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Considering Japan’s fascination with photo books, it is no surprise that the concept of photography has become the basis for local movies a number of times, with titles like “Woman of the Photographs” and “Arakimentari” being among the first that come to mind. Mark Gill attempts his hand in the concept through a biopic about Masahisa Fukase, a renowned, as much as self-destructive photographer whose most renowned work is the titular album.

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The movie sets the tone from the beginning. An elderly Fukase, in evident decline, is interacting with a huge black raven, who speaks in English for some reason. It turns out that the raven was always beside him, with him talking to it quite frequently, occasionally even in the presence of others, as his father’s words eloquently highlight later on in the movie. His father, Sukaze, is actually the second focal point of his life.

The official website of the upcoming live-action film of Mieruko-chan released a main trailer and poster visual on March 28, 2025.

The newly unveiled footage also highlights the film’s theme song, “Ghost,” performed by the seven-member Korean idol group Babymonster.

The tagline on the poster warns: “Whatever you can see, please ignore it until the end.”

In addition to the trailer, a behind-the-scenes video featuring lead actress Nanoka Hara and other cast members was also revealed.

Nanoka Hara was cast to play the role of Miko Yotsuya. Other cast includes:

Rinka Kumada as Hana Yurikawa naenano as Yuria Niguredo Coki-Yamashita as Akio Gondo (a character created exclusively for the film) Saki Takaoka as Toko Yotsuya Kenichi Takito as Mamoru Yotsuya Akane Hotta as Ms. Arai Taiga Kyomoto (SixTONES) as Zen Tohno

Yoshihiro Nakamura is serving as the director as well as the scriptwriter for the film.

Mieruko-Chan began serialization online via...

Like a Dragon: Yakuza is an upcoming Prime Video series based on the popular video game franchise, and the cast is full of incredible talent. Although it isn't entirely clear exactly which characters might make a surprise cameo throughout the series, Prime Video's Like a Dragon: Yakuza trailer revealed plenty of big names will feature, and the story looks like it will be based on the franchise's first entry, as each game tends to change its roster of characters. As a result, audiences are bound to be treated to some exhilarating action when the crime show debuts.

Given how popular the source material is, Like a Dragon: Yakuza has plenty to get right from the games, but the talented cast looks like it will manage this. The trailer already suggested that the show will maintain the unorthodox, quirky tone that has become synonymous with the gaming franchise, and most of...

With the popularity of video games being turned into TV shows, like Fallout and The Last of Us, Prime Video is introducing another video game adaptation, but for the long-running franchise Like a Dragon: Yakuza.

And starting on Thursday, Oct. 24, the first three episodes are streamable with a subscription to Prime Video. Below, find out when to stream Like a Dragon: Yakuza online and the episode release schedule for season one.

At a Glance: How to Watch Like a Dragon: Yakuza Online

When: Oct. 24; series finale on Nov. 1 Stream online: Prime Video Watch 'Like a Dragon: Yakuza' on Prime Video How to Watch Like a Dragon: Yakuza Without Cable: Premiere Date and Time, Episode Release Schedule

The first three episodes of Like a Dragon: Yakuza six-episode season one drops Thursday, Oct. 24, at 8 a.m. Pt/11 a.m. Et on Prime Video. The following three episodes drop at the...

Prime Video has revealed the trailer and key art for the upcoming Japanese Original series Like a Dragon: Yakuza, the action-packed TV adaptation of Sega’s iconic video game series.

The first three episodes of Like a Dragon: Yakuza will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories starting on Thursday, October 24, with the next three episodes available on Thursday, October 31.

In addition to previously announced series leads Ryoma Takeuchi (Kazuma Kiryu), Kento Kaku (Akira Nishikiyama), and Munetaka Aoki (Goro Majima), newly revealed actors portraying key characters include:

Yumi Kawai as Yumi Sawamura, a childhood friend who grew up alongside Kiryu and Nishiki.

Toshiaki Karasawa as Shintaro Kazama, the former lieutenant of the Dojima Family who now runs the orphanage where Kiryu and his friends were raised.

Koichi Sato as Masaru Sera, the chairman of the Tojo Clan.

