PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
“SPEC Movie ~ Ten ~ (Heaven),” premieres on Friday, Feb. 5, at 7:35 p.m.
Saya Toma and Takeru Sebumi work on cases by postulating the “SPEC” of the unknown criminals and then deduce the criminal’s unknown “SPEC” to make arrests. A mystery occurs when a large number of mummified corpses arrive in Japan on a sea cruiser. Eventually, this strange incident develops into a major situation. Fully subtitled in English.
“SPEC SP ~Zero~, premieres on Friday, Feb. 19, at 7:35 p.m.
Returning to Japan after training at the FBI, Saya Toma is assigned to the Public Security Division’s Unidentified Crimes Unit a.k.a. Mishou. This special tells the backstory of Toma’s first encounter with Ninomae and Sebumi’s SIT days. Fully subtitled in English.
“Mentai Piriri 2,” premieres on Monday, Feb. 22, at 9:10 p.m.
In 1958, people in Hakata are huge fans of the Nishitetsu Lions Baseball Team. Kameyama, who Toshiyuki owes a favor to, visits and asks Toshiyuki to hire him at “Fukunoya.” Once he starts working, he has some serious problems.
In the meantime, Toshiyuki and Chiyoko’s son, Kenta, brings a girl who needs some help. Fully subtitled in English.
NGN 3 MOVIE CHANNEL (Digital Ch. 679)
Premiere titles air on Friday. Movies are shown at various times. Check your digital on-screen guide for movie schedules, using either the GUIDE or INFO buttons (up to one week ahead). Or call NGN, Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 538-1966 for inquiries or to request an e-mail of NGN 3 programming information. All movies are in Japanese language with full English subtitles.
PREMIERE TITLES OF THE MONTH
Feb. 5: “Nihon Yakuzaden Socho e no Michi (The Sword of Justice),” 1971
action film, 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Ken Takakura and Tomisaburo
Wakayama.
When the aging leader of the yakuza gang Maeda-gumi decides to retire, many of the gang members have no confidence in the young man he has chosen to replace him. A fight for the succession begins.
COMMUNITY FAVORITE
Feb. 12: “Otoko wa Tsuraiyo Funto-hen (Tora-san the Good Samaritan),” 1971 comedy/drama, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Yoji Yamada. Starring Kiyoshi Atsumi and Chieko Baisho.
Seventh installment of the series of “Tora-san.” Tora-san returns to his hometown and is reconciled with his mother, who has left him behind since he was born. He then starts his life as a wanderer again, and meets Hanako, an innocent but unintelligent girl who works in a textile mill. Tora-san intends to help her back to her hometown, but Hanako ends up working in the dumpling shop of Tora-san’s uncle.
Feb. 19: “Gokudo vs. Furyo Bancho (Yakuza vs. Gang Leader),” 1974 action film, 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Tomisaburo Wakayama and Tatsuo Umemiya.
Gokudo Shimamura comes to blows with the Delinquent Boss who roles into town with his motorcycle gang.
Feb. 26: “Jingi Naki Tatakai Hiroshima Shito-hen (Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima),” 1973 action film, 1 hour and 40
minutes.
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku. Starring Bunta Sugawara and Kinya Kitaoji.
The second film in the five-part series of the famous “Jingi Naki Tatakai.” In 1950 Hiroshima City, Shoji Yamanaka is involved in a fight over cheating in a card game and stabs several men. He is sentenced to two years in prison, where he befriends Shozo Hirono (Bunta Sugawara).
MOVIE OF THE MONTH
“Little Forest – Fuyu/Haru (Little Forest: Winter/Spring),” 2015 drama,
2 hours.
Directed by Junichi Mori. Starring Ai Hashimoto and Takahiro Miura.
Ichiko continues to live self-sufficiently, taking advantage of local seasonal ingredients for the meals she prepares for herself. The film depicts both the blessings and harshness of nature as Ichiko continues surviving on her own through the changing seasons and concludes as she embraces the limitations of the winter season and the ultimate triumph of spring.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS (in alphabetical order)
“Aa Yokaren (Young Eagles of the Kamikaze),” 1968 drama, 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Directed by Shinji Murayama. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Shinichi Chiba.
The film is dedicated to the souls of flight school graduates killed in World War II. Young boys dream about becoming pilots and apply to flight schools. However, they were forced to become suicide bombers and give their lives for their homeland.
