Japanese Film NightEvery Thursday night
Ten Thousand Waves now gives you the opportunity to experience some of the best cinema in the world—made in Japan! Each month, we’ll showcase a different genre: classics, anime, edgy contemporary, comedy…. If you have a favorite film or genre, please call Ian at 992-5000 x1090, and we’ll try to put it on the schedule.
No charge, but seating is limited August--Japanese ComedyYes, the Japanese really do have a sense of humor! Our August films run the gamut from romantic comedy to slapstick fall-off-the-futon funny.
 Thursday, August 7, 8:15 p.m TampopoDirected by Juzo Itami, starring Ken Watanabe, Nobuko Miyamoto
Juzo Itami is the Frank Capra of Japan—his plots always upbeat, the characters quirky, and the good guys always win. Tampopo is a pun on the spaghetti western—it’s about a woman trying to run a ramen (noodle) restaurant. She’s not doing too well until two cowboys ride into town in their pickup truck to help her. It explores, with hysterical results, why food is so important in human life. 114 minutes (1987)
 Thursday, August 14, 8:15 p.m A Taxing Womandirected by Juzo Itami, starring Nobuko Miyamoto
Both of the stars from Tampopo return for the subtly hilarious tale of Ryoko, Tokyo’s hardest working tax inspector, who is trying to bring down the tax cheat Gondo, owner of a chain of love hotels (rooms rented by the hour for purposes of...). This romantic farce is a madcap game of cat and mouse between the clever protagonists—reminiscent of the best of vintage Tracy and Hepburn. Although a feel-good G-rated film, there’s plenty of sex and toilet humor—be careful if you plan to bring the kids.
127 minutes (1988)  Thursday, August 21, 8:15 p.m Fall Guydirected by Kinji Fukasaku, starring keido Matsuzaka
Winner of 5 awards from the Japanese Academy, including Best Picture, this film is a moving love story and heartfelt valentine to the movies. Selfish actor Ginshiro compels Yasu, a member of his entourage, to marry Ginshiro’s pregnant mistress. To support his new family, Yasu takes on more and more dangerous jobs as a stunt man. In the end, Yasu must decide whether to do a stunt that could save Ginshiro’s career, even if it means putting his own life in danger.
108 minutes (1981)
 Thursday, August 28, 8:15 p.m Welcome Back Mr. McDonalddirected by Koki Mitani, with Ken Watanabe
The primadonna leading lady of a live radio drama is unhappy as the midnight air time approaches. Her insistence on a couple of changes snowballs out of control and the complications multiply through the last line of the broadcast. Ken Watanabe is the tough, teary-eyed truck driver. Fast-paced, hammy, and hilarious throughout.
103 minutes (1998)
September--Beat Takeshi
Japanese Renaissance man Beat Takeshi (Kitano Takeshi) is a comedian, talk show host, actor, author, poet, painter, video game designer, and film director. His films are like sumi paintings, full of long stretches where little seems to happen punctuated by brief episodes of violence. They humanize the violent characters in the exploration of questions of morality.
October--Zatoichi, The Blind SwordsmanA threat is uttered, a blade is drawn...a dozen attackers litter the ground, dispatched by the lightning blade of the blind masseur Zatoichi, protector of the innocent and the ruin of wicked men. Actor Shintaro Katsu created the character and acted in dozens of films in this long-running series. At Ten Thousand Waves, we love a massage therapist who kicks butt!
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