Misato Morita as Aiko, Yumi’s long-lost sister.

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Netflix has lined up its next big-budget feature for Japan, a key growth market for the global streaming business. The company has greenlit a suspenseful rom-com romp titled In Love and Deep Water from veteran drama screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto (Tokyo Love Story, Kadin). Sakamoto describes the project as “a romantic comedy delivered on an unprecedented scale” for the Japanese film industry.

Yusuke Taki will direct, with Nikkatsu and Django Film handling the local production for Netflix.

In Love and Deep Water is set on the Msc Bellissima, a massive luxury cruise ship headed for the Aegean sea. While at sail, the Bellissima‘s loyal butler Suguru and a mysterious woman named Chizuru cross paths as they try to uncover a shocking murder-mystery that occurs early in the voyage.

Ryo Yoshizawa (Sakura, Kingdom) stars as Suguru and Aoi Miyazaki (Future Family, Birthday Card) plays Chizuru.

“Wherever we go…however far we walk…everything will stay the same.”

If we take a body of work as diverse as Takashi Miike, quite naturally one asks the question whether the director has a favorite. As Miike has repeatedly stated in the past, this particular honor goes to his 1998 film “Young Thugs: Nostalgia”, a prequel to “Young Thugs: Innocent Blood” released the year before and also based on the autobiographical novel by Riichi Nakabana. Considering films like “Blues Harp, “Ley Lines” and the “Dead or Alive”-series explored themes like origin, identity and growing up, the choice of this project, along with the finished product being Miike’s favorite film should not come as a surprise.

In general, both films, “Innocent Blood” and “Nostalgia”, define what has become the side of Miike, which is at times forgotten among the wildness of his other films, a tendency...

dTv, Japan’s biggest streaming service released a preview for “Terraformars:A New Hope” series, a three-episode prequel of Takashi Miike’s adaptation, that will premiere on April 24, with the actual film scheduled for April 29.

The prequel will center on the research institute responsible for screening candidates for the Mars mission. The candidates will cheat and betray each other in a mental battle to be chosen as part of the crew, and it will reveal why the 15 crew members in the film were the ones chosen.

Hideaki Ito, Emi Takei, Mariko Shinoda, Rina Ota, Rinko Kikuchi, and Masaya Kato are reprising their roles from the film. Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Kōji Matoba, Ken Aoki, Takahiro Kuroishi, Kento Hayashi, Tetsuya Sugaya, Takemi Fujii, and Saki Takaoka are playing other characters who are unique to the prequel.

Takashi Miike supervises the production, with Yoshitaka Yamaguchi directing. Yamaguchi has worked before with Miike as assistant...

The Harimaya Bridge is an emotional drama that focuses on Daniel Holder (Ben Guillory), an American who travels to rural Japan to claim some important items belonging to his late son, Mickey Holder (Victor Grant), from whom he was estranged at the time of his death. While there, he learns several secrets his son left behind as an African-American artist living and teaching in Japan. The story takes place in Kochi Prefecture, a deeply rural part of Japan where traditional customs remain strong.

While still so angry by the thought that his own father died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, Holder travels there to pickup Mickey’s paintings. He’s so blinded by this pent up anger that he plans to lay claim to his son’s artwork even though they were given as gifts to friends and a school. Daniel hesistanly meets his son.s Japanese wife,...

Actor Atsuro Watabe's directorial debut looks like a fragmented contemplation of loss, but not in the normal sense. Beautifully shot and filled with memories, there seems to be little dialogue and it's nothing short of stunning.

In a small town of Hokkaido, Yunni, Fusako Kurokawa (Saki Takaoka) lives quiet life with her Father. Life here is very simple, but it is good enough and she is happy enough. Days go on as usual. With some coincidence, she meets this man one day, Wataru Kadokura (Atsuro Watabe) a man who cannot speak. A very peaceful "time" now becomes part of her daily lives as this strong emotion suddenly takes place in her simple quiet life.

One day, Fusako falls from a horse at her work place, a stable. Luckily she suffered no severe injuries and goes back to her daily life. Beloved family and friends around her, as they have always been.