Saw it in 2021's edition of Osaka Asian Film Festival. The theme it brought is a recurring one - a really shy kid who gets from zero-to-hero, with dashes of local ingenuity of Japanese regional countryside. This one was set in Tsugaru area at the northern tip of Honshu (the main island of Japan), which is renowned for apple production. However, it has its own charm too and use the above ingenuity to pretty good effect. Komai Ren as the lead does really well too, granted she hails from Tsugaru but her portrayal here as a super shy girl is quite believable. A nice change of pace compared to her previous roles so far (i.e. a model student in Asa ga Kuru) to flex her versatily acting muscle too. And her performance with shamisen (the string musical instrument she holds in the poster) in the end of the movie is a blast - one might think she's a pro shamisen player. Can't wait to see her in Namae too, which is in my watch list (I just found it's now available in Youtube Movies, although still unsubbed).
Watched it in Osaka Asian Film Festival 2021. It's such a simple, yet really funny slice-of-life portraying souls working and roaming Shimokitazawa area in Tokyo, which is full of indie shops and artworks. It feels a bit like very subtle version of Moteki, where in both shows the main actors (who aren't particularly good-looking or good at dealing with opposite sex) experience a period when they suddenly become popular among girls. Aside from the low-key humor, it's the long takes of scenes with static camera that catch my attention the most. It has always been used in the genre but it's taken a bit further in this show, some of which clock up to 20+ minutes but it comes out so effortlessly and isn't draggy at all, thanks to decent improvisation of the cast.
Was watching it in the movie theatre this week. Really nice work with soe really nice little popculture references.
Do you live in Japan too? I concur, especially with the football reference (when Germany beat Brazil 7-1 at their own turf in 2014). Reminds me of that in Soredemo Ikiteyuku when similar topic was brought up in the conversation, namely Japan NT's run in World Cup 2010.
Ishii Yuya is already a big name in Japanese cinema. I think he is not so far behind the likes of Koreeda and Kawase.
Other candidates to keep an eye on: Sotoyama Bunji (Soiree) Fukuda Momoko (Kimi no Sekai Hajimari) Ogawa Sara (Koreeda's protege, she's an actress too but I think she's better off as director) Sakai Mai (mostly TV director, but her directing style is very distinct and unique) Imaizumi Rikiya (slice of life specialist, check out his work in one episode of Kasumin no Satsukyuu and Machi no Ue de)
I am not that familiar with the budgets of WOWOW, but the 2007-version was so grand. It reminded me of a Japanese…
I think if WOWOW goes all out like TBS did back in 2007, like doing more proper casting and invest on the best writers and crews, they might've well at least match it. We all know what's WOWOW is capable of when they get in the game (see Cold Case series).
Despite being an almost complete newcomer and in tender age, she pulls such very convincing and layered performances in Rinri and Ao no School Police. Perhaps even the best performer in both series. So far one of the best talents in the sub-2000 group, which is already a very talented cohort (much like late 90-liners). Kid will definitely go places, mark my word.
Damn Ep.5 is so intense, the problems of the two kids (Takasaki and Tokigawa) are no joke. The ending of the episode from both Takayanagi and these two kids seems to be an open one and far from complete (everyone is still unaware of Takasaki's underlying problem). I think it will be discussed in further episodes and let's see how things unravel.
So far this episode also showcases the best acting in the show. Yamada Yuki redeems his terrible performance in Sensei no Houteishiki with such sublime expressions, especially when he gazes Tokigawa at the school gate. Not to mention the kids, theirs also blow me away, particularly Kiryu Sakura as Takasaki who already impressed me in Ao no School Police. Kid's got real skill and versatility.
2 
8.0/10
https://mydramalist.com/profile/lontongstroong/feeds/0QKlDHN
8.75/10
BTW If you haven't watched Suzuki Sensei (the TV series), GO WATCH IT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmFT8hfewfk&feature=emb_title
I concur, especially with the football reference (when Germany beat Brazil 7-1 at their own turf in 2014). Reminds me of that in Soredemo Ikiteyuku when similar topic was brought up in the conversation, namely Japan NT's run in World Cup 2010.
https://mydramalist.com/people/23182-yanagita-sakura
Other candidates to keep an eye on:
Sotoyama Bunji (Soiree)
Fukuda Momoko (Kimi no Sekai Hajimari)
Ogawa Sara (Koreeda's protege, she's an actress too but I think she's better off as director)
Sakai Mai (mostly TV director, but her directing style is very distinct and unique)
Imaizumi Rikiya (slice of life specialist, check out his work in one episode of Kasumin no Satsukyuu and Machi no Ue de)
So far this episode also showcases the best acting in the show. Yamada Yuki redeems his terrible performance in Sensei no Houteishiki with such sublime expressions, especially when he gazes Tokigawa at the school gate. Not to mention the kids, theirs also blow me away, particularly Kiryu Sakura as Takasaki who already impressed me in Ao no School Police. Kid's got real skill and versatility.