PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
NEW PROGRAMMING
“Sanga Ari (Mother Country),” special program, Saturday, Jan. 1 at 7:35 p.m.
In 1919, a group of Japanese immigrants arrives in Hawai‘i. Among them are Yoshio Inoue and his wife Kishino, and Sumi, a young woman ready to get married soon. With soil that is hard to work, and a subtropical climate, the immigrants must cope with a hard life. After years of hard work, Yoshio finds work as a teacher while his wife manages to open a small grocery store. But with the war around the corner, life becomes more and more complicated for the Japanese immigrants in the U.S. Fully subtitled in English.
“Seiten o Tsuke (Reach Beyond the Blue Sky),” premiering Sunday, Jan. 2 at 7:35 p.m.
The tumultuous life of the “Father of Japanese capitalism,” at a time when the country sheds its feudal samurai system to ring in the age of modernization. Though born into the farmer class, Eiichi Shibusawa grows up into a talkative, bright youth with an interest in commerce. As Eiichi finds himself on the side of the shogunate, his position yields him the chance to be on the delegation sent to the International Exposition of 1867 in Paris, opening his eyes to a world where the private sector thrives with its banks. Upon his return, he is called by the new Meiji government to build its tax, railway, and monetary systems. Fully subtitled in English.
“Radiation House II,” premiering Monday, Jan 3 at 7:35 p.m.
The hit series starring Masataka Kubota makes a return for a second season! Iori Igarashi is a medical radiographer, also known as a “hero behind the scenes,” who uses unconventional methods and breaks the mold of academia to find the cause of illnesses and diagnose “invisible diseases” with X-rays and CT. Joining Iori once again, is Dr. An Amakasu, the daughter of the former director of Amakasu General Hospital, who secretly has feelings for Iori. Fully subtitled in English.
“Super Rich,” premiering Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 7:35 p.m.
Mamoru Hyoga is the CEO of “Three Star Books,” a venture company involved with e-books. Born into a wealthy family, she has never had problems related to money in her life. With the belief that “money can solve anything,” she works hard each day to make more profit. She has even been awarded the “Platinum Woman of the Year” award, which is given to the leading female entrepreneur of the year. However, as Mamoru struggles to make the company bigger and better, she is faced with a series of crises that threaten to shake up the company’s management. Fully subtitled in English.
“Choshichiro Edo Nikki,” premiering Thursday, Jan. 6 at 7:35 p.m.
Choshichiro Edo Nikki is back! Choshichiro Nagayori Matsudaira is the son of Tadanaga Tokugawa, which makes him a nephew of the Shogun. Tadanaga died because of an alleged plot to overthrow his elder brother, the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. Because of Choshichiro’s complicated background, he lives among the commoners in the shogunal capital city of Edo, punishing evil when he sees wrongdoings and injustice. Fully subtitled in English. Fully subtitled in English.
“Exploring the Indigenous Ainu Culture,” premiering Friday, Jan. 21 at 7:35 p.m.
The indigenous Ainu people once lived on the northern island of Hokkaido and surrounding areas. This series will highlight Ainu dance, modern art, crafts, and culture that has made its way overseas, as well as explore the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park that opened in 2020. 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 (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
“Food Luck! Shokuun (Food Luck),” 2020 drama, 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Directed by Jimon Terakado. Starring Naoto and Tao Tsuchiya.
Feast your eyes on the ultimate yakiniku movie! Yoshito Sato, a freelance writer who was born into a family that ran a popular yakiniku restaurant, embarks on a food journey to find the flavors of home, with young reporter Shizuka. With not only an eye for the food, but respect for the masters who make it, this movie depicts both the love between mother and son and the comedy of life through yakiniku and delicious food. An unprecedented first “eat-ertainment” film!
MOVIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
“Chushingura Dai-ichibu Ouka no Maki (Forty Seven Maserless 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 Maserless 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.
“Daininjutsu Eiga Watari (Watari, the Ninja Boy),” 1966 ninja, action, samurai film, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Sadao Funadoko. Starring Yoshinobu Kaneko, Ryutaro Otomo, Chiyoko Honma and Fuyukichi Maki.
