On July 7, the film Sensei! Kuchisake-onna desu!, starring Gai Ueno, will open in theaters.

The coming-of-age battle and horror film focuses on the unlikely relationship between an urban legend and a group of high school punks. After three punks steal a motorcycle, they realize that the owner of the bike is none other than a Kuchisake-onna–in Japanese folklore, this is an evil woman with her mouth slit from ear to ear. Gai Ueno plays the role of F1, a member of the high school gang and a hotwiring genius.

<Comment from Gai Ueno (F1)>

“I’m Gai Ueno, and I play the role of F1. Sensei! Kuchisake-onna desu! is truly a film that I want everyone to see. The characters are somehow cute and you’ll immediately love them–I’m confident that this is the cutest-ever Japanese film focused on high school delinquents. Even now, I wonder if I can personally get fired up and serious about the smallest things. Working on this movie reminded me to have the power to believe in myself. Please enjoy the movie and take the time to think back to your high school days! I’ll be waiting for you at the theater.”

<Comment from Director Yuu Nakamoto>

“I guess it’s been about 10 years since I lived in Hiroshima, where I grew up. I’m really interested in motorcycles, and one day, I was just mindlessly driving along the country roads at night. Then, from the other side of the road, I heard a noise…and suddenly, there was a woman wearing a mask walking nearby. I had this intuition…I thought “she’s not from this world,” and in that moment, I lost consciousness. Before I knew it, I was here, directing this film. Hmm…strange, isn’t it?”

【STORY】

High school students Takeshi (Taisei Kido) and F1 (Gai Ueno) work part-time stealing motorcycles and selling them to a gang of delinquents for cash. One day, Ayaka (Reina Kurosaki) decides to join after transferring to the boy’s school, and business booms. While trying to steal a bike parked at a deserted apartment, the group is discovered by a masked woman who seems to be the motorcycle’s owner. In a panic, Takeshi and his friends rush to escape but are quickly overtaken by the woman, who seems to have unbelievable physical abilities far beyond any other human. This woman running 100 meters in 6 seconds is actually the Kuchisake-onna, her mouth slit from ear to ear! What will happen to the group of high schoolers?! And just who is this Kuchisaka-onna?!

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, which blends a hotel and a traditional Japanese museum, is celebrating summer in the spookiest way possible. From July 2 until September 25, guests can enjoy the ‘Wa no Akari x Hyakudan Kaidan 2022 ~Light and Shadow: 100 Stories~’ event, inspired by the tradition of telling ghost stories in summer to send a chill down your spine. Since opening, over 10,000 visitors have come to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event. 

Each of the seven exhibition areas is connected to the stairway, and each has its own theme pulled from the overarching theme of light and darkness. From Light of Passion to Midnight Light, guests will be surrounded on all sides. As you ascend the stairs, a festive atmosphere transforms into a more frightening one. Although the ghosts are out to play, guests are welcome to enjoy the many art pieces and crafts on display. 

Sokyu Room / Lights of Passion

This Kabuki stage is filled with the passion of women who are addicted to love, a common theme in many traditional plays. The eye-catching Japanese umbrellas and lanterns will no doubt leave an impression, and the wistful music is titled Red Thread. The tale depicted here tells the story of a woman who becomes a haunting specter clad in flames of passion, sobbing and laughing in time with the song. 

Still Water Room / Inverted Light

The three trees crowned with horse heads were created by the artist Eros Nakazato. Guests will feel as though they’ve been transported to the middle of a meadow as they explore this fantastical room covered in traditional paintings. In the work The Reverse of the Reverse, there are no wild horses on the earth, and those who have been tamed by humans sway in a beautiful and sad way. To make this scarier, the story has been reimagined as guests look through a crystal ball–now, humans are ruled by horses

Starlight Room / Midnight Light

Passing through a corridor of suspiciously flickering yokai lanterns, you will find that the clock has struck midnight. In the darkness, as most humans are asleep, specters are having a lively party. Playful cats dance and play and a number of artistic works by contemporary artists are on display. The music played fuses Japanese and ethnic instruments, some of which are interspersed with the voices of creatures of the night.

Experience this immersive art experience that will delight all five senses through light and shadows while you can!

