Katsukichi - The Newsletter of the Friends of Silent Film Association - No. 132 is issued!! The Newsletter of the Friends of Silent Film Association Katsukichi Issue No. 132 has been released. The lead story is an article by Ms. Nagasawa Aya of the Film Department of the Japan Society New York entitled "Dawn of Japanese Animation: a screening with katsuben by Ms. Sawato Midori in New York." The essay by Sawato Midori is also entitled as "My performance in New York". The screening in New York is the special topic of this issue. The popular series "Lost Cinematic Masterpieces" takes up Bunmei no Fukushu starring Tsukigata Ryunosuke (directed by Kanamori Bansho). Tamura Akiko's "New York Cinema News" reports the "Jonas Mekas's Anthology Film Archive." The relay essay "Up-and-coming Benshi Diary," is written by Sakamoto Raiko. This issue also contains the katsuben novel "Ukiyoguruma," and information on film screenings etc. Katsukichi is issued quarterly (January, April, July and October) and is printed in monochrome on 8 pages of B5 size paper. Price per issue is 100 yen plus 80 yen for postage. (It is folded in three for mailing.) To subscribe to Katsukichi, please send 180 yen worth of stamps with a note that says "Subscription to Katsukichi Issue No. 132" to the address below. * For those living outside of Japan, please send two international reply stamps. Address: Matsuda Film Productions 3-18-4 Towa, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 120-0003 Tel. 03-3605-9981 Email: katuben@attglobal.net This year's screening in Shibata-shi, Niigata will be held on April 25 (Sat.) from 7:00 p.m. with live band music! The date of screening of silent films held annually from 2005 in Shibata-shi, Niigata has been decided on April 25 (Fri.). This time, Colored Monotone will perform in Shibata City for the first time so it will be a screening with live band music. Please refer to "Upcoming Screenings" below for more details. The Talking Silents DVD series selling strong! The long-awaited third release in the Talking Silents series featuring Kurama Tengu (starring Arashi Kanjuro) is scheduled for late April. The fourth release teaturing two Ichikawa Utaemon masterpieces will come in late June. Please refer to the list below for details of previously released products: the first two DVDs featuring films directed by Mizoguchi Kenji and the next two DVDs featuring films starring Bando Tsumasaburo. - Talking Silents 1 Taki no Shiraito (The Water Magician) and Tokyo Koshinkyoku (Tokyo March), directed by Mizoguchi Kenji * Taki no Shiraito (The Water Magician) has an option to select between the narration by Matsuda Shunsui and Sawato Midori * Tokyo Koshinkyoku (Tokyo March) features benshi narration by Sawato Midori - Talking Silents 2 Orizuru Osen (The Downfall of Osen) and Tojin Okichi (a PR fragment), directed by Kenji Mizoguchi * Orizuru Osen (The Downfall of Osen) has an option to select between the original sound (by benshi Matsui Suisei) and Sawato Midori's narration - Talking Silents 3 Orochi (Serpent) and Gyakuryu (Backward Flow), featuring Tsumasaburo Bando * Orochi (Serpent) has an option to select between the narrations by Matsuda Shunsui and Sawato Midori * Gyakuryu (Backward Flow) features benshi narration by Sawato Midori - Talking Silents 4 Koina no Ginpei, Yuki no Wataridori (Koina no Ginpei, Migratory Snow Bird), and Kosuzume Toge (Kosuzume Pass), featuring Tsumasaburo Bando * Koina no Ginpei, Yuki no Wataridori (Koina no Ginpei, Migratory Snow Bird) has an option to select between narrations by Matsuda Shunsui and Sawato Midori * Kosuzume Toge (Kosuzume Pass) features benshi narration by Sawato Midori * The second DVD set in the Talking Silents series features films starring Bando Tsumasaburo. It will be released in late November. All films were digitally re-mastered. Price: 5220 yen (including tax) / 4980 yen (excluding tax 249 yen) Postage: 200 yen (free when two or more DVDs) 《Talking Silents Special Features》 * Digital reproduction of the unique Japanese screening format from the silent films age, including