KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #34): Kimono wardrobe used in “The Equinox Flower”

Kimono wardrobe utilized in Ozu’s 1958 film”The Equinox Flower”:

“Equinox Flower”  was the first color film by the great Japanese film director Yasujiro Ozu. Although this movie was not specifically about kimonos, a variety of kimonos were worn by the actresses.  The kimonos were just a part of daily life and are seen in a variety of home and work situations.  I might use the phrase “a slice of life” to describe many of the Ozu films.  He was very good at depicting people in everyday situations.  Very little is “over the top” in an Ozu film. Yet they are still beautiful, and poetic. They draw you in. We feel as if we are living in the moments depicted in the film. When I watch an Ozu film, I feel less like I am watching a movie and more like I am reading a good book.  Sometimes I watch a portion of an Ozu film before bedtime, the way I might read for a while before bed. I know full well that I will not finish in one night, and I want to savor the experience over time.

The story itself is about an influential businessman (Shin Saburi) who is was often sought after for his straightforward and honest advice by his various business associates, family and friends. Despite his astute analysis and advice for others, he mishandles a situation closer to home.  His daughter informs him that she wishes to marry a man that she loves, rather than enter into an arranged marriage that he wants. These changing, postwar cultural attitudes are explored in this gentle Ozu film.

I watch a lot of  older Japanese cinema. It is always a treat for me when the great Chishu Ryu makes an appearance!  Ozu often used him in his movies (ex. “Tokyo Story”). Here Ryu plays a man who seeks advice from the Saburi character. They have a good time at a reunion, where Ryu receites poetry.  Note the “man kimono”.

Note the man’s kimono worn by Ryu-san in this scene. That was one long poem! Good thing there was a lot of Japanese beer at this reunion.

Japanese actress Fujiko Yamamoto steals the show for me.  She had a small but pivotal  part as the daughters friend. Here is a cute fan art caricature of her in the movie : )

I recommend “The Equinox Flower” for your Netflix queue!

KIMONOS ON MONDAY (Week #19): Kyōko Kagawa

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This week I will feature legendary Japanese actress Kyōko Kagawa.

Kyōko Kagawa (香川 京子 Kagawa Kyōko ) has always been one of my favorite Japanese actresses!  She is famous for her roles in films such as “Tokyo Story” and “The Crucified Lovers” as well as the landmark Japanese monster movie “Mothra”. Kyoko-san originally wanted to become a ballerina.  She was discovered by a film studio after winning a beauty contest and began a career in acting.   And she was a beauty (well, still is in her 90s!)

She also appeared in several Akira Kurosawa films, in which she often played the love interest or wife of the Toshiro Mifune characters.  Kurosawa used her in “The Bad Sleep Well”, “High and Low” and “Red Beard”.   Kagawa married and followed her husband to live in New York City in the 1960s, where she acted in television.  She later returned to the cinema, in Kurosawa’s film “Madadayo”.  In total, she has appeared in 118 films, the last one in 2009.  The National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo  honored her long career and her contribution to Japanese cinema with an exhibition titled ‘Kyoko Kagawa, Film Actress’ In 2011.  (Source: Wikipedia, and my hazy memory)

Kyōko Kagawa in “Tokyo Story”. Actress Setsuko Hara is just to the right of the pillar.

Scene from “the Crucified Lovers”.

Kagawa-san in wedding kimono with Toshiro Mifune in “The Bad Sleep Well”.

Kyōko Kagawa movie poster

Kyōko Kagawa as the Professor’s wife in Kurosawa’s “Madadayo”

Kyōko Kagawa in “Madadayo”

Kyōko Kagawa in a Japanese magazine wearing kimono.

Poster for the Kyōko Kagawa film retrospective 2011.

For more (non-kimono) photos of Kyōko Kagawa, please see my Pinterest board for her linked here.

Denny’s Crazy idea:  I loved Kyoko Kagawa in “Mothra”, although she was never part of the same scene with the giant flying moth.  Nonetheless, do you think that a “Mothra Pattern” would be good design for a kimono? 

Discuss, discuss.

Pokémon Nicknames (REDUX): Zubat, Golbat and Crobat.

Scene from Zatoichi: On The Road

Everyone hates Zubat!  You can’t take one freaking step in a cave before a wild Zubat appears !!!

Not many players want to have a Zubat as a part of their team. They are extremely common, and are not exactly lovable.  Encountering them is just a status problem waiting to happen.

If those things stuck into you, you would get a status problem. The fangs I mean.

It may be possible to have fun with Zubat however.  I nicknamed a male Zubat — “Zatoichi” – after the Japanese movie hero Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman.  (Japanese actor Shintaro Katsu portrayed Zatoichi in 26 films.  I highly recommend watching them!) Zubat is blind (or nearly so), therefore a blind —  but powerful character seemed appropriate.   I captured Zatoichi in a premier ball (Movie stars should like being in a Premier), and taught it cutting moves like “Air Cutter”.  I leveled it up to 100, so it will forever be a Zubat* .

… a more cuddly Zubat?

I have also used the name “Zuckerberg” after Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook.  Or is he “Zuckerman” … I really don’t know. Also I like to use the name “Zimmerman” after Robert Zimmerman (a.k.a. Bob Dylan), and “Zip-Gun” after the term for an improvised handgun.

Either carry a lot of repels or get a dictionary and look under”Z”.

I named a female Zubat “Zelda” not after Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda game, but the character “Zelda Gilroy” in the classic American TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. The character Zelda was always crinkling her nose at Dobie, much to his consternation.  Zelda was in love with Dobie, and always pestered him that they were destined to be married. Annoying, just like a Zubat!  Zelda Gilroy was played by child actress Sheila Kuehl.  A spin-off TV series for Zelda  was created, but the network cancelled it, because Ms. Keuel was a lesbian (too “butch” the network said).  Ms. Kuel left acting and eventually became a state senator in California, where she was a staunch advocate of  lesbian and gay rights. … but I digress  …

Zelda Gilroy … as annoying as a Zubat?

Another name I suggest is “Boom Batz” as in Dr. Vinny Boombatz.

How about the name “DingBat” or “You Dingbat!” after what Archie Bunker used to yell at his wife Edith on the 1970s TV show “All-In-The-Family”.  Although I actually got the idea for Dingbat as a name while watching Nancy Pelosi on CNN. That lady is not connected to reality at all.

So it is possible, to warm up to a Zubat.  With that in mind, I present the following Zubat cosplay:

A wild Zubat appeared! .. and um … ah … um .. no problem …

* because I thought that Zubat’s evolution Golbat and Crobat did not remind me of Zatoichi.

UPDATE***07/22/2016

For Golbat , I have used the name “Gottffried” or “Gilbert” for the large-mouthed, loud, obnoxious-sounding comedian Gilbert Gottfried (his webpage link here). No, really, I like him, he was always good in his abrasive manner. When he does that routine, he looks like Golbat. How about “Goldman” as in Goldman-Sacs?

I also use the name “Bela” for both males and females. Bela could be for the famous Dracula movie actor Bela Lugosi, or for the females, think of the Bela character from the “Twilight” movie series.

I have also named Zubat Google.com or another website just to be silly when Wondertrading. “Denny sent over Google.com”. HA! I also think that “Zelda” is still good when you level up your Golbat to Crobat with high friendship!

Cute -bat family!

What is the name of your annoying bat? Please Comment!