Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Kiyopyon
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

Post by Kiyopyon »

Hung,

I registered just to say I've found your stuff across multiple boards. I'm a massive Somai fan, specifically Sailor-fuku and Taifuu Club (Moving is also excellent), and I've been trying to track down a copy of Tonda Couple. I also live in Japan.

I had the EXACT same reaction this morning when I discovered Sotsugyo and was complaining about how some sequels should not be done. Like you, I am glad I am old enough to know I don't need to see it only to be let down.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

Post by HungFist »

Thanks. Nice to have another Somai fan on board.

Tonda Couple received a new DVD release last year by Odessa Entertainment. I don't have the disc, but it should at least be better than the old, super-soft Toho disc that I have.

Odessa Entertainment also released Ohikkoshi, PP Rider and The Friends last year. I saw some screencaps from Ohikkoshi and it seems to have worse transfer than the old Pioneer disc that I own...

Have you seen PP Rider? I think that's my second most favourite Somai film after Taifu Club.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Alas, I have not. I've tried to track down as many of Somai's works as possible. I've seen The Catch and Kazehana as well.

Out of what I've seen, I think Taifu Club is my favorite. I'm a JHS teacher now (I'm a few years older than you, I think), I teach English and social studies, so I like stuff that really does a good job of exploring adolescent psychology. I'd rank Sailor-Fuku next, and then Ohikkoshi after that.

Note, my avatar is a thing I did of me. I don't own the machine gun, but otherwise that's my current glasses and my own JHS sailor uniform. It's a kind of chocolate brown/rust color for the stripes and ribbon. Otherwise it's standard navy blue. It doesn't get much use since I am no longer in a position to attend classes, of course, although I do wear it for Halloween when I talk about Irish/American traditions around the holiday.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

Post by HungFist »

I would've been pretty surprised if you owned a machine gun :lol:

So, you've been in Japan for quite a while and went to junior high and high school in Japan? I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad that I missed that. I would've loved to go to high school in Japan, but I wouldn't have wanted to experiece the entrance exam hell...

PP Rider is another youth film, but it's quite a bit stranger, sometimes resembling Nobuhiko Obayashi films. The script is by Leonard Schrader. I think it's quite brilliant.

I also like Lost Chapter of Snow: Passion, but it's never been released on DVD. I caught it on 35mm last year.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

Post by Kiyopyon »

Yeah, well, even air guns are pretty heavily regulated here.

And no, I didn't go through my education here, at least, I suppose, not most of it, depending on how you define it. If you recognise that I pulled a bit of a toki wo kakeru shoujo, then you could say I was able to redo some of my education here. I was involved in a sort of exchange and teaching situation, where I taught English in my own classes, but otherwise, had my own uniform and went to other classes with my students, despite being older. I was much more a student than I was a teacher, although I had teacher duties. As far as I know, this is a very rare experience. I even "graduated" and have a sotsugyoshosho. My actual schooling was in the United States. My high school and university diplomas do have my Japanese name on them, though, so it matches the JHS diploma so everything is consistent, even though the JHS diploma probably has no real use. I did grad studies in the US as well, but while maintaining Japanese residency.

But I have been here long enough that I'm in the process of getting rid of ye old residency status and trading that kokuseki for a honseki. I'm not ethnically Yamato, or even Asian, but I'm socioculturally Japanese, and this is my home. So it'll be nice when all that is through, and I can vote... #AnyoneButAbe2016, am I right?

Got any PP Rider Screencaps? Also I saw all your stuff over on the Shaolin forum, and I was curious if you might know where I can catch some of these films in theatres, and where I might be able to track down some full size posters and stuff... I'm in Kanto.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

Post by HungFist »

