PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
“Fukyo Waon (Dissonance),” premieres Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 7:35 p.m.
When Yusuke was in elementary school, his father, Detective Oyagi, was accused of extracting forced confessions before suddenly dying. So Yusuke’s younger brother Masato got adopted, and the brothers were separated. Today, Yusuke is a rookie detective investigating a case where a husband is suspected of murdering his wife. He must face Masato, now a prosecutor.
“Sakura no Oyakodon 3 (The Shelter 2020),” premieres Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7:35 p.m.
Nosy but compassionate “Aunty” Sakura works as staff at the “The Second Hummingbird House,” a temporary refuge for children. One day, new lawyer Yukino comes to work at the shelter. Her enthusiastic attachment to its children sometimes causes intense friction. But Sakura sees her old self in the lawyer and protectively bonds with her.
“Kasai no Hito,” premieres Wednesday, December 16, at 7:35 p.m.
Oddball Kuwata, a newly appointed judge, arrives at Maezaki Family Court in a suburban city outside of Tokyo. Known for snubbing career advancement, Kuwata shows up on his first day carrying a huge plant on his back. Hinako, a legal apprentice, and the court’s probation officers are astounded when Kuwata plants the tree in the small garden within the court’s compound while everyone watches in a daze.
Takaga Mondo 5,” premieres Tuesday, Dec. 22, at 7:35 p.m.
Mondo, a lobby clerk at Seventh Meiwa Bank, solves crimes and mysteries in the city, one after another! Going after a scammer at a local hospital, he is willing to do anything to save the hospital and its patients.
“Naoki Hanzawa Spin-off,” premieres Friday, Dec. 25, at 7:35 p.m.
Tokyo Central Securities, an affiliate of Tokyo Central Bank (where Naoki Hanzawa works), plans a large-scale renewal of its security trading system. Kei Kohsaka, a new programmer at Spiral, a promising IT firm, is an average worker, until one day, he surprises everyone by solving a sudden emergency. The managing director nominates Kohsaka as project leader for an important enterprise that could lead to a tremendous profit for the firm. But behind the scenes, a plot brews, unknown to anyone.
“Kono Koi Atatamemasuka (A Warmed Up Love),” premieres Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 7:35 p.m.
Having lost her bearings in life, Kiki Inoue works at a part-time job for a convenience store. But due to an incredible passion for her store’s sweets, she encounters the president of this retail chain with whom she forms a partnership to develop the next big convenience-store dessert! The president, however, is only concerned with winning, viewing her as an exploitable pawn. Against this cutthroat corporate backdrop, Kiki serves as a symbol for many who despair at life’s failures, asking themselves, “What is most important in life?”
“Boogie Woogie Senmu,” premieres Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 9:20 p.m.; repeats Thursday, Dec. 31, at 10:05 a.m.
The fictitious Uesugi Pump Ltd. advertises with the catchphrase “Meaningless Variety”! “Senmu” (Vice President) Uesugi and manager Ohchi go all over Hokkaidō exploring various topics and meeting interesting people along the way. Their trips showcase Hokkaidō’s delicious food!
“Bon-Uta: A Song From Home,” premieres Thursday, Dec. 31, at 7:35 p.m.
In this documentary (reviewed in the Herald’s Oct. 22, 2019, issue), the people of Futaba town, Fukushima, fight to save a generations-old tradition in the wake of 2011’s earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. The townspeople realize their beloved “bon uta” might cease to exist unless they take action. They hear the story of Fukushima Ondo, another “bon uta” preserved by Japanese Americans whose ancestors had emigrated from Fukushima to Hawaiʻi over 100 years ago — and travel to Maui to see how that tradition was passed down to the current generation.
NGN 3 MOVIE CHANNEL (Spectrum Digital Ch. 679/HD 1679)
Premiere titles air on Friday. “Special Programs” premiere 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 the Japanese language with full English subtitles.
Special Programs
“Fukuoka Renai Hakusho 5 (Love Stories from Fukuoka 5),” 2020 drama, 50 minutes.
Starring Ren Ishikawa and Tetsuya Iwanaga.
Kana from Tokyo and Hiroki from Fukuoka meet for just one summer’s night — but the shared memories they make shine brighter as time goes by. Though they know the distance makes real love impossible, Kana waits for two years, believing miracles can happen.
