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★Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl is screening in London and New York  The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Gril is to be screening as Bumpkin Soup,its original English title,both in London and New York. The BFI's screening is to start at 18:10 on Tuesday, April 9.(click here for its further information) The Japan Society's screening is to start at 19:00 on Saturday, April 20.(click here for its further information) 　 This film has seldom been seen at theaters in foreign contries since it was first released in Japan,1985.Celebratory occasions to Londoners and New Yorkers! I wrote a tribute article in English for this film long ago. If you're interested in what Kiyoshi Kurosawa talked about Yoriko Douguchi in the film, please read the article. Also, I hope you'll read her biography in English to know her well. (Mar. 23, 2024)

★Yoriko Douguchi (Doguchi)'s profile @ SHOGUN official web site Since its first two episodes were premiered on Feburary 27,FX's SHOGUN has become a massive hit over the world. This SHOGUN(2024) has a more poignant and serious texture than its 1980 version,though I enjoyed the previous one. The 1980 one was good, but this 2024 one is fully updated in depicting some cruel sides of the feudal time of Japan.      Besides, I guess Mariko and Fuji,two female characters of SHOGUN(2024), may remind some world-wide viewers of Rei Ayanami, a heroine of Evangelion, especially for their(Mariko's & Fuji's) emotionless facial expression and hidden strength. Anyways,this web page you're reading is a part of Yoriko Douguchi Fan Website. In SHOGUN, Douguchi acts the role of Lady Kiri,Toranaga's lawful wife. Today,I put a brief and good introduction to Yoriko Douguchi from SHOGUN's official site (here). Born in Tokyo, Yoriko Doguchi worked as a model for the famous Japanese photographer Kishin Shinoyama directly after high school. Soon after, she starred in director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's film The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl (1985). Doguchi has appeared in internationally known films, including Juzo Itami's Tampopo (1985) and Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure (1997). Additional film credits include Tomoo Haraguchi's Mikadoroid (1991), Shion Sono's The Room (1992) and Martin Scorsese's Silence (2016). She has also appeared in many independent films and welcomes the opportunity to work with young film directors, helping to influence and be a part of their filmmaking. In 2009, to celebrate 25 years of her film career, the Yoriko Doguchi Film Festival was held in Tokyo, where 12 films from her filmography were shown for two weeks. In addition to acting, Doguchi plays the ukulele and occasionally sings in the band Paititi, which released two CDs. She writes articles and movie reviews for magazines, and in 2007, after her battle against uterine cancer, she wrote the book Shikyu Kaigi (The Womb Conference). Doguchi loves films, writing, cats and the sea. Her hobbies are swimming, collecting vinyl records and watching cats and curious things on the streets. She is learning a lot about Okinawa and is greatly interested in the history of Japanese immigrants around the world. To prepare for the role of “Kiri,” Doguchi visited William Adams's grave in Yokosuka and went to Ito, thinking about Japan in the 17th century when Adams lived. It fueled the spark of her imagination and creativity.        (March 20 2024)

★Lady Kiri @ SHOGUN Shogun, an American TV drama series, is to be released on Feb.27,on Hulu (U.S.) or Disney+. Yoriko Douguchi is in this drama as the role of Lady Kiri.  Douguchi's first filming in her career was The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl,directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Although the movie was released in 1985, it was actually produced on May,1984. So, this year is Douguchi's 40th anniversary of her acting career.  Her filmography includes a bunch of movies and dramas, and she has acted many kinds of roles varying from an oyster-diver girl in Tampopo to a personificated cat in Geijutsuka no shokutaku (An Artist's Dining Table).  She was also in many Japanese historical dramas and I always enjoyed watching her acting in kimono dress. Shogun is the first time for her to act a person of high rank in a historical drama. I mean "in 40 years". This is a reason that I'm looking forward watching Shogun!         (Feb 11, 2024)

★Hulu? Disney+? ... a month left to ＳＨＯＧＵＮ Shogun , in wchich  Yoriko Douguchi appears as the role of Lady Kiri, is to set to premire  on FX, Hulu or Disney+ on Feb 27. This drama is based on a novel by James  Clavell, and its precedent TV drama  series  was a hit in 1980. Reportedly, the plot of the newly produced Shogun has the same historical  settings as the 1980 version. Still, if you are not familiar with the history of Japan, there might be some things you need to prepare for. However, all you need to know before watching Shogun is simply one thing. It was the biggest period of civil war in Japan and  two poweful forces were fueding with each other to become the national ruler.  Shogun's story begins when an English saior was drifted ashore on the east coast of then-Japan. Lady Kiri, Douguchi's role, is  the legal wife of Toranaga Yoshii, the leader of the winning force. So, I suppose she'll appear mainly in Toranaga Yoshii's castle. I watched a couple of the new Shogun's trailers and found it different from its 1980 version. Everything seems to be updated and darker and stronger. Though I enjoyed the old one, I'm expecting the new one to be better as a historical drama in the 2020s.  (Jan. 24, 2024)

