Akiha - Eiga Sai with the KimonoPH crew! It was a very enjoyable day- we watched ‘Anthem of the Heart’ [trailer] and had tea at TWG after. The mall staff liked our ensembles so much they showed us around the exhibits the mall had up for this coming week, celebrating Japanese culture.
komon kimono and tsuke obi - from Sam Khloey
skirt - Bodyline l325
handmade sleeve flounces and false collar
hat - Foxcherry
metal belt - vintage
lace OTKs - Forever21
shoes, printed scarf and bag - offbrand
Photos by Yue Titus and Chirlind Flores of KimonoPH.
A mix of new and re-releases are now showing in PH cinemas this week.
Note: Release dates are subject to change.
International Releases
American filmmaker Kogonada directed After Yang, which was one of my favorite films when I saw it in 2021. After a stint directing episodes of various series, he returns to direct A Big Bold Beautiful Journey starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell. A…
Did everyone go to Eiga Sai held last week? Which films did you catch?
The Japan Foundation Manila annually holds a movie festival called “Eiga Sai” for Japanese film enthusiasts. Eiga Sai literally means movie festival (Eiga for movie while Sai for festival). This is in celebration for Japan-Philippines friendship month. The movie festival usually starts in mid-July until August in Manila, Cebu and Davao.
I watched last July 13 and was able to see three films: “WA-SHOKU ~ Beyond Sushi ~, Tada’s Do-it All House: Disconcerto and Thermae Romae II.
Be astonished with the delicate making of Japanese cuisine
WA-SHOKU ~ Beyond Sushi ~ is a documentary featuring Japanese cuisine that is spreading like wildfire in America. This factual film presents the passionate story of Kanai Noritoshi, a Chairman of Mutual Company Inc., who propagated the beginning of Japanese cuisine in the West. It also features known Japanese chefs in the US such as Matsuhisa Nobu of Nobu restaurants, Uechi Katsuya of Katsu-ya group and Tyson Cole, the chef/owner of Uchi restaurant among others.
One thing that I learned in the said documentary is that Japanese cuisine needs to adapt to its market. For instance, some customers request that they add seasoning in sushi but the chef declined. Due to this, they started losing customers. Hence, the restaurant management changed their way of thinking and started to adapt.
From Ysa’s point of view:
I visited US last year and I experienced eating in Japanese restaurants. I often asked myself why is the Japanese food in America not really authentic or original when people say it’s authentic Japanese food. My friend, Ashley who was based in Japan for years, also pointed out that the Japanese food here in Manila is extremely sweet. So, now I understood why. They needed to adapt to their market.
About Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto and Thermae Romae II under the cut!
With Gyoten and Tada’s friendship, will they be able to survive the issues they’re up to?
Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto is a live action adaptation of Miura Shion’s Naoki Prize-winning series starring known Japanese actors, Eita and Matsuda Ryohei. Disconcerto is already the third installment for the series. The first feature film was made in 2011 and a TV drama was produced in 2013. This particular film highlights the tandem between two friends named Gyoten and Tada. Tada was wavering to take care of Gyoten’s daughter plus they were tasked to investigate a mysterious cult group.
From Ysa’s point of view:
I love how closed the friendship between Gyoten and Tada is. They may have been in pinch since Gyoten doesn’t want to take care of his daughter but they were able to solve the trouble. I also appreciate the comedic elements of the film especially the scene where they were in a lookout for the mysterious cult. Unrelated however, I also love that Kora Kengo is included in this film. I haven’t seen most of his projects yet but I heard that he really is a good actor!
From ancient Rome to post-modern Japan
Thermae Romae II is a sequel to the live action adaptation of Yamazaki Mari’s popular manga. This film details about a Roman Empire bathhouse architect, Lucius (popular Japanese actor Abe Hiroshi), who travels in time to modern Japan. Lucius was assigned to build effective bathhouses for the Romans. From billions of years in Rome to present day Japan, he learns and applies how the Japanese build their bathhouses, hot springs (onsen) and swimming pools.
From Ysa’s point of view:
This is my favorite among the three films I’ve watched! This may not be their cup of tea for some but I really loved how the cast executed the comedy in this film. I was laughing so hard throughout the movie! I was also astounded with the concept of producing a Japanese movie that features a different culture.
Altogether, I really appreciate that Japan Foundation Manila organizes this festival yearly. Japanese films are really awe-inspiring that they deserve to be watched by the whole world! Thank you again to Ashley for inviting me, to Kuya JP and to new friends I’ve met in Eiga Sai. <3
Eiga Sai is still ongoing. The next screening will be this July 24-26 in Abreeza Mall Cinema 2, Ayala, Davao City. While, August 12-15 in UP Film Institute, Quezon City and August 19-23 in Ayala Center Cebu Cinema 4, Cebu City.
For more information about Eiga Sai, please head to Japan Foundation Manila’s website: JFM Website
Japan Foundation Manila’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jfmanila/
Let’s do a comparative analysis of my Saturday and Sunday this past weekend.
Or perhaps, let us not. Let me just say this - sure, socializing can be fun (even when you have nothing in common with the people you’re hanging out with and they can’t understand your silly sense of humor). However, watching a very satisfying movie is so much more invigorating to the soul.