Historic rivals, the Momochi and Fujibayashi ninja clans are governed by the strict code of the ninja, where disobedience is punishable by death. A skilled ninja, Watari is befriended by a fellow young ninja, Kazura. Upon learning of Kazura’s sister’s death during a mission for the clan, Watari and Kazura set out to go after those who took her life. However, Watari and Kazura soon find their own lives at risk as they uncover the shocking details of lies and conspiracy among the heads of the Momochi and Fujibayashi clans in their efforts to maintain power and control.
“Fuyu no Hana (Flower of Winter),” 1978 drama, 2 hours and 2 minutes.
Directed by Yasuo Furuhata. Starring Ken Takakura, Kimiko Ikegami, Kunie Tanaka and Mitsuko Baisho.
Kano, a yakuza convicted of murder, looks after the daughter of his victim from a distance.
“Gekido no 1750-nichi (1750 Days of Turbulence),” 1990 drama, action film, 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Directed by Sadao Nakajima. Starring Kiichi Nakai and Masaya Kato.
The depiction of a 1,750-day long gang war.
“Gokuchu no Kaoyaku (Prison Boss),” 1968 action film, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Yasuo Huruhata. Starring Ken Takakura and Junko Fuji.
Rival gangs fight over ownership of bicycle race track.
“Hibari Minyo no Tabi Beranme Nakanorisan (Feisty Edo Girl Nakanori-san),” 1961 drama, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Masamitsu Igayama. Starring Hibari Misora and Ken Takakura.
Daughter of a lumber shop in Edo strives to protect her family business from the competitor.
“Hibari no Mori no Ishimatsu (Skyelark Forest),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Hibari Misoa, Tomisaburo Wakayama and Kotaro Satomi.
Japan’s legendary actress Hibari stars as Ishimatsu, a fearless yazuka determined to put a stop to the injustice from the society.
“Hokuriku Dairi Senso (The Shadow War of the Yakuza),” 1977 action film, 1 hour and 38 minutes.
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku. Starring Hiroki Matsukata and Sonny Chiba.
The fight between a local small gang and the biggest family. In the setting of the Hokuriku region, where the snow and cold winds rage, battles among yakuza who value land over tradition are shown. Noboru Kawada uses any measure for survival, disregarding parents, brothers, and tradition.
“Kage no Gundan Hattori Hanzo (Shadow Warriors),” 1980 samurai, action film, 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Tsunehiko Watase and Teruhiko Saigo.
The death of the Shogun Iemitsu sparks a struggle for power amongst Japan’s ruling families. One group led by Matsudaira Izu has, with the help of a Koga ninja named Shirobei, kidnapped Iemitsu’s successor Ietsuna. Another group led by Hoshina Masayuki enlists the rival Iga ninja clan to rescue Ietsuna and restore him to power. Political rivals and opposing ninja clans go head to head in this movie, which was spun off from a popular television series.
“Kai (Pulling an Oar),” 1985 drama, 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Directed by Hideo Gosha. Starring Ken Ogata, Yukiyo Toake and Yuko Natori.
Told by her mother, “You’ve got to be endlessly patient if you want to live together in a happy union till parted by death.” Before her marriage to the geisha agent Iwago, Kiwa struggles to come to terms with her life and persevere through the hardship that her marriage brings. Betrayal and tragedy are commonplace in this tale, which follows the life of Kiwa whose strength and courage help her family to endure in even the worst of times.
“Kanto Hizakura Ikka (The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang),” 1972 drama, 1 hour and 42 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura, Koji Tsuruta and Chiezo Kataoka.
Tsuruji, a beautiful yet tough geisha, confronts a yakuza gang over a territorial dispute.
“Kurobedani no Daikenkyaku (The Swordsman in the Golden Valley),” 1960 samurai film, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa and Michiyo Kogure.
A story of a samurai involved in a gold rush in a canyon.
“Mondonosuke Sanbanshobu (The Third Contest)” 1965 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Tetsuya Yamauchi. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Shigeru Amachi, Kotaro Satomi and Jushiro Konoe.
Skilled swordsman Mondonoske must face his rival Genba in a deadly competition for the prestigious position of fencing instructor to a famous Lord.
“Ningyo no Nemuru Ie (The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps),” 2018 drama, 2 hours.
Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Starring Ryoko Shinohara and Hidetoshi Nishijima.
