Bonten is a seven piece male and female taiko group. They recently performed at the Expo held in Aichi, Japan. This is a DVD of their live concert held in Yokohama in Japan 2004. 12 tunes, 110minutes. Price: £29.99
Various scenes of Okinawa; the traditional culture, historical spots, people's lifestyle, and the sea. Accompanied by some of Okinawa's most famous songs, some performed by the original artists. The Boom's 'Shima Uta', Nenes 'Bye Bye Okinawa' and 'Akemodoro' plus Rinken Band, Shang Shang Typhoon and traditional tunes performed by Toru Yonaha. Nice mix of music and film. Price: £24.99
Price: £24.99
Ever wondered what they are laughing about in traditional Japanese comedy? Now you can find out with a DVD of rakugo or comic story telling, as this is in English! Rakugo dates back at least 400 years. The performer sits down or stands up surrounded by an audience, with whom he exchanges quips and interacts. The rakugo performer takes on several roles in a story, which often reflect 18th century Japanese culture and society. The monologue climaxes with a ochi (fall) or sage (lowering), whereby the wordplay is suddenly interrupted. This wonderful DVD features three episodes, all told in English, Time Noodles (Asakichi Katsura), The Prohibition (Ippei Hayashiya) and Bridal Training (Kimie Oshima) Price: £23.99
Director Masahiro Shinoda is one of Japan's leading 'new wave' directors, alongside Nagisa Oshima and Shohei Imamura. He studied the traditional arts of kabuki, noh and bunraku, and his films are known for exploring the soul of Japanese character.Directed by Shinoda with screenplay by Shuji Terayama, Buraikan (1970) is centred around six characters in the Edo period, trying to make a living during Japan's chaotic Tempou revolution (1830-1843) when many restrictions were in force. Based on a stage play, Buraikan brings the art of traditional Kabuki to the small screen. 130 minutes plus special features on DVD. Region code 2. . Price: £28.99
Powerful film directed by Masahiro Shinoda, music by Toru Takemitsu, based on the novel by Shusaku Endo, winner of the Junichiro Tanizaki award, published in 1966. The story is set in mid 17th century Nagasaki. Two Portuguese missionaries secretly arrive in Nagasaki in order to propagate the spread of Christianity and to search for the missing former teacher of Rodrigo, one of the missionary priests and the main character of the film. A fugitive, Rodrigo struggles under the suppression of Christianity and Christians by the Japanese. When he is captured, he is tortured and renounces his faith. With English subtitles, 130min. Region Code 2. Price: £28.99
Directed by Masahiro Shinoda, music by Toru Takemitsu, based on the novel by Shintaro Ishihara. The story is about a mother and a son, of love and hate, of good and evil. Haruo is a 25 year old intern at a university hospital who hates his professor and his own mother. One day he meets Eiko, his old classmate and spends the night with her. Eiko tells Haruo how she is disgusted by her boss with whom she is having a relationship. Haruo tells Eiko to kill him... 1973, with English subtitles, 117 minutes plus special features. Region Code 2 Price: £28.99
Directed by Masahiro Shinoda, music by Toru Takemitsu, based on the novel by Ango Sakaguchi. A tale of acute human loneliness filled with mystery and fantasy through the relationship of Japanese with the cherry tree. Set in the 12th century, a bandit attacks travelers when they come near the mountain where he lives. He usually kills the men but keeps the women alive, forcing them to become his mistress. One day he comes across a shockingly beautiful woman under a cherry tree in full bloom, in which he believes a demon more evil than himself resides. He carries her on his back and takes her to his house. Granting her wish, they move to the city where he kills people and brings back their heads to please her...1975, with English subtitles, 95 minutes plus special features. Region Code 2. Price: £28.99
Directed by Masahiro Shinoda and music by Toru Takemitsu. A sad love story. Orin is a 'goze' or a blind female travelling musician. As part of the goze code, she is expected to remain celibate. However, she is raped and expelled by the group. She meets a young man, opposed to Japanese militarism. They travel together, but suprisingly he doesn't try to take advantage of her. 1977, with English subtitles, 117 minutes plus special features. Region Code 2. Price: £28.99
Directed by Masahiro Shinoda. During World War II many people were forced to flee from the cities to the countryside. This moving film centres around Shinji, a 10 year old boy evacuated from Tokyo, and his new schoolmates in rural Toyama. Shinji is dressed in a relatively smart uniform, compared to the local children. The playground bully is the son of a fisherman,Takeshi, who Shinji soon becomes enemies with. Shinji lets his new mates down to meet a girl from Osaka, and is forced by Takeshi to sing in front of them. Slowly Takeshi's grip on the gang fades. 1990, with English subtitles, trailers and liner notes. Price: £28.99
Directed by leading 'new wave' director Masahiro Shinoda, in Captive's Island (1966) a man returns to the island where he was imprisoned to seek revenge, his plans altered when he meets a woman. Based on the novel by Shintaro Ishihara, music by Toru Takemitsu. 86 minutes. English subtitles. Special features for DVD. Region Code 2. Price: £28.99
