New Directors from Japan: Takashi Ono on Blu-ray from Third Window in April

New Directors From Japan is a series which focuses on new talent coming from Japan’s “jishu-eiga” (ultra-independent) scene of filmmaking, exploring films and talent emerging from the vibrant scene which lives through Japanese “mini-theatres” (independent cinemas) that have given rise to so much that is great in Japanese cinema.

Takashi Ono’s I Am Baseball was released in Tokyo’s Cinema Rosa on August 19th, 2023. Cinema Rosa has been the current mecca for independent Japanese cinema and the birthplace of such successes as One Cut of the Dead and A Samurai in Time. I Am Baseball was a huge hit there, so much so that it continued to play in Japanese cinemas for more than one year, earning its tag of a “rongu-ran” film (Long Run – A film or play that is well-received and continues to be performed for a long period of time).
Despite his very young age and lack of proper budgets, Takashi Ono’s style in I Am Baseball and his earlier student films recreate the late Showa Era (1950s-80s) in a fun and charming way, and are explored in this limited edition set of four films from the director:

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)