PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
“Renai Mangaka (Romance Manga Artist),” premiering Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 7:35 p.m.
A comical, heartwarming love story about a couple who is bad at romance. Seiichiro Karibe, a socially awkward manga artist, is a genius with a thought process normal people cannot understand. With no assistants, the eccentric manga-ka works alone on a hit series considered the gold standard for girls’ comics. His private life is shrouded in mystery, as he hides his identity under a female pen name. But one day, he is suddenly forced to help a woman out, his solitary life thrown into disarray.
“Kenji Sakata (Prosecutor Sakata),” premiering Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 7:35 p.m.
Prosecuting attorney Sakata from Yonesaki District Public Prosecutors’ Office is obstinate and hard to approach but also is passionate about upholding justice. He believes that a prosecutor’s job is to mete out proper justice for crimes committed. He investigates so as to uncover the whole truth about his cases.
“Ryu no Michi (Path of the Dragons),” premiering Monday, Aug. 23, at 7:35 p.m.
“We’ve always had each other, haven’t we brother? Together, we crawled from the gutter, and we both know where our path now leads…” Two brothers, one a yakuza mobster, and the other a high-ranking civil servant, share a thirst for revenge. In this suspenseful thriller, the two powerful men focus on wreaking vengeance on the corporation that destroyed their family. Years of carefully laid plans are threatened when their little stepsister innocently digs into her tragic past. Will the brothers fulfill their destiny, or will they be accidentally exposed, by the very sister they had sworn to protect?
“Rikokatsu (How to Get a Divorce for the Whole Family),” Friday and Saturday at 7:35 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; repeats Saturday at 8:40 a.m.
Newlyweds Saki Mizuguchi and her husband Koichi Obara decide that marriage was a huge mistake: after meeting by chance, they had a whirlwind romance, but ultimately their different values and lifestyles have continuously clashed. Saki was a fashion editor raised in a modern, liberal home, whereas Koichi was an ace air-rescue for the Air Self-Defense Force from a conservative background. Despite their frequent bickering and desire to split, they are embarrassed to share this decision with family, friends and colleagues — so they choose to do it in secret! This highly entertaining drama takes a hard look at today’s societal values through the lens of divorce.
“Ichikei no Karasu (Ichikei’s Crow: The Criminal Court Judges),” Monday at 7:35 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; repeats Tuesday at 8:45 a.m.
Unorthodox criminal court judge Michio Iruma takes it upon himself to verify crime scenes so that the truth is uncovered and no false accusations survive under his watch. A former lawyer himself, the laid-back judge, who wears casual outfits and speaks slowly, can strike fear in the minds of lawyers and prosecutors due to his sharp observations and inquisitive mind.
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 (808) 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
“Taki wo Miniiku (Ecotherapy Getaway Holiday),” 2014 drama, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Shuichi Okita. Starring Haruko Negishi and Chigusa Yasuzawa.
Seven women from ages 40 to 80 go together on a tour of fall foliage that includes hot springs and a spectacular waterfall. The women chat, pick berries, take photos and enjoy themselves as they follow an unreliable tour guide to the waterfall, but the guide vanishes. Thrown into an experience far removed from their ordinary lives, the women begin to discover themselves as they try to survive.
MOVIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
“Bakuchiuchi Inochifuda (Fate Deals the Card of Death),” 1971 action film, 1 hour and 46 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Tomisaburo Wakayama.
Meeting in Niigata, Seijiro and Shizue fall in love. Though Seijiro must return to Tokyo soon after, the two promise to reconnect later. However, Seijiro gets jailed unexpectedly. Unable to find him, Shizue has to marry a yakuza boss to help her family business. Will the couple come together again to follow the path of true love?
“Edo no Akutaro (Evil Taro of Edo),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Ryutaro Otomo and Keiko Okawa.
Kindhearted swordsman Sanshiro rescues poor villagers from the evil and greedy vassal Akiyama.
“Gokudo no Onnatachi 2 (Yakuza Ladies 2),” 1987 action-drama, 2 hours.
Directed by Toru Dobashi. Starring Yukiyo Toake and Rino Katase.
The wife of a leader of the Domoto crime family, Yuki must assume her husband’s role as yakuza boss while he serves out his prison sentence. Growing into her new role, she asserts control and increases the influence of her organization. But when her husband is released from jail, she finds him a changed man, lacking the character necessary to be a powerful mob leader. Conflict ensues as her desire for power challenges their marriage.
“Gorotsuki Mushuku (Patience Has an End),” 1971 drama, 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Directed by Yasuo Furuhata. Starring Ken Takakura.
Young coal miner Takeda leaves Kyushu in search of a better job in Tokyo, only to fall into the lucrative yet dangerous life of a yakuza.
“Hanagasa Dochu (While Traveling),” 1962 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 24 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Hibari Misora and Kotaro Satomi.
Okimi and her gang go on a private mission to find her lover Kanta.
“Hashizo no Wakasama Yakuza (Young Lord Yakuza),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Keiko Okawa and Isao Kimura.
Under the disguise of a ronin, Young Lord Taihei goes to Edo to find a lost family treasure, a plover incense burner.
“Hatamoto taikutsu Otoko Nazo no Ansatsutai (Ninja Assassins),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa and Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
Saotome Mondonosuke pursues a suspect who allegedly placed a malicious curse upon Shogun Tsunekichi.
“Hibotan Bakuto Hanafuda Shobu (The Valiant Red Peony Part 3),” 1969 drama, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Directed by Tai Katō. Starring Junko Fuji and Ken Takakura.