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, which blends a hotel and a traditional Japanese museum, is celebrating summer in the spookiest way possible. From July 2 until September 25, guests can enjoy the ‘Wa no Akari x Hyakudan Kaidan 2022 ~Light and Shadow: 100 Stories~’ event, inspired by the tradition of telling ghost stories in summer to send a chill down your spine. The art illumination exhibition promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Jounen no Akari (Lights of Passion)

Bamboo Lights

Without light, there are no shadows. In this exhibition, light and shadow complement one another, portraying the popular 100 ghost stories in a new way. Last year’s event received critical acclaim as guests found themselves moving breathlessly from room to room, exploring the many incredible pieces put on display. Along the dusk-lit promenade, goldfish lanterns lead guests to the start of their mysterious adventure. The atmosphere changes from room to room, with bamboo lights and shadows surrounding you from all sides. 

An Immersive Light Art Space

Odawara Wind Chimes at Dusk

Luxurious Cherry Blossom Hairpins

Glass Lamp, Iroshita Studio

Flower Arrangement, Rikou Otsuka

As you ascend the stairs, a festive atmosphere transforms into a more frightening one. Although the ghosts are out to play, guests are welcome to enjoy the many art pieces and crafts on display, from flower arrangements by master ikebana artist Rikou Otsuka and sculptures by some of Japan’s most influential traditional creators. 

Enjoy Traditional Summer Ghost Stories with Light Art

Ghost Lanterns

Born from the Earth, Yasumaro Ozawa

Byakko, Yuji Nishijima

Inverted Light, Eros Nakazato

Mysterious music will drift through the air, making guests feel as though they’ve been transported into another world. The eerie space is lit by Ghost Lanterns made by a 200-year-old company in Fukuoka, and the venue is decorated with art blending ukiyo-e with contemporary styles. 

Culture and Crafts from Around Japan

Paper Lanterns from Ise

Bamboo Lights, Akarinowa

3D Knit Lights

Paper Fireworks

Summer fireworks have been recreated in colorful paper form by an artist in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, and materials found in a neglected bamboo grove in Shizuoka Prefecture were used to create the many iconic lights seen throughout the unique exhibition. Local craftsmen are at the heart of the event, with pieces brought in from areas all around Japan.

Wa no Akari Room

A concept room featuring gently flickering lights and lanterns is available to book for a limited time. Why not come spend your summer in this otherworldly atmosphere?

Japanese escape game creative company SCRAP has announced a new online haunted house experience which will have players utilising Zoom to escape from a cursed home. The experience will be launched on September 11, 2020.

The online game is an entirely new experience developed by SCRAP in collaboration with Hirofumi Gomi, a producer of haunted houses across Japan as well as Tokyo Dome City Attractions. The game’s story sees players’ underclassman Utsumi searching for you inside a particular house which is rumoured to be haunted.

Players are put into a team of 1 to 7 people and use Zoom or LINE to give directions to the rest of the cast. Players must work together and with the in-game cast to uncover the hidden malice behind the house and escape. It’s an interactive game that will plunge players into a scary experience they won’t soon forget.

Netflix has announced that the new Netflix Original series Ju-On: Origins will be released worldwide in summer 2020.

Ju-On is a Japanese horror franchise that first hit the scene back in 2000 with two direct-to-video productions, Ju-On: The Curse and Ju-On: The Curse 2. The two movies were a hit with horror fans in Japan, leading to the first theatrical release and third instalment of the series Ju-On: The Grudge in 2003. Since then, the series has continued to scare folk for 20 years during which it has grown into an international franchise. The first Hollywood remakes The Grudge (2004) and The Grudge 2 (2006) reached number one in the US box office, and along with The Ringーa remake of another Japanese horror franchise Ringuーintroduced and sparked a global interest in J-horror. Ju-On: The Final Curse was supposed to be the final entry to the main film series, but Netflix’s Ju-On: Origins is bringing it back to explore something that you may have not even known about.

Something that is not known by many people is that Ju-On is actually based on real-life events. For the first time ever, this new drama series will explore the origins of the cursed house and the numerous unpleasant incidents surrounding it. Viewers can get ready to be shaken with a real-life kind of fear that they did not get with Ju-On.

