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The World of The Geisha

While Sony Pictures is releasing “Memoirs of A Geisha,” another Geisha event will take place in Little Tokyo on Sunday, December 18 featuring “The World of Geisha,” a Geisha lecture by Andrew Maske followed by a film screening of Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Gion Bayashi.”

As a recognized scholar of Japanese art who has held positions at the Peabody Essex Museum, the Rhode Island School of Design and Harvard University, Andrew Maske will lecture on the fascinating and often misunderstood entertainers known as Geisha. His presentation will provide background and context for the movie, “Gion Bayashi.”

Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Gion Bayashi” (“Gion Festival Music / aka A Geisha”), set in Kyoto and Tokyo in the early 1950’s, stars Wakao Ayako as a young Geisha trained in traditional Japanese arts and challenged by the culture she enters. The film explores the clash of pre-war traditionalism in the pleasure quarters with the new atmosphere of individual liberty and equal rights for women in post-war Japan.

Event details are as follows:

When: Sunday, December 18th

Where: Aratani / Japan America Theatre

244 South San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Agenda: 1PM - Lecture (Admission FREE)

3PM – Screening ($7 General / $5 JACCC Members)

For more information, visit http://www.jflalc.org/?act=tpt&id=139.

Hayao Miyazaki Featured on TCM

Turner classic Movies (TCM) will spotlight Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese anime-master, whose works are widely admired by a great number of fans worldwide. Hosted by John Lasseter, this January spotlight debuts on Thursday, Jan. 5, Miyazaki’s 65th birthday.

For a schedule of TCM’s January tribute to Hayao Miyazaki, please visit http://www.turnerinfo.com/.

Japan’s Entertainment Industry Under M&A Pressure

It has been a while since the historic merger between AOL and Time Warner, which many believed would herald a new era in the entertainment industry. Japan’s broadcasting industry now faces similar circumstances.

This trend first begun in February 2005 when Livedoor attempted to take over Nippon Broadcasting System (NBS), the radio affiliate of Japan’s largest TV network, Fuji Television Network. This attempt ended in failure due to Fuji Television’s defense strategy. In addition to that particular takeover, in October 2005, Rakuten, Japan’s leading Internet home-shopping company, proposed an administrative merger to Tokyo Broadcasting Systems (TBS) after obtaining a 15% stake in TBS. Negotiations between Rakuten and TBS are still in progress; we might soon see a mini-Murdoch emerge in Japan.

New Media Collaboration: Magazine – TV - Website

Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM), Japan’s largest Multiple System Operator, and Kadokawa Shoten Publishing, a leading publisher in Japan, announced establishment of a joint company that provides consumers with local trend information. Kadokawa will publish a free information magazine utilizing their know-how while J:COM will use their local TV programs to broadcast related films and develop a web-portal. By utilizing three media outlets such as magazines, TV and the Internet together, the new company expects a synergistic effect that could maximize their profit.

Girls’ Comics Found New Partners

Recent business collaborations between girls’ comics and classic culture are expanding in Japan. The hit girls’ comic depicting the world of classical music made its debut on music CD, and “Glass Mask”, a masterpiece of Japanese girl’s comic, is now being transformed into a Noh play.

“Nodame Cantabile,” a girls’ comic by Tomoko Ninomiya has had big sales of more than 700 million units for its 13 part series. Its heroine Nodame and her friend Shinichi Chiaki organize an orchestra and perform Brahms’ “Symphony No.1 in C Minor” in the story. This music became a real CD and released 50,000 units while the average sales of normal classical CD in Japan are about 5,000 units.

“Glass Mask” depicts a story of two girls trying to become actresses. The Noh play of this masterpiece opens on February 24, 2006 at National Noh Theatre in Tokyo. Before this endeavor, Noh plays and girls comics seemed to have no connection, which makes this project the first of its kind.

The number of adults who read comics is constantly increasing in Japan, so these new business collaborations may bring them to record stores and theaters as well.

**References: 10/09/05 Nihon Keizai Shimbun

Film Fund Financing Becomes Popular in Japan

“Film Fund” a method of investment, which agglomerates production budget from diverse sources, is now targeting individuals as well as companies. The film fund for individual investors first appeared in Japan in 2004, and was known as “Shinobi Fund” named for the feature film “Shinobi.” This attempt attracted about 1,300 individual investors and successfully generated half billion yen ($4.25M).

In the Japanese film industry, the major means for film financing is the Production Committee System. However, under this system assigning film rights can be extremely complicated since rights are awarding according to the amount of money invested. Now, Japan’s filmmakers look for more freedom when financing films. Since 2004, the following films have utilized the film fund system to finance films: “Samurai Commando 1549,” “ Yokai Daisenso,” “Shinobi,” “Hokutono Ken (AKA First of the North Star)” and “Tenshi.”

