PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
“Iryu Sosa SP 2021,” premieres on Tuesday, May 4, at 7:35 p.m.; airs on Tuesday at 7:35 p.m. and 10 p.m., repeats on Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.
Quirky Det. Satoshi Itomura is back! Under the Special Crime Management and Control Office of the Kyoto Police, he takes on new cases with their own challenges. Can he perfect his method of focusing on things that the victims had carried and treasured, to solve cases and bring closure to families of victims?
“Ore no Ie no Hanashi (Story of My Family!!!),” premieres on Friday, May 14, at 7:35 p.m.; airs Wednesday at 7:35 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; repeats Saturday at 8:40 a.m.
Former pro-wrestler Juichi Miyama, his career sidelined by injury and age, was once groomed by father Jusaburo, an acclaimed Noh actor and “Living National Treasure,” to be Jusaburo’s successor. But young Juichi rebelled, left home and cut off ties with his family. Now he learns that his father, miraculously surviving a critical illness, plans to marry his young caregiver and leave his money to her. Juichi decides to return home to help with his father’s care, setting the stage for a showdown between Juichi’s family on one side and his father’s mysterious caregiver on the other.
“Kurokawa no Techo SP (Black Leather Notebook SP),” premieres on Wednesday, May 26, at 7:35 p.m.; airs Wednesday at 7:35 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; repeats Thursday at 8:45 a.m.
Motoko has completed three years in prison due to her embezzlement and extortion. Released, she finds she has lost everything, and is in a worse financial situation than before. She makes a fresh start, but her life again goes awry after an unfortunate encounter. Rather than staying on in Tokyo, she starts over again in Kanazawa, where no one knows about her.
“Ochoyan,” Monday-Saturday at 7:15 p.m.; re-airs Sunday and Tuesday through Friday at 8:20 a.m. and 5:05 p.m.
Chiyo, born in a poor family in Meiji-era Osaka, is sent to a theater tea room as a servant when she is 9 years old. She is attracted by the world of theater comedy, growing up to be an actor, but the war breaks out and she must stay away from acting. However, when she comes back, her acting in a radio drama impresses many people, and she becomes one of the leading actors in western Japan.
“Ittekimasu! Gifu Hida (A Family Story in Hida),” Monday at 7:35 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., from May 31.
TV reporter Mari returns to the town of Hida Furukawa, Gifu Prefecture, after 10 years. Her father, chief brewer at a local sake brewery, does not know that she never got a speaking role the whole time she moved to Tokyo to become an actress. She was assigned reporting work for a program which was to capture a video of the parade floats to be used during the Furukawa Festival. However, the festival has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Can she persuade her father, chairman of the committee for the preservation of festival floats, to help out?
“Sono Onna, Jilba (OLD JACK & ROSE),” Monday at 7:35 p.m. and 10:35 p.m.; re-airs Tuesday at 8:45 a.m., until May 25.
Arata, a 40-year-old office worker with no boyfriend, no money and no guarantee of relief after retirement, wants marriage but isn’t blessed with a partner. She’s not young anymore and this makes her feel small at her workplace. Wanting a change, she takes the plunge, discovering powerful, gorgeous old ladies from their fifties to eighties at a retro bar, “OLD JACK & ROSE,” where she starts a new job.
“Lupin no Musume 2 (Daughter of Lupin 2),” Wednesday at 7:35 p.m. and 10:35 p.m.; repeats Thursday at 8:45 a.m.
In this sequel to “Daughter of Lupin,” Hana and Kazuma enjoy a happy slice of newlywed life. But as a member of the family of thieves “L Clan,” Hana is supposed to be dead, forcing them to settle for a common-law marriage. Soon trouble comes to the neighborhood, putting the couple in a tight spot.
“Atarashii Osama (The New King),” Saturdays at 8:35 p.m. and Sundays at 9:35 a.m.
