海は見ていた

Today, I watch ‘海は見ていた’, The Sea is Watching.

"The Sea is Watching"

The theme is universal in all of Kurosawa’s films: the struggle for human dignity in an unforgiving world.

To film lovers around the world, The Sea Is Watching is a welcome parting gift from Akira Kurosawa, who wrote the screenplay based on two short stories by one of his favorite authors, Syugoro Yamamoto, but was unable to make the film prior to his death in 1998. Kurosawa left detailed storyboards and production notes, entrusting veteran director Kei Kumai to bring his vision to the screen. The results are both glorious and rather mild, by Kurosawa standards, but this gentle melodrama about love, loss, and survival retains much of the peaceful optimism that informed Kurosawa’s final films. Set in the 19th century Edo period, the story focuses on the prostitutes of a seaside village brothel, where the vulnerable geisha O-Shin endures one heartbreaking love and a potential second, while the more cynical Kikuno combats misery with harmless fantasies that bolster her spirits. Nature plays a role, and a climactic typhoon has a cleansing effect, offering hope in the wake of destruction, as if the sea had been watching all along. And like the sea itself, Kurosawa’s spirit washes over this beautiful film, compromised only by music that’s more sentimental than Kurosawa would have allowed.

ハッピー卒業

Miracle-chan has graduated Morning Musume

While I don’t have a great deal of affection for Kusumi Koharu, her graduation is rather sad.

Her graduation puts an end to the longest-running stable lineup to MM. ‘9-nin’ was a very powerful combination. As a long time fan, I’m not sure where Morning Musume will go from here. Obviously her loss isn’t the greatest the group has suffered, but MM is not what it used to be.

I enjoyed poking fun at Miracle-chan (“Ah, she messed up her line!” or “She must be on drugs, she’s so hyper-genki!”). However, what talent she does possess will not be utilized at all in her becoming a fashion model. She’s more than a pretty face and nice legs. She could continue singing, voice-acting, or become an actress. I can’t help but feel that she is severely limiting herself.

Oh well. Someone get my Panda a tissue!

The print of Hanh

The title is “Phu nhân Đà Nẵng” (“Lady of Da Nang”).

Cool mist humidifier

I bought this cool mist humidifier to help make this dry air more breathable.
I used to use a steam vaporizer, but the steam and water get very hot. I was terrified of my Anna Belle knocking it over and burning herself.
Cool mist is very safe for kids and pets. However, you must clean this type of machine every single week to prevent mold! It’s bothersome, but worth it.

Anna Belle’s birthday!

Now, she’s an adult!

A grown-up lady..?

Happy Birthday, Anna Belle!