Akira Ôtaka

Part atmospheric crime film and part philosophical meditation, this film follows a detective who is tracking a series of identical murders, committed under the same bizarre circumstances. (Cowboy Booking International)

A seasoned detective is called in to rescue a politician held hostage by a lunatic. In a brief moment of uncertainty, he misses the chance for action. (imdb)

Nami, a dreamy nurse, is raped, cheated on by her photographer boyfriend, struck by a car and molested by the driver, a pathetic loser who is on the run from businessmen he ripped off. This unlikely duo discover a twisted shade of love.

Takatoshi Minamiyama majors in art at an university in Kyoto. On the train to the school, he sees Emi Fukuju and falls in love with her at first sight. Gathering up all his courage, he speaks to her. They begin to date and enjoy happy days together, but Emi reveals her secret to him. (imdb)

In this hypnotic noir, tough guy Shima and rambunctious Makino develop an unusual bond over their mutual exile, as they separately fled Japan to Taiwan after botching jobs for the mob. The two head to the coast to lay low where they befriend fellow lonely soul Xiao En, but can they escape their criminal past? Wonderfully elusive with a spellbinding flow, the decidedly cool Paradise Next features charismatic performances, sublime cinematography, and an elegiac score by Ryuichi Sakamoto. (imdb)

Not to be confused with the 1995 theatrical film directed by Shûji Kataoka.

After seeing her husband off to work, the young author identified only as Yoshiko sets off to read the large collection of letters she received from other young authors. These are often letters containing samples of their work for critique. One large envelope contains a letter. The letter-writer does not provide his name. The letter is a confession of crimes. The letter-writer has no family or friends, and claims to be "ugly beyond description".