Tag: Sakura

Praise for Sakura

On By Nill NewtIn Awards2 Comments

Best Film: The Real Thing by Koji Fukada ; Best Director: Hikari for 37 Seconds ; Best Actress: Komatsu Nana for her performances in Sakura and Ito (aka Tapestry)…these are some of the winners at the 30th Japanese Professional Movie Awards/日本映画プロフェッショナル大賞. Sakura made it into the jury’s Top Ten movies for 2020.

The Japanese Professional Movie Awards (Japanese wiki page) were established in 1991 by journalist and film critic Hiroo Otaka. Backed by a group of film industry professionals, the main aim of the Awards is to provide recognition to films that sometimes fall under the radar because of lack of publicity or/and funding.

JPMA Links: Twitter – Facebook – Site – Hiroo Otaka

Sources: Yahoo News Japan – Natalie Music – Theatertainment – Sakura Movie (on Twitter) – Tokyo Sports

Sakura DVD & Bluray

On By Nill NewtIn Cinema, Making ofLeave a comment

Based on Kanako Nishi‘s successful novel of the same name (2005), Sakura, directed by Hitoshi Yazaki (Strawberry Short Cakes, Sweet Little Lies…) hit Japanese theaters on November 13 last year. It was released on DVD and Bluray on May 12 this year.

Plot: An ordinary and happy middle class family that consists of parents and their 3 children: Hajime (Ryo Yoshizawa), Kaoru (Takumi Kitamura) and Miki (Nana Komatsu). Hajime is the eldest son, a handsome and very popular guy at school, he is also a fine baseball player. His younger brother Kaoru is a reserved and somewhat moody person. Miki is the young sister: stubborn, childish, careless yet sensitive, her feelings for Hajime go beyond simple admiration. They have a cute little dog, Sakura. One day, Hajime has a terrible car accident and as the family falls into despair, much will be revealed.

See and watch more: pics, clips and links

Sakura Stage Greetings

On By Nill NewtIn CinemaLeave a comment

Saturday, November 14: director Hitoshi Yazaki and some of the actors –Takumi Kitamura, Ryo Yoshizawa, Yui Kobayashi and Nana Komatsu– were at the Shinjuku Piccadilly Cinema in Tokyo for an audience stage greetings, presenting their new film: Sakura (Official Film Site).

As it was the first time an audience event was being held for most of them since the covid crisis began, everyone on stage looked very pleased, especially actress Komatsu Nana who said she felt like home. There was much talk about the good memories they all had from late night shootings and also about Chie, the dog (Sakura)

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Latest Sakura Bits

On By Nill NewtIn CinemaLeave a comment

Sakura, the new film from Hitoshi Yazaki is out in Japan today. Here’s a small collection of recent promo or ‘making of’ pics plus a series of links to the latest interviews given by the two actors who were the most active in promoting the movie: Kitamura Takumi and Komatsu Nana. Official Film Site.

Interview in Asahi Book on November 10 (Japanese)

Interview for Stardust Promotion on November 11 (Japanese)

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