PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
WITHOUT NOTICE
“Busu no Hitomi ni Koishiteru 2019 (Busukoi 2019),” premieres Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 7:35 p.m.
The super-popular voice actor Osamu Suzuno meets Miyuki Oyama by fate. Miyuki, an aspiring voice actor, is not good looking but is a bright and positive girl. She once got her relief from Osamu’s voice, which changed her trajectory of life. Shed told him “I like you as a voice actor.” Although they have never dated, Osamu unexpectedly proposes to her, and this love story suddenly starts. If you keep smiling, happiness will follow you. Fully subtitled in English.
“Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman,” premieres Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7:35 p.m.
A humble masseur and gambler who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman, Zatoichi wanders the countryside of Japan, going from town to town plying his trade and rolling the dice. With kind heart and lethal sword skills, he is the protector of the innocent and the ruin of wicked men. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honor and delivers justice in every town and village he enters. Fully subtitled in English.
“Watashitachi no Tatakai (Our Tournament),” Thursday, Jan. 2 at 8:30 p.m.
The “JAPAN OPEN 2019 35th Iizuka International Wheelchair Tennis Tournament” ended with the resurgence of Shingo Kunieda. Wheelchair tennis, which originally started for rehabilitation at a local hospital, is now one of the world’s leading tournaments. The management of the tournament is done by volunteers. People’s thoughts will continue into the future. Fully subtitled in English.
“Ashiyamachi Movie Project,” Thursday, Jan. 2 at 9 p.m.
The movie “Natsu no Yozora to Aki no Yuhi to Fuyu no Asa to Haru no Kaze” (Summer Night Sky, Autumn Sunset, Winter Morning and Spring Wind) starring many popular actors was all filmed entirely in Ashiya Town, Fukuoka Prefecture. Along with volunteers, Atsushi Nagashima, a local revitalization team member who calls himself a stranger and a contributor, has created a film production to deepen the connection amongst locals. Fully subtitled in English.
“Okikatsu,” premiers Friday, Jan. 3 at 8:05 p.m.
“Okikatsu” supports businesses and events in Okinawa. They report on shops, cultures and traditional performing arts. It’s an informational variety show that is closely related to the local community. Fully subtitled in English.
“Shodo Girls 2019,” Friday, Jan. 3 at 8:35 p.m.
“Shodo Performance” is new creative form of calligraphy. High school girls draw characters on oversized papers. This program focuses on the national tournament of Shodo and the high school girls who give the best performance. Which school will win this year? Fully subtitled in English.
“Ao to Boku (Blue and I),” premieres Monday, Jan. 6 at 7:35 p.m.
Three friends have been together since high school, but in 2013, one of them died. The two people who are left are slowly trying to forget the death of their best friend and live their lives. However, in 2018 one of them receives an email from his best friend who died five years ago and accuses him of having forgotten it. From there, strange events take place in his entourage and to try to end it, he will seek to discover the truth behind the death of his friend. Fully subtitled in English.
“Hanzai Shokogun (Crime Syndrome) Season 1,” Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 7:35 p.m.
“Hanzai Shokogun” Season 1 and Season 2 follow Takashi Muto and Mamoru Kabugari who lost the same person. She is the younger sister of Takashi and the girlfriend of Mamoru. “Season 1” focuses on Takashi, a detective full of justice. When he was young, he lost his parents. He still has his younger sister whom he cares for a lot, but she is murdered. The killer is an under-aged person who didn’t get his due punishment. Takashi decides to take revenge on him, but the murderer kills himself. 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.
Movie of the Month
“Amanogawa,” 2018 drama, 1 hour and 43 minutes.
Directed by Shun Konii. Starring Momoko Fukuchi and Takayuki Yanagi.
Shiori is a high school girl in Tokyo who is not good at arguing. Her mother, Satomi, is a researcher of artificial intelligence and has little time to spend with Shiori. Education-obsessed, Satomi forces Shiori to study. Fed up, Shiori stops going to school. When she visits her beloved grandma who taught her to play “taiko” drums, she agrees to stay on the mystical island Yakushima in the southen sea of Japan. There, Shiori meets a robot.Communicating with the robot, she finds her way to live again.
Movies in Alphabetical Order
“Bakuto Gaijin Butai (Foreign Gambling Corps),” 1971 action film, 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Hideo Murota.
A gangster who gets driven out of Yokohama by a big gang from Tokyo carves out a new niche in Okinawa.
“Chokosoku! Sankin Kotai Returns (Samurai Hustle Returns!),” 2016 jidaigeki, 2 hours.
Directed by Katsuhide Motoki. Starring Kuranosuke Sasaki and Kyoko Fukada.
In the Edo period, there was a system called “Sankin-Kotai” under which feudal lords in the Edo period were required to spend every other year in residence in Edo. Masaatsu Naito, who is a head of the small and poor clan, was ordered to come to Edo in just four days with his staff. However, his mission has not been completed yet since some opposing leaders are planning another conspiracy to his clan. Now he has to return to his clan as soon as possible in order to save his castle which was taken over by another clan.
“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 taking a revenge on their enemy. A must-see all star cast version.
“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 of the famous 47 loyal vassals of the Ako clan.
“Futatsu no Kino to Boku no Mirai (Two Pasts Towards Tomorrow),” 2018 drama, 1 hour and 38 minutes.
