5 new Japanese films and series coming to Netflix in February 2023

December and January brought us a smashing line-up of new titles on Netflix, from the long-awaited next time of ‘Alice in Borderland’ to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s ‘The Makanai’, but there’s no slowing down for February. On major of the typical rom-coms that are guaranteed to crop up around Valentine’s Day, a handful of dramas, uplifting comedies and thrilling suspense displays are due to hit Netflix Japan in the coming weeks.

From the world premiere of Netflix’s first motion picture ‘Call Me Chihiro’, to the 2020 movie ‘Gift of Fire’ that obtained disregarded in the course of its launch amid the pandemic, below are the ideal shows and movies to look out for this February. Bear in head that not all of these films offer you English subtitles and regional constraints may well implement. 


A Madder Red 

Synopsis: 7 several years after shedding her partner in a site visitors incident, Ryoko (Machiko Ono) is battling to preserve her loved ones afloat amid the Covid-19 pandemic. When her café business goes beneath, Ryoko finds herself juggling employment at a flower shop and a sex club to help her father-in-law, who is in a nursing residence, as effectively as her middle schooler Junpei. 

Overview: Machiko Ono is spectacular in this story about the minority course who suffered most during the pandemic. Although the movie loses its footing a few periods with its risky plot units and overly long runtime, ‘A Madder Red’ is crammed with sufficient heart to make it truly worth your although.

Available February 2. 


Connect with Me Chihiro

Synopsis: Soon after leaving her job as a sex worker, a youthful female named Chihiro decides to make a residing by selling bento containers in a small seaside city. Chihiro, who is unapologetically herself, originally arrives across as a little strange to some of the community people, but will make a lasting perception on anyone who buys bentos from her. 

Overview: Tailored from the common manga ‘Chihiro-san’, this aspect co-created by Netflix and Asmik Ace is earning its entire world premiere on Netflix this month as effectively as at the Musashino-kan Shinjuku theatre on February 23. The movie stars Kasumi Arimura as Chihiro and is directed by Rikiya Imaizumi (‘By the Window’), who is regarded as one particular of the most influential filmmakers of his technology.  

Accessible February 23. 


Gift of Fire 

Synopsis: In 1940s Japan, a excellent young scientist by the name of Osamu Ishimura (Yuya Yagira) is tasked with building the world’s 1st atomic bomb. This poses a difficult predicament for Osamu and his collaborators. Producing these a weapon would lead to an unthinkable stage of mass destruction, still failing to do so would go away Japan in danger of currently being the concentrate on of the nuclear assault. 

Faced with escalating pressure from their superiors and a increasing sense of guilt as their friends are killed off in the war, Osamu and his team are successfully left with no decision but to operate working day and night to occur up with thriving benefits in a bid to finish the war as soon as and for all. 

Overview: Anybody who has ever picked up a history guide will know about the nuclear assault of Japan all through Earth War II. What many folks don’t know, nevertheless, is the story of Japan’s tense race to establish the 1st atomic bomb in advance of the United States or Soviet Union. In this gripping drama starring Yuya Yagira (named Greatest Actor at the 57th Cannes Movie Pageant for his overall performance in ‘Nobody Knows’), director Hiroshi Kurosaki would make a bold endeavor to drop light on a lesser known instant of background.

Readily available February 7. 


Elpis

Synopsis: Ena Asakawa (Masami Nagasawa) is a disgraced anchorwoman who is forced to go away her work at a broadcasting network soon after a tabloid leaks evidence of her having an affair. She then picks a new career with a late night wide range programme, in which she will work closely with a wealthy but inexperienced director called Takuro Kishimoto (Gordon Maeda). 

Quickly just after adopting her new position, Ena picks up a discrepancy in a case about a suspected serial killer on dying row. Confident that the convicted prisoner is in fact harmless, Ena and Takuro team up with a further reporter to track down the true perpetrator. 

Overview: Suspense fans will be thrilled to know that the fourth instalment of ‘You’ is not the only thrilling sequence to catch on Netflix in February. Inspired by correct gatherings, ‘Elpis’ is a cleverly executed story of cat and mouse that created its debut at the MIPCOM showcase in Cannes last calendar year. 

Out there February 1.


Tale of My Family 

Synopsis: Juichi Miyama’s romantic relationship with his father Jusaburo – a popular Noh theatre actor – is a rocky one, to say the minimum. Although he spent his youth attempting to gain his father’s approval, Juichi eventually went on to develop into a qualified wrestler as an alternative of subsequent in his father’s footsteps. 

When Jusaburo’s health will take a change for the even worse, Juichi braces himself for his father’s loss of life and prepares to get the inheritance, but the ageing thespian surprises absolutely everyone by bouncing back from his health issues. Before long soon after, Jusaburo can make a community announcement, declaring his final decision to go away anything he has to his young new caretaker and leave almost nothing to his sons. Chaos ensues. 

Overview: Its slapstick premise will intrigue any individual who’s in the temper for a excellent chuckle, but there’s a great deal a lot more to this story than the teaser would lead you to believe that. Composed by Kankuro Kudo (‘Go’, ‘Ikebukuro West Gate Park’), this offbeat comedy covers all the common drama, frustrations and absurdities that appear with getting a significant household, which even high-flying, challenging-guy wrestlers cannot escape. 

Obtainable February 1. 

Additional from Time Out Tokyo

Kyoto and Sapporo ranked amongst the leading 25 places in the earth for 2023

You could gain two seats at Noma Kyoto if you can detect a thriller component

Bear-shaped KitKat is now available in Japan for Valentine’s Day

You will find now a decadent Godiva shokupan for Valentine’s Working day

There is now a Yayoi Kusama robotic in Tokyo

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Shirley McQuay

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