In addition to the film fund, the completion bond provided by Tokyo Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. to support big budget films has been used in a film project directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (“Akira”) for the first time in Japan.

**References: 9/15/05 Nihon Keizai Shimbun

Mini-Trend of Location Business

While known as the second largest film market in the world in terms of box office, Japan also has many enthusiastic fans that visit locations used in TV shows and drama, films and anime. Visiting the locations of their favorite TV shows or drama, they enjoy the same atmosphere and take pictures from the same angles as on TV. Local governments utilize this mini-trend to stimulate local economies by holding some events or creating some products related to the TV shows and film locations.

To find out more about locations in Japan, please visit the Japan Film Commission Promotion Council (JFCPC) at http://www.film-com.jp/en/.

**References: 10/8/05 Nihon Keizai Shimbun

Caught Up in the Whirlwind of “NANA”

Theatrically released in Japan on September 3, the teen drama “NANA” has smashed multiple box office records all across Asia. In Taiwan, NANA grossed 10 million Taiwan dollars at the box office after only 13 days. Theaters were filled with many youths who dressed in the style of “NANA.” The same phenomenon occurred in Hong Kong, as the film debuted at the #1 outdrawing the Hollywood epic, “The Legend of Zorro.” In addition, the film found distribution in China and Korea at the American Film Market in early November. Overall, “NANA” is being screened in nine countries across Asia.

The Scariest J-Horror “Pulse”

One of the scariest films in Japanese horror (J-horror) film history was made even before “The Ring,” “The Grudge” or “Dark Water.” “Pulse (Kairo),” directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, tells the story of a group of young friends rocked by the sudden suicide of one of their own, and his subsequent, ghostly reappearance in grainy computer and video images. Is he trying to contact them from beyond the grave or is there something more sinister afoot? The mysterious floppy disk they find in the dead man's apartment may provide a clue, but instead launches a program that seems to present odd, ethereal transmissions of people engaged in solitary activities in their apartments. But there is something not quite right in the appearance and behavior of these lonely souls. Soon, there are more strange deaths and disappearances within the group, terrifying rooms sealed in red tape, and the appearance of more ghosts as the city of Tokyo - and the world – is slowly drained of life.

“Pulse” has been released by Magnolia Pictures in selected theaters.

**References:

Official Site: http://www.j-horror.com/

Magnolia Pictures: http://www.magpictures.com/

Asian Edge: New DVD Label for Asian Independent Filmmakers

Chicago-based Facets Video, one of the nation’s largest distributions of foreign cinema, and California-based Japanese film distributor, Tidepoint Pictures collaborated to launch a new DVD label called Asian Edge, which will focus on inspiring works by the next generation of Asian independent filmmakers. Asian Edge will release up to eight titles annually starting in February 2006.

Asian Edge will make a debut with the award-winning film “Peep TV Show” by Japanese media activist Yutaka Tsuchiya on February 26, 2006. The story is about young people in Tokyo who have no interest in the 9.11 terror attack. The second feature will be two documentaries about members of the Japanese cult group Aum Shinrikyo directed by Tastuya Mori. The films touch on some controversial issues such as terrorism and media freedom.

Other titles in 2006 will include works from China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan.

**References:

Facets Video: http://www.facets.org

Tidepoint Pictures: http://www.tidepoint.com

Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF)

As one of twelve international film festivals accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF), the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival and Tokyo Contents Market (TIFFCOM) were held in Roppongi and Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan, October 22-31. This year, TIFFCOM spotlighted the Asia-Pacific entertainment market and this festival’s future looks bright as they look forward to the coming new age of integrating rich Japanese content that includes film, publications, music, and video game to the world.

TIFF’s slogan of ”Three Collaborations;” symbolizes the collaborations between:

1. Hollywood, Asian and Japanese Film makers
2. The Collaboration between TIFF and The Film Market, and
3. The Collaboration between citizens, government and TIFF.

TIFF, held at the Akihabara Entertainment Festival at Akihabara, Tokyo was open to the general public for two days to attend the film market.

At the opening ceremony, the film “Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles” directed by Zhang Yimou was screened. Among fifteen films nominated for the various competitions, “What the Snow Brings” directed by Kichitaro Negishi won four awards in total including The Grand Prix of the Tokyo International Film Festival (the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix: $100,000 prized). Negishi said, “This story is based around a racetrack and that is part of the story, but at the same time this is a story about family and its reuniting. It is kind of a tradition in Japanese cinema to make films about family. I feel this film is an homage to the great Japanese directors that came before me.”

In addition to the film screenings, the International Visual Image Symposiums was held during the TIFF to support filmmakers learning the latest cinematic expression and techniques with CG specialists.

