Latest Ginjiro Hatamoto Promo

This is the latest promo image from my latest script Ginjiro Hatamoto. This poster depicts the Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu's escape from Osaka Bay aboard the American Warship USS Iroquois. Finding a decent image of Osaka Bay to make this was a task & a half but it works to convey this scene in the script. As soon as I can get my hands on some funds I will make a dedicated film site for American Mishima / Rosasfilm projects.

Ginjiro Hatamoto Needs a Producer!

This is the first test poster for Gingiro Hatamoto. We are still looking for an executive producer, and a couple line producers to help make this film. We are looking to make this in both English and Japanese with planned subtitles. The planned running time will be 25 minutes and will be done under 25k.

Ginjiro Hatamoto is set in 1867-1868 during the turbulent Boshin War. See our earlier post for a full synopsis. So far, we have a director, production designer, weapons consultant, one script, two actors, two posters, and no money. If you would like to help us get this made, let us know!

Shinkendo Has Moved

Sayonara Galleria! The Shinkendo Honbu Dojo has now officially moved from its old location at 333 Alameda to it's new location in Little Tokyo. The New Honbu Dojo is located upstairs on the second floor at 320 East 2nd Steet.

We are now in the heart of Little Tokyo directly across from the Japanese Village Plaza. Parking will be a little harder to find given that the local meters have raised their hours to 8:00PM and charge up to $2.00 an hour. There are parking lots close by. The new place is smaller so extended hours are in the works. Please check with the Shinkendo Website for any further details or concern at Shinkendo

男たちの大和, Otoko-tachi no Yamato

Ok now that we have covered the kiddie version of Yamato, I felt it neccessary to cover the story of the real Imperial Japanese Battleship Yamato. This is no kids story but sadly it does involve kids. When you grow up here in the United States, they simplify WWII down to a few catch phrases like "Well the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor" etc. The truth is not so simple. And as tragic and devestating as the war was for Japan their stories are still largely unknown to most Americans and sadly even less known among younger Japanese. This is one of those stories that should be told.

Otoko-tachi no Yamato which literally means "The Men of Yamato" is an epic film that depicts the real historical events of the Yamato's final sortie. Set against this historical backdrop is the fictional story of Makiko Uchida (Koyoka Suzuki) who comes to Kure (The Yamato's home port) to seek out a captain who would take her out to the Yamato's last location on the 60th anniversary of her sinking. No captain will help her until it is revealed to the 75 year old Captain Katsumi Kamio (played by  the legendary Tatsuya Nakadai) that she is a daughter of Petty Officer Mamoru Uchida (played by Shido Nakamura) whom which Kamio pressumed went down with the ship. Moved by this knowledge, the Elder Kamio agrees to take Makiko and his 15 year old apprentice sailor Atsushi to the location of the Yamato's last position and to Kamio's painful memories of a youth long lost with the Yamato.

There are some amazing live action sets and brilliant CGI work that bring the beloved warship back to life. For generations, The Yamato has captured the imagination like no other Battleship in history. To this day Yamato still captures the imagination as was demonstrated when the production opened the live action sets to the public in 2005. Over one million visitors walked atop Yamato's recreated decks before the exhibit was closed down in May of 2006. Along with her sister ship The Musashi, she was the largest Battleship ever built in the world. Tragically, in her final days she was crewed mostly by young sea cadets whose average age was 15. Out of her 3000 crew, 2800 were literally children such as Kamio's character. There are some heavy performances in this 2005 epic that are not to be missed. In all my collection of great war films this is by far one of my favorites.

To see a great site of the Yamato set visit
 Yamato Movie-Set

やまと2010? - Space Battleship Yamato?

Oh say it isn't so! It appears they are making a live action version of the animae series Space Battleship Yamato. The slated release date is set for December 2010. The live action Toho Studios feature stars Takuya Kimura and is directed by Takeshi Yamazaki. All this on a 2.2 billion yen budget ($22 million). Ok, I'll admit I liked the original animae back when I was a kid in the 1970's but now that I've grown up this doesn't have the same appeal. None the less this Sci-Fi fan rarely turns down a trainwreck so my curiosity has me going. Now will this just be a kids movie or will they make a real attempt to update the story for the adults who grew up on the original Yamato series aka Starblazers here in the US? All I can speculate is that this CGI heavy fan fest will be interesting. But don't take my word for it. Check out the teaser trailer for yourself!



Official Movie Website

すごいい! View from our Awesome Archives!

Here's Tinahime being fitted for a Kimono.

Japan Expo, Los Angeles じゅにがつ 2007

ティナ-ひめ わ すごいい です!

あらし なか に いきます - Inside the Storm

There is a storm that rages within.

It is a stirring in the soul.

It is felt by all men who hear its call.

It is a timeless call to arms.

It is a summoning to the warrior within.

Rise and seek the power one can only feel.

It is a power drawn from the forging of mind and steel.

It is the drawing of the sword and that of the mind.

It is intellect put forth into action that draws us ever closer.

Closer and yet still, to an inner calm.

It is the eye of the storm.

Listen, and hear it well.

The serenity of the sword cutting though the wind.

It is of no body or mind.

It is of no consequence and yet driven by action.

It is thought put into deed and set to its course.

The blade dispatches the air and cuts through the senses.

No delusions, No feelings.

Only clarity of purpose resides here.

A purpose of sought perfection.

A single act in a moment of time.

It is a procession as one enters the training hall.

Be it the acclimation to armor to the donning of a mask.

A stated intention wrapped atop one's brow.

And yet calm as we seek the emptiness in seiza.

It returns us to an earlier time.

A time where honor was worth its weight in gold.

And yet there you are with your hands swept forward.

A Kamae readied stance following a respectful bow.

The outside world can no longer exist.

For the motion begins and takes forth.

Thoughts convert into focus.

Like Musashi in the Book of Void.

The Budo spirit merges with storm and seeks the calm.

Mind does not matter.

There lies the speed of ones breath.

It governs the grip made true.

Focus and summon the courage to fight as one struggles to train.

There is a power which is drawn here.

The swift of a staff, the throw made forth.

Mind and body fears no more.

Be it Sempai or the enemy at hand.

Fear must be conquered by courage.

It is not the sole domain of the strong.

It can preside in all who have heart.

And with heart one continues on.

Exhaustion or moments of doubt are the only enemies here.

Train to fight and fight with heart.

It is heart that forms ones convictions.

It is one's conviction that calms the storm.

It matters not that one does not conquers all.

What matters is that one returns to live and train.

To train and fight on that is courage over self doubt and defeat.

It is to be one with that Budo spirit that brings us back.

There is no abyss that can make us forget Who we are within.

The sword has become an extension of the self.

It is beyond ego and archaic symbolism.

It is an understanding that is clear before all who hear its call.

To train is to fight to forge the soul, body and mind.

To become perfectly clear distinguishing all right from wrong.

It is here that I am Samurai.

-Rosas2010