KUROSAWA

Do you know Akira Kurosawa... the world well-known film director?

I am sure you've heard of his name, but have you seen his films?

Well,this year is the 100th anniversary of Kurosawa's birth and one movie theater is playing 30 of his movis in 3 weeks.

I hadn't seen his films on movie screens, only on videos and DVDs, so I went to see one of his films called "Yojinbo (The Bodyguard)" made in 1961.

Boy, it's good! Great script, acting, and directing!!

No wonder why Kurosawa had influenced so many film makers including George Lucas.

The next day, I went to see "Shichinin no samurai (Seven Samurai)" and "Kakushitoride no sanakunin (The Last Princess)".

I am planning to see 4 more of his films this week.

Watching them on movie screens is much much better than on TV, you know?

I especially like his earlier works...black and white movies.

Too many film makers these days depend on computer technologies.

I think he proves what a good film needs is not CG but a good stroy, good actors, and directing.

Lovely season

I went to hanami (a picnic under the cherry blossoms) yesterday. As you may already know, cherry blossom is a Japanese national flower and everybody loves to enjoy it.

The weather has not been very good last week but yesterday was nice and sunny.

We went to Yoyogi park near NHK and it was coverd with pink blossoms and people, people, and people...

One of my acquaintances went to use the restroom and he didn't come back for more than 30 minutes! There were loooooooooooong lines.

I was glad I couldn't drink much alcohol. Otherwise, I needed to wear a diaper!!