★ ＳＨＯＧＵＮ is coming to HULU or Disney+ on Feb.27, 2024 Shogun, an American TV drama series, will premiere on Feb.27, on Hulu (U.S.) or Disney+. Yoriko Doguchi is in this drama as the role of Lady Kiri.  Its premiere date was delayed, but now it's settled. I'm looking forward to watching Doguchi in this global event series.   For the filming of Shogun, Yoriko Doguchi stayed in Vancouber for a year. It was her first visit to Canada and her first living abroad. She enjoyed living in Canada and became a big fan of British Columbia. Yoriko Doguchi loves B.C.! Wouldn't it be great if her movies like Tampopo, The Taxing Woman's Return, CURE, Charisma, License To Live and The Excitement of The Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl were screened at some film festival in Vancouver? I dream of it......   (Dec. 3, 2023)

★ ＳＨＯＧＵＮ Yoriko Doguchi is cast in the role of Lady Kiri of the FX's SHOGUN TV series. James Clavell's novel SHOGUN was made into a TV miniseries (NBC), and achieved a successful weekly Nielsen ratings in 1980. The story of SHOGUN is based on the experience of an English navigator named William Adams, who arrived in 17th century Japan after a difficult voyage and became an advisor to the shogunate.  This upcoming SHOGUN is executive produced by Marks, Michaela Clavell, Michael de Luca and Ed McDonnell. Jonathan van Tulleken (Reprisal) directs the first two episodes og the whole series. Cosmo Jarvis strars as the English samurai. Hiroyuki Sanada is the role of Yoshii, which was acted by Toshiro Mifune in 1980, and Anna Sawai joins is the role of Mariko, which was by Yoko Shimada back then. Yoriko Doguchi is cast in the role of Lady Kiri, a concubine of Yoshii. This role is based on the real person Acha-no-Tsubone, who is known as a very smart and strong lady. The new SHOGUN is shooting in Vancouver now.  For further information, see this HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's page   .   (Oct. 3, 2021)

★ Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure Blu-ray released in UK Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure (1997), a true masterpice of psychological horror, was finally released as home video (blu-ray) for the first time in UK on April 23. ・Limited Edition O-Card (First print run only) ・1080p presentation of the film on Blu-ray, with a progressive encode on the DVD ・Original Japanese Stereo audio (Uncompressed LPCM on the Blu-ray) ・Optional English subtitles ・Kiyoshi Kurosawa on Cure (17 mins) - a new video interview with director Kiyoshi Kurosawa ・A new video interview with critic & author Kim Newman ・An archival interview with director Kiyoshi Kurosawa ・Original theatrical trailer ・A 24-PAGE booklet featuring an essay by Asian cinema expert Tom Mes Visit Eureka Entertainment web site  for this blu-ray's details. In this film, Yoriko Douguchi acts the role of Dr.Miyajima, who sees a mysterious man called Mamiya and is hypnotized by him to commit a murder. In Cure, Yoriko Douguchi's somnambulistic sense of acting expresses the lapse of identity, and even brings a nightmarish vision into the whole body of this film. You can read Yoriko Douguchi Biography in English HERE. (May 6, 2018)

★ Tampopo's Atlantic Crossing In May, Juzo Itami's delightful "ramen western" Tampopo is screening in Washinton D.C. and London. <Washington DC>  2pm, May 2, 2018: The Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer auditorium of The Smithsonian Museums (website here ) <London>  6pm, May 16, 2018:The Prince Charles Cinema (website here) IYoriko Douguchi acts the role of  the "oyster-fishing girl", at her age of 20, in the sequence which is often acclaimed as the best episode of this film. (Apr.29, 2018)

★ Silence on DVD/Blu-ray! Martin Scorsese's Silence will make its homeentertainment debut on DVD/ Blu-ray on  March 28. Its Blu-ray combo pack includes a documentary "Martin Scorsese's Journey Into Silence." Visit The official homepage of Silence (http://www.silencemovie.com/). (Mar.15, 2017)

★ What does Kichijiro's mother say while she is burnt alive? Yoriko Douguchi wrote an article "Watashi no chinmoku" (My "Silence") for her web-column "Nora neko mangekyou"(Stray Cat's Kaleidoscope) of the 47 News web site.(HERE, in Japanese) In this 3 chaptered column, Douguchi describes how it was going when she was acting the role of Kichijiro's mother in Scorsese's Silence. From the very beginning of " Lisbon" (kind of "code name" of Silence when it was secretly prepared ) project to the actual film-shootings in which Douguchi appeared, she vividly depicts the tense atmospehere of Silence's production. On episode is that Douguchi tried an ad-lib while Kichijiro's mother (Douguchi) was burnt alive due to her denial of apostasy in Christianity. During the rehearsal for that  scene, Douguchi recited "Eli Eli lama sabachthani?" ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", in Aramaic), which she quotated from Shusaku Endo's novel Silence. Scorsese's interpreter ran to her and asked, "What were you speaking? The director wants to know". Douguchi explained and said, " If he wouldn't like it, I won't say these words."  The interpreter ran back to Scorsese, and after a while, came back again  to Douguchi, saying "He said OK. "  "Really?"  "Yes! He said... Feel free to do that! " By the way, there's a podcast "Thelma Schoonmaker: From “Raging Bull” to “Silence”", an interview with Scorsese's long time co-working film editor(of course, in Silence, as well). In this interview, Schoonmaker talks about Scorsese's editing technique with examples from Good Fellas, Silence and Raising Bull. The topic chosen rom Silence is a scene  in which Yoriko Douguchi appears. Schoonmaker says that, iIn this scene, Scorsese uses a muting effect as good as the most crucial fighting scene of Raising Bull. (Feb. 15, 2017)