“Otoko wa Tsuraiyo Watashi no Tora-san (Tora-san Loves an Artist),” 1973 drama, 1 hour and 47 minutes.
Directed by Yoji Yamada. Starring Kiyoshi Atsumi and Chieko Baisho
While his family is away on a trip, Tora-san watches their Shibamata shop. He regularly visits the studio of an unmarried painter, the younger sister of an old friend, and starts to fall in love.
Movies in Alphabetical Order
“Amanogawa,” 2018 drama, 1 hour and 43 minutes.
Directed by Shun Konii. Starring Momoko Fukuchi and Takayuki Yanagi
Tökyö high-schooler Shiori is introverted, but her mother, Satomi, is ambitious and education-obsessed. A researcher of artificial intelligence who spends little time with her daughter, Satomi forces her to study, until Shiori gets fed up and stops attending school. Visiting her beloved grandma who taught her to play taiko drums, Shiori agrees to stay on the mystical island of Yakushima in the southern Sea of Japan. There, she meets a robot and learns to communicate with it, finding a way to live again.
“Datsugoku Hiroshima Satsujinshu (The Rapacious Jailbreaker),” 1974 action film, 1 hour and 37 minutes.
Directed by Sadao Nakajima. Starring Hiroki Matsukata and Tatsuo Umemiya.
In 1947, Ueda robs a drug dealer and his woman for morphine, then kills them. He is incarcerated in Hiroshima but escapes. From then on, he keeps getting caught and imprisoned over and over. Based on a true story of a jailbird who was sentenced for 41 years and escaped seven times.
“Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko Nazo no Yureijima,” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa and Kinya Kitaoji.
Saotome Mondonosuke investigates Nagasaki’s illegal trade.
“Hibari Ohako Benten Kozo (Hibari’s Favorite),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 14 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Hibari Misora, Kotaro Satomi and Tomisaburo Wakayama
Young temple servant Kikunosuke turns to his mother Ofuji for shelter when wrongly accused of murder. But she turns him in to the police for a reward. Devastated, he escapes to Edo to start over, renaming himself “Benten Kozo” and joining a gang led by Nihon Daemon – later known as Shiranami Goninotoko.
“Hibotan Bakuto Isshuku Ippan (The Valiant Red Peony Part 2),” 1968 drama, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Directed by Norifumi Suzuki. Starring Junko Fuji and Tomisaburo Wakayama.
While spending time with a friend, Oryu the Red Peony learns of the notorious Kasamatsu gang which enslaves poor girls to labor in a silk factory. Outraged, she confronts the gang and helps the female workers.
“Kashi no Onna Ishimatsu (A Fishwife’s Tale),” 1961 drama, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Hibari Misora and Ken Takakura.
Popular Yoshiko, the daughter of a fish market owner, learns she was adopted. She sets out to help her biological father, protecting him from those who wish to take over his successful business.
“Kobanzame Oyakusha Jingi (Actress Vs. Greedy Sharks),” 1966 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Hibari Misora, Yoichi Hayashi, Shindo Eitaro and Nogawa Yumiko.
Framed by his enemies, Manbe is imprisoned for a murder he didn’t commit. His daughter Yuki takes it upon herself to clear his name.
“Mito Komon Tenka no Fukushogun (Lord Mito Part 2),” 1959 samurai film, 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Ryunosuke Tsukigata, Kinnosuke Nakamura, Chiyonosuke Azuma, Kotaro Satomi, Hibari Misora and Hashizo Okawa.
When Matsudaira Yoritsune hears his son is going mad, Lord Mito rushes to Takamatsu to help him. With the kindness of strangers, Lord Mito and his loyal companions Suke and Kaku confound the acts of wrongdoers.
“Naniwa no Koi no Monogatari (Their Own World),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 46 minutes.
Directed by Tomu Uchida. Starring Konnosuke Nakamura, Ineko Arima and Chiezo Kataoka.
A tragic love story between wealthy Chubei and prostitute Umekawa.
“Ninjutsu Suikoden Inazuma Kotengu (The Scroll’s Secret),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 9 minutes.
Directed by Masaharu Matsuura. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma and Satomi Oka.