Kaoruko and Kazumasa Harima are married with two children. They are planning to get a divorce once their daughter, Mizuho, enters elementary school. Then one day, Mizuho fell into a coma after a near-drowning accident in a pool. The doctors declare her brain dead with no prospect of recovery. However, Kaoruko sees her daughter’s hand twitch when she is saying her final goodbye and is unable to accept the reality of her death. A shocking conclusion awaits the couple in the face of a cruel fate.
“Osome Hisamatsu Soyokaze Higasa,” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Hibari Misora and Kotaro Satomi.
Young feisty woman Osome searches for her true love in the midst of a family crisis.
“Pinkerton ni Aini Iku (Meeting Pinkerton),” 2018 drama, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Yuichiro Sakashita. Starring Chika Uchida and Wakana Matsumoto.
The film depicts the struggles of women who were once pop stars who try to reunite after their breakup twenty years ago. Struggling actress Yuko was the leader of the legendary idol group Pinkerton that suddenly split up just as they were on the verge of making it big. One day, a record label proposes that she reunite the Pinkerton band. Yuko decides to look for the members.
“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 fate of the Satomi Clan lies in the hands of 8 warriors of prophecy, each of whom were born with a crystal orb. The monk Daisuke embarks on a journey to find these warriors and reunite the 8 orbs they carry so that they may fulfill their destiny.
“Satomi Hakkenden Dai-nibu (Sorcerer’s Orb2),” 1954 samurai film, 54 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma, Kinnosuke Nakamura and Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
The adventures of 8 warriors continue in the second part of the popular series “Satomi Hakkenden.” Fate brings the sacred warriors together to carry out their ultimate destiny.
“Showa Zankyoden (Contemporary Tales of Chivalry),” 1965 action film, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Kiyoshi Saeki. Starring Ken Takakura, Yoshiko Mita, Hiroki Matsukata and Shinjrio Ebara.
Story about a man who helps rebuild Asakusa after World War II. Takakura Ken stars as Terashima Seiji, a young respected yakuza who comes to aid his comrades when his late boss’ territory in Asakusa is threatened by rival gangs.
“Tabi ni Deta Gokudo (Yakuza on Foot),” 1969 action film, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Directed by Junya Sato. Starring Tomisaburo Wakayama and Shingo Yamashiro.
An Osaka gangster, Shimamura, just got married. His new bride, Mineko is also involved in drug-trafficking, and when she goes to China to make a deal, things get botched pretty badly. Shimamura must travel to save her and recoup his employers’ losses.
“Tange Sazen Nuretsubame Ittoryu (Tange Sazen and the Princess),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Ryutaro Otomo, Hashizo Okawa and Yumiko Hasegawa.
Tange Sazen interferes with an evil plot against the Iga Yagyu family.
“Umon Torimonocho Manji Gumo (The Eye of the Chinese Festival),” 1962 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Ryutaro Otomo and Kotaro Satomi.
Umon investigates the murder of kabuki actors caused by deadly blows of a red arrow.
“Wakasama Zamurai Torimonocho Kuroi Tsubaki (Case of a Young Lord 9),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 34 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Sawashima. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Satomi Oka.
Young master comes to rescue Okimi who is suspected of murders in Izu.
“Yagyu Bugeichou Yozakura Hiken (The Yagyu Military Art),” 1961 samurai, action film, 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Directed by Masahiko Izawa. Starring Kotaro Satomi, Konoe Juushiro, Hanazono Hiromi and Ryuji Kita.
When the Yagyu clan falls victim to rival Kasumi spies, Yagyu Jubei is called to action to protect them. But in performing his duty, he, himself, becomes the target of those who wish to destroy his clan.
“Yamanaka Shizuo-shi no Songenshi (The Dignified Death of Shizuo Yamanaka),” 2019 drama, 1 hour and 49 minutes.
Directed by Akio Murahashi. Starring Kanji Tsuda and Baijaku Nakamura.
62-year-old Shizuo Yamanaka is told he has terminal lung cancer and one month left to live. He returns to his hometown in the Shinshu region to face the end. He admits himself to the hospital, thinking only about dying peacefully without pain in the place of his birth. Imamura, a doctor who watches over Shizuo’s last stage is determined to fulfill Yamanaka’s wish, but suffers from depression because he has seen too many deaths. Yet he continues to think about the possibility of a dignified death for human beings.
