane no Ne (The Ring of Bells) and the noh play is Tsuchigomo (Ground Spider) noted for being visually spectacular and entertaining. It's most famous scene is when the shite throws spider threads made of Japanese paper. Special feature has interviews with the performers and a guide to the costumes. Performed in Sapporo, Hokkaido. 80 minutes plus special features 60 minutes.
Release delayed until July 2008. With English and Japanese subtitles, English text, high quality wide screen and multi angle. Region Code 2. Two nights of Noh performance by two young stars, Mansai Nomura and Yoshimasa Kanze in collaboration with Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) of Sogetsu school by Akane Kushigawara. Dojoji (The Temple of Dojoji) is set at the temple in modern day Wakayama Prefecture and centres around a new bell for the temple. The highlight of the play is the ranbyoshi (mad rhythm) dance which gradually increases in tempo, while the chorus and dancer describe the origin of the temple, and the spring evening with cherry blossoms. Special feature has interviews with the performers and a guide to the costumes. Performed in Sapporo, Hokkaido. 95 minutes plus special features 60 minutes. Price: £30.99
Learning the basics of tea making from Shuya Hisada from Omotesenke, one of the main schools of Japanese tea ceremony. Lessons on how to make usucha, the most common type of macha (the traditional type of powdered green tea used in tea ceremony). Learn about tea equipment, how to drink tea as a guest and a guide to the tea houses of Omotesenke. Japanese language only. 73 minutes. Region Code 2, NTSC.
Volume 2 on learning the basics of tea making from Shuya Hisada from the Omotesenke school of tea ceremony. Lessons on how to make koicha, the other type of macha, plus about the sweets used and how to drink tea. 71 minutes. Region Code 2 NTSC. Japanese only.
Price: £23.99
Volumes 1 and 2 of above titles together in a box.
Yukio Ninagawa is a theatre director particularly known for his Japanese language productions of Shakespeare, as well as noh and Japanese dramatists. His productions have toured around the world including New York and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. This DVD features two of his Shakespeare productions with a cast comprised of entirely Japanese actors. 'As You Like It' - Jun Oguri (Orlando), Hiroki Narimiya (Rosalind) 'Love's Labour's Lost' - Kazuki Kitamura (Ferdinand), Shunsuke Kubozuka (Dumaine) 300 minutes, Region Code 2.
Price: £79.99
It's been 25 years since the wonderful Eitetsu Hayashi first performed solo, after being a member of the big two taiko groups, Ondekoza and Kodo. 3 CDs and 1 DVD of material from throughout his career compiled from albums he released with various record companies. 22 tracks on the 3 CDs. The DVD is of previously unreleased live footage from a concert in Tokyo from the 2004/5 Japan tour including special features and interview.
Released onto DVD for the first time. Three films plus one extra DVD, a silent film by Hiroshi Shimizu in a box with English subtitles, also available individually as below. Mr Thank You (1936) Masseurs and the Woman (1938) Ornamental Hairpin (1941) and the silent film, Japanese Girls at the Harbour (Minato no Nihon Musume) (1933). Region Code 2, NTSC, 219 minutes plus 78 minutes (silent film). Hiroshi Shimizu (1903-1966) worked at Shochiku studios and is highly regarded both in Japan and by some critics overseas, but somehow lived in the shadow of another great director and his friend, Yasujiro Ozu. The characters in his films are usally outcasts of society, from whose perspective Japanese society is viewed with a sceptical point of view, during what was a troubled time in Japan's history. Many films convey the conflict between personal happiness and fitting into the strict sense of order, the hyprocises of the time, and the contrast between life in the countryside of old Japan and the developing urban lifestyle, with its corruptive ways compared to the more simple and traditional ways of life. The silent film, Japanese Girls at the Harbour 'Minato no Nihon Musume' (1933) features a cast including Michiko Oikawa, Yukiko Inoue and Ranko Sawa. The story is mainly set in Yokohama and is a Western/Japanese encounter involving two schoolgirls Sunako and Dora who attend a Christian school and a young man called Henry. After Henry and Sunako become involved, Henry joins an underworld gang and takes up with a Eurasian girl called Yoko Sheridan. Sunako shoots Yoko, ends up in prison and on release becomes a prostitute working in various harbour cities. An artist attaches himself to her while Henry eventually marries Dora. Sunako eventually leaves for a new life abroad with the bohemian artist who throws his paintings overbaord from the departing ship. The film is noted for its Japanese poetic imagery, beautiful location shots and creating fresh techniques in silent cinema. Price: £79.99
Mr. Thank You (1936) is based on a short story by Yasunari Kawabata and stars Ken Uehara and Michiko Kuwano. 78 minutes with Japanese / English subtitles Region Code 2, NTSC. As with many Shimizu films, the troubles of the time are very much to the fore, as Japanese militarism, unemployment and poverty are all the subjects of conversations between passengers on a bus, the 'Mr Thank You' being the driver of the bus. One passenger is a girl on her way to be sold into prostitution, while a Korean girl labourer approaches Mr Thank You and tells him that she and her colleagues who have been building the roads in the area, are about to be sent north and asks him to take flowers to her father's grave. Mr Thank You is kind to her and indeed everyone he meets and offers to drive her to the station. Nevertheless, the implication of exploitation of immigrant workers is clear. The film is shot on location and takes place almost in real time mostly within the confines of the bus. Although fairly breezy it has serious undercurrents of concern about the direction Japan is heading.