★ Original Soundtrack  "Silence" Martin Scorsese's Silence should be acclaimed for its original soundtrack composed by Kathryn & Kim Allen Kluge featuring Francesco Lupica. It is breathtaking to listen to this soudtrack, a musical achievement that interweaves the nature sounds, like cicada, rain, ocean, with the solemn reverb of  atomospheric droning tones. Here is an interesting article from Indie Wire about Silence soundtrack.  “We worked off the book because the film was in a rough cut and we felt the music should grow as the mist and the rocks and the ocean and the wind and the rain,” added Kathryn, who didn’t see the movie until it was completed. “He uses them as leitmotifs throughout the book so Kim and I read them as perhaps the voice of God speaking through nature to Rodrigues [the Portuguese Jesuit priest played by Andrew Garfield]. But he couldn’t hear it. ” (Indie Wire, Dec.16, 2016) Silence soundtrack is available on iTunes.  (Feb. 3, 2017)

★ Tampopo (dandelion) Blu-ming-ray in the States! The Blu-ray version of Tampopo in its 4K restored edition is going to be released on April 25 in the States. According  to the Criterion Collction web site, it features ; The Making of “Tampopo,” a ninety-minute documentary from 1986, narrated by director Juzo Itami New interview with actor Nobuko Miyamoto New interviews with ramen scholar Hiroshi Osaki; food stylist Seiko Ogawa; and American chefs Sam White, Rayneil De Guzman, Jerry Jaksich, and others Rubber Band Pistol, Itami’s 1962 debut short film New video essay by Tony Zhou and Taylor Ramos on the film’s themes of self-improvement and mastery of a craft Trailer New English subtitle translation An essay by food and culture writer Willy Blackmore. Why don't you  see Yoriko Douguchi as oyster diver in 4K quality!   (Jan. 25, 2017)

★ Tampopo (dandelion) spreads again! Juzo Itami's 'culinary' movie Tampopo (1985) was re-relaesed in its newly-4K-restored version in the States last October, and in Tokyo last Friday. Recently, the newest version is showing in many cities of the world, such as Paris, Berkley, Seattle, Vancouver, Palm Springs and Bergen. Tampopo, a tale of two truck drivers who help the widow of a noodle shop owner to develop the perfect recipe for ramen, features an unforgettable episode about an oyster and a sea-diver girl, which Yoriko Douguchi acted at her age of 20. Tampopo is to be screened at:Forum des Images on January 17.http://www.forumdesimages.fr/les-programmes/manger/tampopo_1                              The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (Berkley) on Jan.20,21 and 27 http://www.bampfa.org/event/tampopo-0                              Seattle International Film Festival  Jan.20-22 http://www.siff.net/cinema/tampopo                              The Cinematheque (Vancouver) Jan.26-Feb.2 http://www.thecinematheque.ca/tampopo ★ Scorsese's Interview on TV Martin Scorsese talked about his Silence for ABC program. He briefly talked of his struggle between faith and doubt while directing the movie. The 3 minutes' interview can be watched at here. (Jan 14 2017)

★ Scorsese's "Silence" coming very soon! Martin Scorsese's Silence will start screening in the States on January 13, and in Japan on January 21, 2017. Yoriko Douguchi appears in this film, Scorsese's passion project. Adapted from a monumental novel Chinmoku (silence) by Shuusaku Endou, this film is a story about two Catholic missionaries visiting Japan in 17th century, to look for thier dissapearing Father Ferreira. In Japan, it was the time of persecution of Christians by the Tokugawa shogunate. Scorsese's Silence has already been acclaimed by critics; "Can one’s belief ever be conveyed to another, or is it only ever between them and the gods they worship? Scorsese has been etching his beliefs onto celluloid for almost 50 years, and their meanings remain as evanescent, as mysterious, as ever. Silence is not a film to be solved, or resolved, but pondered. It’s not a parable. It’s a koan. ”  (BBC.com) Here's an interesting podcast, an interview with Scorsese. (Martin Scorsese & Alexander Payne Talk ‘Silence’ In New 33-Minute Podcast ) Silence official homepage is here. (Jan 8 2017)

★ Martin Scorsese's "Silence" Yoriko Douguchi will appear in Martin Scorses's upcoming Film "Silence." It is based on an acclaimed novel by Shusaku Endo, a story of a Jesuit missionary who is sent to Japan in 17th century, when Christianity was inhumanely oppressed. The detail of Yoriko Douguchi's role is yet unknown except that she went to Taiwan  for its film-shooting. "Silence" is sceduled to show in 2016. (June13 2015)

★ Fly Dakota Fly in Canada Fly Dakota Fly is showing at Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto on January 29, 2015. http://jccc.on.ca/event/january-movie-fly-dakota-fly-2/ After screening at Montreal World Film Festival 2014, this event is going to be a good occasion to watch Fly Dakota Fly. In 1946. A British military plane carrying diplomats makes a crash landing on the beach in a small village on a remote Japanese island. The pilots need help but the locals were enemies just half a year ago. Yoriko Douguchi acts Toshie, who waits for her only son to come back from the war. Undoubtedly, this is one of the finest performance of Douguchi's career! (Dec.8 2014)

