Japan On Film

We close out the season with first-time guest and film director Adrian Abbott to discuss the adaptation of Junji Ito's popular horror manga, Tomie! Thanks so much for listening to this season of Japan On Film! We'll be going on a hiatus now, but will return soon with another season and more Japanese movies to discuss. Until then, feel free to connect with us at the links below. Hosted by Perry Con...

Japanese film scholar Dr. Patrick Terry returns to the show to discuss The Emperor in August and the historical context around Japan's surrender at the end of WW2 and what the film spotlights and leaves out. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Dr. Patrick Terry You can connect with Patrick by email and check out his faculty profile. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordv...

This episode, Perry is joined by podcaster, game designer, and returning guest KJ Brown to discuss the vibrantly depressing Memories of Matsuko. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring KJ Brown Check out KJ's game Blossom Breeze and check out him on these other podcasts: Talking Studios  Talking Studios Japanese Films Episodes Playlist Talking Pictures Trivia Keep Making Movies Adapt It Limited...

In this episode, Perry is joined by fellow podcaster Jim Cannon to discuss Akira Kurosawa's 1958 film, The Hidden Fortress and its influence on George Lucas and Star Wars. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Jim Cannon Listen to Jim on The Iron Age of Comics Podcast. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/fspn⁠. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarante...

This season, we're covering two of Takashi Miike's films. And in this episode, Japanese film expert and returning guest Jennifer Upton is here to discuss the very bizarre Yakuza Apocalypse. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Jennifer Upton Visit Jennifer's website, pick up her book Japanese Cult Cinema: Films From the Second Golden Age Selected Essays and Reviews, or listen to her podcast,...

"Better a pig than a fascist" is the famous line from Studio Ghibli's Porco Rosso. Film critic Alexander Scott joins the show to dive into this pulpy adventure. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Alexander Scott Visit Your Town is Next on Substack for more of Alexander's work and watch them on YouTube. Also check out these socials: https://bsky.app/profile/wittiestmanalive.bsky.social http...

Returning guest and fellow podcaster Derick McDuff returns to discuss one of the most infamous Japanese films ever made. We're finally discussing Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Derick McDuff Visit Derick's Linktree and read his articles on WatchMojo. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/fspn⁠. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-da...

Musician Peter Divito makes his debut on the show for a fun discussion of the indie crime/comedy sensation, Baby Assassins! Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Peter Divito Listen to Peter Divito's music inspired by Baby Assassins on the No Kids Got Cats' Bandcamp page. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/fspn⁠. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guara...

Before Zatoichi, Shintaro Katsu played another blind masseur, but a much more sinister one! Japanese film scholar Jonathan Wroot makes his debut on the show to discuss The Blind Menace! Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Jonathan Wroot Visit Jonathan's faculty profile, pick up his book The Paths of Zatoichi, or check out the movie sets he's been involved with — Cloud and Charisma and Zen a...

Season 14 of Japan On Film kicks off with Kiyoshi Kurosawa's disturbing thriller, Creepy! And joining Perry to discuss another of Kurosawa's films is returning guest and Japanese film scholar, Lindsay Nelson. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Lindsay Nelson Visit Lindsay's website and connect with her on Bluesky and Instagram. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.c...

We close out Season 13 with returning guest Ian Buckley! This time, we're discussing Takeshi Kitano's classic yakuza film, Sonatine. Thank you for listening! We'll be taking a hiatus, but will return shortly for Season 14! Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Ian Buckley Listen to Ian on We Are Starfleet and Illumination Above All. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn...

This time around, we're taking a break from Japan-made films and instead looking at an American-made film about Japan. Fellow podcaster Kaz Wheeler makes his debut on the show to discuss Sydney Pollack's The Yakuza! Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Kaz Wheeler Listen to Kaz on The Didn't Get All of It Japan Podcast and follow him on Bluesky and Instagram. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months e...

