The concept of a hostile alien parasite bonding with a human host and eventually proceeding to live in a symbiotic relationship with them, ignoring its baser violent instincts, is rather familiar to the majority of pop culture fanatics thanks to the popularity of Marvel’s famous anti-hero, Venom. However, during the late 1980s, when the character made its first appearance in comics, a Japanese counterpart of the same concept was taking shape through Hitoshi Iwaaki’s manga Parasyte. Bringing in visceral elements of body horror and classic Ukiyo-e supernatural art together, the mangaka fleshed out the concept further than its more popular American counterpart, delving deep into questioning identity conflict, the extent of human morality, empathy and their hypocritical nature, and the true essence of life itself.
Madhouse Studio’s anime adaptation of the manga, titled Parasyte: The Maxim, was able to capture the perfect combination of graphic horror and philosophical resonance,...
Madhouse Studio’s anime adaptation of the manga, titled Parasyte: The Maxim, was able to capture the perfect combination of graphic horror and philosophical resonance,...
- 4/2/2024
- by Siddhartha Das
- Film Fugitives
Following what happened in the US during the last decade or so, the quality of Asian dramas has skyrocketed during the last few years, with a significant surge of talent from cinema towards streaming platforms, with Korea definitely paving the way in the regard, and Japan following. The result is quite impressive to watch, since, frequently, the level of these titles is equal to the one of movies.
Without further ado, here are 20 Asian dramas in random order proving the fact in the most eloquent fashion.
1. Cigarette Girl by Kamila Andini
“Cigarette Girl” is not a typical story of two broken hearts crushed by unfortunate circumstances, a trope over-used in the soap opera format. It also has a bit of history to offer alongside a basic insight into the women's hardships in Indonesia not such long time ago. “Your duty is to clean the house and find yourself a husband...
Without further ado, here are 20 Asian dramas in random order proving the fact in the most eloquent fashion.
1. Cigarette Girl by Kamila Andini
“Cigarette Girl” is not a typical story of two broken hearts crushed by unfortunate circumstances, a trope over-used in the soap opera format. It also has a bit of history to offer alongside a basic insight into the women's hardships in Indonesia not such long time ago. “Your duty is to clean the house and find yourself a husband...
- 1/18/2024
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Based on a real-life incident of a father who had strangled his violent son, “The Strangling” seems to follow one of the most prevalent themes of Japanese cinema from the 70s and onwards, the accusation towards the previous generation for the blights that torment the current. Kaneto Shindo, however, definitely moves much further, and occasionally even in an opposite direction, in a film that went beyond the borders of Japan, screening in competition at the 36th Venice International Film Festival, where Nobuko Otowa was awarded as Best Actress.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The movie actually begins with the titular deed, showing Yasuzo, after an agreement with his wife, Ryoko, strangles his son, Tsutomu. Although Shindo takes care of showing what happened after the deed, including the support the couple got from their neighbors in all aspects, the main arc of the story deals with how the young man,...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The movie actually begins with the titular deed, showing Yasuzo, after an agreement with his wife, Ryoko, strangles his son, Tsutomu. Although Shindo takes care of showing what happened after the deed, including the support the couple got from their neighbors in all aspects, the main arc of the story deals with how the young man,...
- 8/24/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Featuring one of the best screenplays we have seen in an Atg movie, by Takehiro Nakajima (some allege it was inspired by his own life), who won a number of awards in 1976 for his effort, “Preparation for the Festival” is another great sample of the company's catalog, that takes a rather realistic, as much as comedic look at the life in rural Japan during the 50s, also channeling intense erotic elements. The film was included in the top 200 of Kinema Junpo critics, in number 157.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The story revolves around Takeo, a young man in his 20s, who is working as a clerk in the small town he has been living in all his life. However, Takeo's mind is definitely elsewhere as his thoughts are monopolized by his will to leave for Tokyo, and finally losing his virginity, with the latter...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The story revolves around Takeo, a young man in his 20s, who is working as a clerk in the small town he has been living in all his life. However, Takeo's mind is definitely elsewhere as his thoughts are monopolized by his will to leave for Tokyo, and finally losing his virginity, with the latter...
