PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
“Honmadekka?! TV,” premieres on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 7:15 p.m.; repeats Monday at 8:40 a.m.
With Sanma Akashiya, one of Japan’s biggest comedians, as host, the show will transmit both gossip and real facts about rumors from around the world. Each episode explores a topic’s truth down to its tiniest component. Guest-starring well-informed, knowledgeable critics in each category, participants will repeatedly shout, “Honmadekka?! (really?!)”. From deep talks to everyday anecdotes, this show features buried stories that only insiders and intellectuals know. The facts will surface — even if they turn your morals upside down! There is just no telling where these discussions will end up.
“Yamatoho! SP,” premieres on Monday, Nov. 2, at 8:35 p.m; repeats Tuesday at 9:35 a.m.
“Yamatoho!” is a regional TV project to walk all 2936.9 kilometers (1824.9 mi.) of Kyüshü Nature Trail over about 365 days. The trail connects the prefecture’s mountains, so that walkers rediscover the beauty of earth and its elements, including the rich nature of Kyüshü and the lives of its people, as well as encounter unexpected challenges.
“Yōkai Sharehouse (Yōkai Housemates),” Wednesday at 7:35 and 10:30 p.m.; repeats Thursday at 8:40 a.m.
Timid Mio Megoro wants nothing from life, keeping to herself. She dated a work colleague who turned out to be a cheater, leaving her unemployed and in debt. Driven from home, she collapses on the sidewalk — when a woman, Iwa, takes her in to live in Iwa’s shared house. The ghosts Mio sees in this shelter are nosy and interfere in her life, but they do away with people who cause her trouble…in excessively radical ways.
“Watashi no Kaseifu Nagisa-san (My Housekeeper Nagisa-san),” Friday at 7:35 and 10:30 p.m.; repeats Saturday at 8:40 a.m.
Almost-30 singleton Mei Aihara performs her job better than anyone — but fails at household chores. But in-demand “super domestic helper” Nagisa Shigino one day shows up at her door. A middle-aged man, Nagisa is expert at cooking, cleaning and washing. Mei for the first time thinks about marriage, family and future, as she starts to feel things about her housekeeper.
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
Movie of the Month
“Hana-chan no Misoshiru (Hana’s Miso Soup),” 2015 drama, 1 hour and 58 minutes.
Directed by Tomoaki Akune. Starring Ryoko Hirosue and Kenichi Takito.
Chie, once happy with boyfriend Shingo, becomes anxious when diagnosed with breast cancer. Though Shingo proposes, Chie has given up hope of having a baby due to the cancer drugs she takes for treatment — but one day, she gets pregnant! Despite risking her life, Chie gives birth to healthy baby Hana, then lives as a happy family with the infant and Shingo. But one day…
Movies in Alphabetical Order
“Amakusa Shiro Tokisada (The Christian Lord),” 1962 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 42 minutes.
Directed by Nagisa Oshima. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Satomi Oka and Ryutaro Otomo.
The story of the riot by Christians and peasants in the Edo period and of the lord who struggled to help these badly treated classes of people.
“Bakuto Kaisanshiki (Gambler’s Farewell),1968 drama, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Fukasaku Kinji. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Tetsuro Tanba.
Men devoted to the yakuza lifestyle undergo struggles during a time of fading yakuza power.
“Fukuzawa Yukichi (The Passage to Japan),” 1991 historical drama,
2 hours and 3 minutes.
Directed by Shinichiro Sawai. Starring Kyohei Shibata, Toru Nakamura and Yoko Minamino.
The extraordinary life of great visionary Yukichi Fukuzawa, who founded Keiiö University.
“Heitai Gokudo (Enlisted Yakuza),” 1968 action film, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Kiyoshi Saeki. Starring Tomisaburo Wakayama and Shingo Yamashiro.
Gang leader Shimamura is forced to join the Japanese army in 1937 to fight in China.
“Iroha Wakashu Hanakago Touge (A Young Rabble 2),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Hibari Misora and Kotaro Satomi.
The adventure of feisty girl Oyuki and Santa, a homeless child Oyuki saves.
“Jirocho Sangokushi Koshuji Nagurikomi (The Kingdom of Jirocho 4),” 1965 jidaigeki, 1hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by: Masahiro Makino. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Shingo Yamashiro.
The continuing adventures of the Jirocho gang.
“Ken wa Shitteita Kougan Musoryu (The Sword Knows),” 1958 samurai film, 1 hour and 44 minutes.
Directed by Kokichi Uchidate. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Keiko Okawa and Eijiro Kataoka.
In the Sengoku era, young samurai Kyonosuke defies his former lord, Hojo Ujikatsu, to avenge his parents’ death.
“Last Hold! (Last Hold!),” 2018 drama, 2 hours.
