julie at kaya.com

[Aaron Gerow]

Dear Julie Koo

Thanks for joining the KineJapan list.  I look forward to hearing more 
from you and want to let you know you can feel free to periodically post 
notices of the publication of books on Asian and Japanese film that may 
be of interest to our members.

I was glad to hear that you are publishing a translation of Abe's book on 
Kitano.  Like much of his work, it's very provocative, incisive, way out 
of bounds, infuriating, and enjoyable.  I've used it a lot in my 
publications on Kitano.  Who, by the way, is translating it?

>If anyone has a fave book on a director that should be translated into
>English, please send me info.

There are dozens of books I can think of, but taking in commercial 
considerations--i.e., who is popular now and thus might sell--I would 
recommend looking into the following:

Ueno Toshiya.  _Kurenai no metaru sutsu: Anime to iu senjo_  Tokyo: 
Kinokuniya Shoten, 1998.

A very good theoretical book on anime focusing on some of the directors 
like Oshii Mamoru (Ghosts in the Shell) who are popular abroad.  A good 
contrast to all the current fan literature.  Part of the book has 
appeared in English in a journal I edit, _Documentary Box_, and it is on 
the net:

http://www.city.yamagata.yamagata.jp/yidff/ff/box/box9/en/b9en-1.html

Ueno's e-mail is: VYC04344 at niftyserve.or.jp


Ueno Koshi, ed.  _Suzuki Seijun zen eiga_.  Tokyo: Rippu Shobo, 1986.

Kind of dated, but the best book on a director now getting cult fame 
abroad.


Hasumi Shigehiko.  _Kantoku Ozu Yasujiro_  Tokyo: Chikuma Shobo, 1983.

One of the most influential film books in Japan to appear in the last two 
decades, this has already appeared in French translation.  I know David 
Bordwell of the U of Wisconsin Madison had one of his research assistants 
translate it when he was working on his Ozu book, so maybe a reasonably 
complete translation is floating around already.

Beyond that, collections of essays by some of the better film critics 
like Ueno Koshi and Yamane Sadao might also be a good idea if you pick 
and choose the essays/reviews on films that have been seen abroad.

Hope this helps.

Aaron Gerow
Associate Professor
Yokohama National University
Co-owner, KineJapan