Oryu the Peony continues her quest to perfect her skills as a professional gambler while leading a life following the moral code of the yakuza and helping those she encounters to fight against injustice.
“Kataku no Hito (House on Fire),” 1986 drama, 2 hours and 13 minutes.
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku. Starring Ken Ogata and Ayumi Ishida.
Adapted from the autobiography by Kazuo Dan, this story depicts Dan’s turbulent life especially his family, mistresses and work.
“Keisho Sakazuki (Succession),” 1992 drama, 1 hour and 59 minutes.
Directed by Kazuki Omori. Starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Ken Ogata.
A stockbroker-turned-yakuza is ordered to ask the boss of another yakuza outfit to serve as the substitute emcee for a succession ceremony, the passing of the baton from the older to the younger yakuza generation.
“Koi Yamabiko (Love Echo),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Keiko Okawa and Satomi Oka.
Kogenta, prince of the secluded Ina Clan, marries beautiful outsider Oshina. When he later learns that Oshina’s father lost his life protecting the family heirloom, a shamisen called “Yamabiko,” from a greedy thief, he vows to avenge his father-in-law’s death.
“Maboroshi Tengu (Phantom Goblin),” 1962 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Nobuo Nakagawa. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Hiroko Sakuramachi.
An injured Edo official is rescued by a vassal whose appearance exactly resembles that of the official and who swears to sweep away criminals from the town on the official’s behalf.
“Nikutai no Mon (Carmen 1945),” 1988 drama, 1 hour and 59 minutes.
Directed by Hideo Gosha. Starring Rino Katase and Tsunehiko Watase.
Prostitutes in a burnt-out Tokyo ghetto of post-war Japan peddle their flesh and save one-third of their money for a proposed dancehall to be named Paradise. The hookers live in a bombed-out building, but they accept this precarious situation with typical resolve.
“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.
Tora-san watches the shop in Shibamata while his family is away on a trip. During his stay, Tora-san falls in love with an unmarried painter, the younger sister of an old friend. Beginning to visit her studio regularly, he soon falls in love once more.
“Shimizu no Jirocho Ninkyo Nakasendo (Road of Chivalry),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Chiezo Kataoka Kinnosuke Nakamura, Hashizo Okawa, Chiyonosuke Azuma and Kotaro Satomi.
An all-star cast performs in this tale of two yakuza heroes, Shimizu Jirocho and Kunisada Chuji, who unite to save the poor.
“Shin Ougon Kujakujo Shichinin no Kishi Dai-ichibu (Seven Knights
Part 1),” 1961 samurai film, 56 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Kotaro Satomi and Shingo Yamashiro.
Seven knights fight for the peace of the world (Part 1).
“Shin Ougon Kujakujo Shichinin no Kishi Dai-nichibu (Seven Knights
Part 2),” 1961 samurai film, 55 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Kotaro Satomi and Shingo Yamashiro.
Seven knights fight for the peace of the world (Part 2).
“Shiranui Kozo Hyobanki Naruto Hikyaku (The Envoy),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Kinnosuke Fukada. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Hiromi Hanazono.
Shiranui Kozo’s racy travel journal features his adventures on the famous Tokaido road.
“Special Actors,” 2019 drama, 1 hour and 49 minutes.
Directed by Shinichiro Ueda. Starring Kazuto Osawa and Hiroki Kono.
With the lifelong dream of becoming an actor, Kazuto suffers from a nervous condition that makes him faint from the slightest stress. One day, he runs into his estranged brother Hiroki, who works for a talent agency called SPECIAL ACTORS. It employs actors to perform as friends or family members, playing stand-ins at weddings or funerals. Hiroki believes Kazuto would be perfect for this job, as such low-stress performance work may be ideal for his brother’s condition and dream of being an actor. After successfully doing some of these gigs, Kazuto is now assigned to a tricky operation: to save a family-run inn from being taken over by a fraudulent cult group. Will he be able to accomplish this mission?
“Sukeban Deka Kazama Sanshimai no gyakushu (High School Super Heroines 2),” 1988 drama, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Hideo Tanaka. Starring Yui Asaka and Masaki Kyomoto.
Yui, a sukeban deka (super heroine who is a high-school student) intervenes in terrorist attacks plotted by a group of young people.
“Takarajima Ensei (Excursion to Treasure Isle),” 1956 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi. Starring Hibari Misora, Kenichi Enomoto and Akira Kishii.
This story dramatizes the famous Japanese folkloric hero Momotaro (Peach Boy) and his fantastical adventures.
“Tsukiji Wonderland (Tsukiji Wonderland),” 2016 documentary, 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Directed by Naotaro Endo.
Filmed over 16 months, this non-fiction film closely chronicles the beloved fish exchange Tsukiji Market, which has been moved to Toyosu, including areas never before documented. Tsujiki Market has continuously sustained Japanese food culture over the generations. Intermediate wholesalers and chefs play out a duel among professionals, with each season’s fish catch mesmerizing diverse tourists who have traveled there from all around the world. See the passion driving the many characters of Tsukiji, symbolizing an important tradition of Japanese classical cuisine.
“Zoku Beranme Geisha (The Prickly Mouthed Geisha 2),” 1960 drama, 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Koishi. Starring Hibari MIsora and Ken Takakura.
Young geisha Kohana scrambles to realize her dream of bringing back her grandmother’s restaurant business.
