Drama
-
Episode #109 (S13E10) – Sonatine (1993) [ソナチネ]
We close out Season 13 with returning guest Ian Buckley! This time, we're discussing Takeshi Kitano's classic yakuza film, Sonatine. Thank you for listening! We'll be taking a hiatus, but will return shortly for Season 14!
-
Episode #105 (S13E06) – Happy Flight (2008) [ハッピーフライト]
Christopher Hood, an academic and author specializing in Japanese society and transportation, joins the show to discuss Happy Flight, a movie all about air travel in Japan.
-
Episode #104 (S13E05) – Tokyo Godfathers (2004) [東京ゴッドファーザーズ]
Christmas comes early as Matthew Trecek of the Deskwarmers podcast joins Perry for a discussion of Satoshi Kon's beloved anime, Tokyo Godfathers.
-
Episode #103 (S13E04) – Vital (2004) [ヴィタール]
Writer and Japanese film scholar Jennifer Upton returns again, and this time we're discussing Shinya Tsukamoto's Vital.
-
Episode #102 (S13E03) – High and Low (1963) [天国と地獄]
YouTuber and fellow Japan resident Amanda Hartsell joins Perry in this episode to discuss capitalism and Japanese society as depicted in Akira Kurosawa's High and Low.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
