PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
“Samurai Sensei,” premieres on Friday, July 1, at 7:35 p.m.
In 1865, Hanpeita Takechi (Ryo Nishikido) belongs to political activist group Shishi. He is then imprisoned and ordered to kill himself for disrespecting the Lord. While committing seppuku, Hanpeita finds himself unwittingly transported to modern-day rural Japan. He has no idea how he got here. He is taken in by a kind-hearted elderly man who runs a cram school. Despite making little effort to conceal his disdain for the Westernization of his beloved homeland, Hanpeita finds himself slowly adapting to his new life while figuring ways to get back to his wife. Fully subtitled in English.
“Platinum Age,” premieres on Monday, July 4, at 7:35 p.m.
Three women who have each built a happy home in Shonan in Kanagawa are getting into their 60s. They face the various challenges including retirement, dementia and love affair with younger men. Three couples live everyday life as a parent, as a child, as a grandparent, and as a husband and his wife. They are now already 60 years old…, but only 60 years old. Fully subtitled in English.
“Hayako Sensei, Kekkon Surutte Honto Desuka? (Are You Really Getting Married, Miss Hayako?), premieres on Wednesday, July 6, at 7:35 p.m.
The protagonist Hayako Tasuki is an elementary school gym teacher. Always cheerful, big-hearted and open-minded by nature, she comes off as a wonderful woman with no flaws, but she also has goofy, quirky side to her and likes to be silly with kids. She’s generally content with her life, but as far as her love life is concerned, Hayako is rather indifferent: she just vaguely hopes to eventually get married someday with someone that she loves. However, after her father is hospitalized, she starts to think seriously about finding a partner for herself and decides to take steps towards getting married. Fully subtitled in English.
“Shingo Torimonocho,” premieres on Thursday, July 7, at 7:35 p.m.
Shingo is back! As an associate to magistrate’s office, Shingo rises up against evil to protect Edo’s modest people. Hard-boiled Jidaigeki staring Ryotaro Sugi. Fully subtitled in English.
Mystery Hour – Shokatsu Damashii,” premieres on Tuesday, July 12, at 7:35 p.m.
A young woman is discovered strangled to death at the boat pier in Tokyo. There are no signs of disturbed clothing and assault, and because the body was abandoned at a prominent spot, it shows that this was a premeditated crime by a criminal with the presence of mind. Joto Chuo Police Precinct’s detective Kunihiko Katsuragi rushed to the scene, and the fact that the body is barefoot weighs on his mind. The next morning he finds out the commander assigned this case is his son Toshifumi. Fully subtitled in English.
“Mystery Hour – Keiji no Shimei,” premieres on Tuesday, July 26, at 7:35 p.m.
Hirotoshi Honda, a teacher of a prestigious private girl’s high school, is arrested on suspicion of violating the nuisance prevention ordinance for molestation on a train and sent to prosecutor Sakata. High school student Reina claims he touched her buttocks in the packed train but Honda denies the crime and calls it a fabrication and claims he was blackmailed by Reina on the train platform. Reina denies his allegation. Even for a misdemeanor, Sakata believes not pursuing the truth is like death as a prosecutor. Fully subtitled in English.
NGN 3 MOVIE CHANNEL (Digital Ch. 679)
Premiere titles air on Friday. “Movie of the Month” premieres on the first Saturday. 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
July 1: “Truck Yaro Kokyo Tokkyubin (Run Truck Rascal, Run!),” 1979 action film, 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Directed by Noribumi Suzuki. Starring Bunta Sugawara and Kinya Aikawa.
Momojiro and Jonathan go to Kochi on a ferry. On the ferry a singer called Yuka dropped her sheet music into the ocean. Momojiro helps her by diving in to collect the sheets for her and ends up falling in love.
MOVIE OF THE MONTH
July 2: Chokosoku! Sankin Kotai (Samurai Hustle),” 2014 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 59 minutes.
Directed by Katsuhide Motoki. Starring Kuranosuke Sasaki and Kyoko Fukada.