I gave up on catching those free foreign films that a cinema would regularly screen every year because of the long lines. But this year, I decided I would make an effort, simply because the hours I have spent alone inside my room far outnumber the hours I spend talking to people personally. I spent a whole weekend not talking to a single person - in fact, I think I’ve had numerous weekends like that. While I suppose I could survive with that, I do admit I miss my friends.
So I finally met up with friends yesterday, watched one silly film (I slept through the first one, sorry), ate bad food, and camped out for three hours to watch the last show - a Japanese coming of age movie with the English title, Wood Job! You can just Google the premise of the movie, but it is one of those movies that sounds totally typical in theory but fantastic in execution. We could not stop raving about it after. I found myself saying that it’s a good example of a very satisfying film. As someone who watches a movie closely, I knew the tropes used, I knew where the plot was going, but this did not impede my enjoyment of the movie. Knowing that the movie was working with a very well-known structure actually made me appreciate it even more.
Why, though? Shouldn’t I be going for more avant-garde movies that push me to rethink my ideas about life? I do believe there are merits to genre-busting movies that make you question everything you believe in life, but I love a movie that uses genre conventions to serve the story and make it flourish. Sometimes, experimental bullshit can blow your mind, but it cannot really put it back together with a real, clear thought process. And that feels like a cop-out to me. It’s like the storyteller just gave up and said, “well, I don’t know what I really believe in, so I’m just going to leave it hanging here.” I’m not saying I want every film I watch to be feel-good, but perhaps it’s better to bother people with a statement, and not with a question.
Yes, it’s that time of the year again! The Japan Foundation Manila officially announced on their facebook page the schedule and the list of films slated to be screened in this year’s EIGA SAI!
The screening will happen in Shang Cineplex Cinema 2 (July 9 to 19), FDCP Cinematheque, Davao (July 14 to 19), Abreeza Mall Cinema, Davao (July 24 to 26) and UP Film Institute (August 12 to 15) and Ayala Center Cinema 4, Cebu City (August 19 to 23).
The theme for this year’s EIGA SAI is “Tasteful Japan” which will feature the world of culinary in The Land of the Rising Sun. Among the films scheduled to be screened are:
Our Family
Wood Job!
Thermae Romae II
Parasyte (Kiseijuu)
A Tale of Samurai Cooking - A True Love Story
More trailers under the cut
Princess Jellyfish
Tada’s Do-It-All House: Disconcerto
Washoku ~Beyond Sushi~
PATISSERIE Coin de rue
The God of Ramen
and It’s a Beautiful Life – IRODORI.
The trailers were compiled by Lito De Guzman on youtube here.
Admission is again free! <3
For the complete schedule, please refer to their flyer uploaded on JFM’s website here.
If you’re really into Japanese pop culture, you surely can’t miss this festival! Let’s all support Eiga Sai 2015!
Now on its 17th year, EIGA SAI 2015: The Japanese Film Festival proudly presents the theme of “Tasteful Japan” as it features the delectable culinary world of Japan through its contemporary films released in 2014. This is made possible by The Japan Foundation, Manila, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, Tokyo International Film Festival, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, UP Film Institute and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
In celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, a wide array of film genres is showcased in this year’s lineup: from comedy to feature to documentary to hirstorical drama and sci-fi/fantasy genre.
To grace the opening night on July 9 (Thursday) at the Shang Cineplex is Yuya Ishii, the director of the opening film “Our Family.” The screening is scheduled at 7:30 PM. He will also lead a Director’s Talk at the Lopez Center Studio, Ateneo de Manila University on July 10 (Friday) at 3:00 PM and at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 2 on July 11 (Saturday) at 4:30 PM.
“Our Family” is the film adaptation of Kazumasa Hayami’s novel of the same title. It is about the life of a four-member family whose life fall apart until the mother is diagnosed with brain tumor. Giving life to the eldest son of the family is one of Japan’s renowned actors Satoshi Tsumabuki. Its director Yuya Ishii is popular for his work “The Great Passage,” Japan’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.
Completing the lineup for this year’s Japanese film fest are the following:
Wood Job! (Wood job Kamusari naa naa nichijo)
Thermae Romae II (Terumae Romae II)
Parasyte (Kiseijuu)
A Tale of Samurai Cooking – A True Love Story (Bushi no kondate)
All films will be shown with English subtitles. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. The following are the screening venues and respective schedules. Check below for the complete screening schedules per venue:
July 9 – 19: Shang Cineplex Cinema 2 (July 9 to 19)
July 14 – 19: FDCP Cinematheque, Davao
July 24 – 26: Abreeza Mall Cinema, Davao
August 12 – 15: UP Film Institute, UP Diliman
August 19 – 23: Ayala Center Cinema 4, Cebu City
Eiga Sai 2015 runs from July 9 to Aug 23 Now on its 17th year, EIGA SAI 2015: The Japanese Film Festival proudly presents the theme of "Tasteful Japan" as it features the delectable culinary world of Japan through its contemporary films released in 2014.