- 8/22/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (Maiko-san Chino makanai-san) is a Japanese series created by Hirokazu Koreeda starring Mayu Matsuoka, Ai Hashimoto, Nana Mori and Keiko Matsuzaka. Based on the manga by Aiko Koyama.
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, is a tender Japanese story about art, friendship, youth, time… and, what can merge all these concepts in a single one? Food as an art form and an expression of ephemerality and at the same time, eternity, serves this series to achieve a portrayal of youth that is charming, consoling and above all, very, very tender.
About the Series The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
A small delicacy for those that love the most traditional aspects of Japanese culture. The lives of these two kitchen apprentices will lead us, almost apologetically, to view a kind of Kyoto in which time goes by almost unnoticed, like those first...
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, is a tender Japanese story about art, friendship, youth, time… and, what can merge all these concepts in a single one? Food as an art form and an expression of ephemerality and at the same time, eternity, serves this series to achieve a portrayal of youth that is charming, consoling and above all, very, very tender.
About the Series The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
A small delicacy for those that love the most traditional aspects of Japanese culture. The lives of these two kitchen apprentices will lead us, almost apologetically, to view a kind of Kyoto in which time goes by almost unnoticed, like those first...
- 1/12/2023
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid - TV
At the close of its opening credits sequence, Netflix’s The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House splashes its title over a close-up shot of a meal. What meal specifically varies from episode to episode, depending on what the characters eat in any given one. Invariably, however, it’s some form of home-cooked comfort food: oyakodon or tomato curry or stewed eggplant, often still bubbling in the pot.
The dishes aren’t necessarily pretty, by the standards of your typical foodie show, nor do they look particularly fancy or original. But that’s precisely their appeal. They’re simple, straightforward, deceptively humble and irresistibly cozy — much like the series itself.
Adapted from the manga by Aiko Koyama, The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House centers on a rare adventure. At the start of the series, 16-year-old best friends Kiyo (an irrepressibly sunny Nana Mori) and Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi) strike out...
The dishes aren’t necessarily pretty, by the standards of your typical foodie show, nor do they look particularly fancy or original. But that’s precisely their appeal. They’re simple, straightforward, deceptively humble and irresistibly cozy — much like the series itself.
Adapted from the manga by Aiko Koyama, The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House centers on a rare adventure. At the start of the series, 16-year-old best friends Kiyo (an irrepressibly sunny Nana Mori) and Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi) strike out...
- 1/11/2023
- by Angie Han
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Internationally esteemed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda has unveiled a first look at his debut drama series for Netflix, The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House. The sneak-peek images give fans a glimpse at Kore-eda’s original take on the rarefied world of the Japanese geisha.
Based on a best-selling manga by Aiko Koyama, the nine-episode series is set in the traditional Geiko district of Kyoto, depicting the inner sanctum of aspiring Maiko courtesans. The story follows a protagonist named Kiyo (played by Mori Nana) who moves to Kyoto from rural Aomori to become a Makanai (a traditional cook) at a house where a group of Maiko (apprentice Geikos, or geishas) live together.
‘The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House’
Kore-eda, who won Cannes’ Palme d’Or in 2018 with his family drama Shoplifters, acts as the show’s producer, showrunner and co-writer. He also directs some of the episodes,...
Internationally esteemed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda has unveiled a first look at his debut drama series for Netflix, The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House. The sneak-peek images give fans a glimpse at Kore-eda’s original take on the rarefied world of the Japanese geisha.
Based on a best-selling manga by Aiko Koyama, the nine-episode series is set in the traditional Geiko district of Kyoto, depicting the inner sanctum of aspiring Maiko courtesans. The story follows a protagonist named Kiyo (played by Mori Nana) who moves to Kyoto from rural Aomori to become a Makanai (a traditional cook) at a house where a group of Maiko (apprentice Geikos, or geishas) live together.
‘The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House’
Kore-eda, who won Cannes’ Palme d’Or in 2018 with his family drama Shoplifters, acts as the show’s producer, showrunner and co-writer. He also directs some of the episodes,...
- 10/24/2022
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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