Discoveries from Japan World Cinema

BanG Dream! FILM LIVE 2nd Stage is the second animated live movie for the BanG Dream! franchise and the sequel to BanG Dream! FILM LIVE.

It is 1965. High-school student Takeyoshi Fujiwara hears "Pipeline" by the Ventures, and is mesmerized by their unique sound. With three friends, he forms a band called "The Rocking Horsemen." A warm and comic glimpse into high-school and small-town life in Japan in the 60's.

Naomi Armitage and Ross Sylibus have changed their names and live with their daughter Yoko as a happy and normal family on Mars — until an android riot breaks out at an anti-matter plant on Earth.

Tsubasa to Hotaru follows 15-year-old Tsubasa Sonokawa, a young student—and renowned stalker? After one very romantic gesture by a popular upperclassman, she falls head over heels for who she believes to be her one true love. Unfortunately, love can be deceiving, as her feelings are soon proven to be one-sided; the upperclassman directly tells her that she’s annoying and that she needs to stop bothering him. How's that for some tough love?

Country girl Akiko visits a Tokyo college in search of her hometown sweetheart. In the course of finding him, she runs into various odd inhabitants of the college campus–blasé intellectuals, horny co-eds, a psych professor in search of the theory of shame, and of course her beloved Yoshioka, who has become an elusive campus nobody.

In July 1945, during the end of World War II, Japan is forced to accept the Potsdam Declaration. A cabinet meeting has continued through days and nights, but a decision cannot be made. The U.S. drops atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. General Korechika Anami is torn over making the proper decision and the Emperor of Japan worries about his people. Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki leads the cabinet meeting, while Chief Secretary Hisatsune Sakomizu can't do anything, but watch the meeting. At this time, Major Kenji Hatanaka and other young commissioned officers, who are against Japan surrendering, move to occupy the palace and a radio broadcasting station. The radio station is set to broadcast Emperor Hirohito reading out the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War.

On his request, the sensitive sister of a real estate agent visits a house he intends to put up for sale, only to cross paths with its resident curse.

After being deserted by her parents, 11-year old Miyori shuts her heart from the rest of the world and denies any form of human relationships. She was entrusted in the care of her grandmother who lives near a forest. Miyori will take a walk in the forest where she felt a strong sense of loneliness in the forest which seems to have nothing. However, she soon encounters unbelievable things...

Set in the year 2020, following her supposed death, a young woman returns as the son of her noble family to precede the family's prestigious company, with a demon at her side to avenge her parent's murder.

The work of Ousai Private Academy's student council is never done. This time, Takatoshi, Shino, Aria and Suzu are back with their very own movie! From TV interviews to a new teacher, there's even more potential for misunderstandings as the double entendres, innuendos and euphemisms reach critical mass.

Tatsuhito, a cop, pursues Chinese warlord Wang through the underworld of Shinjuku and over to Taiwan.

Ichijo Sayuri, once the legendary queen of Osaka strippers, has retired to run a sushi shop. She is awaiting her day in court after having been arrested for indecency at her farewell performance. While she was active, she was both the rival and the model for many young strippers. Harumi was one of them. Ichijo Sayuri was the real-life queen of Osaka strippers who was arrested on her final performance.

The Third World War (2099–2126) devastated part of the Earth. Former nations are reforming while new powers emerge, and groups of humans struggle to survive in ruined cities. The story follows Deunan Knute and her partner Briareos as they search for the legendary city of Olympus.

Mimiko, Papa Panda, and Panny make friends with a baby tiger from the circus — just in time for a flash flood to throw the whole town into chaos.

In November of 1988 four young men abducted and held Junko Furuta for several weeks in the house of one of her captors. This is her story.

Before finding out the Perfect Answer, discover Another Gantz. Aired on Nippon Television network before the theatrical release of Gantz: The Perfect Answer, this film is an alternate perspective version of the first Gantz film from the same writing-directing team of the two-part theatrical film. In addition to condensed scenes from the Gantz film, Another Gantz features a new subplot that follows an investigative journalist not included in the theatrical film. Delving deep into the mystery, Another Gantz offers another piece towards solving the complex puzzle that is the world of Gantz.