★ Fly! Dakota FLY! @ Montreal World Film Festival2014 MWFF2014(Montreal World Film Festival 2014) starts from August 21 to September 1.  Among the participants, there is Fly! Dakota Fly! which enters the Focus On World Cinema section. In this true-story-based film, Yoriko Douguchi acts a mother who lost her only son in WW�U. Unmistakably, this is her finest acting in the past several years. PLEASE DO NOT MISS IT. This is Yoriko Douguchi today. Fly, Dakota, Fly! (飛べ! ダコタ / Tobe! Dakota): Japan, 2014, 109 min; Dir.: Seiji Aburatani; Scr.: Kuniho Yasui, Naoyuki Tomomatsu; Phot.: Shigeru Komatsubara; Prod.: Kiyoshi Mizuno; Cast: Manami Higa, Masataka Kubota, Akira Emoto, Yoriko Douguchi, Kumi Nakamura, Miyoko Yoshimoto, Yukijiro Hotaru, Yukiyo Sono, Minoru Sawatari, Mark Chinnery, Dean Newcombe, Toshiki Ayata, Bengal. Schedule: Sat 8/30 13:00 QL15; Sat 8/30 21:30 QL15;                 Sun 8/31 17:00 QL15. (Aug.16 2014)

★ Fly Dakota to participate in Montreal World Film Festival Fly! Dakota (Tobe! Dakota) , a movie directed by Seiji Aburadani, enters the Focus On World Cinema of the Montreak World Film Festival 2014.  In this true-story-based film, Yoriko Douguchi acts a mother who lost her only son in WW�U. Quoting from JAPAN400 (Four Hundredth aniversary of Japan-British Relations) web site: Five months after the end of the war, a British airplane lands on a remote island in Japan, bringing with it something unexpected. An emotionally charged true story transcending national borders and war returns to life after 67 years. January 1946. Only five months after the end of World War II, a British air force VIP airplane, Dakota, makes an emergency landing in a small village on Sado island. Villagers are taken by surprise and perplexed to be faced with British soldiers who were enemies not too long ago. However, friendship and solidarity grow across national borders, and they work together to get the Dakota flying again. (Apr.8 2014)

★ Happy Birthday, Yoriko! March 18 is Yoriko Douguchi's birthday. We celebrate this day, wishing her good health and art. ★ Cat 'n' Samurai Yoriko Douguchi appears in a movie Neko-Zamurai ('neko'='cat' + 'samurai'). Neko-Zamurai was produced to be released as a TV drama and a movie.  Each one has a different cast except for Kazuki Kitamura, the title role. Yoriko Douguchi is in Neko Zamurai, the motion picture.  (Mar.18 2014)

★ Fly, Dakota, Fly! Yoriko Douguchi is in a curretly-showing movie Tobe! Dakota (Fly! Dakota Fly!), directed by Seiji Aburatani. Since I have not been able to watch this film yet, I quote a good intereptive article about it from JAPAN400 (Four Hundredth aniversary of Japan-British Relations) web site: Five months after the end of the war, a British airplane lands on a remote island in Japan, bringing with it something unexpected. An emotionally charged true story transcending national borders and war returns to life after 67 years. January 1946. Only five months after the end of World War II, a British air force VIP airplane, Dakota, makes an emergency landing in a small village on Sado island. Villagers are taken by surprise and perplexed to be faced with British soldiers who were enemies not too long ago. However, friendship and solidarity grow across national borders, and they work together to get the Dakota flying again. This is a true story from 67 years ago. The film will open in over 70 theatres in Japan and screening durations differ from one to another. (Oct6, 2013)

★ Yoriko's mini movie review Yoriko Douguchi is writing for the mini movie review page of The weekly Shukan Bunshun magazine. She is one of the 5 reviewers for the page When Yoriko Douguchi was a young actress, back in the '80s and the '90s, she was also known as a  frank and undiplomatic 'film reviewer' on the some magazines. Her fans in Japan are really enjoying to read her film reviewing weekly again! (July22, 2013)

★ To those who have recently known Yoriko Douguchi I greceived a friendly message a fan from Norway, who had recently found a streaming movie of The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl at some 'hot' kind of website. He thought it was a real cool film and wanted to know about Yoriko Douguchi better. I guess there may be more people like him.  As far as I know, the only web page writing about Yoriko Douguchi's biography in English is YORIKOPEDIA, a part of this here fan website. Also, I put her filmography including her TV drama career in English in this page. I wrote some articles with some pics of Do-Re-Mi-Fa materials: poster, chirashi flyers, video package at a tribute to The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl page! As you read in the biography, Yoriko Douguchi is in a ukulele band named Paititi as a ukulele payer and singer. They are in the recording sessions for their second album! If you're interested in Paititi's music, you can watch many of their old videos at Youtube. What's Paititi? Watch Paititi! @ YouTube Paititi　 Tube　 click the camera!　 (May.12 2013)

★ 3 dramas 3 different TV dramas in which Yoriko Douguchi appears will start this month. Lady Joker started on March 3 and is on air 22:00~22:54 every Sunday (@ WOWOW). The Apple of Sodom (Sodomu no ringo) will start from 22:00, March 23, and will be on air every Saturday (@WOWOW). Keishichou Kanshikika Nanbara Kanji no Kantei 3 will be on air from 21:00 on March 18, Yoriko's birthday (@ TBS). (Mar.10 2013)

