Today Connects to Tomorrow. "Anniversary" | MOVIE Gallery
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October 21, 2016

Today Connects to Tomorrow. "Anniversary" | MOVIE Gallery

A 20th-anniversary film from Medicom Toy, this anthology weaves together five stories from acclaimed directors and screenwriters, all centered around the theme of "Anniversary." Lovers. Friends. Parent and child. Spouses. Sisters. Colleagues. Each anniversary becomes a catalyst, setting their stories in motion towards their conclusions!
A 20th-anniversary film from Medicom Toy, this anthology weaves together five stories from acclaimed directors and screenwriters, all centered around the theme of "Anniversary." Lovers. Friends. Parent and child. Spouses. Sisters. Colleagues. Each anniversary becomes a catalyst, setting their stories in motion towards their conclusions!
Kenji (Ryuya Wakaba), a petty thug, encounters Daiki (Fuku Suzuki), an elementary school student, while attempting shoplifting at a supermarket. When his theft is discovered by a store clerk, Kenji flees, pursued by staff. At that moment, Daiki beckons him from a car, and Kenji impulsively jumps in. He finds himself driving the car at Daiki's command, but...
Director: Atsunori Sasaki. Representative of Film Design Works LLC. After directing variety shows like "Beat Takeshi's Comedy Ultra Quiz!!" and "Tunnels no Minasan no Okage Deshita," and combat sports programs such as K-1 and professional wrestling, he began directing stage performances for Momoiro Clover Z in 2010. His innovative direction, incorporating elements of variety shows and combat sports, overturned existing concepts of idol concerts and established Momoclo's current style. Since then, he has directed large-scale venues with tens of thousands of attendees, including Saitama Super Arena, Seibu Dome, Nissan Stadium, and the National Stadium. He has also directed stages for New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Tokyo Dome events and world boxing championships.
A film director (Takashi Aoki) arrives in Taiwan to shoot a movie themed around "Anniversary," but he has no plot yet! A woman (Megumi Kobayashi) appears before him. He decides to make a film starring her, but...
Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro. Born in 1965 in Kagawa Prefecture. After graduating from high school, he attended film school and worked at a video production company before making his theatrical directorial debut with "July 7th, Sunny" in 1996. His 2003 film "Bayside Shakedown 2: Save the Rainbow Bridge!" achieved the highest box office revenue for a Japanese live-action film. His work since then spans dramas, stage plays, anime, games, music videos, short films, commercials, and film festival direction. In 2015, he directed the film "Flying Colors," based on a play by Oriza Hirata and starring Momoiro Clover Z, also directing its stage adaptation.
Ayako's (Marika Ito of Nogizaka46) planner is filled with anniversaries: the day she first ate mint chocolate, the day she was first confessed to, the day she started keeping parakeets. But the entry for today is conspicuously blank. It seems impossible for a day to have no anniversaries. Suddenly, Ayako finds herself on an unfamiliar train. Guided by a mysterious man (Rui Kurihara), a strange journey begins—.
Director: Eiki Takahashi. In 1989, he won the Grand Prix at the "Japan '89 Video Television Festival," leading him to become a music video director. In 1997, he received the Best Director award at the "SPACE SHOWER Music Video Awards." His first feature film, "trancemission" (starring Jun Murakami and THE YELLOW MONKEY), was released later. In 2000, he won the Music Video Awards 2000 BEST YOUR CHOICE for "Tobenaide" by Yuzu. In 2006, he directed a documentary film coinciding with the visit of filmmaker Wim Wenders to Japan (officially invited to the "CONTACT" exhibition in Toronto, Canada). In 2012, he directed "Documentary of AKB48 Show must go on: The girls are hurt while dreaming," depicting the relationship between the Great East Japan Earthquake and idols, and continued this documentary series.
"I have something I want to show you," says an elderly man (Katsuo Nakamura), slowly walking with a refined-looking woman (Chieko Matsubara). He guides her through a small town, pointing out a park, a hair salon, and a butcher shop. Drawn by the aroma, they enter a cozy cafe and each order a coffee...
Director: Kentaro Hagiwara. Born in Tokyo in 1980. Moved to the US in 2000 to attend the Art Center College of Design. After gaining directing experience in America, he returned to Japan in 2008 and joined THE DIRECTORS FARM, apprenticing under a director from THE DIRECTORS GUILD. He is active as a director working on films, TV commercials, short films, and music videos. His film "Tokyo Ghoul" is scheduled for release in 2017.
Tadao (Yasushi Fuchikami), an unsuccessful comedian, and Haruko (Noriko Iriyama), a designer, have been dating for five years. On their fifth anniversary, they have an argument over a trivial matter, and Tadao leaves home, never to return. A few days later, Haruko receives a message from Tadao: "I have something important to tell you, so please come to Tochigi first thing in the morning..."
Director: Takeshi Moriya. Graduated from the Department of Film, College of Art and Design, Nihon University, and then entered the world of television drama. As a producer, he has worked on dramas such as "Tentai Kansoku" ('02/Fuji TV), "The Quiz Show" series ('08, '09/Nippon TV), "33pun Tantei" series ('08, '09/Fuji TV), "Shinya Shokudo" ('09/MBS/TBS), "Kodomo Keisatsu" ('12/MBS), and "Minna! Esper dayo!" ('13/TV Tokyo). His major film producing credits include "Rockers" ('03/directed by Noritaka Jin-nai), "The Simpsons" ('06/directed by Yuichi Sato), "Little DJ: A Little Love Story" ('07/directed by Koto Nagata), "Bokutachi to Chuzaishon no 700-nichi Sensou" ('08/directed by Renpei Tsukamoto), "Shuffle" ('11/directed by Takuro Oikawa), "Shiawase no Pan" ('12/directed by Yukiko Mishima), and "Budou no Namida" ('14/directed by Yukiko Mishima). His directorial work includes "Samu Raifu" ('15).
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Today Connects to Tomorrow. "Anniversary" | MOVIE Gallery

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