Kiyopyon wrote: And no, I didn't go through my education here, at least, I suppose, not most of it, depending on how you define it. If you recognise that I pulled a bit of a toki wo kakeru shoujo, then you could I say I was able to redo some of my education here. I was involved in a sort of exchange and teaching situation, where I taught English in my own classes, but otherwise, had my own uniform and went to other classes with my students, despite being older. I was much more a student than I was a teacher, although I had teacher duties. As far as I know, this is a very rare experience. I even "graduated" and have a sotsugyoshosho. My actual schooling was in the United States. My high school and university diplomas do have my Japanese name on them, though, so it matches the JHS diploma so everything is consistent, even though the JHS diploma probably has no real use. I did grad studies in the US as well, but while maintaining Japanese residency.
I've only experienced Japanese university education. Maybe a good thing. For Japanese people university is pretty much the only time in their life (before retirement) that they have plenty of free time, right?
Kiyopyon wrote:#AnyoneButAbe2016, am I right?
:lol:
Kiyopyon wrote: Got any PP Rider Screencaps?
Sorry, no. I've got the old dvd, but never got round to taking screencaps.
Kiyopyon wrote:I was curious if you might know where I can catch some of these films in theatres, and where I might be able to track down some full size posters and stuff... I'm in Kanto.
You're on the right island then (unlike me, though considering how hot and humid it gets there, I guess I'm happy not to be there :lol: ). What I do is fly to Tokyo to see movies every once in a while. See this website for excellent reference:
http://miwaku-meigaza.com/joho.htm

More info about theaters in my thread here:
https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... f=1&t=6739

Cinema Vera, Laputa Asagaya, and Shin Bungeiza are my favourites. Jinbocho Theater, Meguro Cinema and National Film Center also often have interesting screenings.

For posters, there's a nice poster shop in Nakano Broadway in Nakano, Tokyo (5 min by train from Shinjuku Station). Otherwise I guess yahoo auctions is your best bet.

Oh, and right next to Jinbocho Theater there is a small book store that sells movie related stuff, such as pamphlets
https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... 39#p173017
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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I plan to do Japanese university myself, sort of, more like an add on program to get my Japanese teaching license, as I already have a BA and most of an MA. I did pass my teaching exam back in the US, and I can team teach in Japanese public schools and solo teach in Japanese private schools, but my eventual goal is to be a tanin (homeroom) teacher, and whether it's public or private, having the Japanese teaching license would be helpful, for public, required actually. I have heard that Japanese university is quite easy if you go to classes. In my own case, I have been told that I should absolutely take the Japanese education courses in the classes, because they grade so much easier. If you do it by correspondence, they grade insane. Nope, nope, nope.

I would say that in most cases, and I've been here a long time in a lot of schools as a teacher, plus my own experience trying to keep up as a non-native speaker in my own JHS, Japanese schooling in JHS and SHS only reach a fever pitch in the third year of each. In JHS scores don't matter at all, in the public school system especially, there is no way to fail students. It's actually considered unconstitutional, because of the legal guarantee of nine years of public education. I'll give you the run down to the best of my ability:

So this is how it goes: first year, getting the lay of the land, making friends, learning the school song, traditions of the school, and the proper wear of the uniform, choosing clubs, and just generally being overwhelmed by SHINEY NEW EXPERIENCES where you both feel older (because you've just moved on to a higher level) and younger (because the second years and third years already know this all and seem so tall and cool and confident). Welcome to adolescence. Second year depends on the student. Some students blow it off entirely, because they know everything that the first years know, and they don't feel the urgency that the third years feel. Others get a jump on studying by going to cram school. Ironically if a kid is sleeping in class and they're a second year, it's a 50/50 whether they are a delinquent or an overachiever. Second year is also where your club members really come into their own, they take over teaching the first years, and eventually the leadership shakes out, as the third years "retire" to focus on exams. Third year is pretty much a blur. It's settling on high school choices or university choices, it's where everyone is studying or going to juku, if you have behavior problems it'll be due to kids who realised they so screwed around they haven't a chance in hell and they're lashing out, if kids are asleep it's because they're in juku all evening and studying all night. Emotions run super high. This where you'll see both romantic and platonic relationships swing violently from extremes, you'll see students make decisions about the next level based on friends choices or boyfriend/girlfriends' choices (this almost never ends well), and it all crashes to a climax of the sotsugyoshiki, graduation ceremony, where I can tell in all honesty having been through it, everyone is a complete wreck and you spend about two or three hours sobbing uncontrollably.

I think Taifuu Club takes place with second year students. I don't know if it was a novel or who wrote the screenplay, but that was the absolute best choice, as Somai clearly knew. First years would have been far too worried about breaking rules to be stuck like that. Third years would have been far too busy to have time for that kind of silly and reckless behavior. Only second years would have been that crazy.