Masseurs and a Woman (1938) 66 minutes with English subtitles. Region Code 2 NTSC starring Mieko Takamine and Shin Tokudaiji. The film is set around an inn in an onsen (hot spring) town. The main characters are a group of blind masseurs and the various visitors to the inn, including an enigmatic woman from Tokyo. A young man and his nephew both take an interest in her, with several unexpected twists to the story. Price: £22.99
Ornamental Hairpin (1941) based on a story by Masuji Ibuse, starring Kinuyo Tanaka and Shu Kasachi. 70 minutes with Japanese / English subtitles. The film is set in a hot spring resort, the film's characters, who are guests at the inn are a microcosm of Japanese society. None of them want to return their life outside of the inn. The heroine of the film is Emi, although why she doesn't want to return to Tokyo is kept ambiguous. The militarism of the time is acknowledged with a wounded soldier. The guests at the hotel become an extended family, the resort offering an escape from political and social pressures. Most of the characters do eventually return with the exception of Emi, the owner of the hairpin.
The Heisei Nakamuraza troupe was founded in 2000 by Nakamura Kanzaburo XV111, one of Japan's leading kabuki actors. This was the fifth edition of the 100 strong all male troupe and the first time they performed outside Japan in July 2004 in the USA. This performance was from the Lincoln Center in New York, 17-25 July and is of the Kamigata play Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami. Heisei Nakamuraza is noted for productions that add a contemporary creative energy and humour while respecting the ancient heritage of kabuki, and are considered by some to be close to the earlier days of kabuki in the 17th century. Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami (Summer Festival: Mirror of Osaka) was originally written for bunraku (puppet theatre) and staged for the first time in 1745. Danshichi is a fishmonger and otokodate (chivalrous commoner) who looks after the welfare of ordinary townspeople against the samurai. He had been imprsioned for wounding a samurai, but after receiving a pardon he is to be released. His wife, Okaji, son, Ichimatsu and Sabu, another otokodate, go to meet him. While they are praying, Danshichi is brought out and released, goes to the barber and gets a clean set of clothes. The courtesan Kotoura enters trailed by the evil samurai Sagaemon. Danshihsi gives him a beating and then gets into another fight with Tokubei who has come to get Kotoura, although the two men realizing they are both loyal to the same samurai Hyodayu, swear eternal friendship. In the final act, a festival is in progress and Danshichi catches up with Giheiji, his evil father-in-law. Giheiji says he kidnapped Kotoura in order to sell her. Danshichi offers to buy her but as he has no money. Realizing he has been tricked, the two get into a fight and Danshichi kills him. Stripped down to his loin cloth, we see Danshichi's tatooed body and a series of mie poses, while the festival continues in the background. He tries to wash himself in a well, and his final lines of the play are 'Evil though he was, a father-in-law is still a parent. Father, please forgive me!'. NTSC, 150 minutes, Region Code 2. Price: £29.99
Somewhat surprisingly, Japan's foremost noise band have never released a DVD before. This is a live DVD from their American tour 2005 plus 6 tracks of original break beats from member EyE Yamataka.
