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Asian cinema: Japanese films

Asian cinema: Japanese films
From Akira Kurosawa to Yasujiro Ozu, from Takeshi Kitano to Hirokazu Koreeda, from samurai to yakuza to the Japanese New Wave, and from anime to J-horror to pink films, this is the place to go for reviews, interviews and features about movies both classic and new from Japan.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
Stephen Buckle, from Aspect, a global landscape architecture company, says that the most successful way to strike a balance between commercial and design aspirations is to make ecologically minded greening the focal point of any project, including this, The Roof, a Shanghai lifestyle complex, designed in collaboration with French architect Jean Nouvel. Photo: Courtesy Aspect

From Hong Kong’s Taikoo Square to Seoul’s Gangnam forest and Chengdu’s Hyperlane, nature is reshaping Asia’s cities

Urban greening is evolving: Asian cities are embracing biodiverse urban forests, moving beyond mere decoration to create ecological, human-centric spaces.

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Innocent and Chihiro Mutanga on the rooftop of Chungking Mansions, in Tsim Sha Tsui, the spot where they got engaged. Photo: Tracy Wong

The cross-cultural love story that forms the heart of the Africa Centre

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Zizi, a Chinese participant performing fire spinning at “Shambhala in Your Heart” festival. Photo: David Frazier

Chinese youths swap the rat race for fun and freedom at Thailand’s hippie Shambhala festival

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The summit of Norman Foster’s HSBC Main Building in relief against The Peak, 1986. Photo: Ian Lambot

The building that rewrote architecture – 40 years ago

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Mentors and mentees mingle during Rosewood Foundation’s Rise to the Table programme in March. Photo: courtesy Rosewood Foundation

Rosewood throws its weight behind female empowerment in hospitality

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Hintegro founder Keith Chan’s Sha Tin retreat. Photo: Keith Chan

An interior designer on finally designing for his own home

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Review | A New Dawn: climate crisis meets fireworks in confusing Japanese anime

Yoshitoshi Shinomiya’s beautiful debut feature is sure to excite fans of Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki, even if a muddled plot lets it down.

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Bill Tung and Lydia Sum (first and second from right) play the heads of a materialistic Hong Kong family in the Lunar New Year comedy It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World (1987). Photo: D & B Films Co
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Louis Koo in a still from Back to the Past. In celebration of the film’s success, here are 10 more of the best examples of big-screen time-travel escapism from across Asia.
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Hong Kong abruptly cancels 3 Japanese film screenings amid diplomatic row

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has dropped Kamome Diner, Tampopo and An from its upcoming film programme.

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A still from Tampopo (1985). The film is among three Japanese films that have had their screenings in the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s “Food for Thought - A Cinematic Feast” programme cancelled amid a diplomatic spat between Beijing and Tokyo. Photo: SCMP
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Review | Road to Vendetta: Jeffrey Ngai plays an assassin in his first lead role

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Review | Kokuho: kabuki epic with Ryo Yoshizawa is the best Japanese film of the year

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Ryo Yoshizawa in a still from Kokuho. Photo: Shuichi Yoshida/ASP
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People visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on July 2. Photo: Xinhua
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