PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
“Manpuku,” premieres Thursday, November 29. Mondays through Saturdays at 7:15 p.m. Sunday and Tuesdays through Fridays at 8:20 a.m. and 5:05 p.m.
The 99th NHK Drama Serial is about Fukuko, a cheerful and dedicated woman born in Osaka, who marries to a young businessman filled with vitality. From the prewar to the high economic growth period, they get through the turbulent times and revolutionize the world’s food culture by inventing instant noodles. 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.
Movies of the Month
“Otoko wa Tsuraiyo Torajiro Yumemakura (Tora-san’s Dream Come True),” 1972 drama, 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Directed by Yoji Yamada. Starring Kiyoshi Atsumi and Kaoru Yachigusa.
Tora-san is furious when he finds that his family has rented out his room to a local university professor. When he reconnects with Chiyo, a childhood friend, he develops feelings for her – and so has the professor. Though the professor and Tora-san now are rivals for the affection of Chiyo, Tora-san conspires to help the professor.
“Goto no Tora-san (Tora-san of Goto),” 2016 documentary, 1 hour and 36 minutes.
Directed by Masaru Oura.
Filmed over a period of 22 years, this intimate portrait of a family follows the Inuzuka clan who reside in the Goto Islands of Nagasaki. Tora rules the roost, running an udon noodle-making business with the help of his wife and seven kids. As time passes, the household endures various events––from childbirth and upbringing to separation and reunion––providing a remarkably in-depth and heartwarming look into the unique bonds that prevail over generations.
Movies in Alphabetical Order
“Bakuto Kaisanshiki (Gambler’s Farewell),” 1968 drama, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Fukasako Kinji. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Tetsuro Tanba.
The story of men devoted to the yakuza lifestyle and their struggles during a time of fading yakuza power.
“Beranme Geisha to Osaka Musume (The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka),” 1962 drama, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Kunio Watanabe. Starring Hibari Misora and Ken Watanabe.
Geisha Koharu takes in young Mayumi, a runaway from Osaka who happens to be a mirror image of Koharu.
“Edokko Hada (Edo Purebred),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Yataro Kurokawa and Hiroko Sakuramachi.
A story of friendship between two rival firefighters, Kichigoro and Jirokichi.
“Gajimaru Shokudo no Koi (Love at Gajimaru Diner),” 2014 drama, 98 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 7 years, and a beautiful woman named Riko.
“Genji Kuro Sassoki Nuregami Nitoryu (Tales of Young Genji Kuro),” 1967 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27minutes.
Directed by Tai Kato. Starring Konnosuke Nakamura and Shinobu Chihara.
Master swordsman Genji Kuro is entrusted by the Otsubo family to protect an antique sword known as the “kaen” sword. As part of a valuable pair of swords made by a legendary sword maker, the Otsubo family seeks to reunite it with its companion “suien” sword at Mishima Shrine. However the journey to the Shrine is wrought with danger and Genji Kuro must put his skills to the test, fending off a band of cunning and ruthless thieves.
“Happyaku Mangoku ni Idomu Otoko (A Man Challenging at Post),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Directed by Nobuo Nakamura. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa and Katsuo Nakamura.