Jack and Annie are young siblings who find a magic tree house on their way home after chasing a weasel. By using the books available on the tree house, they are able to travel through time and location. The two end up with the difficult task of collecting four medallions, each one hidden in a different place and epoch, in order to help a magician named Morgan.

In 2049, Yuuma Sawatari is an elementary school kid who loves everything about space and astronomy. He was initially excited when his parents bought a robot called Nanako, but he was disappointed when he learned that she was basically just a boring housekeeping robot. However, when he does finally try to talk to her about space, something strange happens. Her system crashes and is taken over by what claims to be a marooned alien ship! The alien ship wants Yuuma's help to get back to space!

While in junior high, Kubota, had a major crush on Masana but she was dating Kazuya. Now in his senior year of high school, Kubota, still has a crush on Masana even though he hasn't seen her in years. A chance encounter leads to an interesting situation. It seems Masana has broken up with Kazuya and is ready for a new relationship. Or is she? Will Kubota be so blinded by his feelings that he fails to see what is really happening? Will he even care?! After all he could very easily lose his virginity by pretending that he doesn't. Adapted from the Nineteen manga.

A story about love triangle between mother and daughter relation...

Akira works as a lawyer. One day, he meets with his former client Rie, who asks Akira to perform a background check on her late husband Daisuke.

Third of three compilation films of the Kuroko no Basket franchise. Rakuzan and Shutoku face off in the semi finals at the Winter Cup. Despite struggling with Akashi's Emperor Eye that sees through everything, Midorima and Takao fight back with their consecutive plays, and the whole Shutoku team bites back at Rakuzan. However, it doesn't take long before Akashi crushes all of their hopes. It is decided that the finals will be fought between Seirin and Rakuzan. Kagami immediately enters the Zone as soon as the match starts, but it is no match for Akashi. Facing an extreme difference in ability against Rakuzan, Seirin loses their hope a number of times during the match. However, Kuroko doesn't give up, and continues to strongly fight against Akashi.

The music industry becomes a battlefield when ancient strategist Kongming is transported from historical China to modern Japan. He'll use military tactics to turn his new friend Eiko into a music star, and together they'll take the party hotspot of Shibuya by storm!

45 years ago, a man was subjected to the experiments of the secret organization Shocker and became a cyborg. Since that day, the man's sole mission has been protecting humanity and justice from the threat of Shocker. His name is Takeshi Hongo, the first Kamen Rider. After a long battle overseas, Hongo hears a certain girl is in danger and immediately returns to Japan. He then meets Takeru Tenkuji, Kamen Rider Ghost, who had been investigating the girl's whereabouts.

Sequel of Aikatsu! Music Award: ... SHOW! Screened alongside Aikatsu Stars! The Movie.

Born a powerful psychic, high schooler Kusuo Saiki craves the simple life. But the weirdos in his class make it difficult to conceal his abilities.

When he returns to Earth to attend the wedding of his friend in Saipan, Musashi meets a beautiful girl named Shau who claims to come from the bottom of the sea. Just then, Monster Scorpis reappears in the sky above the island and Musashi faces the monster in order to protect the girl. What is the girl's true form? And what is the strange shadowy form that follows the monster Scorpis?

One day, the Tropical-Rouge Pretty Cure receive an amazing invitation from the Land of Snow, Shantia. They're holding a ceremony to celebrate Sharon becoming the new queen. They all depart to the sparkling world of snow. Laura, who wants to be the queen of the Mermaid Kingdom, befriends Sharon who gives her a beautiful ring. But just as they decide to keep a promise, a mysterious monster suddenly appears and locks everyone inside of the kingdom. When it seems like all hope is lost, the Heartcatch Pretty Cure team rush in and give them all a boost of motivation. And when their feelings become one, the ring transforms into the Snow Heartful Ring...

The theatrical episode will cover events from the fifth volume of the manga.

A young schoolgirl Samy sees some bikers hurt some other girls and that makes the bikers come after Samy. While fleeing she gets the help of a boy and her dog, but she still ends up in a different world along with her dog. In there she helps a witch who has lost her glass eye. But bad demons search for her as well and soon she ends up in the fight between gods and demons because she holds a great power within.