The story centers on two “kings”: King Akiba, once known for his eye-opening acquisitions, has since liberated himself from materialistic concerns and now freely pursues producing new value through creativity; King Etchu, CEO of a major investment fund, is by contrast driven by an insatiable lust for women and money. Living according to opposite values and harboring completely different motives, the kings find themselves looking to acquire a key Tokyo station, Chuo TV. Their bid brings about a fatefully colossal clash between two evenly matched tycoons.
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.
Movie of the Month
“Pinkerton Ni Aini Iku (Meeting Pinkerton),” 2018 drama, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Yuichiro Sakashita. Starring Chika Uchida and Wakana Matsumoto.
Struggling actress Yuko led legendary all-female band Pinkerton, a pop group that suddenly split up just as members were on the verge of making it big. One day, a record label proposes that she reunite Pinkerton, so Yuko decides to look for her former bandmates.
Movies in Alphabetical Order
“Bon-uta (Bon-uta: A Song from Home),” 2019 documentary, 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Directed by Yuji Nakae.
The people of Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture, fight to save a generations-old tradition in the wake of 2011’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. With the community scattered and recovering, townspeople realize their beloved “bon uta” might die off, unless they take action. They feel hope, however, upon hearing about Fukushima Ondo, another “bon uta” that has been preserved by Japanese Americans whose ancestors had emigrated from Fukushima to Hawai‘i over a century ago. The Futaba townspeople travel to Maui to see how a centuries-old tradition has been passed down to the current generation.
“Dassou Yuugi (Jail Breakers),” 1976 action film, 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Sonny Chiba.
Professional fixer of jailbreaks Kamiki helps prisoners escape for big money. A criminal from age 12 who has been in and out of prison, he has served time for 48 years altogether.
“Furisode Torimonocho Wakashu Henge (Mysteries of Edo),” 1956 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Shoji Matsumura. Starring Hibari Misora and Hashizo Okawa.
Princess in disguise Oshichi launches an investigation to reveal the truth about the disappearance of young women in Edo.
“Gonkuro Tabi Nikki (Travels of Gonkuro),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa and Hiroko Sakuramachi.
Ronin Gonkuro extends a helping hand to those in need while traveling.
“Hana no Oedo no Yakuza Hime (Yakuza Princess of Edo),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Hibari Misora and Kotaro Satomi.
Tsukitaro rescues Ochiyo, a blind girl whose family’s lives are threatened by evil boss Dogoro.
“Hanshichi Torimonocho Mittsu no Nazo (Cases of Hanshichi),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Chiezo Kataoka, Chiyonosuke Azuma, Koji Tsuruta and Shinobu Chihara.
Detective Hanshichi solves mysterious murder cases.
“Hibari no Oshare Kyojo (Hibari Is Fashion Crazy),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Hibari Misora, Shoji Yasui and Kyoko Aoyama.
Under Shogun Matsudaira’s decree, townspeople are forced to live frugally. However, recently orphaned Omitsu goes around town fancifully dressed, earning a crazy reputation. Secretly, though, she is only acting mad, using this excuse to roam around town and conduct an investigation into her father’s death. Will her ploy help uncover the truth?
“Hibotan Bakuto Jingi Toshimasu (The Valiant Red Peony Part 8),” 1971 drama, 1 hour and 36 minutes.
Directed by Buichi Saito. Starring Junko Fuji and Chiezo Kataoka.
Gambler in training Oryu avenges the death of her beloved friend Otaka.
“Jigoku no Okite ni Asu wa Nai (Glorious Fights),” 1966 action film, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Yasuo Furuhata. Starring Ken Takakura and Yukiyo Toake.
Takida, the young leader of the Yamazaki family of Nagasaki, is an A-bomb survivor who fiercely battles violent elements in southern Japan.
“Kazokuiro (Our Departures),” 2018 drama film, 2 hours.
Directed by Yasuhiro Yoshida. Starring Kasumi Arimura and Jun Kunimura.
