Hideaki Anno is a Japanese animator, filmmaker and actor. His most celebrated creation, the Evangelion franchise, has had a significant influence on the anime television industry and Japanese popular culture. Anno's style is defined by his postmodernist approach and the extensive portrayal of characters' thoughts and emotions.
Shunji Iwai is a Japanese filmmaker, video artist, writer and documentary maker.
Love Letter is a 1995 Japanese romantic film written, directed and edited by Shunji Iwai in his debut feature film and starring Miho Nakayama. The majority of the film was shot on the island of Hokkaidō, primarily in Otaru. It achieved great success at the box office in Japan and gained popularity in other East Asian countries, particularly South Korea. Remarkably, it was one of the first Japanese films to be shown in South Korean cinemas since World War II, garnering 645,615 admissions and ranking as the tenth highest-grossing general release of the year.
Ryunosuke Kamiki is a Japanese actor. Starting his career as a child prodigy, he has garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards for his performances across 25 years in the industry.
All About Lily Chou-Chou is a 2001 Japanese experimental coming-of-age film, written, directed, and edited by Shunji Iwai. The narrative follows several 14-year-old Japanese students, examining how the enigmatic "Bjork-like chanteuse", Lily Chou-Chou, influences their lives.
Yu Aoi is a Japanese actress and model. She made her film debut as Shiori Tsuda in Shunji Iwai's 2001 film All About Lily Chou-Chou. She subsequently portrayed Tetsuko Arisugawa in Hana and Alice (2004), also directed by Iwai, Kimiko Tanigawa in the hula dancing film Hula Girls and Hagumi Hanamoto in the 2006 live-action adaptation of the Honey and Clover manga series.
Nagasarete Airantō is a Japanese harem manga series by Takeshi Fujishiro. It was first serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Shōnen Gangan magazine in January 2002, and a few years later expanded into a multimedia franchise including drama CDs, light novels, and a 26-episode anime adaptation by Studio Feel that aired in Japan between April 4 and September 26, 2007.
Dear Sister (ディア・シスター) is a 2014 Japanese love comedy drama series starring Satomi Ishihara and Nao Matsushita. It aired on Fuji Television from October 16, 2014, to December 18, 2014, every Thursday at 22:00 (JST). The theme song is "Happiness", by Che'Nelle from her album @Che'Nelle World.
The 62nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (第62回NHK紅白歌合戦), referred to from hereon as "Kōhaku", aired on December 31, 2011 from NHK Hall in Japan beginning from 7:15 p.m. JST.
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou is a Japanese light novel series written by Hajime Kamoshida, with illustrations by Kēji Mizoguchi. ASCII Media Works published 13 volumes between January 2010 and March 2014. A manga adaptation illustrated by Hōki Kusano was serialized ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine and Dengeki G's Comic.
"Ashita, Haru ga Kitara" is a song by Japanese entertainer Takako Matsu from her debut album, Sora no Kagami (1997). It was released on March 21, 1997, through BMG Japan as her debut single. The song was written by Yūji Sakamoto and Daisuke Hinata, while Hinata produced the song. Following the wrap-up of the drama Long Vacation, she decided to give singing a try upon the suggestion of one of its directors.
The Japanese Movie Critics Awards are presented annually since 1991.
Kyrie is a 2023 Japanese film written, directed, and edited by Shunji Iwai, based on his novel of the same name. It follows a homeless and near-mute street musician. The film stars Aina the End, Hokuto Matsumura, Haru Kuroki, and Suzu Hirose. It premiered at the 28th Busan International Film Festival, on October 5, 2023. The film was released in Japan on October 13, 2023.
