Drama
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Episode #118 (S14E09) – The Emperor in August (2015) [日本のいちばん長い日]
Japanese film scholar Patrick Terry returns to the show to discuss The Emperor in August and the historical context around Japan's surrender at the end of WW2 and what the film spotlights and leaves out.
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Episode #117 (S14E08) – Memories of Matsuko (2006) [嫌われ松子の一生]
This episode, Perry is joined by podcaster, game designer, and returning guest KJ Brown to discuss the vibrantly depressing Memories of Matsuko.
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Episode #114 (S14E05) – Porco Rosso (1992) [紅の豚]
"Better a pig than a fascist" is the famous line from Studio Ghibli's Porco Rosso. Film critic Alexander Scott joins the show to dive into this pulpy adventure.
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Episode #111 (S14E02) – The Blind Menace (1960) [不知火検校]
Before Zatoichi, Shintaro Katsu played another blind masseur, but a much more sinister one! Japanese film scholar Jonathan Wroot makes his debut on the show to discuss The Blind Menace!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