Aki and her stepson visit her late husband’s home in Kagoshima to inform his father, Setsuo, of his son’s passing. Dismayed by this death, Setsuo is flustered by her and his grandson Shunya whom he meets for the first time. Now without a home, Aki and Shunya convince Setsuo to let them move into his Kagoshima house, as Aki gets tested to become a train driver for the Hisatsu Orange Railway where Setsuo works. With Aki starting this new career for the train-loving Shunya, will the three overcome their tribulations to form a new version of a family?
“Kisaragi Musoken (The Kisaragi Swordsman),” 1962 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa, Hiroki Matsukata, Chiyonosuke Azuma and Kotaro Satomi.
Top swordsman Tsukinosuke is called upon to quell an insurgence against the Shogunate.
“Koudo 7000 Meters (Four Hours of Terror),” 1983 action film, 1 hour and 16 minutes.
Directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi. Starring Ken Takakura.
A captain saves passengers from a brutal murderer on his plane after four hours of terror.
“Kurama Tengu* (Goblin in Stirups),” 1959 samurai film, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma, Hibari Misora and Satomi Oka.
Hero to the common people, Kurama Tengu saves them from the malicious attacks of Kinnoroshi and Shinsengumi.
“Narazumono (An Outlaw),” 1964 drama, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Teruo Ishii. Starring Ken Takakura and Tetsuro Tamba.
Assassin Nanjo goes on a mission to take revenge on the man who trapped him into a complicated drug deal.
“Ooka Seidan Mazohen (Ooka Seidan: Devil Image),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa and Tomisaburo Wakayama.
Magistrate Ooka and a samurai fight against the evil.
“Oshidori Kago (The Bull’s Eye for Love),” 1958 samurai film, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Hibari Misora, Katsuo Nakamura and Hitomi Nakahara.
Young lord Genjiro, who abandoned his castle to live as a commoner in Edo, returns home to restore peace amidst a dispute over an inheritance.
“Shusse Komoriuta (Lullaby for Worldly Success),” 1967 action film, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Ryuichi Takamori. Starring Sonny Chiba and Tetsuro Tanba.
This movie depicts the strong bonds between a father and son who live in the hills.
“Tenka no Igagoe Akatsuki no Kessen (Sanguine Battle),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa, Taro Otomo, Hashizo Okawa and Kotaro Satomi.
A story of revenge between two samurai families on the Igagoe Road.
“Tsukiji Wonderland (Tsukiji Wonderland),” 2016 documentary, 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Directed by Naotaro Endo.
A documentary chronicling Tsukiji Market, with never-before-seen areas shown. Filmed over 16 months, the market, which has sustained traditional Japanese food culture for over 80 years, includes passionate intermediate wholesalers and chefs who play out a duel among professionals. Each season’s catch mesmerizes tourists from around the world.
“Wakasama Zamurai Torimonocho Okesho Gumo (Three Talismans),” 1962 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 24 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Hiroki Matsukata.
Young Lord investigates a mysterious death in the criminal underworld.
“Yagyu Bugeicho Katame no Jubei (Yagyu Military A Jubei’s Redemption),” 1963 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Directed by Koukichi Uchide. Starring Jushiro Konoe, Hiroki Matsukata and Shingo Yamashiro.
Jubei must prove the innocence of family members suspected of conspiring to assassinate the Shogun.
“Yoto Monogatari Hana no Yoshiwara Hyakuningiri (Tale of a Mystical Sword),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 49 minutes.
Directed by Tomu Uchida. Starring Chiezo Kataoka.
A successful textile industrialist from the countryside, beloved by employees for his kindness, cannot find a wife because of a disfiguring birthmark on his face. Even the courtesans in Yoshiwara refuse to entertain him, but an indentured peasant prostitute, Tamazuru, treats him with brash tenderness. “The scar is not on your heart,” she says; he falls madly in love with her, ultimately losing his fortune in an expensive quest to purchase her freedom.
