13 Assassins trailer + photos + more

   13 Assassins is the latest Japanese samurai epic to hit our cinema screens.

   Takashi Miike, the director responsible for such uncompromising and unforgettable movies as Audition and Ichi The Killer indelibly stamps his trademark style on the Samurai genre with the ultra-violent, all-action, blood-spattered epic, 13 Assassins.
 
   One of the most prolific, wildly unpredictable and controversial directors in cinema, here Miike reinvents himself once more “in top, slash-tastic form” (Variety), throwing in several obvious nods to the works of Akira Kurosawa and enough grotesquery to satisfy his loyal legions of fans, with a movie that has been described as a “handsomely mounted samurai adventure” (Cinematical) that is “too damn magnificent to ignore” (Twitch).

   Miike’s remake of Eichi Kudo’s classic 1963 samurai period action-drama Jusan-nin No Shikaku boasts a heavyweight cast featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary Japanese cinema, including Koji Yakusho (Babel; Memoirs Of A Geisha), Takayuki Yamada (252: Sign Of Life), Yusuke Iseya (Sukiyaki Western Django; Memories Of Matsuko; Casshern), Mikijiro Hira (Goemon) and Hiroki Matsukata (Tajomaru: Avenging Blade; Ichi).

   The story:  In mid-19th Century Japan the era of the samurai is beginning to fade as the feudal nation begins to enjoy a rare period of peace. But the fragile calm is soon threatened by the bloody rise of Lord Naritsugu, the Shogun’s sadistic, psychopathic younger brother, whose position places him above the law and free to rape, mutilate and murder on a whim. Concerned that Naritsugu’s actions will eventually destroy the Shogunate, top Shogun official Sir Doi covertly calls on esteemed and noble samurai warrior Shinzaemon Shimada to assassinate the evil Lord before it is too late. Shinzaemon willingly agrees and immediately gathers together an elite group of samurai to assist him in the task, knowing that what they are about to embark upon may well prove to be a suicide mission.Following weeks of training and preparation, Shinzaemon and his men head off on a perilous journey through the mountains, hoping to ambush Lord Naritsugu and his entourage. However, on finally coming face to face with their target, the 13 samurai discover Naritsugu’s men hugely outnumber them. Disregarding the odds, the fearless assassins continue with their plan and initiate a bloody showdown that they cannot allow to end until Naritsugu lies dying.

   You can look on the film's official UK site for photos & trailers here.

   The film's official US site for photos & trailers is here.

Japanese domestic living exhibition at the Geffrye Museum, London until Aug 29th

From the press release:

   In the West, the Japanese house has reached iconic status in its architecture, decoration and style. However, is this neat, carefully constructed version of Japanese life in fact a myth? This special exhibition aims to question the widespread stereotype of the minimal Japanese house, characterised by large empty spaces devoid of people and things. It goes behind the doors of contemporary urban homes to find out how private domestic lives are lived in Japan today, examining a variety of aspects of the home – from decoration, display, furniture and the tatami mat, to eating, sleeping, ‘gifting’, cleaning, hygiene, and worship.

   The exhibition recreates the layout of a standard urban apartment. Visitors will travel through an entrance hall, a ‘western style’ room, tatami room, bathroom, and, finally, to the LDK – ‘living-dining-kitchen’ – area, the largest communal space inside the home. Each of these rooms will be filled with a selection of the everyday possessions with which inhabitants might surround themselves. We hope that through an active engagement with these day-to-day spaces and objects, visitors may not only experience a degree of what it feels like to be at home in contemporary Japan, but also to encounter another culture on an empathetic level instead of gazing at and imagining its exotic nature from a distance.

    Full detail of the exhibition as well as a series of lectures on May 14th can be found here.

Edward Wrangham Coll of Japanese Art II at Bonhams London May 10th

From the Press Release:
    Following the success of Part 1 of the Edward Wrangham Collection in November 2010, which realised over £2 million and included a world record price for an inro sold at auction, Bonhams has announced the second sale of the collection that will take place at Bonhams, New Bond Street on 10th May.

    Considered one of Europe's most important and comprehensive private collections of Japanese Gentleman's accessories, it was formed by the late environmentalist, mountaineer, scholar and collector Edward Wrangham OBE. 

   An extremely rare early 20th century, roiro lacquer four-case inro by Shirayama Shosai (1853-1923) is one of the top lots in the sale and is estimated to sell for £20,000 – 30,000. Finely lacquered in gold, the inro depicts a full-length portrait of the Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro IX, a contemporary of the artist.

   Ichikawa Danjuro was one of the most famous and successful Kabuki actors during the late 19th century Meiji Period in Japan, and is widely credited with ensuring that the traditional art form remained vibrant as Japan struggled with Westernisation. Represented in a Shibaraku role, one of the most popular pieces in the Kabuki repertoire, he is showing off a fan, with the large square sleeves of the extravagant costume continuing on the reverse. Works by Shirayama Shosai, one the most important lacquer artists of the time, are very rare and highly sought after.

    Further highlights include a stunning roiro lacquer five-case inro by the renowned lacquer artist Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), also of the Meiji Period. Decorated in gold, silver and black, with a finch perched on a finely detailed cherry branch, with a mosquito; the exquisite inro is estimated to sell for £20,000-25,000. A lacquer four-case inro by Shibata Zeshin is also estimated to sell for £20,000-25,000.

    In addition to the exquisite collection of ino, netsuke and sword fittings, the Edward Wrangam Collection also includes works of art. A woven writing box, in gold and silver lacquer, by Mochizuki Hanzan in the 18th century, depicts the fable of Rosei. The figure of Rosei is reclining on a bench, beside the terrace of a pavilion framed by rocks and trees, holding a fan over his face as he dreams. The box is estimated to sell for£15,000-20,000.

   The online catalogue can be seen here.

Honen Shonin Exhibition at Kyoto National Museum until May 8th

   Honen (1133-1212), the founder of the Pure Land Sect, Jodo Shu, taught the nenbutsu, or chanting the Name of Amitabha Buddha, Namu Amida Butsu, for the salvation of all people in the late Heian period (794-1185). This exhibition commemorates 800 years since the passing of this Buddhist master by presenting his life and teachings through various cultural objects.

   Images from the exhibition can be seen here. Also, on the General Information page there is a list of temples in Kyoto which you can google.