Japan Cuts - Concurrent Film Festival - July 2-13

Simultaneously with the NYAFF 2008, the Japan Society is hosting its own important film program, Japan Cuts. Some films overlap with NYAFF, but there are other gems in this festival that should not be missed.

Among the programs within the Japan Cuts fest is another simultaneous fest, a tribute to Nakadai Tatsuya (仲代 達矢), who is still living and actively continuing, at age 75, his more than 50-year career. Nakadai has long-been, and continues to be acknowledged by the world cinema community one of Japan's greatest-ever actors and he is one of my personal favorites.

Check out the trailer for Japan Cuts on YouTube:

Ninja Warrior - G4 Network

I've just seen a "reality show" on the G4 cable network entitled Ninja Warrior. It is an edited version of a Japanese program, Sasuke (サスケ The Great Ninja Warrior).

I put "reality show" in quotes because Ninja Warrior -- though there are the obligatory appearances by (Japanese) celebrities and the "misfits" that one finds in the audition/tryout parts of any U.S. or other reality program -- is an extraordinary athletic endurance test rather than a 21st Century bastardization of a '50s talent show. I'm astonished by the physical prowess of the contenders.

I also didn't know that Sasuke has been on television in Japan since 1997. I'm definitely hooked!

Check out a clip below.