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Between Showers

This is a hand-drawn animation depicting a moment of human behavior in the rain, in a simple, monochromatic style. A person on the horizon, the umbrella that person opens, a manual zoom-in, then the tip of the umbrella transforms into another person on the horizon. These people, drawn in a flowing style, eventually melt like liquid, mix together, then retake the form of humans. Although rain is never actually depicted, this is a piece in which we can experience the bodily sensation of a rainy day in poetic form.

Between Showers

NR 2009
Back Drop Kurdistan

The Kazankirans, a Kurdish family from Turkey, came to Japan seeking asylum, but the Japanese government would not grant them official refugee status. In desperation, the family stages a sit-in demonstration in front of the United Nations University. The Kazankirans' spirited fight motivates film student Masaru Nomoto to drop out of school in order to document their story. However, contrary to the principle of non-refoulement, the father and eldest son of the family get deported in 2005. Unable to continue being a passive observer, the then 21-year-old director follows them to Turkey, where he engages with locals and discovers new perspectives about the Kurdish people and identity.

Back Drop Kurdistan

NR 2008
Tokyo Joe: The Man Who Brought Down The Chicago Mob

A documentary about an extraordinary life of Ken Eto. The only Japanese American member of the Chicago mob, Ken survives three shots to the head from assassins sent by his boss. He enters the federal witness protection program and helps the government's efforts to fight the syndicate. He arrest gangsters and corrupt politicians, including former Governor of Illinois, George Ryan. Ken was a second generation Japanese American, who ran away from strict preacher father in California at the age of 14. He was interned in Minidoka, Idaho, and subsequently became a gambler, as well as an owner of bars and restaurants in Chicago. He was a chick magnet and also a ruthless operator who was feared by those who knew him.

Tokyo Joe: The Man Who Brought Down The Chicago Mob

NR 2008
Harmonies

Japanese two female singer-songwriters, Kazumi Nikaido (also known as Nika Soup) and Saya Source (of Tenniscoats, Maher Shalal Hash Baz). Nika is known for her chameleon-like ability to transform her voice, while Saya has a melancholic and straightforward singing style. Both have distinct voices that can be identified immediately, but when they sing in unison, they create melodies that are truly sublime. They have released charming album IPIYA (2005) features playful pop songs reminiscent of nursery rhymes, repetitive mantra-like tracks. The two went back and forth from their homes in Hiroshima and Tokyo to create beautifully diverse songs for this record. This is the documentary of "how" and "why" and also "where" they had made the very original music. Many interviews, rehearsals, free sessions, live performances are included. There is a childlike innocence to this documentary, and offers a peak into the unique world of how they make music.

Harmonies

NR 2008
Gift Eternal Rainbow: Another Gift! - Crisis at the Konosaka Inn!!

Haruhiko, Riko, Yukari, Chisa and Rinka are trying to help Kirino save her family's inn from bankruptcy due to their newest rival, Hotel Moonstone. As a result, they decided that creating high-class cuisine was the best method in order to help the Konosaka Inn attract customers. However, in the process of creating this high-class cuisine Yukari, Chisa and Rinka mysteriously and instantaneously develop overpowering feelings towards Haruhiko and end up vigorously competing for him. Unfortunately, for Haruhiko this harem contains mixes of both heaven and hell.

Gift Eternal Rainbow: Another Gift! - Crisis at the Konosaka Inn!!

NR 2007
Sperm Palace

A 15-minute virtual tour video done for Japan's sadly defunct "Toba International House of Hidden Treasures - SF Future Museum". Opened adjacent to a railway station in 1981, until the year 2000 this four story Museum/environment housed the extraordinary sex-related collections of items of the late designer and creator Masato Matsuno. With everything from black velvet paintings to Edo Period erotic tableaux reconstructed from customized manikins, the piece de resistance here is the documentation of the rooms depicting the hunting, sperm extraction, then disposal of humans by extraterrestrial:

Sperm Palace

NR 2007
Assault Man: Monster Mission

The year is 2020, and 10 years have passed since the signing of the Interplanetary Treaty of Friendship between Earth's human race and the planet Leutz in the galaxy. During this time, many Leutzians have visited Earth, which has led to a variety of problems: illegal immigration, various crimes committed by some Leutzians, terrorism, and pets brought in by Leutzians going wild and turning into monsters that cause destruction and damage to cities. To address these issues, the Japanese government formed the special mission unit ASSAULT.

Assault Man: Monster Mission

NR 2005