Recent Posts
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Episode #99 (S12E09) – Ikiru [生きる] (1952)
Returning guest and fellow podcaster Derick McDuff is back on the show for a discussion of one of Akira Kurosawa's most well-known and well-regarded films—1952's Ikiru. We chart Waranabe's growth over the movie, the type of environment he's in, and how little Japanese bureaucracy has changed.
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Drama, Episodes, School Life, Season 12, Thriller
Episode #98 (S12E08) – Monster [怪物] (2023)
It's another film by Hirokazu Kore-eda! This time, Perry is joined by podcaster Sam Stokes to discuss the director's latest film, Monster. With different perspectives, it's an enlightening film about the concept of bullying.
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Anime, Episodes, Science Fiction, Season 12, Western
Episode #97 (S12E07) – Cowboy Bebop: The Movie [カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉] (2001)
Podcaster Ian Buckley returns for another anime film. This time, we spotlight Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, also known as Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door. We discuss the series, its legacy, and how this movie fits into that legacy.
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Episode #96 (S12E06) – Nobody Knows [誰も知らない] (2004)
Japanese film scholar Lindsay Nelson is back on the show to discuss Hirokazu Kore-eda's heartbreaking drama, Nobody Knows. Based on a true story about a family of children abandoned by their single mother, there's a lot to talk about in this.
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Anime, Comedy, Drama, Episodes, Family, Fantasy, Season 12
Episode #95 (S12E05) – Pom Poko [平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ] (1994)
Comic creator Ryan Estrada makes his debut to discuss one of Studio Ghibli's strangest films, 1994's Pom Poko! We talk about the movie's interesting structure, the deeper themes, and, of course, the power of raccoon balls.
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Action, Episodes, Grindhouse, Horror, Science Fiction, Season 12
Episode #94 (S12E04) – Versus [ヴァーサス] (2000)
Author Jennifer Upton returns for a fun discussion about Ryuhei Kitamura's Versus! A genre-bending film that plays with archetypes and looks far better than its budget should allow for, it's a quick, entertaining watch.
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Drama, Episodes, School Life, Season 12
Episode #93 (S12E03) – Typhoon Club [台風クラブ] (1985)
Fellow podcaster Sam Inglis returns to discuss 1985's Typhoon Club. A great character study, though with some aspects that are difficult to watch.
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Episodes, Horror, Kaiju, Science Fiction, Season 12, Thriller
Episode #92 (S12E02) – Godzilla Minus One [ゴジラ-1.0] (2023)
This is the one many listeners have been waiting for. Podcaster Jason Kleeberg joins Perry to dive into the wildly successful Godzilla Minus One! Praised both at home and abroad for good reason, there's a lot to unpack here.
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Episode #91 (S12E01) – Ring 0 [リング0:バースデー] (2000)
Welcome to a new season of Japan On Film! We kick things off with returning guest and author Frank Schildiner to discuss Ring 0, the prequel to the Ring series and the origins of Sadako. Though better than some of the other sequels, this still leaves a lot to be desired.
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Episode #90 (S11E10) – Ju-on: The Grudge [呪怨] (2003)
Podcaster Chris Osborne comes by the show for a discussion of one of the classics of J-Horror. In this episode, we dive into Takeshi Shimizu's Ju-on: The Grudge, which helped contribute to the J-Horror craze of the early 2000s (and Hollywood's obsession with remaking them). This is the final episode of the season. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll be back in a few months with Season 12!