During the reign of the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, the Yunagaya Domain in the Tohoku region is small but has a gold mine. Sankin-kotai is a custom that requires the daimyo to visit the shogun in Edo. Masaatsu Naito of Yunagaya Domain receives an order to perform Sankin-kotai within five days; however, the time needed to visit Edo for Masaatsu is eight days. He also learns he received the order because a high ranking government official wants the gold mine. Masaatsu begins an unexpected operation to complete Sankin-kotai in the required time.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS (in alphabetical order)
“Akuma ga Kitarite Fue wo Fuku (Devil’s Flute),” 1979 drama, 2 hour and 16 minutes.
Directed by Kosei Saito. Starring Toshiyuki Nishida and Isao Natsuki.
Famous detective Kindaichi solves a series of mysterious murder in a wealthy family. An excellent blend of intrigue and betrayal, set against the backdrop of wealth, this film is loaded with twists and turns and surprises at every corner.
“Benikujaku Kanketsu-hen (Crimson Peacock, Part 5),” 1955 jidaigeki, 53 minutes.
Directed by Ryo Hagiwara. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and Chiyonosuke Azuma
The final chapter of the adventure in search of the Crimson Peacock treasures. Will Kojiro and Ukinemaru succeed in defeating the evil Ikkaku and preserve the Crimson Peacock treasures?
“Dokuganryu Masamune (The Hawk of the North),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
A life of famous feudal lord Date Masamune is depicted.
“Fune wo Amu (The Great Passage),” 2013 drama, 2 hours and 13 minutes.
Directed by Yuya Ishii. Starring Ryuhei Matsuda and Aoi Miyazaki.
Mitsuya Majime is an eccentric man in publishing company who has unique ability of words. He joins the team that will compile a new dictionary, “The Great Passage.” In the eclectic team, he becomes immersed in the world of dictionaries. But the team is overwhelmed with problems contending with an ocean of over 200,000 words by day. Will “The Great Passage” ever be completed?
“Gorotsuki Mushuku (Patience Has an End),” 1971 drama, 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Directed by Yasuo Furuhata. Starring Ken Takakura.
Young coal miner Takeda leaves Kyushu in search of a better job in Tokyo, only to fall into the lucrative yet dangerous life of a yakuza.
“Hana to Ryu (The Flower and the Dragon),” 1965 film, 1 hour and 37 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and Yoshiko Sakuma.
A story of manly life and the beauty of conjugal love.
“Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko Nazo no Ryujin Misaki (The Mysterious Cape),” 1963 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa and Hibari Misora.
Ryujin Misaki, located at the edge of the Genkai Sea, is known as an isolation ward for leprosy patients. When Saotome, a sword master and guard of the Shogun, hears news of a doctor gone missing, he begins to suspect that things are not what they seem at Ryujin Misaki. Intent on discovering the truth, Saotome launches a private investigation.
“Hibari Chiemi no Oshidori Senryogasa (Travels of Hibari and Chiemi 2),” 1963 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Hibari Misora and Chiemi Eri.
Comedy duo Hibari Misora and Chiemi Eri teams up as Princess Kimi, who seeks adventure and true love in life, and her loyal servant Toshi.
“Hibari Torimonocho Furisode Koban (Detective Hibari: Hidden Coin),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Kokichi Uchidate. Starring Hibari Misora, Kotaro Satomi, Chiyonosuke Azuma.
A mysterious coin found at a murder scene stirs the curiosity of young actress Oshichi and her brother Hyoma who set out on a private investigation to unveil the secrets hidden behind the coin.
“Irezumi Hantaro (Tattoo of Love),” 1963 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Satomi Oka.
Gambler Hantaro risks his life and reputation to save young Onaka from a shady lifestyle.
“Jingi Naki Tatakai Chojo Sakusen (Operation Summit),” 1974 action film,
1 hour and 41 minutes.
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku. Starring Bunta Sugawara and Tatsuo Umemiya.
The war for power among the yakuza families of Hiroshima escalates despite police pressure. It’s 1964, and with the Tokyo Olympics turning the eyes of the world to Japan, lawmen have set out to keep the Yakuza out of sight. While dozens of low-level mobsters are thrown into jail, crime lord Takeda tries to keep a lid on things. But when a high-ranking Yakuza figure is killed by a low-level guy in a moment of anger, an explosion seems imminent.
“Jinsei Gekijo Hishakaku (Life of Hishakaku),” 1963 drama, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Koji Tsuruta, Yoshiko Sakuma and Ken Takakura.