“Adauchi (The Vendetta),” 1964 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 44 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Imai. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Takahiro Tamura and Tetsuro Tamba.
Young samurai Shimpachi’s fate takes a sudden turn for worse when he defeats an opponent in a duel.
“Furisode Taiheiki (Scramble for Fortune),” 1956 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Ryo Hagiwara. Starring Hibari Misora and Hashizo Okawa.
A young man and a woman are on a mission to protect a mysterious mirror that hides the secrets of a great fortune.
“Hangyakuji (The Conspirator),” 1961 samurai film, 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Directed by Daisuke Ito. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Chiyonosuke Azuma and Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
A chronicle of the tragic life and anguish of a young lord in the warlike ages.
Young lord Saburo Nobuyasu struggles to find comfort in life. His arranged marriage to Tokuhime, daughter of one-time family enemy Oda Nobunaga, provides little happiness. His manipulative mother adds further complications through her constant interference and attempts at defeating the Nobunaga family.
“Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko Nazo no Hebihiime Yashiki (The Manson of Intrigue),” 1957 samurai film, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa and Kinya Kitaooji.
Saotome, a sword master and guard of the Shogunate, must foil a minister’s sinister plan to assassinate the Shogun. Yet before he can act, the minister preemptively kidnaps Saotome’s lover and her brother. Unable to take direct action, Saotome sends his sister to infiltrate the minister’s hideout to obtain details of the plan and find the location of his kidnapped lover — leading him to a dramatic rescue and the ultimate showdown on the day of the assassination.
“Hibari Torimonocho Jiraiya Koban (Secret of the Gold Coin),” 1958 samurai film, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Kinnosuke Fukuda. Starring Hibari Misora and Chiyonosuke Azuma.
A girl detective Oshichi exposes a ploy by a retainer of daimyo.
“Ishimatsu Shain wa Otoko de Gozaru (Tale of a Company Boss 3),” 1961 comedy, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Masukazu Izuka. Starring Katsuo Nakamura and Yoshiko Sakuma.
A story about the nature of office workers today.
“Isshin Tasuke Otoko no naka no Otoko Ippiki (Isshin Tasuke: A Man of Men),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Ryunosuke Tsukigata and Satomi Oka.
Spirited Edoite Tasuke undergoes a series of unforeseeable trouble in his newly wedded life.
“Jirocho Sangokushi Dai-sanbu (The Kingdom of Jirocho 3),” 1964 jidaigeki,
1 hour and 34 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Shingo Yamashiro.
The third part of the story about feudal boss Jirocho and his underlings.
“Ken to Mary Ameagari no Yozora ni (Ken and Mary: The Asian Truck
Express),” 2013 drama, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Kenta Fukasaku. Starring Naoto Takenaka and Hu Bing.
A former hardcore rocker in his youth, Ken Katakura has now become a bitter salaryman after his wife dies. While traveling to Malaysia with the intention of stopping his daughter’s wedding, Ken’s plans change when the plane is forced to make an emergency landing. Ken is stranded on the opposite side of the island and grudgingly accepts help from “Mary,” a goofy, charismatic Chinese truck driver who has all the right intentions but seems to cause more harm than good.
“Kigeki Kyuko Ressha (Express Train),” 1967 comedy/drama, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Masaharu Segawa. Starring Kiyoshi Atsumi and Yoshiko Sakuma.
Atsumi Kiyoshi, famous for his role in Torasan, stars as Aoki Goichi, a veteran train conductor who dedicates himself in providing quality service to his passengers. With his many years of experience, he never fails to find solutions for any troubles that occur along the way. A comedic drama revolving around the lives of those who ride the express train.
“Komon Shacho Man’yuki (Tales of President Mito),” 1962 drama, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Eichi Koishi. Starring Eitaro Shindo and Ken Takakura.
Mr. Mito, a former president of an instant food company, with two young men’s help, solves the quality problems and wins a big ramen contract with a large
Chinese company.
“Kujike Naide (Don’t Lose Heart),” 2013 comedy/drama, 2 hours and 8
minutes.
Directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa. Starring Kaoru Yachigusa and Tetsuya Takeda.
This film depicts the life of best-selling Japanese poet Toyo Shibata. Toyo
Shibata first began writing poems at the age of 92 and published “Kujikenaide” (Don’t Lose Heart) in 2009, which sold over two million copies. Toyo was suggested to write poetry by her son, Kenichi. She starts to write about her life; suffering from poverty when she was little, hardship during service, and happy days with her husband. Gradually, her poems come to engage people’s hearts and minds.
