Eiga Sai 2012 Opening Night

The Eiga Sai is once again in town and that only means that the Japanese culture enthusiasts and movie buffs are braving the weather and the long lines to see contemporary Japanese films for free at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. This annual film event is part of much awaited Philippines-Japanese Friendship Month organized by the Japan Foundation, Manila. Once again, I’ve had the privilege of being one of the guests during the festival’s opening night, an invitational only affair that happened a day before the public screenings began. The guests at the opening night savored the food and the drinks served at the cocktails held at the Atrium before the actual screening of the film. They also had fun at the photobooth which is always a hit in events such as these. This year, the opening film was Akunin (悪人)/Villain which is a movie that thrilled and challenged the viewer at the same time. Before the film was shown, Lala Fojas, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Shangri-La Corporation, Minister Shinsuke Shimizu, Minister and Head of Chancery of the Embassy of Japan, and Shuji Takatori, Director of Japan Foundation, Manila welcomed the audience, gave opening remarks and messages, and ultimately introduced the film.

Shinsuke Shimizu, Shuji Takatori, Lala Fojas, and Yukie Mitomi

Akunin (悪人)/Villain

It is very hard to talk about this film without revealing any spoilers. This movie is adapted from the novel of the same name by Suichi Yoshida. Directed by Lee Sang-il, this movie focuses on Yuichi Shimizu, played by Satoshi Tsumabuki, who becomes the suspect in the murder of Yoshino Ishibashi (Hikari Mitsushima). Another person who is suspected of murdering her is rich, college student Keigo Masuo whom she also met on the night that she died. The first act of this film went on like a typical crime tale that kept the audience guessing as to who was really the murder suspect. But the truth as to who really did it gets known earlier on. Entering the scene as well is Mitsuyo Magome (Eri Fukatsu) whose involvement with Yuichi moved and accelerated the story forward in ways and turns that I never expected. The film disturbed me in a way that a lot of the characters are sympathetic but they all had tragic flaws that eventually blurred the definition of who the villain really is. I left the theater hoping that an English translation of the novel is available at local bookstores since watching the movie made me really interested in getting the source material.

Eiga Sai 2012 will run at the Shangri-La Cinema 4 up to July 15, 2012. The festival then moves to Gaisano South Citi Mall in Davao on July 20-22, 2012. Ayala Center Cinema 4 will be the next stop on August 7-12, 2012. The final leg of the Eiga Sai happens at the UP Film Institute this August 15-21, 2012.

Guitar and koto duo Aki & Kuniko returns

Another Philippines-Japan Friendship Month 2012 event to look out for is the return of the guitar and koto duo of Aki & Kuniko. I was able to watch their performance last year and it’s not just the combination of the guitar and the koto that is to look out for. One also needs to take note of the differing styles of the two with Aki as the rocker with the guitar while Kuniko is the traditional one with the koto. The performance dates (free admission) are as follows:

July 13, 2012, 6:30 PM Abelardo Hall, UP College of Music, UP Diliman

July 14, 2012, 7:00 PM Conspiracy Café, Quezon City

July 16, 2012 6:00 University of the Cordilleras Theater, Baguio City

July 20, 2012 8:45 PM Jazz n’ bluz Bar & Restaurant, Cebu City

July 21, 2012 4:00 PM Ayala Center Cebu

Tickets:

Free admission

For inquiries:

Japan Foundation, Manila 811-6155 to 58, email@jfmo.org.ph

Aki & Kuniko Concert

I’ve always enjoyed the events of the Philippines-Japan Friendship month organized by the Japan Foundation, Manila and the Embassy of Japan. For this year, they’ve had the hugely successful Eiga Sai and the still ongoing JAPAN: Kingdom of Characters Exhibit. But the event that I anticipate the most every year is their music offering and for this year, they brought to us Aki and Kuniko, a duo who play the guitar and koto respectively. They’ve had a couple of concerts and a workshop during their brief visit here and I was fortunate to be able to see their first performance held at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Plaza. A guitar and koto duo is very rare indeed and I wouldn’t pass up on this opportunity despite having a busy week with the Cinemalaya happening at the same time.

Along with a few friends from the Pinoy Violinist group, we were able to witness a magnificent merging of a traditional Japanese stringed instrument (koto) with the modern acoustic guitar. Aki looked like a veteran rocker wearing an all black ensemble while Kuniko looked elegant in a blue kimono. Kuniko really surprised me because while koto is a traditional instrument, she employed modern playing techniques with it like plucking with both hands and even tapping the bottom of the instrument adding percussive touches to the music.

The guitar and koto when playing the same notes in unison brought forth a very interesting tone color which was very interesting to hear. And I found myself very mch enchanted whenever Kuniko bent the strings of the koto which also bent the notes as well. Aki really let Kuniko shine almost the whole performance but he had his moments as well as both had turns playing the melody. A duo since 2002, the years performing together have served them very well as they were really much in sync during that evening. They played a programme, including a guitar and koto transcription of an orchestral suite, that are totally unfamiliar to me but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the concert at all. I just wished that the description Aki gave before performing the suite was printed out and given away to the audience. It was difficult for me to absorb everything that he said (he spoke in Japanese and a voiceover spoke after with the English translation) so I wasn’t able to connect everything with the music played as well. But that is just a minor gripe to an otherwise excellent night of rarely heard music.

Koto player Kuniko

Too bad that prior commitments and an extremely busy week prevented me to attend the workshop that they’ve had the following morning. I would’ve wanted to hear and learn a lot from them and this workshop was an excellent opportunity that I had to miss. And I would’ve had more photos if I were there since taking of photos were not allowed during their performance inside the auditorium and it was only Kuniko who went out to the lobby afterwards. Anyways despite these minor setbacks, I remain grateful to the nice people from Japan Foundation, Manila for bringing us Aki and Kuniko and in general Japanese culture, cinema and music. And I await the next time that I'll be able to attend their event. And this next one is something that I truly await. Gyabo!