★ No chain but bond: Douguchi works with AKB 48 again Yoriko Douguchi is in the newly-released music video for AKB48's "So long !".  This is the second co-work of Yoriko Douguchi with AKB48 since she acted the role of evil prison owner in Majisuka Gakuen 3. While Douguchi enjoyed the villain, she acts a role of Jurina Matsui's teacher in a very amicable mood. The music video was directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, known for his acclaimed Lonely Heart (Sabishinbo), Exchange Student (Tenkousei), Beijing Watermelon and Ashita. Yoriko Douguchi was in Ashita. The duration of "So long" video is 64 minutes, which should be actually labeled as A MOVIE. (Feb.22 2013)

★ DVD release:  Majisuka Gakuen 3 is "Yoriko Douguchi vs. AKB 48"! Majisuka Gakuen 3 ("Seriously?" high school)  is a serial TV drama which was broadcasted during the last summer,  starring the members from AKB48 and SKB48, most popular girl pop groups in Japan. In the story set in a young detention, Yoriko Douguchi plays the role of the head of the detention home. This drama is a kind of burlesque of the women-in-prison genre, and Yoriko really seems enjoying the role.  ON Dec. 14, Majisuka Gakuen 3 was released on DVD as a boxed set of 5 DVDs (with some good bonus features) . (Dec.15  2012)

★ Yoriko Douguchi and Hidenori Ishida @ Kuroyagi-Shiroyagi gig! Yoriko Douguchi and Hidenori Ishida will join Kuroyagi-Shiroyagi (black goat, white goat) , an experimental bass&drum duo, as a guest singer at Bar Isshee, Shibuya, on November 21. Kuroyagi-Shiroyagi are Masami Sakaide and Masaharu Sato. They are both from Hilkashu, and played with Paititi at some gigs (and Mr. Sakaide for Paititi's first album). Nov. 21 (wed) open 19:00 start 20:00 charge 500yen + drink fee (and some donation will be appreciated!) It is required to make a reservation @ barisshee@keh.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIp2d_DHA_g (Kuroyagi-Shiroyagi featuring Yoriko Douguchi and dancer Praha, playing Mayumi Kojima's ELEKTRA) (Nov. 4 2012)

★ Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink, Say MORE MORE!  Paititi plays the Pythons Paititi, "alternative ukulele band" by Hidenori Ishida & Yoriko Douguchi with some great supporting musicians, will play Monty Python's songs at Liaison Cafe, Shibuya (http://www.liaison-cafe.com). The gig is named Monty Paititi's Flying Marmite. Crazy! isn't it? September 28, 2012 open 19:30 /start 20:00 charge 2500(advance)/ 3000(door) Reservation is required contact@liaison-cafe.com (or phone 03-6416-1635). The musicians are: Hidenori Ishida (ukulele) Yoriko Douguchi (ukulele) Falcon (guitar) Yoshimi Taketomi (jaws harp, coconuts) Masami Sakaide from Hikashu (ukulele bass). Why they play the Pythons? Why ukulele? Click the below icon and watch the trailer for Paititi's movie @ Youtube.  The trailer is spoken in English. You'll see how much they love British pop culture. (Sep. 17 2012)

★ Changing the URL: Yoriko Douguchi Official Website (Japanese) The URL of the official Yoriko Douguchi website has recently been changed to http://www.yorikodouguchi.com . While the conent of the site is all written in Japanese, there are many nice pics of / by Yoriko Douguchi. Most of them are more snapshots than promotional pics. If you don't read Japanese at all, do not worry but go visit the site, and you'll enjoy her sense of humor which is seldom captured in her films. ★ Shing Shing Shing (DVD/ with English subtitles) Kohei Sanada's movie Shing Shing Shing (an onomatopoeia of snow falling steadily and silently) is available as one of the 5DVD set (with English subtitles) via amazon.com. The whole DVD set contains 5 films which were produced as graduate work by students of Tokyo University of the Arts (in 2011). Despite of its non-commercial productional purpose, Shing Shing Shing was acclaimed by film critics. <story> Tomoyuki was brought up by mountebank family boss Yoshio. Everyday he helps his foster father at the market in a small and rustic town. He likes pretty Yuki, who is also alone. After including her into the group the whole mixed family leaves town to seek better business elsewhere. This is the beginning of a journey both pleasant and sorrowful. *reproduced from http://www.nipponconnection.com/shing-shing-shing-241.html Yoriko Douguchi is the role of the mountebank's girlfriend and appears in the first part of the film. She smiles and laughs naturally adn casually, and it makes the 'family without blood relationship' more like a real family and home. (August 12 2012)

★ CURE at the Japan Cuts 2012, NY Kiyoshi Kurosawa's highly acclaimed CURE (1995) will be screening for JAPAN CUTS, "North America's premiere showcase for Japanese film" (Firefox News), at the Japan Society, New York, on July 21. See http://www.japansociety.org/event/the-cure for detail. This Yorikolab website contains an interview with Jerry White, author of THE FILMS OF KIYOSHI KUROSAWA. Mr. White talks a lot about Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure and Yoriko Douguchi in that film! ★ Seriously? Yoriko Douguchi in an AKB 48 drama Yoriko Douguchi is in Majisuka Gakuen ("Seriously?" high school) 3, a newly-started serial TV drama mainly starring the members from AKB48 and SKB48, most popular girl pop groups in Japan. In the story set in a young detention, Yoriko Douguchi's role is the head of the detention home. This drama is a kind of burlesque of the women-in-prison genre, and Yoriko seems enjoying the role.  (July 15 2012)

