Fusanosuke

愛と青春の宝塚: 〜恋よりも生命よりも

I was recommended to watch Ai to Seishun no Takarazuka. Koi Yori mo Inochi Yori mo -  that's a TV mini-drama about Takarazuka's life. It's highly amusing, but at the same time it is Kansai-ben (関西弁) which means - I struggle to understand ))) But still lots of fun.

And I found the official website of the drama  and the picture just deserves to be worshiped )))))

Ai to Seishun no Takarazuka. Koi Yori mo Inochi Yori mo

Kirschblüten - Hanami (2008) directed by Doris Dörrie (movie's website) .  This is one of the best German movies I've seen in years.  Featuring Tokyo, Fuji-san, Butoh (舞踏,).

花見 --はなみ-- (n,vs) cherry blossom viewing; flower viewing;

シンクロ --  (n) (2) (abbr) synchronized swimming

I thought it was a very funny movie. ウォーターボーイズ DVD (2001).  There is also a sequel which I had not seen so far -ウォーターボーイズ2005 夏 DVD (2005) that supposedly takes place 3 years later. Should find it.

On the poster I could not help myself to squee over 男のシンクロ!? - Boy's synchronized swimming !?
OMG, it sounds so scandalized!! ))))

When I saw today the cover of 天使のうた vol.1 by 西田東 (Nishida Higashi) my immediate thought was about the movie My Own Private Idaho (1991, directed by Gus Van Sant)

I have not read this manga but the cover makes me so curious as to how much of the reference to Idaho it will contain.   I mean, after Gus Van Sant's piece sleeping has a totally new dimension....

天使 --てんし-- (n) angel;
うた - song

The Oooku (or often alternative romaji - Ōoku) is the location of the Edo Castle (江戸城,) reserved as living quarters for the women of the Shogun (将軍).
大奥 --おおおく-- (n) shogun's harem; palace's ladies chambers
大奥様 --おおおくさま-- (n) lady of the house
奥 --おく-- (n) interior; inner part; inside

Oooku was functioning as female quarters since 1607, established by Tokugawa Hidetada (徳川秀忠), and lasted for about 200 years.

What I find much more interesting is Alternative Universe (AU) manga featuring Japan under matriarchy with the males as the residents of the Oooku and a female shogun. A very smart setting and very interesting switch of gender roles. 大奥 (1) manga by よしながふみ (Yoshinaga Fumi).
My favourite ever double-page spread from this manga:

上様の!
お成り!
上様 --うえさま; うえざま; かみさま-- (n) (1) emperor; shogun; (2) honored person (honoured);
Just so amazingly fabulous! And in 2009 this manga got Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

Arukihenro --'walking pilgrims'- is how people doing Shikoku Pilgrimage are called. The island of Shikoku (四国) is famous for its 88 temples and hence Shikoku Pilgrimage is the task of visiting all the temples. The pilgrimage is approximately 1,200km long and I guess that's something I'd love to do one day.

歩き遍路
歩き --あるき-- (n) (1) (arch) walk; walking
遍路 --へんろ-- (n) (1) pilgrimage;
四国八十八箇所 --しこくはちじゅうはっかしょ-- (n) 88 temples of Shikoku (holy spots related to Kobo Daishi)

There is documentary Arukihenro with English subtitles about the pilgrimage. I've seen it in my Japanese classes and it reinforced my conviction that I'd love to do it.

There is one Japanese book I REALLY want to read. It has been translated in only in French. Though my French is sufficient enough for small-talk and reading fashion magazines, I doubt I could handle a book influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis... So, either my Japanese has to improve tremendously, or I'll need to deal with French...

ドグラ・マグラ (上) + ドグラ・マグラ (下)

Novel by 夢野 久作 (Yumeno Kyūsaku), written in 1935.
All the critic loves to point that this novel is a perfect example of the modern Japanese avant-garde gothic literature. Whatever it means. And all the psychological, Freudian aspect of the plot-line. I guess, I really need to read it at least French (Dogra Magra) to have my own opinion.

There is a movie , 1988.

And there is a manga DOGLA+MAGLA by 寿たらこ (Kotobuki Tarako) supposedly loosely linked with the novel. I read the manga - it's pure kafka, and if one wishes to see it Freudian - one has enough of the innuendos.

桐野夏生 (Kirino Natsuo) wrote her crime novel Out in 1997, later on it was published in English.  I read it in English and that's really a breathtaking suspense story.  As well it's been recommended as a poignant study of modern Japanese society.
OUT 上 + OUT 下

OUT is a very convenient for Western translations, just keep it - and everyone understands.  Except not.  German translation was titled Die Umarmung des Todes (The Embrace of the Death). I honestly had not a single clue that it's supposed to be OUT, until a salesperson has shown me in their database that it's so. A really strange German book-market...

Additionally there is a movie directed by 平山秀幸, Hirayama Hideyuki (2002) and it seems there will be a Hollywood remake.

Searching amazon, I've noticed that there is a brand new book (2009) IN. I cannot help, but wonder if this new book connect to the best-seller OUT.