Directing
No biography available.
The pendant has disappeared, the shadow has disappeared. What will disappear next? The protagonist feels less and less alive every day. Even though she is a virgin, the only way she can think of to confirm her own life is to try a pregnancy test. To put an end to her boredom and pessimism, she leaves a message on her dial Q2 and meets a man. What does she get in exchange for making a man with a voice fetish cum? Despite the stylish pictures with a French taste, the story deepens from ennui to horror. The first half of the film, "the sense of alienation peculiar to a period when one is not young enough to be called a girl, but young enough to be called a woman", becomes "a scary story in the style of modern folklore" at the end.
Making of Island Times
Film by Yoshihiro Fukagawa, 1999.
This is an omnibus of six short films by six different directors, whose lead characters are unconventional women. They are "Hijoshi," females who live true to themselves and their desires.
A mother, daughter and two of their friends live in an old Western-style house in Suginami. As secrets are revealed, they face challenges together.
Haruto Asakura falls in love with hairdresser Misaki Ariake and asks her out. Watching Misaki Ariake work hard to achieve what she wants, Haruto Asakura, who almost gave up his dream to become a photographer, begins to pursue his dream again, but Misaki Ariake is diagnosed with a disease that ages her 10x faster than normal.
Dr. Ichito works at Honjo Hospital. His longtime friend Dr. Tatsuya Shindo, who comes from Tokyo, begins working at Honjo Hospital. In their university days, Tatsuya was referred to as "the conscience of the medical school". Ichito notices a difference in Tatsuya now, as he leaves work on time. Then, Ichito's senior colleague Dr. Nukita collapses.
A pawn shop owner in Osaka is murdered, but due to a lack of conclusive evidence the police lists the man's death as a suicide. Detective Sasagaki, who investigated the case, can't forget the dark eyes of the main suspect's daughter Yukiho and the pawn shop owner's son Ryouji. As time goes by, more mysterious deaths surround Yukiho & Ryouji. Detective Sasagaki still unable to let go of the pawn shop owner case discovers startling details about Yukiho and Ryouji ...
"Girls" follows four beautiful women and depicts the troubles found in their love lives and work place. Yukiko Takigawa (Karina) works at a big advertising firm and has a good looking boyfriend. Seiko Takeda is married and has no children. She works at a large real estate company. Yoko Kosaka is a single woman working at a historic stationary company. Takako Hirai is a single mother who works for a car manufacturer.
A romance occurs via email, between Jun Shibahara, the ace in his swimming team, and an ill girl.