★ 14 juillet! Following news about the author-reading music event by Yoriko Douguchi on July 14. Nora-neko Shuukai (stary cats' meeting) at Liaison Cafe, Shibuya(http://www.liaison-cafe.com) by Yoriko Douguchi with Falcon(guitarist) July 14, 2012 open 15:00 /start 15:30 charge 2500(advance)/ 3000(door) Reservation is required contact@liaison-cafe.com (or phone 03-6416-1635). *Nora-neko Shuukai (stray cats' meeting), Yoriko Douguchi's author-reading & ukulele-playing event, is going to be held on July 14. Yoriko's reading her Shikyuu Kaigi (womb conference) book and probably playing the ukulele at some small club in Shibuya, Tokyo. This is a special occasion to see her outside the screen and TV! It is also anounced that Paititi will play a small club gig at BarIsshee in Shibuya on July 14. This gig is named 'Paititi, 14 juillet(anniversary of the French Revolution)'. Let's have a ball with their alternative ukulele music! Stay there, and be square! BarIsshee: 33-13-4F,Udagawa-cho,Shibuya-ku,TOKYO,JAPAN Paititi live "14 juillet" July 14, 2012 open 19:30 start 20:00 charge 500yen + drink fee (and some donation will be appreciated!) Reservation is required @ barisshee@keh.biglobe.ne.jp phone：080-3289-6913 http://isshee.at.webry.info/ (June 28 2012)

★ Yoriko Douguchi's author-reading /music event Nora-neko Shuukai (stary cats' meeting), Yoriko Douguchi's author-reading & ukulele-playing event, is going to be held on July 14. Yoriko's reading her Shikyuu Kaigi (womb conference) book and probably playing the ukulele at some small club in Shibuya, Tokyo. Details to be announced soon. This is a special occasion to see her outseide the screen and TV! The same evening, Paititi, "alternative ukulele band" by Hidenori Ishida & Yoriko Douguchi with some great supporting musicians, will play a club gig. The details are to be announced shortly, as well.   (June 23, 2012)

★ Antoki no Inochi (Life Back Then)　DVD/blu ray Antoki no Inochi(Life Back Then),Takahisa Zeze's acclaimed filme will be released as DVD and blu ray in Japan, May 25. Yoriko Douguchi appears as Itsumi, Kyohei's mother. This film won the Innovation Award in the 35th Montreal World Film Festival last year. For more detail, see Asianwiki: http://asianwiki.com/Life_Back_Then (May 13, 2012)

★　Pourquoi?  >>> Screening Cancelled :The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl @ Cinémathèque Française The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl screening at Cinémathèque Française is cancelled. I can almost hear "pourquoi?" ("why", in French) from Douguchi fans and Kurosawa fans in France. I'm not discussing here about what I'm not sure of, but am still hoping for another occasion to come. Except for the bad news, the Rétrospective Kiyoshi Kurosawa is a worthwatching special program. You can't miss Charisma, License to Live, Cure,  6 episodes of Suit Yourself or Shoot Yourself !!, and the others. Yoriko Douguchi is breathtaking in these films. Cinematheque francaise HP (March 27, 2012)

★ Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl @ Cinémathèque Française Rétrospective Kiyoshi Kurosawa will be held at Cinémathèque française in Paris from Mar 14 to April 19. Among the projection list, 12 movies in which Yoriko Douguchi is starred are included. The Excitement of the Do-Re-Mi-Fa Girl　(screening cancelled !!! arrrrrrrrgh!) Dangerous Stories Guard From the Underground  6 episodes of Suit Yourself or Shoot Yourself !! Cure License To Live Charisma Visit the Cinematheque francaise HP to see what is happening! (Mar.14, 2012)

★ "Merry Merry Paititi Live" Paititi (Hidenori Ishida & Yoriko Douguchi) are playing a small club venue Bar Isshee, Udagawacho, Shibuya (TEL：080-3289-6913) on Dec 9, this time featuring Masami Sakaide (from Hikashu) as guest musician. Dec 9 (fri) open 19:00 start 20:00 charge 500yen + drink fee (and some donation will be appreciated!) It is advisable to make a reservation @ barisshee@keh.biglobe.ne.jp   On Dec 10, Ishida  & Douguchi will appear at the talk session for Tony Coleman's MIGHTY UKE at Cinemarise, Shibuya. (map) The talk session will start after the 17:30 screening finishes. (Dec.1, 2011)

★ Paititi's "Dream Of Dream", a small-club gig in Shibuya On Nov.11, Hidenori Ishida & Yoriko Douguchi, both from Paititi, are playing a small-club gig at Bar Isshee, Udagawacho, Shibuya (TEL：080-3289-6913) Nov 11 (fri) open 19:00 start 20:00 charge 500yen + drink fee (and some donation will be appreciated!) It is advisable to make a reservation @ barisshee@keh.biglobe.ne.jp What's Paititi? Watch Paititi! @ YouTube Paititi　 Tube　 click the camera!　 (Oct.26, 2011)

