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Official poster for A Pale View of Hills

Reviews

11 March 2026

A Pale View of Hills: Rewriting memory and grief

A Pale View of Hills moves between post-war Nagasaki and 1980s England, exploring memory, migration, and how the past quietly shapes the lives we live....

  • Reviews

    Rental Family: Learning to Love Japan

    Hikari’s Rental Family is a gentle comedy that use...

    Rental family a tender human story
    Hikari’s Rental Family is a gentle comedy that use...

    Written by: Santiago Campodonico

    2 March 2026
  • Reviews

    Shall We Dance (1996): Japan’s 1990s Ballroom Era

    Why is 1996 Shall We Dance? a classic? In this rev...

    shall we dance japanese film poster showing ballroom dancers against red curtain background highlighting 1990s japan dance theme.
    Why is 1996 Shall We Dance? a classic? In this rev...

    Written by: Santiago Campodonico

    11 November 2025
  • Reviews

    The Duality of Power & Illusion in Kurosawa’s Kagemusha

    Unravel the themes of power and illusion in Kurosa...

    surreal dream scene from kagemusha by akira kurosawa showing a warrior figure in a colourful landscape symbolising power illusion and identity during the sengoku period.
    Unravel the themes of power and illusion in Kurosa...

    Written by: Simon Jenner

    25 February 2025

Discover the best in Japanese TV and film with our critiques. From anime to live-action films, we offer in-depth analysis and recommendations for the best shows and movies from Japan. Our reviews help you navigate the vast world of Japanese entertainment.

  • dramatic black and white scene from akira kurosawa film yojimbo showing ronin samurai confronting gang members in a town during the late edo period reflecting themes of samurai honor violence and justice.

    Yojimbo: Akira Kurosawa’s Samurai Swan Song

    A lone sword and a fractured town become mirrors for shifting codes ambiguity and unspoken rules whe...

    By: Simon Jenner

    22 January 2025
  • Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence Movie Poster

    Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence: War, Identity & Spirit

    Few films have attempted to capture the magic of Christmas in a way as unique as Merry Christmas Mr....

    By: Santiago Campodonico

    16 January 2025
My Neighbour Totoro Studio Ghibli’s beloved film, brought to life
on stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company
The family’s move to the countryside,
recreated live on stage
Soot sprites swarming live on stage,
just as you remember them from the film
Joe Hisaishi's iconic score,
performed by a live band and singer
Musicians play from treehouses
above the stage at every performance
Winner of six Olivier Awards
and five WhatsOnStage Awards
The beloved Totoro made real, with puppets
built by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
Totoro and the Catbus, live Satsuki and Mei, live in London The soot sprites are real Hisaishi's score, live nightly Musicians in the treehouses Award-winning, final months Six Olivier Awards Book your seats From screen to stage Choose your date Book tickets Book tickets Book tickets See Totoro live

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    Stray Dog: How Kurosawa Invented the Buddy Cop

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    Shogun TV Series: Full Review

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    Tampopo: A Culinary Film for Every Appetite

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    3 September 2024

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    The Hidden Fortress: Star Wars with Samurai

    By Simon Jenner

    20 February 2023

  • Takeuchi hides among flowers wearing reflective sunglasses in High and Low, symbolising surveillance, tension, and class resentment.

    High and Low: Heaven and Hell

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    Forever a Woman: A Tribute to Womankind

    By Keltie Mechalski

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  • scene from tokyo vice showing journalist jake adelstein and detective katagiri investigating the tokyo crime world and yakuza influence in japan.

    Tokyo Vice: A Refreshing Neo-noir take on the Yakuza

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    19 May 2022

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My Neighbour Totoro Studio Ghibli’s beloved film, brought to life
on stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company
The family’s move to the countryside,
recreated live on stage
Soot sprites swarming live on stage,
just as you remember them from the film
Joe Hisaishi's iconic score,
performed by a live band and singer
Musicians play from treehouses
above the stage at every performance
Winner of six Olivier Awards
and five WhatsOnStage Awards
The beloved Totoro made real, with puppets
built by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
Totoro and the Catbus, live Satsuki and Mei, live in London The soot sprites are real Hisaishi's score, live nightly Musicians in the treehouses Award-winning, final months Six Olivier Awards Book your seats From screen to stage Choose your date Book tickets Book tickets Book tickets See Totoro live
Rebellious Bodies Butoh Festival 2026
16 Oct to 22 Nov 2026
Three generations of butoh on one UK stage, for the first time
Mitsuyo Uesugi returns to The Place after 46 years
London · Bangor · Newcastle · Norway
See what's on

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    Shall We Dance (1996): Japan’s 1990s Ballroom Era

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    The Duality of Power & Illusion in Kurosawa’s Kagemusha

Final show 3 Jan 2027 My Neighbour Totoro Book tickets

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