I got a lot of my anime posters from that shop at Nakano! I should have thought about that. I'll read over the cinema thread, and check out the book shop.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Kiyopyon wrote:I plan to do Japanese university myself, sort of, more like an add on program to get my Japanese teaching license, as I already have a BA and most of an MA. I did pass my teaching exam back in the US, and I can team teach in Japanese public schools and solo teach in Japanese private schools, but my eventual goal is to be a tanin (homeroom) teacher, and whether it's public or private, having the Japanese teaching license would be helpful, for public, required actually. I have heard that Japanese university is quite easy if you go to classes. In my own case, I have been told that I should absolutely take the Japanese education courses in the classes, because they grade so much easier. If you do it by correspondence, they grade insane. Nope, nope, nope.
I know exactly what you're taking about. I'm taking those credits right now. You'll need about 70 credits + 2 week teaching practice. If you get those, you'll get the license to teach in private schools. For public schools you'll need to pass an additional exam, and it's very difficult. I've heard about 95% fail it.
Kiyopyon wrote:I would say that in most cases, and I've been here a long time in a lot of schools as a teacher, plus my own experience trying to keep up as a non-native speaker in my own JHS, Japanese schooling in JHS and SHS only reach a fever pitch in the third year of each. In JHS scores don't matter at all, in the public school system especially, there is no way to fail students. It's actually considered unconstitutional, because of the legal guarantee of nine years of public education. I'll give you the run down to the best of my ability:

So this is how it goes: first year, getting the lay of the land, making friends, learning the school song, traditions of the school, and the proper wear of the uniform, choosing clubs, and just generally being overwhelmed by SHINEY NEW EXPERIENCES where you both feel older (because you've just moved on to a higher level) and younger (because the second years and third years already know this all and seem so tall and cool and confident). Welcome to adolescence. Second year depends on the student. Some students blow it off entirely, because they know everything that the first years know, and they don't feel the urgency that the third years feel. Others get a jump on studying by going to cram school. Ironically if a kid is sleeping in class and they're a second year, it's a 50/50 whether they are a delinquent or an overachiever. Second year is also where your club members really come into their own, they take over teaching the first years, and eventually the leadership shakes out, as the third years "retire" to focus on exams. Third year is pretty much a blur. It's settling on high school choices or university choices, it's where everyone is studying or going to juku, if you have behavior problems it'll be due to kids who realised they so screwed around they haven't a chance in hell and they're lashing out, if kids are asleep it's because they're in juku all evening and studying all night. Emotions run super high. This where you'll see both romantic and platonic relationships swing violently from extremes, you'll see students make decisions about the next level based on friends choices or boyfriend/girlfriends' choices (this almost never ends well), and it all crashes to a climax of the sotsugyoshiki, graduation ceremony, where I can tell in all honesty having been through it, everyone is a complete wreck and you spend about two or three hours sobbing uncontrollably.

I think Taifuu Club takes place with second year students. I don't know if it was a novel or who wrote the screenplay, but that was the absolute best choice, as Somai clearly knew. First years would have been far too worried about breaking rules to be stuck like that. Third years would have been far too busy to have time for that kind of silly and reckless behavior. Only second years would have been that crazy.
That was very insightful. Thanks. I think that will give me a new perspective to the film.

Seeing Taifu Club on 35mm is a dream I've screwed up a number of times. There was a Somai Retrospective around 2012 before I knew about the cinemas in Tokyo. Then there was another screening a few years later but it turned out to be DCP so I skipped. Last year Institut Francais (of all places) screened a 35mm print and I had my flight reserved, but I had to cancel at the last moment... Oh well, maybe some day...
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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It'll be less than 70 hours for me, you only need to take what they can't ascertain through translated course descriptions what you've already taken. At least at the two universities where the programmes I am think of are. Remember, I have an education degree, English BA and most of a Social Studies MA. The kyouiku jishu is obviously something I would need to do.

I keep putting it off because I tend to stay employed. I just got offered a position at an international school I'm taking, so once again, it gets pushed off. And it's almost certain at my age that when I get around to it, even if I somehow passed the civil service exam to teach in public schools, it would be far less lucrative than private schools. Which is a shame. I'm an unrepentant socialist and very pro-public education. Something your Finnish background might make you understand. America is a patchwork mix of systems which is in need of drastic nationalisation but, you know "SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM, GRAR" and so on.

