The screening of TENGU in Kyoto was featured in a scoop on KBS TV and aired on June 9 (in Japanese).
Short documentary about a Sword Drawing Ceremony at Daizenji Temple in Shinshiro (Japan) to commemorate the fallen in the Battle of Nagashino (1575). Iai by Naohiko Hayakawa. Sword and armour are original items from the Kamakura and Muromachi period. The sword (tachi) is more than 700 years old. The ceremony took place on May 23, 2009 in Shinshiro (Aichi Prefecture). Filmed and edited by Roger Walch.
Roger Walch speaks about his new movie “Tengu” (in Japanese)
Written and directed by Roger Walch
Starring: Ted Taylor, Mimori Sento (Firefly Dreams), Sakiko Ikegami, Kan Mikami (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Tokyo Decadence)
Music: Kan Mikami (Guitar/Vocals), Takatora Kawamoto (Shamisen), Silvain Kyokusai Guignard (Biwa), Shino Nagasaka/Kumiko Itoyama (Double Bass), Taro Matsumoto (Shakuhachi), Roger Walch (piano)
- December 26, 2009 (Sat): Screening of Tengu at Tengeki Cinematron in Osaka. There will be two shows, The early show starts at 4 pm and the late show starts at 8 pm. Access to Tengeki Cinematron: Take the subway (Tanimachi line) and get off at Nakazaki-cho. Take Exit 4, walk 1 block North and then turn right. The movie-theatre is opposite the school.
Two documentaries and a short feature film are in the pipeline for 2010:
On the Road with Mikami Kan - a concert and road movie with and about well-known singer/songwriter/actor Kan Mikami.
Japan’s Last Samurais - a documentary about contemporary Japanese swordsmen. What does it mean to be a samurai in the 21st century? Do the Samurai spirit and the soul of the Samurai sword still fit into modern day Japan? A film about lost values and the struggle of traditional sword schools to find worthy successors.
Children of Water - a short film. After one year in an ESL-course in the US a Japanese graphic designer returns to Japan and discovers that she is pregnant. She contemplates abortion, but her American boyfriend strongly opposes and flies to Japan to convince her to keep the baby. During his stay he not only gets to know life and customs in Japan but also different moral and religious values.