orchestral musical accompaniment and Benshi narration * Bonus features including commentaries by the renowned film critic Tadao Sato and a word by the Benshi, Ms. Midori Sawato * Subtitles in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese for the hearing impaired Inquiries and applications: Matsuda Film Productions Tel. 03-3605-9981 E-mail: katuben@attglbal.net KATSUKICHI E-mail Magazine Now Issued! Digital Meme, an affiliate company of Matsuda Film Productions, has launched an e-newsletter entitled "KATSUKICHI E-mail Magazine," where information on silent film screenings, new products and more will be shared. Please send your name and e-mail address here for subscription. Sawato Midori's narration of the Kinema Junpo Top Ten will be released on ListenBook, a web site specialized in audio books The audio book distribution site ListenBook managed by PIXELA CORPORATION will start distributing the Kinema Junpo Top Ten with narration of Sawato Midori. She introduces the annually awarded top ten films in a way of radio drama. The narration for the top ten foreign films in 1926, 1940, and 2006 is already recorded. The price of each audio file is 157 yen. http://mc.listenbook.jp/pc/ Upcoming Screenings Friends of Silent Film Association 597th Screening "Nonsense movies from Daito Eiga" April 23 (Fri.) from 6:30 p.m. Featured Film: Toroyame Nikki 68min. 1938, Daito Eiga Directed by: Wada Toshizo Starring: Tachibana Kikkuko, Ooka Kaido, Yamabuki Tokujiro Soutou Ashuragai (Fighting in Ashura Town) 36min. 1938, Daito Film Directed by: Yashiro Takeshi Starring: Hayafusa Hideto, Okawa Momoyo, Ooka Kaido Ninjutsu Senichiya 18min. 1939, Daito Eiga (silent reduced edition) Directed by: Ootomo Ryuzo Starring: Konoe Jushiro, Mizukawa Yaeko, Kumoi Saburo Benshi: Sawato Midori (Toroyame Nikki), Saito Yuko (Soutou Ashuragai and Ninjutsu Senichiya) Place: Monnaka Tenjo Hall Tel. 03-3641-8275 http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/〜monten/ (A three-minute walk from Monzennakacho Station (Exit 3) on the Tozai Subway Line, or a one-minute walk from Monzennakacho Station (Exit 6) on the Oedo Subway Line.) Admission: General: 1,800 yen Student: 1,600 yen Advance ticket and telephone/e-mail reservation: 1,500 yen Children (junior high school and younger): 1,000 yen FSFA members: 1,000 yen Telephone and e-mail reservations will be accepted until 6 p.m. on the day prior to the screening. (However, we will stop taking reservations once a certain number of seats have been reserved.) Inquiries and reservations: FSFA Office Tel. 03-3605-9981 (Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekdays) Fax 03-3605-9982 E-mail: katuben@attglobal.net *When making reservations by e-mail, please include details such as advanced ticket reservation for the Friends of Silent Film Association Screening on XX (month and date), number of tickets and the name of the representative. We will send Reservation Confirmation message to those who have made e-mail reservations. Friends of Silent Film Association 598th Screening "Period films starring Bando Tsumasaburo, Arashi Kanjuro, and Kataoka Chiezo!" May 26 (Mon.) from 6:30 p.m. Featured Film: Otokodate-bayari 1931 Directed by: Inagaki Hiroshi Starring: Kataoka Chiezo, Kaieda Joji, Kinugasa Junko Ranto no chimata 1926 Directed by: Yasuda Norikuni Starring: Bando Tsumasaburo, Mori Shizuko, Nakamura Kichimatsu The Best of Arashi Kanjuro 36min., 1983 Edited by Matsuda Film Productions * Talking film with Matsuda Shunsui's katsuben narration   Benshi: Sawato Midori (Otokodate-bayari), Kataoka Ichiro (Ranto no chimata ) Place: Monnaka Tenjo Hall Tel. 03-3641-8275 http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/〜monten/ (A three-minute walk from Monzennakacho Station (Exit 3) on the Tozai Subway Line, or a one-minute walk from Monzennakacho Station (Exit 6) on the Oedo Subway Line.) Admission: General: 1,800 yen Student: 1,600 yen Advance ticket and telephone/e-mail reservation: 1,500 yen Children (junior high school and younger): 1,000 yen FSFA members: 1,000 yen Telephone and e-mail reservations