**References:

http://www.tiff-jp.net/en_report_e11_1030.html

Short Shorts Film Festival in Aichi Expo 2005

The Short Shorts Film Festival was established in June 1999 by Tetsuya Bessho, a prominent Japanese actor who has been involved in both Japanese and American film industries, as the first short film festival in Japan. It has turned out to be the biggest short film festival in Asia with 80,000 people in attendance the past four years.

Collaborating with the Expo 2005 Aichi Japan, the Short Shorts Film Festival screened 2,773 short films from 89 countries based on the them of “nature’s wisdom” and held the awarding ceremony this September at the EXPO in Nagakute, Aichi.

Besshyo, John Bloom, executive director of the short film section of the Academy Awards, and Francis Gabellu, the coordinator of the short film committee at the Cannes Film Festival attended the festival as judges.

The partnership with the Aichi EXPO enabled Short Shorts Film Festival to have a huge space at which to screen the films and expose the festival to a vast potential audience which visited the EXPO. While short films are relatively unfamiliar to the Japanese, there has been a substantial effort to broaden its appeal in recent years. They hope this will be a great opportunity for people to be introduced to the delight of watching short films.

**References:

Short Shorts: http://www.shortshorts.org/

Aichi EXPO: http://www.expo2005.or.jp/

Tofu Records

The Japanese music scene has a new outlet to help fuel new potential grow in the U.S. market. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Tofu Records opened their doors in 2003 with the sole purpose of bringing the best Japanese music to America. It began its music sales with T.M. Revolution whose songs are also featured in prominent Anime series; the response was overwhelming. For the first year, cross promoting the artist with the world of Anime proved extremely successful and drew over 5,000 fans to T.M. Revolution concerts in the States.

The same approach proved to be even more successful with the second group to join the Tofu roster – L’Arc en Ciel. As an extremely successful Japanese rock band, L’Arc en Ciel is one of the top ten selling bands in Asia. L’Arc en Ciel became the first group from Japan to headline at the 1st Mariner Arena, a stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, selling out to a crowd of 12,000 fans.

In the second half of 2005, Tofu Records is promoting the POLYSICS East Coast Tour. POLYSICS is a cutting-edge synth punk band from Japan, and their energetic live performance continues attracting new fans around the world. Tofu Records will also release three new albums.

**Reference:

Tofu Records: http://www.tofurecords.com/

T.M. Revolution: http://www.tm-revolution.com/

L’Arc en Ciel: http://www.larc-en-ciel.com/

POLYSICS: http://www.polysics.com/

Utada Goes to Europe

Hikaru Utada, one of the most famous and gifted singers in Japan, made her debut in Europe with her latest album “EXODUS” this fall. Utada has been a huge success in the Japanese music industry with three original albums, one single collection album and thirteen singles, holding the record for the biggest sales in Japan. She was born in 1983, raised in New York City and attended Columbia University, which attests to her high academic ability as well. After getting married to her husband, Kazuaki Kiriya, they have collaborated on every aspect of her work; Kiriya directs her music videos and Utada sings a song for his film work.

**References: http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/hikki/

SECURE CD Introduced by TOSHIBA EMI

A Japanese record company, TOSHIBA EMI, has released a new type of music CD called SECURE CD. Previously, there were a number of problems regarding the compatibilities with computers when users listened to CDs on their using the old anti-copyright system known as copy control CD (CCCD) to banish illegal copying of their products. Different from CCCD in terms of how the security system operates, SECURE CD will not have the same problems that CCCD had with certain types of computers. Additionally, when using the SECURE CD, the specific software to play music starts up and enables one to play CD-DA data, copy to HDD, and create CD-R. The exclusive software is available only for Windows XP (32 bits) and not corresponding to XP (64bits), Macintosh or Apple iTunes.

**References:

http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/news.php?nno=9515 (Japanese)

http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/securecd/ (Japanese)

http://www.fairfreedom.info/ (Japanese)

Apple iTunes Music Store Launched in Japan

Apple Computer Inc. has opened its iTunes Music Store in Japan as one of the nation's biggest online music downloading services boasting a collection of roughly one million songs with fifteen local record companies. While Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. finally joined the service, some other labels point to tensions between Apple and the domestic music industry. Several major record companies have so far decided not to offer songs through the service.

Apple's price strategy for music delivery in Japan is also an issue. Struggling to maintain CD and media prices, both Japanese and foreign record companies have insisted on high prices, at least on new songs. To avoid indefinite delay in starting the service in Japan, Apple made a major concession by ending its featured one-price policy.

It remains to be seen what will result from the record-company rebellion against Apple and which side consumers will take.

**References:

http://www.apple.com/jp/news/2005/aug/04itms.html (Japanese)

http://www.nikkei4946.com/sb/j_index/news/