New Directors from Japan: Takashi Ono's I Am Baseball and other Showa-inspired Films [Blu-ray]

Explore the vibrant world of Japan’s “jishu-eiga” (ultra-independent) filmmaking scene with this Limited Edition Blu-ray set from the New Directors From Japan series. This collection focuses on the emerging talent of director Takashi Ono, whose work recreates the late Showa Era (1950s-80s) in a fun and charming style, despite his young age and lack of large budgets. Central to this set is I Am Baseball, a film that achieved “rongu-ran” status after playing for over a year at Tokyo’s Cinema Rosa, a mecca for independent Japanese cinema.

Key Features/Benefits

• Limited Edition set featuring four films from director Takashi Ono.
• Focuses on the ultra-independent “jishu-eiga” scene emerging from Japanese “mini-theatres.”
• I Am Baseball was a long-running hit (“rongu-ran”) in Japanese cinemas.
• Recreates the late Showa Era (1950s-80s) aesthetic.
• Includes special features such as an interview with Takashi Ono.

What's Included / Contents

This Limited Edition set (limited to 1000 copies) includes four films:

• I Am Baseball 野球どアホウ未亡人 (2023 - 60 minutes)
• Pick it up and Throw it Away! 拾って捨てろ！(2019 - 45 minutes)
• Fashion Runner ファッションランナー (2018 - 9 minutes)
• Cheating Office Lady: Wet Galaxy 不倫OL 濡れ銀河 (2016 - 40 minutes)

Special Features:

• Takashi Ono interview
• Short film: Cheating Office Lady: Wet Galaxy (2016)
• Short film: Fashion Runner (2017)
• Short film: Pick it Up and Throw it Away! (2019)

Specifications

• Media Format: Blu-ray
• Edition: Limited Edition
• Total Run Time: 2 hours and 34 minutes
• Language: Japanese (with English language option available)
• Director: Takashi Ono
• Actors: Mitsuki Moriyama, Shima Izutsu, Takehiko Fujita
• Age Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Studio/Manufacturer: Third Window Films
• Release Date: 20 April 2026

Discover the unique vision of Takashi Ono in this essential collection celebrating the cutting edge of Japanese independent cinema.