Directed by Yukinori Makabe. Starring Ryoichi Tsukada and Tatsuya Fukazawa.
Okajima, a Toridesaka University senior, is the only member of the school bouldering club which needs at least seven members to keep going. Determined not to let the club’s long history end, he recruits six new members — all beginners except one student!
“Manji (Swastika),” 1983 drama, 1 hour and 38 minutes.
Directed by Hiroto Yokoyama. Starring Kanako Kaguchi and Haruna Takase.
Kleptomaniac Sonoko and young, beautiful Mitsuko begin an unusual love affair. It develops into a kinky love triangle — when Sonoko’s husband gets involved.
“Moeru Yusha (The Blazing Valiant),” 1981 action film, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Toru Dobashi. Starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Kazue Ito.
Young wanderer Jo is taken in by kindhearted Kazuhei. But when Kazuhei’s son — a journalist about to reveal the city’s biggest gang — dies in a car “accident,” Jo swears to fight anyone who threatens the safety of Kazuhei’s family.
“Nihon Jokyoden Kyokaku Geisha (Samurai Geisha),” 1969 drama, 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura and Tomizaburo Wakayama.
Popular geisha Shinji must defy a gang that plots to take away a lucrative coal business from struggling miners during the turbulent Meiji Era.
“Ninkyo Kashi no Ishimatsu (Ishimatsu the Yakuza: Something’s Fishy),” 1967 drama, 1 hour and 49 minutes.
Directed by Noribumi Suzuki. Starring Saburo Kitajima and Hideo Murata.
Matsukichi, a fish-market worker, attempts to settle problems between two competitors on his turf.
“Nogitsunebue Hanafubuki Ichiban Matoi (Glorious Firefighter’s Standard),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 17 minutes.
Directed by Shoji Matsumura. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma and Satomi Oka.
Firefighter Sanji learns the secret of his birth.
“Oedo Shichininshu (Seven from Edo),” 1958 samurai film, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Matsuda Sadatsugu. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa, Chiyonosuke Azuma, Hashizo Okawa and Sentaro Fushimi.
When low-ranking vassal Katsukawa learns his greedy superior, Tatewaki, plans to expand his territory, he and his comrades decide to take matters into their own hands.
“Otoko wa Tsuraiyo Torajiro Wasurenagusa (Tora-san’s Forget-Me-Not),” 1973 drama, 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Directed by Yoji Yamada. Starring and Kiyoshi Atsumi and Chieko Baisho.
On a Hokkaidō train, Tora-san meets cabaret singer Lily. They fall in love when she later visits him in Shibamata. But they also argue, so she eventually marries a sushi chef. The 11th film in the long-running series about the itinerant peddler, is the first of four featuring Lily, the most enduring of Tora-san’s “Madonnas.”
“Sanroku (Four Sisters),” 1962 drama, 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Directed by Masaru Segawa. Starring Isuzu Yamada and Shu Ryuichi.
Four sisters and their manipulative mother must come to terms with each of their decisions in life.
“Shimizuminato no Meibutsu Otoko Enshumori no Ishimatsu (Man from Shimizu),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 38 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and Chiyonosuke Azuma.
The adventures of people’s hero, Mori no Ishimatsu.
“Tabigasa Dochu (Her Son Came Back),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 24 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Hiromi Hanazono.
Kind-hearted yakuza Hanjiro of Asama risks his life to save his henchman Genjiro and his family.
“Tabineko Report (The Travelling Cat Chronicles),” 2018 drama, 1 hour and 58 minutes.
Directed by Koichiro Miki. Starring Sota Fukushi and Yuko Takeuchi.
Former stray cat Nana was rescued from a traffic accident by Satoru, a kind-hearted youth who loves cats. For five years, Nana has lived happily as Satoru’s pet. But circumstances dictate that Satoru has no choice but to give up Nana. To find his replacement, Satoru goes traveling with Nana, visiting people that Satoru has valued so far in his life, such as close friends, his first love and others. Will Nana find a new master?
“Tarao Bannai Hayabusa no Mao (Foul Play),” 1955 drama, 1 hour and 21 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Chiezo Kataoka and Chizuru Kitagawa.
Private eye Tarao Bannai and assistant Masako investigate the murder of a baseball player killed in the middle of a game.
“Wakasama Zamurai Torimonocho Mano Shibijin Yashiki (Case of A Young Lord Part 3),” 1954 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Kinnosuke Fukada. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Shinobu Chihara and Satomi Oka.
A master swordsman encounters a strange murder that occurs as a result of a Shogun succession struggle.
“Zenigata Heiji (Heiji, the Detective),” 1967 samurai film, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Tetsuya Yamauchi. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Kazuo Funaki and Ryutaro Otomo.
Famous for his coin-tossing when capturing criminals, Edo detective Heiji launches an investigation into the mysterious murder of his friend Seigoro.
