Uniqlo aims to make a splash with its 60th anniversary campaign

The recession defying (or should that be "loving"?) Uniqlo announced on its newly created mixi and Twitter accounts today, that 400 of its stores will open at 6am tomorrow to offer 200 pieces of its popular "Heattech" thermal underwear at ¥600 a piece. Bargain hunters dedicated enough to line up will receive complimentary milk and ampan. The sale is part of a rolling campaign to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its parent company, Fast Retailing.

However, if you are thinking about getting some cheap longjohn on your way to work in the city center tomorrow, hold your horses. The Uniqlo in the Hondori covered arcade is not included in the 400, with all the particpating stores in Hiroshima being in the suburbs. People in those stores will also be able to go sock crazy as they'll only be ¥10 a pair.

City center shoppers can still try their luck at winning one of the 100,000 ¥10,000 gift cards they are giving away from 10am until New Years Eve - you have to spend ¥5000 or more to have a chance though. Discounts on other clothing items will be rolled out at 11am and 7pm in all Uniqlo stores.

See more details in the rather annoying sale announcement here (in Japanese).

Hiroshima Peace Film Festival

The annual Hiroshima Peace Film Festival starts today at venues all over the city. Although there are many interesting-looking films that are rarely shown, very few of them are are being shown with English subtitles.

Two of the films Amerika: Sensou suru kuni no hitobito (America: People At War) and ONE SHOT KILL: heishi ni naru to iu koto are compiled of interviews with Americans, and may be relatively easy for viewers with minimal Japanese language ability to follow (if you have reasonable English ability, of course).

2 or 3 years ago I spent a full day transcribing the program, searching for links and published it on GetHiroshima. This year, however, I don't have the time, and imagine that there is little interest among our readers (if this is presumptuous and mistaken, please call me out in the comments below!). Those with the interest (and Japanese reading skills) can download the festival program here and the main festival site is here.

The festival runs until December 11 and we will endeavor to to dig out some of what look like the best bits of the festival and share the info here, and on our Twitter feed. If anyone would like to contribute any knowledge or assistance, please feel free to do so!

This is the festival trailer




11/21 UPDATE:
3 speakers discussing nuclear themes in film at the Peace Memorial Museum on Monday, November 23. Click here for more details.

Red Leaves at Buttsu-ji Temple stunning once more

Last autumn I posted a link to some great pictures of the lovely leaves at Buttsu-ji Temple (mistakenly labeling it Butsu-ji) near Mihara. The leaves are equally stunning this year and Flickr user Kamoda has captured their splendor in an excellent set of photos. You can see the them below in a sideshow. Please take the time to click through to see them at full size, leave any comments and check out his many other great photos.

View Buttsuji Temple [佛通寺] in a larger map


UPDATE: Another great set of photos from Kamoda - this time at Mitaki Temple

Early Xmas, disppointing Harrison, manga madness, Japanese in Taiwan and Chinese remake of Cellular

A Christmas Carol (English with Japanese subtitles and 3D dubbed versions)


Over a month ahead of Christmas, but just behind the dousing of the city in Christmas decorations, Disney's  animated adaptation of the Dickens classic which stars Jim carrey as Scrooge opens in Hiroshima this weekend. There are shows subtitled in English at Wald 11 and 109 Cinemas. Be warned, however, that if you want to wait until a more seasonable time the subtitled versions may be gone.




Wald 11, 109 Cinemas Also showing in Japanese only at Warner MyCal 


Crossing Over (English with Japanese subtitles)

The synopsis for Crossing Over starts promisingly, "The struggle to achieve resident alien status, or gain full-blown citizenship in the United States, provides some thought-provoking material in this feature from director Wayne Kramer".  However, Rotten Tomatoes (where the film scores a miserable 16% rating) it does little to fulfil its promise,  describes it as "flagrant and heavy-handed about a situation that deserves more deliberate treatment, and joins its characters with coincidences that strain believability." Oh dear.

Crossing Over is showing at Salon Cinema at 10:：30, 15:00 and 19:25 November 14-20 and at 12:45 and 19:15 November 21-27


Connected (Chinese - not sure if it's Mandarin or Cantonese - with Japanese subtitles)

Hong Kong remake of the US film Cellular directed by Benny Chang did big box office in China. The trailer below has English subtitles, but you'll be on your own in at Salon Cinema where it shows at 12:45 and 17:15 November 14-20 and at 17:05 November 21-27.







Taiwan Jinsei (Japanese)

One movie that looks pretty interesting, is the documentary Taiwan Jinsei which traces the lives of 5 "Japanese" who began a life in Taiwan when it was under Japanese colonial rule when they were youngsters and remain there today. Unfortunately, this is only in Japanese, but looks like it might be worth the effort.

