reblog

The blurb of 2023 Japanese Netflix Original film Call Me Chihiro describes the titular Chihiro (Kasumi Arimura) as an unapologetic former sex worker. Unapologetic is possibly too strong of a term for the passive protagonist of prolific filmmaker Rikiya Imaizumi’s latest film. Based on the manga of the same name, by Hiyoyuki Yasuda, we follow Chihiro (Kasumi Arimura) as she leaves her old life behind and serves bento to a welcoming town of friendly faces.

While it’s true that Chihiro (Arimura) displays no shame or remorse for her life choices, in this sedentary seaside town she doesn’t need to, the stigma of sex work isn’t really present. There is an allusion to the hardship she has faced, but this is definitely a more sanitized portrayal of that world. It’s an interesting choice of past life for the main character, but it’s almost irrelevant; it’s as if Chihiro would be equally lost if she was an architect or a doctor. The very adult nature of her previous life does, however, provide a stark and interesting juxtaposition to her childish attitudes and playful way of seeing the world.

This childishness becomes quite grating but makes sense for a character somewhat stuck in arrested development. Her companions are teenaged Okaji (Hana Toyoshima) and school boy Makoto (Tetta Shimada), though she is notably not in a position of authority with these two. If anything, they are her peers.

Chihiro’s ex-employer, Utsumi (Lily Franky) describes her as missing something inside, and Kasumi Arimura’s acting has to be praised. She does a great job of portraying this lack of engagement with the wider world, wearing the same expression whether she’s apologising for some unauthorised babysitting, watching a bar fight, or burying a corpse.

The film is brilliant at showing rootlessness and transience. Chihiro’s loneliness is made evident as she crawls on all fours to get attention from a disinterested cat. Inhibitions don’t plague her, and the eagerness she displays for some attention is very telling.

One aspect that is interesting in the first quarter of the film is Okaji’s obsession with Chihiro, the voyeurism and photographs a potential metaphor for the ownership of sex workers. But as the film goes on, and the two become friends, this doesn’t amount to anything. It is simply never explained why this teenage girl has taken hundreds of photos of a nearly-thirty-year-old woman playing on the swings.

Alongside food, which is an obvious motif – the rice and vegetables nourishing the characters’ bodies whilst the conversations and interactions nourish their souls – the other main theme running throughout the story is the importance of found family. Unfortunately, parents don’t fare well in this world, all of them unable to offer their children what they need. Chihiro’s found family are a motley crew, as lost and lonely as she is. But her impact on their lives, whilst on the surface wholly inappropriate, is nothing but positive.

In a survey held by Oricon Japan last month, some 500 Japanese females aged 10 to 50-plus chose the face of the Japanese female celebrity that they want to have the most. Topping the ranking is actress Keiko Kitagawa, who was also the first in last year’s ranking.

Here are the top 10 Japanese celebrities whose beauty is most envied among women in Japan.

This consecutive win not only marks Kitagawa’s sixth No. 1 place in this ranking that has been running for the 14th time, it is also the first time since 2009 when an actress who is also a mum topped the ranking. That winner 11 years ago was none other than Nanako Matsushima, who is known for starring in the 1998 horror film Ring.

Although Kitagawa had just given birth to a girl last September, her beauty remains dazzling as she attended a movie promotion event earlier this month, after her maternity leave. The survey participants have described her looks as “perfect” and “gorgeous”, and even wanted to “live a day with this face”.

Shukan Bunshun has revealed that Suzu Hirose and Kento Yamazaki are dating! The tabloid spotted Suzu returning home from work on June 18 around 10:30 PM, minutes before her 24th birthday. Kento was seen waiting for her to arrive.

Around 11:20 PM, the two left Suzu’s condo separately, and headed for a parking lot, where they got into a luxury card together, with Kento at the wheel.

Around 12:20 AM, the two returned to Suzu’s home.

According to an entertainment industry official, Suzu recently moved into her current condo and has still yet to fully unpack. Her inviting of Kento over to her still unfinished home shows their level of closeness.

The couple starred together in the live action version of “Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso” in 2016. The entertainment industry official continues, saying that the two were friendly during filming and it was rumored that they were dating, a common rumor when a man and woman are filming together. When filming finished, it was reported that the two were both dating other people.

Going back to June 19, Suzu and Kento were seen leaving her home around 2 PM that day. They were joined by a middle aged woman and a young man. The four got into a luxury car driven by Suzu. They headed for Tokyo Dome to watch the kickboxing match “Yogibo presents THE MATCH 2022 Tenshin VS Takeru.” Kento gets out the car separately, while Suzu leaves the car later with the other two people, going to buy event goods.

According to an event official, the four reunite in one of Tokyo Dome’s private boxes to watch the fight, in an attempt to stay out of the public eye.

After leaving the fight, the couple walked to the parking lot together, not worrying about being seen together, perhaps due to the excitement from the fight. He puts his arm around her, and she accepts it.

Suzu gets in the car first, with Kento getting in later. They then go and pick up the two people they came with. They return to Suzu’s home, and the two other people leave soon after in a taxi.

The next morning, Suzu is picked up at 7 AM by her management for work. Kento leaves her home an hour later, then returns to his home. He is later picked up by his management to go to work as well.

Is this relationship officially recognized by their management companies? Kento is often dropped off at Suzu’s condo by his management. It’s rare that he goes to his own home, meaning that the two are essentially living together in her condo.

When asked, both Suzu and Kento’s management teams said that they leave their private lives to themselves.

As reported on Nikkan Sports, the couple shared the good news in a joint-statement, saying, "We as a couple would like to announce that our third child, a healthy baby boy, was born without a hitch. Both mother and child are doing well."

They continued, "We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported us. We will continue to work hard both professionally and privately, so we hope that you will continue to watch over our family with warm eyes. Thank you for your continued guidance and encouragement."

Aya married HIRO, real name Hiroyuki Igarashi, in September 2012, with their daughter born in August 2015. The two then welcomed their first son and second child in July 2019.