★ Antoki no Inochi (Life Back Then) Yoriko Douguchi appears in Antoki no Inochi(Life Back Then),Takahisa Zeze's upcoming film. This film won the Innovation Award in the 35th Montreal World Film Festival this year. Moreover, it is to be screened at the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival(17:30-19:56, Oct.24). Tokyo International Film Festival Home Page > http://2011.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=42  In theaters in Japan, Antoki no Inochi will be released from Shochiku, Nov.19. (Oct.17, 2011)

★ Itami Retrospective from L to R, Tampopo, A Taxing Woman's Return, Tales of A Golden Geisha Tampopo, A Taxing Woman's Return & Tales of A Golden Geisha, three films by Juzo Itami, will be screened at The 24th Tokyo International Film Festival, for its special program 'Juzo Itami Retrospective'. Yoriko Douguchi is in these three films.  A Taxing Woman's Return & Tampopo will be screening at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall (English map here) ,    A Taxing Woman's return : 13:30- , Oct.22    Tampopo : 10:30- , Oct.23 These two films will be showing at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall. Tales of A Golden Geisha will be screening at TOHO CINEMAS ROPPONGI HILLS SCREEN7 (English map here), part of an all-night screening (starts at 22:00). (Oct.12, 2011)

★ Live: discourse & (dis)sonance??? Yoriko Douguchi's next gig is titled as, most directly translated into English, "Hyper-Improvisational Word/Poetry/Chord/Talk 'Out-of-Control' Live". This says it all. Yoriko is going to improvise music with Mr. Masami Sakaide &  Mr. Masaharu Satoh (both from Hikashu) and have a talk session with Mr. Toshihiko Yahagi, an author . Yoriko's gigs have been always unpredictable.  I guess this whole evening will be a case of improvisation, but who knows?  Aug.16 at Koen-dori Classics, Shibuya (http://www.radio-zipangu.com/koendori/) open 19:00/ start 19:30 ticket 3800yen (advanced ticket 3500 yen) reservation is required at Koen-dori Classics (phone: 03-3462-2701) or email at noranecotv@gmail.com (July 30, 2011)

★ Douguchi & Ishida, Guest performers What's going to happen at LIALEH (http://www.bloc.jp/moti/), a bar in Futakotamagawa,Tokyo, on June 25 is a gig titled ZawaZawa Vol.38 by Masaharu Satoh, the drummer of HIKASHU. Yoriko Douguchi and Hidenori Ishida, both from Paititi, are performing as guest performers. June 25 (sat) open 19:00 start 20:00 charge 1000yen It is advisable to make a reservation.  In fact, there's a quite tight connection between Paititi and Hikashu, one of the biggest influence of Japanese rock. Mr. Masaharu Satoh, the drummer and the host of the upcoming gig, had played with Paititi at some of Paititi's recent concerts. Mr. Masami Sakaide, the bassist of Hikashu, has been with Paititi as a supporting musician these few years. Mr. Koichi Makigami, the voice of hikashu, gave an interview for Paititi's movie UKULELE. He also sang and played the jawharp at a Paititi's concert. From my most  humble point of view, when these musicians are together, something happens, and anything goes. You can watch some of thier live videos at YouTube.  (Yoriko, Sakaide, Satoh @ Nishiazabu) ( The fanatic saxphone player is Doctoru Umezu! @ Aoyama)  (ZawaZawa in 2009. Fiery music!) (June 15, 2011)

★ DOOR TO THE SEA At the 11th Nippon Connection Festival in Germany, Reiko Ohashi's Umi e no Tobira (DOOR TO THE SEA) won the Nippon Visions jury. In this film, Yoriko Douguchi plays the role of Ken's mother, who leads an unrestrained life. Reiko Ohashi was a graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, and directed this film as a 'graduation work' You can read a review on this film by Tom Mess @ Midnight Eye website: http://www.midnighteye.com/reviews/door-to-the-sea.shtml (May.19, 2011)

★ YURIKO DO SVIDANYA (an upcoming movie) Yoriko Douguchi is in YURIKO, DO SVIDANYA (百合子、ダスヴィダーニヤ), which is Sachi Hamano's latest movie, based on a  romantic relationship between two famous female writers (Yuriko Miyamoto,Yoshiko Yuasa). Yoriko Douguchi plays the role of Yaeko Nogami, a writer who introduced the latter to the other.  The director Sachi Hamano is a forerunner of  female "pink" filmmakers in Japan, and has also diredted non-pink films from a woman's perspective. YURIKO, DO SVIDANYA official homapage (Japanese): http://yycompany.net/ The movie will be showing at first at Milano-za theaterin Shizuoka, where the major parts of the film shootings were located, from June 18. In Tokyo, it will show at Eurospace Shibuya from this Fall. Moreover, it is announced that the movie will be programmed for a couple of film festivals in Japan; Aichi International Women's Film Festival (Sep.7 - 11) Kansai Queer Fil, Festival (Sep.17 - 19, Osaka / Oct.21 - 23, Kyoto) (May.19, 2011)

