“Miracle City Koza” World Premiere at the Hawaii International Film Festival

https://miraclecitykoza.com

This is amazing. Ahead of its Okinawa premiere on 1/21 and even its Japan premiere on 2/4, the Hawaii International Film Festival “HIFF” holds the prize of presenting the world premiere of “Miracle City Koza” on 11/7! What’s even better is that in addition to a one-day in-person screening, the film will also be available online to audiences in the USA from 11/10 to 11/28 with English subtitles. Tickets can be purchased from hiff.org on 10/15 (HIFF Ohana members) and from 10/18 for the general public.

Read our previous post introducing the film and view the trailer below.

“Miracle City Koza” Trailer

The last film from Okinawa to screen at HIFF was “Okinawan Blue” (Kokoro Odoru) in 2019.

HIFF Eat.Drink.Film 2021 Showcase Series

Shogen 尚玄

No, we’re not getting a film from Okinawa but we do have an actor from Okinawa who is starring in director Yoshida Kota’s Sexual Drive. Fashion model and actor Shogen stars in the film and many may recognize him as Raye Penber from the 2015 Death Note TV series. He has an impressive filmography and is currently in the Philippines to finish filming Gensan Punch.

A Japanese triptych about sex, aphrodisiac foods and secret desires.

via IFFR 2021

“Sexual Drive” trailer

Sexual Drive will be available for streaming from June 10-20. It’s not my kind of film but I’ll likely watch it for Shogen.

HIFF 30: 2 Films, 2 Actresses from Okinawa

The Hawaii International Film Festival gets underway from October 14th to the 24th and we’re in for a treat as they’re screening two films that feature actresses from Okinawa.

Official Website

“Abacus and Sword (武士の家計簿 Bushi no Kakeibo)” (Japan, 2010) stars Yukie Nakama and will be shown on 10/23/10 at 8:45 PM and on 10/24/10 at 12:30 PM. (Visit HIFF’s page for the film for more info.)

Official Website

“Hanamizuki (ハナミズキ)” (Japan, 2010) stars Yui Aragaki and will be shown on 10/23/10 at 1:00 PM and on 10/24/10 at 5:00 PM. (Visit HIFF’s page for the film for more info — they also have a trailer up on their website.) Check out the film’s official website which has several wallpapers for the film available for download (unfortunately, none feature Yui Aragaki). The song, “Hanamizuki,” which Yui covers from Yo Hitoto, is on Yui’s latest album “Niji,” released on 9/22/10.

Tickets are already on sale if you’re a HIFF member with tickets for the general public going on sale from October 4th. Why not guarantee your ticket now by joining the HIFF Ohana?

Shakespeare in Okinawa

Long a fan of HIFF (Hawaii International Film Festival), I’m happy to see a Spotlight on Okinawa for this year’s festival. Three films shot on location in Okinawa will be shown: “Gunjou (Cobalt Blue),” “Manatsu no Yo no Yume (A Midsummer’s Okinawan Dream)” and “Nada Sou Sou (Tears for You).”

While the three films featured in the Spotlight on Okinawa were filmed on location in Okinawa, the lead actors are not from Okinawa — though they’re represented in supporting roles (mainly Tomi Taira in “Manatsu no Yo no Yume” and “Nada Sou Sou,” and Mitsuru Tamaki in “Manatsu no Yo no Yume” and “Gunjou”).

The film I’m really looking forward to is “Manatsu no Yo no Yume.” The film was directed by Yuji Nakae — a name that should be familiar to Okinawa films fans — who gave us “Nabii no Koi” and “Hotel Hibiscus.”

You’ll find the trailers to the films after the break.