Animated Classics of Japanese LiteratureGenre:
Drama / Mystery / Drama
Availability
: Discontinued and Out of Print - Limited to Stock on Hand
Animated Classics of Japanese Literature Botchan / Student Days Botchan: Parts 1 & 2 by Soseki Natsume - Botchan, a recent graduate, sets out for his first teaching assignment… never anticipating what awaits him. He must contend with students who spy on him and pull nasty stunts and with a landlord who constantly tries to sell him worthless antiques. While on a fishing trip to boost his spirits, Botchan suspects Hotta, his one friend in the village, as the cause of all of his misery. But this is just beginning of his problems… During a meeting to discuss the students’ disrespectful behavior towards Botchan, the proposed punishment is surprisingly mild despite the severity of the acts. Yet, Botchan’s suspected adversary defends him! Were the other faculty members lying about Hotta? Botchan may soon discover the truth, for when evidence of the dean’s activities surface, Botchan and Hotta must team up to corner the dean in his own scandalous game! Student Days by Kume Masao - It's exam time and Kenkichi knows he must study hard if he is to be accepted at the prestigious Ichiko School. On the way home, he encounters Sumiko, a flamboyant young woman who accidentally drops a good luck charm. Retrieving it, he's concerned that the incident might bring her bad luck, but she is only delivering to her aunt's brother. Kenkichi studies hard, but is disturbed by his brother's and friend's lack of resolve to study. Meanwhile, he meets Sumiko again and is surprised to learn that he is the intended recipient of the good luck charm. How will the results of the exam be affected by his superstition? The Harp of Burma / Season of the Sun The Harp of Burma: Parts 1 & 2 by Michio Takeyama - The end of World War II is approaching. A platoon of Japanese soldiers is struggling through the mountains of Burma when notification of the war's end and of Japan's surrender is received. But high up on Triangle Mountain, where the news is greeted with disbelief, the fighting continues. Captain Inoue sends Private Yasuhiko Mizushima to the mountain to persuade the soldiers to stop fighting and dying in vain. Meanwhile, Captain Inoue's troops are moved to a concentration camp at Mudon and await Mizushima's return. While the Inoue Platoon anxiously counts the days until their release, Mizushima's absence weighs heavily on their minds. As time passes, their worst fears are realized when news of Mizushima's death is received. The news is especially difficult to accept when the soldiers recall their encounter with a strange monk during the first days in the concentration camp - a monk who bore a striking resemblance to Mizushima! Near summer's end, word is received that the platoon will be sent home. As the time nears for departure, thought turn to Mizushima. Could he have possibly survived and still be alive? Season of the Sun by Ishihara Shintaro - World War II is over and life is carefree once again. Tatsuya Tsugawa belongs to the university sports club where he and his friends spend time boxing, which makes them very popular with the local women. Never at a loss for dates, Tsugawa has one casual relationship after another until he meets Eiko. They soon fall in love, but he remains indifferent. Will he be able to express his love for her before it's too late? The Izu Dancer / The Dancing Girl / A Ghost Story The Izu Dancer by Kawabata Yasunari - Mizuhara, a student from Tokyo, takes a few days off to travel through the countryside and happens upon a family of strolling players- a troupe of entertainers who perform at small inns. He is quite taken with Kaoru, a young dancing girl who is part of this group. The feeling is mutual but their love is fleeting as Mizuhara must go back to school and Kaoru is just a strolling dancing girl. The Dancing Girl by Mori Ohgai - The Time is the early 1900's; the city is Berlin. Toyotaro Ota has accepted a long term assignment for his government. Well educated and with talents in high demand, he makes a good living… that is, until he meets Elise. Elise, the daughter of a tailor, lives with her recently widowed mother and earns a meager living as a ballet dancer. She has been forced to borrow money from a loan shark to supplement the family's income… that is, until that chance meeting with Toyotaro. Toyotaro and Elise are soon faced with a grave personal conflict that threatens to tear them apart - for Toyotaro must choose between his career and Elise. A Ghost Story by Koizumi Yakumo - Some 800 years ago, a great battle took place between the Genji and Heiki families at a location known as Dan-no-ura. The Heiki family suffered a terrible defeat… Houchi, a lutist, lives at the temple, which is close to the sight of this great battle. His great talent for chanting the old legends gains him notice by many in the community - including the ghosts of the Heiki family. Unwittingly, the blind Houichi soon finds himself performing for the dead. The chief priest fears that something evil is happening to Houichi and devises a plan to make him invisible to the ghosts. But will the plan be executed in time? The Sound Of The Waves / Growing Up The Sound Of The Waves - The Awakening of Spring: In a small fishing village on the island of Utajima, 18-year-old Shinji Kubo works on a tiny fishing boat. Having spent most of his teenage years working as a fisherman, he never completed his schooling. Honest and dedicated, he works hard and prays for the good fortune of the village and his family… and for a good wife some day. Shinji begins to notice Hatsue, the daughter of a wealthy fisherman. The interest is mutual… but it is rumored that Hatsue is destined for an arranged marriage to Yasuo Kawamoto. Shinji, very upset by this news, must find out the truth. Meanwhile, Shinji is the subject of other rumors which evoke a similar response from Hatsue. With misunderstanding abounding, they agree to meet in a private place where Shinji gets an eyeful! The Storm of Summer: With only the darkness of the night to shield them, Shinji and Hatsue face each other across the blazing camp fire. Their encounter threatens to turn intimate when Hatsue confesses that she wants to be his bride. Days later, Yasuo learns of their encounter and assumes the worst. Jealous and feeling betrayed, he tries to take Hatsue by force and then by threat of blackmail. When Hatsue’s father hears of the events, he makes both young men sailors on his fishing vessel and devises a test to determine which man is truly worthy of his daughter. Growing Up (Takekurabe) by Higuchi Ichiyo - Amongst the small street gangs
that inhabit the red light district of Yoshiwara, Shinnyo and Midori were on
good terms, that is, until news spread that Shinnyo had joined a rival gang.
Midori is the sister of an Oiran and is often teased and called a whore by
street rascals. Yet she maintains herself with pride and tries desperately to
retain her individuality. Now unfriendly gang members are making trouble for
Midori and her friends, and she blames Shinnyo, mistakenly believing that he is
behind the trouble. Now faced with the prospect of growing up to be like her
sister, she finds the pain unbearable, but what can she do? |
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