“Kunisada Chuji (On National Authority),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 36 minutes.
Directed by Shigehiro Ozawa. Starring Chiezo Kataoka, Kotaro Satomi, Kunio Kaga and Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
Kunisada Chuji is a common folk hero who looks out for poor people in the country who are at the mercy of corrupt officials. Intent on fulfilling a dying wish from one of his henchmen, Asataro, to find a decent home for his young nephew, Chuji descends from his hide out in the mountain, and heads to the city in spite of numerous dangers that await him there.
“Ma no Toki (Moment of Demon),” 1985 drama, 1 hour and 51 minutes.
Directed by Yasuo Furuhata. Starring Shima Iwashita and Shinobu Sakagam.
A mother who loves her son too much commits incest.
“Nuretsubame Kurenai Gonpachi (Drenched Swallow Gonpachi),” 1958
jidaigeki, 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Directed by Kokichi Ichidate. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Keiko Okawa, Utaemon Ichikawa and Yumiko Hasegawa.
Ronin Gonpachi falls in love with beautiful Hiroe, the daughter of the man he murdered.
“Osome Hisamatsu Soyokaze Higasa (Gentle Breeze),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Hibari Misora and Kotaro Satomi.
A young, feisty woman named Osome searches for her true love in the midst of a family crisis.
“Otoko Namida no Hamonjo (Tears of Punishment),” 1967 action film, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Kyosuke Machida.
An elderly yakuza brother tries to clear an underling’s name.
“Rokugatsudo no Sanshimai (Three Sisters),” 2013 drama, 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Directed by Kiyoshi Sasabe. Starring Kazue Fukiishi and Yo Yoshida.
The family run Toraya sweet shop is in financial straights; meanwhile, all three daughters in the family are out of luck with love and struggling with problems in their private lives, too. Second-eldest daughter Namie has recently returned home from Tokyo after a failed marriage and is waiting for the divorce papers to come through. When her accountant husband Toru follows her to win her back, it seems that he might just be the missing link that can help save the family — in more ways than one.
“Sasaki Kojiro,” 1957 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Kiyoshi Saeki. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma, Chiezo Kataoka and Shinobu Chihara.
Ronin Kojiro longs to find a loving companion to fill the void in his heart as he pursues his ultimate goal of becoming a master swordsman.
“Satomi Hakkenden 3 Hakkenshi no Gaika (Eight Brave Brothers, Part 3),” 1958 jidaigeki, 58 minutes.
Directed by Kokichi Uchidate. Starring Kotaro Satomi and Sentaro Fushimi.
The final episode of the popular adventure epic. The eight sacred warriors face their enemy to complete their mission.
“Shiroi Yabou (Surgical Designs in Flames),” 1986 drama, 2 hours and
4 minutes.
Directed by Masanobu Deme. Starring Masao Kusakari, Yukiyo Toake, Yoko Asano and Hideya Morishige.
A story of the skilled brain surgeon, Todo, whose talent and ambition are put to test through a series of high risk surgical procedures.
“Shura no Densetsu (A Legend of Turmoil),” 1992 action film, 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Directed by Seiji Izumi. Starring Akira Kobayashi and Takanori Jinnai.
A story about the development of a bright and strong yakuza. Otaki is an old-fashioned respectful yakuza who tries to protect his small yakuza family. When his boss gets shot, he decides to go after the plotters.
“Sukeban Deka Kazama Sanshimai no gyakushu (High School Super
Heroines 2),” 1988 drama, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Hideo Tanaka. Starring Yui Asaka and Masaki Kyomoto.
The third sukeban deka (high school super heroine), Yui, intervenes in terrorist attacks plotted by a group of young people.
“Yanagase Blues,” 1967 drama, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Shinji Murayama. Starring Tatsuo Umemiya and Reiko Ohara.
Jiro, a smooth-talking, womanizing bartender, flees from a Yakuza boss to
Yanagase.
“Zoku Ooku Maruhi Monogatari (Shogun and His Mistress 2),” 1967
jidaigeki, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Directed by Sadao Nakajima. Starring Tomoko Ogawa and Eijiro Tono.
In the year 1786, Shogun Ieharu Tokugawa selected beautiful Ochisa to be his concubine. It causes other concubines to become very jealous and mean. When the Shogun passes away, his concubines are forced to become nuns, which they are not happy to be.
