“Mogitate TV,” airs Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 9:35 a.m.
“Mogitate TV,” is one of the longest-running local TV talk shows from Nankai Hoso, RNB. The show introduces a wide range of local fnds and experiences including hole-in-the-wall eateries, unique events and traditions. Experience the everyday life of people in Ehime, a sister state of Hawaii, through “Mogitate TV.”
“Anaba Traveler (The Pass Less Taken),” premieres Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 9:20 p.m.
In “The Pass Less Taken,” Yosuke Tagawa, Haruhi Ryoga, and Shoko Haida each travel alone in different towns. They not only go to the popular sightseeing spots of the Chugoku region including Hirosahima, but they also visit some hidden spots as well. Fully subtitled in English.
“Minshu no Teki (Public Enemy),” premieres Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 7:35 p.m.
Tomoko leads an ordinary life with her husband and a young child. When she gets fired she learns about the huge pay and high winning rate for city council members and quickly decides to run for the city council, even though she has no educational background. This is a story about a woman who simply wants “happiness” therefore opens the way to a new chapter in her life. Fully subtitled in English.
“Omukae Desu! (Good-Bye Ghosts!),” premieres Friday, Jan. 26, at 7:35 p.m.
It was at an old friend’s funeral that Madoka began to see ghosts. Death, wearing a bunny rabbit suit and acting quite shallow, eventually coerces him to work as a guide to bring spirits to the other world. It turns out that Sachi, who really despises him, is already working there! What’s this bizarre part-time job? Helping spirits cross over to the other side. Fully subtitled in English.
NGN 3 MOVIE CHANNEL (Spectrum Digital Ch. 679/HD 1679)
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.
** NOTICE TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS: Due to special New Year’s programming, only movie synopses for special programs will be published this month. The movie schedule can be found on pages 4 and 5.
Community Favorites
Jan. 1 at 6 p.m.: “Otoko wa Tsuraiyo Shibamata Bojo (Tora-san’s Dear Old Home),” 1972 comedy/drama, 1 hour and 48 minutes.
Directed by Yoji Yamada. Starring Kiyoshi Atsumi and Sayuri Yoshinaga.
Tora-san meets three women on vacation in the historic, charming city of Kanazawa. Shy but pretty Utako particularly catches Tora-san’s eye. A few weeks later, Utako visits Tora-san in Shimabata, and Tora-san believes she has fallen in love with him, unaware that she hopes to marry a potter in the countryside.
Jan. 6 at 8 p.m.: “Tsuri Baka Nisshi 9 (Free and Easy 9),” 1997 comedy/drama, 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Directed by Tomio Kuriyama. Starring Toshiyuki Nishida and Ren Mikuni.
Hama-chan’s sales department gets a new supervisor, a hard-working taskmaster that’s the very opposite of carefree, irresponsible Hama-chan. The veteran employee decides to find his boss, a divorced father, a new wife. The supervisor loves a bar hostess “mama-san,” but is unable to confess his true feelings until Hama-chan comes to his rescue.
NEW YEAR’S SPECIAL MOVIES
Dec 31: “Hibari Ohako Benten Kozo (Hibari’s Favorite,” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 14 minutes.
Kikunosuke, a young temple servant, turns to his mother, Ofuji, for protection after being wrongly accused of murder. However Ofuji decides to turn her son into the police to collect a monetary reward. Devastated by this betrayal, Kikunosuke escapes to Edo in hopes of starting over. Once there, he takes on the name, “Benten Kozo” and soon joins a gang led by Nihon Daemon which will later becomes known as the Shiranami Goninotoko.
Jan. 1: “Chushingura Dai-ichibu Ouka no Maki (Forty Seven Masterless Samurai, Part 1),” 1959 samurai film, 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Chiezo Kataoka, Ryutaro Otomo, Chiyonosuke Azuma, Hashizo Okawa, Hibari Misora and Utaemon Ichikawa.
A famous story of 47 loyal vassals of the Ako clan, that takes revenge on their enemy. A must-see all star cast version.
Jan. 1: “Gajimaru Shokudo no Koi (Love at Gajimaru Diner),” 2014 drama, 1 hour and 38 minutes.
Directed by Kentaro Otani. Starring Haru and Yu Koyanagi.
Mizuho recently took over an eatery in Nago, Okinawa, which was left behind by her grandmother. She single-handedly runs “Gajimaru Diner” named after the large, deeply rooted gajimaru (banyan) tree in the area. Eventually, circumstances lead to her being brought together with an unknown traveler named Hayato, her ex-boyfriend Shota who had lived in Tokyo for the past seven years, and a beautiful woman named Riko.
Jan. 2: “Chushingura Dai-nibu Kikka no Maki (Forty Seven Masterless Samurai, Part 2),” 1959 samurai film, 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Chiezo Kataoka, Ryutaro Otomo, Chiyonosuke Azuma, Hashizo Okawa, Hibari Misora and Utaemon Ichikawa.
Conclusion to the story of the famous 47 loyal vassals of the Ako clan.
Jan. 2: “Okinawa Junen Senso (The Okinawa War of Ten Years),” 1978 drama, 1 hour and 41 minutes.
Directed by Akinori Matsuo. Starring Hiroki Matsukata and Shinichi Chiba.
After WWII, when Okinawa was under control of the U.S., the local yakuza prospered. But when Okinawa is returned to Japan, the mainland yakuza tries to take over; the local yakuza tries to compete. Now sides are drawn among the local yakuza guys who used to be best friends since their childhood, and brother fights brother. It results in the biggest yakuza war in Okinawa.
