Fox Japan's "Request Library"

Fox Home Entertainment Japan has a line of DVDs called "Request Library" (RL) since 2009.

Allegedly, they release titles based on the "requests" entered in the form on their website.

The actual titles in RL are relatively obscure ones in Japan.
So I think they actually listen to the customers' voices.

MOST of the RL titles are already available in US and/or UK,
but occasionally you find something not:

• The Incident
  
• Conrack
  
• The Games (1969)
  
• The Salzburg Connection
  
• The Day the Fish Came Out
  
• Boy On A Dolphin
  

(The promotional page for the upcoming 5th wave of RL is here.
Scroll down the page you can see the previously released titles.)

I guess the lack of manufacture-on-demand in Japanese market
(and notable streaming service like Amazon Instant Video)
is one of the reasons for RL.

One can complain about RL for several points.
There's no guarantee that they will release the most requested titles.
Fox doesn't show the statistics of the requests.
They are movie-only in most cases, yet rather expensive.

Nevertheless, I like Fox's attitude to listen to their customers,
and hope other studios do similarly.

(To my knowledge, Toei is the only other Japanese studio
that has a similar "request" form on their website.
But Toei doesn't have a special "line" like RL,
so we don't know what titles are released because of the requests.)

My Bloody Valentine remasters will be Blu-spec CDs in Japan

The Japanese editions of My Bloody Valentine's reissues
remastered by Kevin Shields will be Blu-spec CDs, due May 30.

• Isn't Anything: Mini-LP paper sleeve, limited.
• Loveless (2CD): Mini-LP paper sleeve, limited.
• EP's 1988-1991 (2CD): Digipack for initial press only.

Sony Music Japan doesn't have information on these releases as of this writing.

Fire Walk With Me and The Straight Story on BD in Japan

On July 13, Paramount Japan will release David Lynch's
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and The Straight Story on BD and DVD
as "restored versions," just like
Eraserhead and Lost Highway in April. (see here)

Fire Walk With Me will include making-of, interview(s), and trailer(s).

The Straight Story will include interviews with Lynch and Richard Farnsworth,
Farnsworth's press conference in Japan, and trailer(s).
(I guess these extras are the ones included in the older Japanese DVD.)

[Added July 16, 2012: Both titles have English 5.1 audio (and Japanese dubbs).]

Chicago Live in Japan - remastered mini-LP CD

On May 23, Warner Music Japan will release mini-LP replica CD of
Chicago's "Live in Japan" album (1972) which has been OOP for some time.





Here's Warner Music Japan's official product page.
According to the description,
this edition will use the latest 2012 remaster.

And this is the first time it's released as mini-LP replica.

[Added June 10: related post is here]

The Byrds on Blu-spec mini-LP CD: Update

A little update on the Blu-spec mini-LP CD reissues of
the Byrds albums I wrote about here.

It appears the release date has been delayed to May 30 from the original May 2.

And now tracklisting of the albums are available at Sony Music's website.

• Mr. Tambourine Man (tracklist)
• Turn! Turn! Turn! (tracklist)
• Fifth Dimension (tracklist)
• Younger Than Yesterda (tracklist)
• The Notorious Byrd Brothers (tracklist)

Also, on the same day Sony will release
The Original Singles As & Bs 1965-1971
2-CD/Blu-spec CD (but not mini-LP style, it seems)



According to the advertisement, the concept of this compilation is to offer all the singles
"in the versions as the fans heard them on the radio back then."

So, unlike previously available compilations that mainly used stereo album versions,
this compiles exact versions issued as the singles.

The set will also include the songs that were planned to be but not actually issued as singles,
as well as some alternate versions.

Exact tracklisting is not available as of this writing.

Wild 7 (2011 movie) - BD/DVD release information

On May 23, Warner Home Video Japan will release Japanese movie "Wild 7",
the 2011 live action adaptation of Mikiya Mochizuki's classic action manga,
on 3 versions:
3-disc limited Premium Edition (BDx1 + DVDx2),
1-disc regular editions of BD and DVD.



English subtitles are to be included in all 3 versions,
so I think it's worth mentioning here.
(I guess English subtitles are available for the movie only,
not for the supplements, though.)

Being a Warner movie that has English subtitles,
probably the movie will be released in the US/UK soon.
I hope what I write here serves as a preview of what you can expect for the international releases.


Although region code is not mentioned in the WHV Japan's product pages,
Amazon Japan claims BDs are Region Free,
while DVD edition is locked to Region 2.

The specs of BD and DVD #1 in the Premium Edition seems to be identical to the separate releases, so the DVDs in PE are likely locked to Region 2.


The specs of PE from WHV's official product page:

BD
Codec: MPEG 4 AVC
Video: CinemaScope
Audio: Japanese dts-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles: Japanese / English

DVD #1:
Video: CinemaScope
Audio: Japanese 5.1 Surround
Subtitles: Japanese / English


Special features:

BD and DVD #1 (same as the 1-disc editions):

• Teaser trailer
• 3 TV spots
• Theatrical trailer

DVD #2:

• "Making Data File"
• All about Hiba: Behind-the-scenes of Eita's action scenes
• Maru-chan's first movie (a documentary following actor/singer Ryûhei Maruyama who played Pyro)
• Secret gadgets of Wild 7 and interviews
• Deleted scene(s)
• Roll numbers on Clapperboard: Long version
• Roll numbers on Clapperboard: Making
• Speeches on the premiere screening event
• Speeches on the opening day

Added to above, Amazon Japan claims "initial press only" items will be included in the packages:

PE:

• A miniature replica of the press sheet (32 pages)
• A set of 9 postcards featuring cast
• Another postcard newly illustrated by original manga artist Mikiya Mochizki

BD / DVD regular editions:

• A set of 3 postcards featuring cast (Hiba, Sekai, Pyro)

I haven't seen this movie so I can't tell about the movie itself.
But based on the names attached to the project,
and the trailer available on the official website of the movie,
my expectation is rather low.


The soundtrack CD by Kenji Kawai:


CD single (with promo video DVD) of the end title song by L'Arc-en-ciel:



Other incarnations of "Wild 7":

DVD boxset of 1972 live action TV series:


DVD of 1994 direct-to-video anime version:


Some DVDs of 2002 TV anime version entitled "Wild 7 - another" seem to be OOP.

Katsuhiro Ôtomo's 'GENGA' exhibition in Tokyo

From April 9 to May 30,
an exhibition of Ôtomo's Genga (original drawings)
is held at 3331 Arts Chiyoda in Tokyo.

A replica of Kaneda's bike is also shown.

Official website (in Japanese only): top, news (blog) (including the videos of Kaneda's bike riding to Tokyo.)

A report with photos at CinemaToday

3331 Arts Chiyoda's English page for the exhibition

If you happen to be in Tokyo around that time, you may want to visit.
But you need to buy ticket in advance for specific date and time slot.

I don't know if this exhibition is planned to be held in other countries.


The exhibition's official book:


Katsuhiro Ôtomo's Artwork - KABA 2 (book)


Amazon.co.jp exclusive steelbook BD of Akira:


Akira Club (US):