Let me know if you find out about Somai showings, I'd love to see any of them in theatres.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Kiyopyon wrote:It'll be less than 70 hours for me, you only need to take what they can't ascertain through translated course descriptions what you've already taken. At least at the two universities where the programmes I am think of are. Remember, I have an education degree, English BA and most of a Social Studies MA. The kyouiku jishu is obviously something I would need to do.
Well, just make sure about it to avoid nasty surprises. I know my uni isn't flexible at all. I have to take everything, even English 1A and English IB which are intermediate level English courses for 1st year students... which is ridiculous.
Kiyopyon wrote:Let me know if you find out about Somai showings, I'd love to see any of them in theatres.
Sure.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Yeah, that's ridiculous, but I also assume you don't already have ENG 101 and ENG 102 on a university transcript somewhere? I'm assuming you're not doing the add on, you're doing it as part of your Japanese BA, right?
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Kiyopyon wrote:Yeah, that's ridiculous, but I also assume you don't already have ENG 101 and ENG 102 on a university transcript somewhere? I'm assuming you're not doing the add on, you're doing it as part of your Japanese BA, right?
I've got a Bachelor's Degree from Finland, and Master's Degree from Japan. Now I'm just taking additional credits. I've taken more advanced level English courses from the very same uni, but it doesn't help. Even the professors think the situation is ridiculous (and just end up using me as ALT in those classes) but "rules are rules". In this uni at least.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Wow. That's shocking. I'm guessing you're in Hokkaido, given your comments about weather (I'm originally from the American Southwest, so I laughed at your hot and humid comment). I only knew of two add on programmes in Japan (one here in Kanto, and one in Kansai), and as far as I know, they don't make you take stuff over.

Honestly, if these are courses for future teachers, it'd be more useful if the students got a chance to use you as an ALT. JTEs get no training whatsoever on the use of ALTs in the classroom and it causes a lot of problems.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

Post by jeroen »

hi,

sadly the tonda couple dvd re-release is interlaced, but that aside it looks a lot better than the original release.

the 720p taifu club itunes japan release is also quite pleasing.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Hi Jeroen,

do you happen to know if the new P.P. Rider dvd is worth the upgrade?

Last year quite a few Somai films played in Tokyo. I had my flights booked to see Taifu Club in 35mm, but unfortunately I had to cancel at the last moment. Later the same year I caught Tonda Couple, Sailor Suit, and Lost Chapter of Snow: Passion in 35mm, and P.P. Rider in real poor DCP (a 35mm print was playing in different cinema at the same time, but I there was no way to make it there without missing either Sailor or Snow...).
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

Post by jeroen »

a 35mm showing of taifu club would be a dream. probably i will never experience that. i wasnt aware of a new p. p. rider release, i will look into it.

how has japan been treating you lately?
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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Pretty good, keeping me busy, though.

In terms of new Japanese cinema, what can I say? After the travesty that was 2015, I pretty much lost my motivation to see new Japanese films (subscibed to Toei channel instead and spend my free time watching old yakuza and karate films). 私たちのハァハァ was the only 2015 film that I really enjoyed a lot (except for the band featured in the film).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7lr8afQgY8

I saw Iwai's new film, and it was a big, sentimental disappointment. Last year Yamashita released two films... Misono Universe which was ok, and Chônôryoku kenkyûbu no 3 nin which was pretty bad. He's got two more coming this year. I think I will go see Over the Fence next month. There's an advance screening with Yamashita attending. And seeing Yu Aoi in a Yamashita film... well, maybe it's 10 years too late but I'm still happy about that. It's a shame her career didn't take off the way she deserved. I think she's the best (and prettiest) actress of her generation.
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

Post by jeroen »

yes ive been pretty disillusioned with j-cinema myself the last few years. theres still the odd gem, but overall it has become so mainstream (or i guess safe is a better word) that i dont really bother researching new product anymore.

and agreed on aoi yu, she is highly talented with a broad range from drama to comedy.

probably my most recent favorites are the two little forest movies.

have a great sunday (or whats left of it).
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Re: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (review, comparison etc.)+ 4K BD

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I haven't seen the new Sailor Suit film, but I'm pretty sure it would be better if Riki Takeuchi had performed the theme song :lol:

Image
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quRM4ZOqbWU

I never realized Takeuchi could sing. I wouldn't have recognized his voice here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfTcfUuqq-Q
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