Author and magician Eoin Smith joins the show for a discussion on Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, one of the Heisei-era Godzilla films involving just about everything they thought they could squeeze into a Godzilla film. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Eoin Smith Learn more about Eoin by visiting his Linktree. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/fspn⁠. It’s risk...

In this episode, Perry is joined by returning guest Michael Hale to discuss Perfect Blue: Yume Nara Samete. Contrary to what some may think, this isn't a live-action adaptation of the anime, nor even an adaptation of the novel it was based on. Instead, it's an adaptation of a novella from a spin-off anthology. And spoilers: it's nowhere near as good as the far-superior anime. Hosted by Perry Const...

Christopher Hood, an academic and author specializing in Japanese society and transportation, joins the show to discuss Happy Flight, a movie all about air travel in Japan. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Christopher Hood Visit Christopher's Linktree for his website, social media, and other links. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/fspn⁠. It’s risk-free wit...

Christmas comes early as Matthew Trecek of the Deskwarmers podcast joins Perry for a discussion of Satoshi Kon's beloved anime, Tokyo Godfathers. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Matthew Trecek Listen to Matthew on the Deskwarmers podcast. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/fspn⁠. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ⁠JapanOnFilm.com⁠ ⁠⁠Bl...

Writer and Japanese film scholar Jennifer Upton returns again, and this time we're discussing Shinya Tsukamoto's Vital. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Jennifer Upton Visit Jennifer's website and check out her book, Japanese Cult Cinema: Films From the Second Golden Age. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/fspn⁠. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back...

YouTuber and fellow Japan resident Amanda Hartsell joins Perry in this episode to discuss capitalism and Japanese society as depicted in Akira Kurosawa's High and Low. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Amanda Hartsell Visit Amanda's YouTube channel. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/fspn⁠. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ⁠JapanOnFilm....

Today, Perry is joined by author and filmmaker Liam Quane to talk about 2019's anime film, Weathering With You. Directed by Makoto Shinkai, this was his follow-up to the very popular Your Name. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Liam Quane. Learn about Liam's film and novel work by visiting Specificity Archives and follow him on ⁠Bluesky⁠. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ ⁠https...

Season 13 kicks off with our 100th episode! And for this, we've got a special one. Filmmaker Warren Badenski joins Perry for a deep dive into Takashi Miike's infamously wild, wonderful, and very weird Gozu! Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Warren Badenski Learn more about Warren's latest film, Dead Name. And follow him on Bluesky and Instagram. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼...

Join author, teacher, and film fan Perry Constantine and his guests as they journey into the wide, wonderful, and sometimes very weird world of Japanese cinema! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special interview episode, Perry speaks with KD Wilson, a Japan-based filmmaker. After creating a trailer for a fake Japanese horror thriller titled It Doesn't Exist, the response was so positive that Wilson decided to make the film a reality. Funding in just 11 hours on Kickstarter, production is going to begin soon. Listen to the story behind it. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring K...

Returning guest and fellow podcaster Derick McDuff is back on the show for a discussion of one of Akira Kurosawa's most well-known and well-regarded films—1952's Ikiru. We chart Waranabe's growth over the movie, the type of environment he's in, and how little Japanese bureaucracy has changed. This is our final episode of the season. We're going to take a break, but we'll return shortly with Season...

It's another film by Hirokazu Kore-eda! This time, Perry is joined by podcaster Sam Stokes to discuss the director's latest film, Monster. With different perspectives, it's an enlightening film about the concept of bullying. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Sam Stokes Listen to Sam on the Den of Ten and Reel Talk podcasts, and follow him on Letterboxd. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extr...

Podcaster Ian Buckley returns for another anime film. This time, we spotlight Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, also known as Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door. We discuss the series, its legacy, and how this movie fits into that legacy. Hosted by Perry Constantine Guest-Starring Ian Buckley Listen to Ian on We Are Starfleet and Illumination Above All. Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ http...