★ TV drama appearance Yoriko Douguchi will be in the 8th season of OMIYASAN, an upcoming detective drama (TV ASAHI). Yoriko and Mo-e Arai are the guest stars of its first episode (20:00~, April28), casted as mother and daughter. Yoriko played the role of Mo-e's (unstable) mother in GEKIKOI in 2010. Looking at the OMIYASAN web page (http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/omiyasan/story/01.html), I expect her new role to be more unstable... Anyways, take a glance at the web page, and you'll see Yoriko's real cool look face ;-) (April.19, 2011)

★ Thank you for your messages! I recieved friendly messages from Yoriko Douguchi's international fans. I am shocked badly at the news on the earthquake in Japan. I keep praying for Doguchi san, her fans and everyone in Japan! (from Korea) We all are shocked by the terrible news from Japan. I just wanted to send you my very best wishes to overcome the situation. (from France) Hope that all of you are OK and the whole Japan can safely get through this dissaster. (from Hong Kong) Thank you very much for your kind words! I put your messages at Japanese BBS page so that Japanese fans and Yoriko Douguchi can read them. We appreciate your friendship! If you send a greeting message to her @ yorikofans@yahoo.co.jp, I will put it on ths web site. You also can write a message @ the web-survey page of this web site. (Mar.18, 2011)

★ Yoriko's Birthday! March 18 is Yoriko Douguchi's birthday! Here in Japan, we are still in a serious situation. However, the better for  it, I would like to celebrate her birthday. If you send a greeting message to her @ yorikofans@yahoo.co.jp, I will put it on ths web site. You also can write a message @ the web-survey page of this web site. (Mar.18, 2011)

★ About the earthquake in Japan Dear international fans, as you have probably heard, Japan is under the influence of  M-9.0 earthquake and a massive tsunami. The devastation is unbelievable and the state we are in here has been getting more and more difficult. Yoriko Douguchi updated her blog today （Mar.12）, writing that she's still feeling unpeaceful but she is OK now. While, she is worried about some of her relatives who live in Miyagi prefecture (which suffered a great deal of damage). The area I live is Kyoto and was less affected by the earthquake than eastern prefectures of Japan. I was going to annouce that Yoriko Douguchi's birthday was coming soon (March 18) and would prepare for its celebration, but I don't think it is the most appropriate thing to do now. Still, I hope that we will have been feeling more peaceful by her birthday and will be able to celebrate it. Please bolster our spirits. We need your help. American Red Cross: Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami 　 (Mar. 13, 2011)

★ Yoriko Cures England  At this year's Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme (Feb.4 ~ Mar.28),  7 contemporary Japanese films including CURE,  a masterpiece of Kiyoshi Kurosawa, are showing at several theaters in London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Bristol and Sheffield. In 1997, Yoriko Douguchi improved significantly in CURE. She is in only one episode of the haunting thriller, but her off-kilter sense of acting expresses vulnerability and the collapse of her identity, and even brings a sleepwalker's nightmarish vision into the whole body of the film. Simply, you just can't miss this! About this film: http://www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk/news/2011/01/31/kiyoshi-kurosawas-cure-in-japan-foundation-touring-programme/ Touring venues: 4 - 13 February ICA Cinema, London 21 - 24 February Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast 4 – 10 March Filmhouse, Edinburgh 11 – 16 March Broadway, Nottingham 18 – 20 March Arnolfini, Bristol 22 – 28 March Showroom Workstation, Sheffield　 (Feb. 7, 2011)

★ Paperback & Live in Shibuya Dear Sir or Madam, will you read her book ... it's written in Japanese, though. Shikyu Kaigi (Womb Conference), Yoriko Douguchi's semi-autobiography, has just been released by Shogakukan Bunko, finally in paperback. On Jan. 22, there will be a celebration party for this paperback release, at club Derori, Shibuya. Jan.22（sat） 18:30open /19:00start @DERORI （map）　03-5774 -6082   charge:3000yen （one drink for free） program: Shikyu Kaigi Reading Sesssion (reciting the book by Yoriko Douguchi, with guitar accompanied by Falcon) Concert: Yoriko Douguchi, Falcon, Masami Sakaide (from Hikashu) and Masaharu Sato(from Hikashu) Shikyu Kaigi (paperback) autographed by Yoriko Douguchi will be sold at the door. reservation：　　noranecotv@gmail.com  What is Shikyu Kaigi? In 2004, Yoriko was diagnosed with uterine cancer and had an operation to have her ovaries and womb removed. She had married a TV director in 1997 and they were childless. Because of  Yoriko's brush with death, she experienced so much depression and despair that she became dependent on alchol and even attempted suicide. ↑("Shikyuu Kaigi")  In 2007, Shogakukan published Shikyuu Kaigi by Yoriko. The title was named after "The Animals' Conference " by Erich Kästner). It is a semi-biographical story that deals with everything from Yoriko's childhood to her struggle against the uterine cancer. Despite its saddness, Yoriko's storytelling has a dark sense of humor and is somewhat influenced by magical realism, which blurs the boundaries between imagination and documentary storytelling.  It is as unique as Yoriko's cinematic existence. "Shikyuu Kaigi" has been acclaimed as a creative and imaginative book  by critics, and is also viewed as a supportive book by many uterine cancer patients. In 2008, she also writes columns for newspapers and magazines. In addition to these works,  another of her impotant activities is "Reading Session ".   "Reading Session" is a reading of her book ("Shikyu Kaigi") with music, involving a guitarist named Falcon.  (Jan. 8, 2011)

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