In the Muromachi era, Shogun Yoshitane Ashikaga’s order to recover the secret scroll triggers ninja warfare.
“Öoka Seidan Yurei Hachijuhachiya (Magistrate Öoka’s Legends),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Kiyoshi Saeki. Starring Ryutaro Otomo and Keiko Okawa.
A hotshot investigator solves a series of gruesome murders.
“Ookami Yakuza Koroshi wa Ore ga Yaru (Yakuza Wolf),” 1972 action film, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Takeichi Saito. Starring Sonny Chiba and Koji Nanbara
A fearless man confronts a violent yakuza organization.
“Perfect World (Perfect World),” 2018 drama, 1 hour and 42 minutes.
Directed by Kenji Shibayama. Starring Takenori Iwata and Hana Sugisaki.
Employee of interior design company Tsugumi Kawana is reunited with Itsuki Ayukawa, her high-school first love. Though she falls for him again, Itsuki had been in an accident and now uses a wheelchair, so he avoids romance, believing himself unable to give anyone love. Will they be able to overcome all these hurdles and become happy together?
“Satomi Hakkenden Dai-ichibu (Sorcerer’s Orb),” 1954 samurai film, 55 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma, Kinnosuke Nakamura and Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
The Satomi Clan’s fate lies in the hands of prophesied eight warriors, each born with a crystal orb. Monk Daisuke journeys to find these warriors and reunite the orbs so they may fulfill their destiny.
“Satomi Hakkenden Dai-nibu (Sorcerer’s Orb 2),” 1954 samurai film, 54 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma, Kinnosuke Nakamura and Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
Fate unites eight sacred warriors to meet their ultimate destiny.
“Sorekara (And Then),” 1985 drama, 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Directed by Yoshimitsu Morita. Starring Yusaku Matsuda, Miwako Fujitani, Morio Kazama, Jun Miho and Kenji Haga.
A forbidden love affair arises when an old flame meets Daisuke, who has struggled to find happiness amid familial pressure to wed and find a stable job. Based on “And Then” by novelist Natsume Söseki.
“Tarao Bannai Nanatsu no Kao no Otoko daze (The Man of Seven Faces),” 1960 action film, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Shigehiro Ozawa. Starring Chiezo Kataoka and Hitomi Nakahara.
Det. Tarao investigates a kidnapping involving police officers’ deaths.
“Tenryu Hahakoi Gasa (Heavenly Dragon),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Hibari Misora and Hiroshi Mizuno.
Lumber dealer’s son Shintaro is entrapped by evil boss Kumagoro who plots to take over his family business.
“Tonosama Yajikita Torimono Dochu (Diary of a Wandering Lord),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 24 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Katsuo Nakamura and Hiroko Sakuramachi.
Two thrill-seeking young lords sneak out of their castles disguised as townsmen.
“Tsukigata Hanpeita (Mask of the Moon),” 1961 samurai film, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Kotaro Satomi, Jushiro Konoe and Satomi Oka.
When young swordsman Tsukigata Hanpeita is appointed to oversee the Choshu Clan, he tries to work towards the peace about which he has long dreamed. But betrayal by those closest to him leaves Hanpeita caught in a trap that could ultimately kill him.
“Tsuma yo Bara no You ni Kazoku wa Tsuraiyo III (What a Wonderful Family! 3 My Wife, My Life),” 2018 drama, 2 hours and 3 minutes.
Directed by Yoji Yamada. Starring Isao Hashizume and Kazuko Yoshiyuki.
Fumie lives with her two growing sons, her husband Konosuke and his parents. One day, when she falls asleep in between her exhausting chores, a thief breaks in and steals a sum of money! Konosuke berates her for losing his nest egg, his insensitive response setting off her pent-up anger. She walks out on the family, leaving them to do everything for themselves!
“Wakasama Zamurai Torimonocho Beranme Katsujinken (Case of A Young Lord Part 2),” 1956 jidaigeki, 52 minutes.
Directed by Kinnosuke Fukada. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Yumiko Hasegawa.
A master swordsman must retrieve a stolen heirloom and present it to the Shogun.
“Zoku Jirocho Sangokushi (The Kingdom of Jirocho 2),” 1963 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Yoshiko Sakuma.
Jirocho and his henchmen befriend Ishimatsu the wanderer in Mishima.
