Nerima Animation Carnival

Following up on my May 25 entry detailing Nerima's place in Japanese animation history, I thought I'd make brief mention of the upcoming Nerima Animation Carnival, which runs from November 21 - 23 in Toshimaen (Toshimaen stn. on the Ôedo and Seibu Ikebukuro lines).

For the low low price of 200 yen you can see vintage episodes from the Toei animation archives, the first ever episode of Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy), live anisong performances and workshops for kiddies. There will also be award-winning selections from France's world-famous Annecy International Animated Film Festival, which celebrates its 50th year in 2010. Titles include The Pearce Sisters and Katô Kunio's Oscar-winning La Maison en Petits Cubes (Tsumiki No Ie, 『つみきのいえ』).

With the 10th anniversary of TOKYO FILMeX overlapping from November 21 to 29 I probably won't have time to make it to the event, but as it's only a short distance from my crib I might give it a try. When I see the Galaxy Express 999-decked out Seibu train go by I know I'm home.

On a tangent -- if you happen to be in Singapore on the 21st and 22nd you can hit the Anime Festival Asia (AFA09) and immerse yourself in cosplay, otaku rooms and live performances.

Postcard from Doman Seman (Horikawa Nakatachiuri)

Tonight was the Tokyo uchiage for this year's Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, held at a happening little hole in the wall -- literally a retrofitted garage -- called Space Neo (aka neoneoza). It's a cinéaste's hangout which screens video, 8mm and 16mm films.

A friend with a close association to Shibata Gô (柴田剛監督) passed along the below limited edition postcard promoting Shibata's latest film Doman Seman (Horikawa Nakatachiuri) 『堀川中立売』 (Twitter here, Japanese only) which will have its world premiere in competition at the 10th edition of TOKYO FILMeX later this month.

Below the image is the text from the soon-to-be-published FILMeX catalogue.

These days I rarely go into movies with any kind of expectations, but this is one work I'm really looking forward to. Don't miss it!

Doman Seman / Horikawa Nakatachiuri
Freeloading Shinsuke and a strange homeless man named Tsutomu are brought together by neighbourhood weirdo Abe. According to Abe, both Shinsuke and Tsutomu are "shikigami" (summoned spirits), called upon to fight rampaging supernatural beings in the streets of Kyoto... Director SHIBATA Go once again collaborates with Shima Films, who produced TOKYO FILMeX 2004 competition title "Late Bloomer." "Doman Seman / Horikawa Nakatachiuri" transplants elements of Heian-era (8th to 12th century) occult cosmology to modern-day Kyoto in this fantastical film. While commenting on current social ills such as Japan's growing economic disparity and teenage crime, the film effortlessly breaks through the barriers between fantasy and reality, creating a uniquely chaotic world that unfolds through the story. Led by ISHII Motako, vocalist of Osaka rock band Oshiri Penpenz, the cast is populated by musicians and actors active in the Kansai region. The "Horikawa Nakatachiuri" of the title refers to an area of Kyoto where the shrine deifying 10th century onmyoji (practitioner of magic and divination) ABE no Seimei as well as legend-filled bridge Ichijomodori-bashi can be found, both of which appear in the film.

Message
I was drawn to the place name "Horikawa Nakatachiuri." Last summer I arrived there from Asakusa and walked around, noticing a lot of star patterns – on buildings, cars, and doorplates. Seimei Shrine was nearby and not far from that Ichijomodori-bashi. At first I wasn't sure how to read the kanji for the name of the "Horikawa Nakatachiuri" crossing. While I tried to read it different ways, links with the surrounding star patterns formed in my mind. I put those thoughts into the protagonist and then the image of the whole film came to me as a story of people intersecting. For me, cinema is the best way to look at the world with a wider perspective.