Taiwan Jinsei is showing at Cinetwin Hondori at 10:40 and 16:45, Nov 14-20


Miyoko Asagaya Kibun (Japanese)


If you can't make the live music and late showing of Miyoko Asagaya Kibun at Yokogawa Cinema on Saturday night (Nov 14), but want to see this adaptation of the underground manga artist Abe Shin-ichi, you can catch it at Yokogawa Cinema at 12:50 and 19:00 (Nov 14-20). 



You can also catch the excellent Man On Wire at 20:50 and Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler at 10:30 and 17:00 Yokogawa Cinema (also Nov 14-20).

Noisy birthday at Yokogawa Cinema

This week, Yokogawa Cinema is celebrating 10 years of showing many films that would never get shown anywhere else in Hiroshima to, it must be said, an often almost empty house. In celebration of their passion and staying power, a late night screening of Olivier Assayas' Sonic Youth pic Noise was held on Saturday night. It was proceeded by some local musicians doing their own noise thing, captured on video by Sophie Andersen.

The film continues to play this week, daily at 21:00 until Friday, November 14.



NOISE from Sofie Andersen on Vimeo.



I will post the details of part two of the anniversary celebrations later.

Miyoko Asagaya Kibun: Yokogawa Cinema 10 Year Anniversary Part II

After last weekend's noise-fest, Yokogawa Cinema holds the second part of it 10th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, November 14 with a screening of Miyoko Asagaya Kibun. The film is based on a manga drawn by legendary artist, Shinichi Abe, contributor to legendary monthly anthology Garo "the film portrays a pure and brutal love between the artist and his muse, Miyoko". Some of the music in the film is provided by the rock band SPARTA LOCALS which includes two of Abe's sons.




Watch the trailer with English subtitles here.

Before the film starts at midnight there will be live music from local artists, including Goto Izumi+Accordion starting at 23:00. Admission is ¥1400.

Drag Me To Hell, The Burning Plain & The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

Movie picks this week are Sam Raimi's very well received Drag Me To Hell (unfortunately, opening here a week after Halloween), heavy kids' movie based on real life horror, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, and the not so well received romantic drama, The Burning Plain.

Where times not shown, click on cinema name to got to schedule page.

Drag Me To Hell [Superu] (English with Japanese subtitles)




Reviews

Wald 11, Toho
Midorii, 109


The Burning Plain (English with Japanese subtitles)



Reviews

Salon Cinema Nov 7-Nov 19 at 11:45, 14:00, 16:15, 19:00



The Boy In The Striped Pajamas (English with Japanese subtitles)





Salon Cinema Nov 7-Nov 13 at 17:35

Free rental cycle pilot scheme this month [e-サイクルひろしま]

In an encouraging, and long awaited, move Hiroshima city government is trying out a community bicycle system from today. Until now, excluding those available from hotels, the number of bicycles available for rent by tourists totals less than 10. Until December 4, a total of 110 "electric assist" bicycles (including 40 with "electric assist") will be available at 11 different places around the city for people to borrow free of charge. You can return the bikes to any of the 11 places and they also qualify for free parking at any of the city bicycle parking lots.

Bicycles can be borrowed and returned between 09:30 and 18:00. You have to be 13 years old or over,  show some form of picture ID and be prepared to answer a questionnaire on returning your bicycle. The pilot scheme will run until December 4.

According to the publicity pamphlet, the scheme is aimed at international and domestic tourists, but why not give the system a go and provide some valuable feedback. In a city so suited to cycling, it would be great if the scheme is not only made permanent, but expanded to be used by commuters and residents à la Paris.

The bicycles are available at the following places (it isn't possible to make reservations, but phone numbers are included to check availability)

1. Futaba Giga (Hiroshima Station) 090-7374-4258
2. Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum 090-7374-3093 (available 09:00-17:00, until 18:00 on Saturday, not available Mondays)
3. Hiroshima Castle 090-7374-2162
4. A-Bomb Dome (at the old baseball stadium) 090-7374-4182
5. Rihga Royal Hotel 090-7374-3663
6. Grand Via Hotel 090-7374-0241
7. Sunroute Hotel 090-7374-2746
8. ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel 090-7374-3821
9. Mitsui Garden Hotel 090-7374-6172
10. Oriental Hotel 090-7374-5344
11. Grand Prince Hotel (Ujina) 082-256-1111

Click here for the original PDF file (and here for the front of the pamphlet).

Halloween X, Club Chinatown: Video

Shot and edited by genkijin

Lovely shot of sun setting over Okunoshima

Prolific Flickr-bug Kamoda has a series of shots of the sun setting over Okunoshima at the end of a beautiful autumn day. This is our favorite.