will be accepted until 6 p.m. on the day prior to the screening. (However, we will stop taking reservations once a certain number of seats have been reserved.) Inquiries and reservations: FSFA Office Tel. 03-3605-9981 (Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekdays) Fax 03-3605-9982 E-mail: katuben@attglobal.net *When making reservations by e-mail, please include details such as advanced ticket reservation for the Friends of Silent Film Association Screening on XX (month and date), number of tickets and the name of the representative. We will send Reservation Confirmation message to those who have made e-mail reservations. Friends of Silent Film Association 599th Screening "Masterpieces of the world motion picture history - US films-" June 26 (Thu.) from 6:30 p.m. Featured Film: Sunrise 1927, US Directed by: F.W. Murnau Starring: George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor Cruel, Cruel love 1914, US Directed by: George Nichols Starring: Charles Chaplin The Pawnshop 1916, US Directed and starring: Charles Chaplin Benshi: Sawato Midori (Sunrise), Sakurai Mami (Cruel, Cruel love and The Pawnshop) Place: Monnaka Tenjo Hall Tel. 03-3641-8275 http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/〜monten/ (A three-minute walk from Monzennakacho Station (Exit 3) on the Tozai Subway Line, or a one-minute walk from Monzennakacho Station (Exit 6) on the Oedo Subway Line.) Admission: General: 1,800 yen Student: 1,600 yen Advance ticket and telephone/e-mail reservation: 1,500 yen Children (junior high school and younger): 1,000 yen FSFA members: 1,000 yen Telephone and e-mail reservations will be accepted until 6 p.m. on the day prior to the screening. (However, we will stop taking reservations once a certain number of seats have been reserved.) Inquiries and reservations: FSFA Office Tel. 03-3605-9981 (Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekdays) Fax 03-3605-9982 E-mail: katuben@attglobal.net *When making reservations by e-mail, please include details such as advanced ticket reservation for the Friends of Silent Film Association Screening on XX (month and date), number of tickets and the name of the representative. We will send Reservation Confirmation message to those who have made e-mail reservations. A 600th commemorative screening is planned in July. Details will be available soon. The Friends of Silent Film Association screenings after August 2008 are planned to be held on August 25 (Mon.), September 29 (Mon.), October 30 (Thu), and November 26 (Wed.) at Monnaka Tenjo Hall from 6:30 p.m. The screening on December 29 (Mon.) is planned to be held at the KINOKUNIYA-HALL. The date and time are subject to change. Other Screenings Event name: Katuben in Gakushikaiza 18 April (Fri) from 6:30 p.m. Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Kriemhilde Rache (Kriemhilde's Revenge) 93min. 1924, Germany Directed by: Fritz Lang Starring: Margareta Schoen, Theodore Loos Benshi: Sawato Midori Music: Niigaki Takashi (Piano) * Sawato Midori will give a talk about cinema. Place: Room 320 (3F) of Gakushikaikan (A thirty-second walk from Exit A9 of Jinbocho Subway Station.) Admission: General: 2,500 yen (advanced reservation and members of the Friends of Silent Film Association) General: 3,000 yen (at the door) Students: 2,000 yen (advanced reservation), 2,500 yen (at the door) * A glass of wine will be served at every screening. Inquiries and applications: Gakushikaikan Member Service Department (Gakushikaikan Kaiin Sabisuka) Tel. 03-3292-5933 http://www.gakushikai.or.jp Event name: KATSUBEN LIVE April 25 (Fri.) from 7 p.m. Shibata-shi, Niigata Orochi 1925 Directed by: Futagawa Buntaro Starring: Bando Tsumasaburo, Mori Shizuko Norakuro Gocho (Corporal Norakuro) 11min. 1934 Original story: Tagawa Suiho The Vagabond 1916, U.S.A. Director and Starring: Charles Chaplin Benshi: Sawato Midori Music: Colored Monotone Place: Shibata Shimin Bunka Kaikan (Shibata Citizens Culture Center) http://www.city.shibata.niigata.jp/view.rbz?nd=272&of=1&ik=1&pnp= 37&pnp=88&pnp=272&cd=1065 Admission: 2,500 yen (all seats are non-reserved) Tickets will be on sale from March 26 Inquiries: Shimogoe Ongaku Kansho Kyokai - KOKK (Shimogoe Music Association) Tel: 0254-22-1404 http://www.h-kokk.com/kaetsu/index.html Event name: Silent film screening with Katuben for children and parents - We watch movies with Katuben! Part 3 June 1 (Sun.) from 2 p.m. Mitaka-shi, Tokyo Dotabata Satsueijo Details are unknown, a slapstick comedy Le Voyage Dans La Lune (From the Earth to the Moon) 1902 Directed and Starring: Georges Melies Sherlock Jr. 1924, U.S.A. Directed an Starring: Buster Keaton Co-starring: Kathryn McGuire Benshi: Sawato Midori Place: Star Hall, Mitaka City Arts Center (take a fifteen-minute walk from the JR Mitaka Station, or catch a bus from Terminal 5 or 6 at the South Exit to Hachiman-mae Geijutsu Bunka Center stop, or from Terminal 7 to Hachiman-mae stop and one minute walk.) Admisson:(reservation required) General: 1,000 yen Elementary school students: 500 yen Tickets will be on sale from April 25 (Fri.) Inquiries: Mitaka City Arts Center Tel: 0422-47-5122 http://mitaka.jpn.org/ Event name: Katsuben in Gakushikaiza June 19 (Thu.) from 6:30 p.m. Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo The Mark of Zorro 1920, US Directed by: Fred Niblo Starring: Douglas Fairbanks, Noah Beery Benshi: Sawato Midori Music: Yanashita Mie (piano) * Sawato Midori will give a talk about cinema. Place: Room 320 (3F) of Gakushikaikan (A thirty-second walk from Exit A9 of Jinbocho Subway Station.) Admission: General: 2,500 yen (advanced reservation and members of the Friends of Silent Film Association) General: 3,000 yen (at the door) Students: 2,000 yen (advanced reservation), 2,500 yen (at the door) * A glass of wine will be served at every screening. Inquiries and applications: Gakushikaikan Member Service Department (Gakushikaikan Kaiin Sabisuka) Tel. 03-3292-5933 http://www.gakushikai.or.jp Katsukichi Quiz for April Okawa Momoyo the actress performing in Soutou Ashuragai is half sister of Kotoji Mitsuko. Which of the following actress is the sister of Tachibaya Kikuko, who is performing in Toroyame Nikki? A. Oyama Debuko B. Mizukawa Yaeko C. Kinoshita Futaba How to enter: Send your answer to the quiz for April, along with your name and address, by e-mail to katuben@attglobal.net by 10 May 2008. Prizes will be given to 10 people randomly selected from among those who have submitted correct answers. CAREFUL! -We have been receiving an increasing number of answers without addresses and/or names. Remember, your answer will not be accepted unless you also clearly submit your name and address. Answer to February's Quiz C. Riku no Ouja February's quiz asked for film won the 2nd Place of Best 10 Movies of the Year by Kinema-Junpo in 1928 following Ronin Gai (Street of Masterless Samurai) - Part I out of three alternatives. Winners will receive the prize by mail. Classic Film News Table of contents of the Latest Issue No. 597 (Published in April 2008) P2. Katsukichi Quiz P3. Nonsense movies from Daito Eiga P4. Soutou Ashuragai : Staff, Cast, Commentary, Summary P6. Ninjutsu Senichiya : Staff, Cast, Commentary, Summary P8. Toroyame Nikki : Staff, Cast, Commentary, Summary P11. Katsudoya Retsuden - Hayafusa Hideto P12. Fun with Films by Sawato Midori - "Katsuben Tale (40) P13. Classic Film Scrapbook: "Kinema Junpo" 11 April 1925 issue - Shunsho Manwa Part 11 - Omoide-banashi: Kawaji Koju P14. Member News P15. Obituaries, Prize winners of the February Katsukichi Quiz Price: 150 yen Postal fee: 80yen Details: A6 size/ 16 pages/ two color printing (issued on the 1st of each month) To place an order, please e-mail to: katuben@attglobal.net * Please send purchase orders for Classic Film News, Issue No. 597 by e-mail including information such as quantity, address, name, and phone number. An e-mail with details on the purchase order, total price and approximate number of days until delivery will be sent to you, so please review the details and reply to the e-mail for confirmation. * If you live overseas, please include two international reply stamps per copy.