After eloping with a prostitute named Otoyo, Hishakaku takes refuge in the Kogane family’s turf. Indebted to Boss Kogane for his kindness, Hishakaku swears to dedicate himself to protect the Koganes in time of crisis. Hishakaku’s humble life comes to a sudden halt when the Kogane family becomes involved in a fatal feud with their rival, and Hishakaku’s services are called upon.
“Judge!” 2014 drama, 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Directed by Akira Nagai. Starring Satoshi Tsumabuki and Keiko Kitagawa.
A major advertising festival is held in Los Angeles each year to determine the best television commercial in the world. Kiichiro Ota, rookie ad man at a big advertising company is asked by his arrogant boss to take his place as a judge on the festival jury. Meanwhile, a coworker also named Ota poses as his wife so that he can attend an open party which is held nightly. Knowing that he’ll get fired if his company doesn’t win the Grand Prix, he’s forced to resort to a variety of desperate tactics.
“Jusannin no Shikaku (Thirteen Assassins),” 1963 samurai film, 2 hours and 6 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Chiezo Kataoka and Kotaro Satomi.
A sadistic lord rapes a woman and murders both her and her husband, but the matter is quickly hushed up. Because he is the Shogun’s younger brother, he will soon be appointed to a high political position. To stop him from wreaking even more havoc, 13 assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill the evil lord.
“Kairyu Daikessen (Dragon Showdown),” 1966 samurai/action/ninjutsu,
1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Tetsuya Yamauchi. Starring Hiroki Matsukata, Ryutaro Otomo and Tomoko Ogawa.
In ancient Japan, a good lord is killed and his throne stolen by the treacherous Yuki Daijo and the evil wizard Oroki-maru. Miraculously, during the attack, young prince Ikazuki-maru is rescued from the jaws of death by a magic bird. Ten years later, Ikazuki-maru, now a wizard himself, embarks on a quest for vengeance.
“Kenka Karate Kyokushinken (Champion of Death),” 1975 action film, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi. Starring Sonny Chiba and Yumi Takigawa.
Based on the true life story of Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin karate in Japan, portrayed by Sonny Chiba. Mas is a martial arts champion who wants to leave the competitive world for a quieter life. But after he becomes involved in the death of an underworld figure, he finds himself on the run from thugs determined to take revenge against him.
“Kigeki Hatsumoude Ressha (New Year Trip),” 1968 drama, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Masaharu Segawa. Starring Kiyoshi Atsumi, Tamao Nakamura and Yoshiko Sakuma.
A comedy about a good-natured train conductor Shinsaku helping his old friend Miwako find her missing brother.
“Oodeiri (Giant Rumble),” 1964 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Hashizou Ookawa and Tetsuro Tanba.
Three men’s lives are locked in a fight over territory .
“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 straits; 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.
“Shin Kyodai Jingi (Code Between Brothers: All New),” 1970 drama, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Kiyoshi Saeki. Starring Saburo Kitajim and Bunta Sugawara.
The story of three brothers, the oldest of which inherits gang leadership.
“Shonan Bakusozoku (Bomber Bikers of Shonan),” 1987 drama, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Daiki Yamada. Starring Yosuke Eguchi, Yuji Oda, Misa Shimizu and Riki Takeuchi.
Based on the popular comic, “Shonan Bakusozoku” illustrates the lives of high school bike fanatics.
“Umon Torimonocho Maboroshi Doro no Onna (Case of Umon: Woman of Magic Lantern),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Ryutaro Otomo, Kotaro Satomi and Satomi Oka.
Detective Umon’s services are called upon when ronin Yaichiro is killed with a peculiar weapon, a stone wrapped in a towel.
“Wakasama Zamurai Torimonocho Jigoku no Sarayashiki (Case of A Young Lord),” 1956 jidaigeki, 57 minutes.
Directed by Kinnosuke Fukada. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Yumiko Hasegawa and Michiko Hoshi.
A master swordsman guards a mercer’s heirloom, a precious plate given by the Shogun, against bandits.
“Wolf Guy Moero Okamiotoko (Howl the Wolf-Man),” 1975 action film,
1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi. Starring Sonny Chiba and Hideo Murota.
The wolf man uses karate to fight Phantom Tiger.
“Yukinojo Henge (Handsome Disguise),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Chikage Awashima.
A period piece about an actor who gets caught up in a tale of revenge.
