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This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover was limited to 2,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
Named after Yasujiro Ozu’s custom-made, tatami-level, crab-like tripod, Kani is a new home video label dedicated to leveling the gaze and furthering the understanding of Asian cinema in North America. Focused on genre-defying films, Kani aims to expand the canon, bolster up-and-coming filmmakers and reintroduce repertory classics in context. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
Ayumi (Reiko Kataoka) juggles between her work as a call-girl and a life with a boyfriend unable to get into college. Soon, she meets Rei (Sawa Suzuki), a seasoned dominatrix aspiring to become a theatre actor, who spends her free time rehearsing with a troupe that blurring the line between the stage and the bedroom. At the terminus of the Japanese Bubble era, brilliantly evoked here by neon-lit streets and chic interiors, both women bring us into their nocturnal orbit: a life dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure, camaraderie and the joys of hanging out in the thriving, horny districts of Shinjuku and Shibuya.
Marketed in some territories as a sequel to Ryu Murakami’s moody Tokyo Decadence (1992), Banmei Takahashi’s A New Love in Tokyo unfolds as its tonal opposite: less a somber sexploitation film than an unexpectedly sex-positive workplace comedy ripe for rediscovery. Based on a book of essays by Kei Shimamoto that brings the reader into a bustling erotic underworld, the film is also notable for featuring cult photographer Nobuyoshi Araki as one of its key collaborator. A glimpse into a bygone era of Japanese eroticism, A New Love in Tokyo provided pinku, V-cinema and Director’s Company veteran Banmei Takahashi (Door, Door II) with a bridge towards a broader range of human experience and pathos.
directed by: Banmei Takahashi starring: Reiko Kataoka, Sawa Suzuki 1994 / 115 min / 1.85:1 / Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
Interview with director Banmei Takahashi (19 minutes)
"About the Book": Interview with author Kei Shimamoto and magazine editor Akira Suei (6 minutes)
"The Real New Love in Tokyo": Interview with working dominatrix Mikako Fujishiro and actor Kanaka Shiba (17 minutes)
Booklet with new writing by Maari Sugawara, Dakota Noot, and Nikodem Karolak
Newly commissioned art by Joyce Lee
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.84127 / 5 from 63 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
A New Love in Tokyo, a film by Banmei Takahashi, offers a vibrant exploration of Japanese eroticism during the Bubble era. It stands out for its unique blend of workplace comedy and sex positivity, featuring notable collaborations with photographer Nobuyoshi Araki and author Kei Shimamoto. The Blu-ray release includes interviews and a booklet with new writings, providing deeper insights into the film's context and creation.
"An astonishing film and a historic release!" — William M.
"The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture!" — Paul K.
"An honest and surprisingly warm films about sex work and BDSM" — Mitchell C.
Reviews
fantastic!
"i went into this mostly blind and i’m very glad i did! i wasn’t expecting a feel-good, slice-of-life friendship movie, but i’ll more than take that. i love its free spirit feel, sex-positivity, and the chemistry between not only rei and ayumi, but the rest of the cast as well. not to mention, it was shot beautifully (the photographs in between scenes were *mwah* perfect) and the music complimented the visuals so well! as for the physical release itself, the slipcover art was beautiful and i had a great time reading the booklet after the movie. great release, very recommended!"
— gabriel s. (5/5)
Kani with another stellar release
"Great find of a film - for a flick centered on S&M it’s surprisingly heartfelt, a touching coming of age drama. The transfer is great, solid extras, and beautiful artwork. Definitely recommend picking up this package!"
— Matthew L. (4/5)
A Sharp, Warm Tokyo Rediscovery
"A New Love in Tokyo was a really pleasant surprise: funny, intimate, and much more human than the premise might suggest. It captures a specific slice of 90s Tokyo with real style, but what stayed with me most was the warmth between the characters. A smart and very welcome rediscovery from Kani."
— JIN L. (5/5)
A provocative Tokyo underbelly story
"I enjoyed this a lot, even though the story is a little uneven. The film is about two Tokyo sex workers in the underbelly of Tokyo. The Internet movie trivia says that this is one of the first films to show non pixelated nudity. However, there’s less nudity than expected for a film of this nature. There is also some tender and comedic elements to this fillm. It was interesting film to watch. Recommend"
— Alex R. (5/5)
A top tier Kani release
"One of my fave VS sub labels best releases yet. For those who think they’ve exhausted 90s cinema, I asked you to check this out for those who can handle something more extreme. This is a new cult, fa waiting to be discovered. And for those who care about that sort of thing, maybe my favorite slip cover of the year."
— Timothy E. (5/5)
Erotic dominatrix story
"Like the previous month's My Name Ain't Suzie, this is the story of a sex worker. But it couldn't be more different otherwise. While Suzie is fairly chaste in its depictions, this one really leans into the sex and nudity. The really unpleasant stuff is not shown directly, which is appreciated, but it doesn't shy away from any kind of kink. Well shot with great performances. Worth checking out."
— Ed K. (5/5)
Great
"A New Love in Tokyo is a quiet, bittersweet look at loneliness, desire, and people trying to connect in a city that feels both alive and emotionally distant. It has an honest, lived-in quality that makes the drama feel less polished but more human, like you are watching real people stumble through love and disappointment."
— Shane P. (5/5)
One of a Kind Film
"The packaging is amazing with fine attention to detail. The film transfer is impeccable and the film itself jt something you need to see to believe. It's a very unique story, and the cinematography is excellent as well and tells the story in a fascinating way. Grab this release while you can. I'm very lucky to now have this film in my collection."
— Christopher A. (5/5)
Classic SM themed drama from the director of 'Door'.
"Brilliant pinku eiga from the director of 'Door', Banmei Takahashi, exploring a young girl's exploits as a dominatrix and angura actor in early nineties Tokyo, no doom and gloom here very much a sex positive film some funny moments too. Featuring a cameo and photographs by world famous photographer Nobuyoshi Araki. Some great extras too including an interview with director Banmei Takahashi and an interesting interview with two ladies involved in underground angura theatre one of which is also a dominatrix. Highly recommended, nice transfer and slip too."
— Adrian J. (5/5)
Fun Flick!
"The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
— Paul K. (5/5)
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