Negative Space: Japanese
- Changes in Japanese Drinking Patterns
- Margaret J. Sargent writes about drinking and sociability in post-war Japan; she also mentions in passing that the “bad” alcohol was made by disliked foreigners, in this case Koreans.
- Notes on Drinking in Japan
- Bufo Yamamuro writes that Buddhism preached complete abstinence from “strong drink”. Japanese mythology appears to have considered alcohol almost a weapon and they had several abortive bouts with prohibition.
- The Seven Samurai
- Probably the most influential samurai film, starring Toshirô Mifune and directed by Akira Kurosawa. It inspired more than just samurai: “The Magnificent Seven” was “Seven Samurai” remade into one of the most influential westerns.
- Tampopo
- The “first noodle western”, involving a search for the “perfect bowl of top ramen”. Takes place in Tokyo, in Japanese, with English subtitles. Very funny and well worth seeing.
- Tokyo Drifter
- A quirky B-Grade mafia film from 1966 Japan’s 2-movie a week Nikkatsu studio and cult favorite Seijun Suzuki. Filmed in “original, glorious Nikkatsu-scope”.