A Japanese woman is raped by her boyfriend day in day out.

A rape victim realizes that she enjoys sexual assault and continuously offers herself to various men while searching for her original rapist.

Ebisuzawa Kurumi, Takeya Yuki, Wakasa Yuri, and Naoki Miki all attend the same high school. They also live on campus at the school. The girls enjoy their time at the school until students become infected by a virus and turn into zombies. The girls are surrounded by student zombies and they struggle desperately to survive.

A mother and daughter are stranded in small, isolated cabin, and are starving to death. In order to survive, they plan to entice men that happen to stray to their cabin with sex, and kill them. All goes well until a local cop shows up and, then, an old relation.

Ryo finds employment cleaning windows of high-rises. Kagari lives inside one of the buildings. Ryo and Kagari lock gazes for a moment. It is a moment when one can help the other, but also when two persons who usually cannot communicate do.

It's been four years since Meteor fell on Midgar. Denzel meets Reeve at an outskirts coffee shop about joining the World Regenesis Organization. Upon the request Denzel tells Reeve about what his life was like prior to the Meteor incident.

Baffling serial killings unfold in which the victims are tied up and left to starve. Tone was just released from prison after finishing his sentence for another crime, and he surfaces as a suspect but detective Tomashiro can't nail down conclusive proof.

A wealthy playboy sets out to sleep with Japan's foremost recording artist, Mari Yamasaki, despite her wishes to the contrary. Will he succeed in adding her to his list of famous conquests?

When video creator Angie knocks on the door of the City Hunter detective agency looking for a missing cat, Ryo Saeba and Kaori Makimura think they have a simple case on their hands. But an attempt on Angie's life changes the game, leaving Ryo in the crosshairs of mysterious assassins on the trail of Angel Dust, a military technology capable of creating super soldiers. Under the watchful eye of his adoptive father Kaibara, Ryo will have to deal with a past he has tried to escape for too long.

A tremendous tyrannosaurus—who does not eat meat—and a pterodactyl who cannot fly run into each other and begin their journey to find ‘Paradise’.

In a land far away, there is a legend that an Iron Clad Savior shall bestow upon the land and save its people from grief, abuse and evil. An armored suit-wearing woman with amnesia, only known as "Iron Girl", fights against a group of outlaws called "Crazy Dogs" to save a small village in the wasteland. Is she the legendary "Iron Savior" written in the old document of the village?

Rin Jyoshima lost her father to death-by-gambling; years later, she's grown up in the Kosugi household and has fallen victim to gambling herself.

Sugihara, a Japanese-born, third-generation Korean teenager struggles to find a place in a society that will not accept him.

In the spring of a new semester, a "ranking" is sent to Class 2-D. It clearly shows the rankings of all the students and the homeroom teacher. The one who ranks 1st is Himeyama Tsubaki, a kind and popular honor student recognized by everyone. But one day, without any warning, she commits suicide. A few days later, everyone in the class receives a suicide note from Himeyama, and from that day on, the class begins to fall apart.

The third Dragon Quest Dai no Daibouken movie. The story takes place between episode 35 and 36 of the TV series. After yet again defeating some of Hadlar's (the leader of the Great Demon King's Army) warriors and saving the princess, Dai and his fellow adventurers are relaxing and helping with rebuilding the island village. Unbeknownst to them Hadlar was usurped by a new demon lord called Galbus, who immediately sets forth to once and for all destroy Dai, using his own sextet of champions. During the initial surprise attack Dai's friend Maam's soul is taken and in order to get it back Dai and his friends must attack Galbus on his chosen batlleground. Will Dai survive this?

Yuzuru Hamura is a university student and a fan of mystery novels. Against his will, he was forced to join the school's mystery club. The club is led by Kyosuke Akechi. Meanwhile, Hiruko Kenzaki appears in front of them. She attends the same university and she is also a private detective. These 3 people attend a summer camp and stay at Shijinso pension in the mountains. On their first day there, they must barricade themselves in the pension. The next morning, they discover a murder has taken place in the pension.

The Igarashi siblings travel to the forbidden Area 666 to rescue airjacking victims (including their parents!) from the dangerous criminal known as Azuma, who wishes to judge the fate of humanity himself.