The series is being directed by award-nominated Japanese film director Sho Miyake who received his praise for his with in And Your Bird Can Sing  (2018). This will be his first entry into horror. Yoshiyoshi Arakawa will play the role of the lead male protagonist and psychic researcher Yasuo (name reading not confirmed), while the lead female protagonist Haruka will be played by Yuina Kuroshima. Haruka, a new talent, is left tormented by the sounds of footsteps in her house in the middle of the night. The curse begins to make its real move after she talks with Yasuo, a psychic researcher she became acquainted after appearing on a television variety show. The curse chain begins to link to two of them. Other confirmed actors and actresses for the series include many upcoming new names like Ririka, Kohki Osamura, and Kai Inowaki, as well as notable names such as Tokio Emoto, Nobuko Sendo, and Kana Kurashina.

It has been 5 years since the last entry to Ju-On. The new Netflix Originals drama series will be comprised of 6 episodes. Series producer Ichinose said: “I’ve long had thoughts of wanting to write the part of the story that can’t really be adapted into a film and make it into a drama series. But there are too many restrictions in Japanese television so I haven’t been able to do it. Even when I made horror for TV before, I was told to not make it too scary. So when I got the call from Netflix to do this, I responded immediately with a ‘Yes!'”

Ichinose also commented on making Sho Miyake the director, who is making his debut into the horror genre with Ju-On: Origins: “We’re valuing the real story here, so I thought it best to have a director on board who is excellent when it comes to working on human dramas. ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’ was wonderful and towered above the rest of Japanese movies that have come out in recent years, so when I called out to him, he said he was up for the challenge. I think you’ll understand once you see the series, but I think he was the perfect choice.”

Nagashima Kanko Kaihatsu will hold its first Christmas event in Nagashima Spaland “Nagashima Zombie Christmas Party” on the 23^rd (Sat.) and 24^th (Sun.)of December 2017.

Before the party starts, there will be a“zombie panic time”when a crowd of zombies will wonder around the large Spa Dome facility. “Santa Zombies” who could not deliver presents to children and died will rejuvenate and will hold the visitors in a state of terror.

Nagashima Zombie Christmas Party will consist of the following 3 events;  “DJ time,” “Zombie dance live” and “Zombie party time.”

In the event, “DJ time,” which is the opening ceremony of the party, a very popular DJ “DJ MIKEE” who is active both in Japan and abroad will allure the visitors with her superb DJ play. You can enjoy the atmosphere of Christmas in the special party space which will have some mirror balls installed.

After DJ time is finished, the stage will be occupied with zombie dancers and a powerful dance show will be performed. I am sure that the voltage of the venue will get higher.

Lastly, “Zombie party time” where you can dance with zombies will be held. The latest dance music and standard Christmas songs will be played and the voltage of the venue will reach its climax for sure.

Moreover, some stylish and cute Christmas photo spots will be installed for a limited time offer. You can feel like you are Santa Clause by taking photos at these photo spots! Nagashima Zombies have a habit of reacting to light so let’s take photos with the zombies!

A limited Santa Clause hat will be offered to 500 persons (first-come-first-served-basis) who participate in the Nagashima Zombie Christmas Party. Let’s become Santa Clause and spend a wonderful time.

Why don’t you enjoy this coming Christmas with zombie Santa Clauses?

Halloween is an event that even Japan enjoys and considered one of the autumn time events. iBEER LE SUN PALM in Tamagawa’s Rise Shopping Center is holding a special “Trick or Jankenpon!” event (Jankenpon = Rock, Paper, Scissors) for Halloween on Monday October 31st.

Customers at iBEER LE SUN PALM will receive a “Ghost Pizza” (1 group = 1 pizza) as a present for winning instead of candy. However, the only person allowed to eat the pizza is the winner themselves.

If you want a pizza yourself, you’d best get dressed up in your Halloween costume and head on over to iBEER LE SUN PALM! Those of you that turn up in costume are exempt from the game and will receive a free “Ghost Pizza”. Enjoy some craft beer as you join in with this fun one-day special event ♪

■Information
Trick or Jankenpon !
Location: iBEER LE SUN PALM Futako-Tamagawa Rise, Futako-Tamagawa Rise Shopping Center Town Front 1F, 2-21-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya, Tokyo
Available: Monday October 31st ※Available at dinner time only (17:00-23:00)
Conditions: Each person must order more than one food or drink item

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