Makino Kuniyasu is consulted about the succession issue of the Joshu Okubo family. At that time, Makino is attacked by the Arabu Alliance Moriwaki Group, and he charges into enemy territory alone... This is the final installment of the Yakuza series starring Hakuryu, depicting the heroic half-life of the true gangster Makino Kuniyasu in a spectacular way.

Taking place after the events of the TV series, Mitsuhashi and Ito face the new enemies.

The movie transports the Precure into a world inside a picture book, where they are guided by Niko, a mysterious inhabitant of the picture book world.

When a woman is harassed and threatened by one of the men who gang-raped her five years previously, she is pushed to take icy revenge against her attackers.

As a ruthless invader threatens to enslave their people and destroy the Kaaba, a sacred sanctuary, the people of Mecca take up arms. Only able to muster a small force against the massive army, defeat seems all but inevitable. Aus, a seemingly simple potter fighting to protect his family, is forced to reveal his dark past. Abraha's army is fast approaching, and the fate of Mecca and its people hangs in the balance. Will the people of Mecca defeat the colossal army with nothing but their simple defenses and their love for their city?

Three stories from Shiratsuna Island: "Mikan no hana" Shiratsuna Island is the only remaining island city in Japan, but it is being merged with a city on the opposite shore. Housewife Misato Tomita lives on the island. "Umi no hoshi" Yōhei Hamasaki, who was born on Shiratsuna Island, lives in an apartment in the outskirts of Tokyo with his wife, Tomomi, and their son, Taichi. "Kumo no ito" Popular artist Hirotaka Kurosaki, who is a native of Shiratsuna Island, goes back to his hometown after seven years.

Seeking revenge against the guard who tormented him, a young man returns to the island where he was imprisoned in reform school. But his plans for vengeance are disturbed when he encounters a strange and beautiful young woman.

Kanto, 14, a descendant of Japan's indigenous Ainu people, decides to visit a hole in the forest — a path to the other side of the world where dead people live, hoping to see his deceased father.

narrow attic room. Student Yamamoto was breathless at the sight he saw peeking through the gap. His mentor, Takabayashi's second daughter, Masako, and Takabayashi's right-hand man, Tanizawa, were intertwined like beasts. If you think about it, ever since Yamamoto came to stay at Takabayashi's residence as a part-time worker, the eldest daughter Reiko and Masako's mysterious gazes were intertwined in the residence. Meanwhile, Yamamoto finally cannot control his desire and turns Reiko into his object...

When easy-going Aoyagi meets an old friend for a fishing trip, he ends up drugged, framed for the Prime Minister's assassination, and on the run from corrupt cops. It's only the beginning of what quickly becomes the worst, weirdest day of his life. But he'll get by with a little help from his friends, who include a famous pop diva, a rockabilly deliveryman, a crippled old gangster, and the world's most cheerful serial killer.

Second part of the new Fist of the North Star movie pentalogy presenting the story from Yuria's perspective, spanning from her childhood, including the day she first met Kenshiro.

Sidonie Perceval, an established French writer, is mourning her deceased husband. Invited to Japan for the reedition of her first book, she is welcomed by her local editor who takes her to Kyoto, the city of shrines and temples. As they travel together through the Japanese spring blossoms, she slowly opens up to him. But the ghost of her husband follows Sidonie: she will have to finally let go of the past to let herself love again.

Sen no Rikyu (Ebizo Ichikawa) is the son of a fish shop owner. Sen no Rikyu then studies tea and eventually becomes one of the primary influences upon the Japanese tea ceremony. With his elegant esthetics, Sen no Rikyu is favored by the most powerful man in Japan Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Nao Omori) and becomes one of his closest advisors. Due to conflicts, Toyotomi Hideyoshi then orders Sen no Rikyu to commit seppuku (suicide). Director Mitsutoshi Tanaka's adaptation of Kenichi Yamamoto's award-winning novel of the same name received the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the 37th Montréal World Film Festival, the Best Director Award at the 2014 Osaka Cinema Festival, the 30th Fumiko Yamaji Cultural Award and the 37th Japan Academy Film Prize in nine categories, including Best Art Direction, Excellent Film and Excellent Actor.