Third Window Films are launching a new series called ‘New Directors From Japan’, kicking things off with a look at the work of Takashi Ono. The Blu-ray will be released on 20th April, and Third Window have been generous enough to offer us two copies of the set to give to two lucky readers.
Before I explain how you can win one of them, here’s a little more information about the release:
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)
To be in with the chance of winning, follow the instructions below.
ENTERING THE COMPETITION:
To enter you simply need to share the competition on social media AND email us your details.
To use X/Twitter to share the competition, follow us @blueprintrev and copy and paste the following into a Tweet:
#competition @blueprintrev Win New Directors From Japan on Blu-ray – https://blueprintreview.co.uk/2026/04/competition-win-new-directors-from-japan-blu-ray
Or you can share the page on Facebook by pasting the link or using the appropriate share icons below (don’t forget to ‘Like’ us too): www.facebook.com/bpreview
Once you’ve shared/tweeted the competition, you need to email us (subject – ‘New Directors From Japan Competition’) with your name and postal address to: info@blueprintreview.co.uk
2 winners will be picked at random when the competition has closed. The competition is only open to residents of the UK – one entry per person. The competition ends on 20th April 2026 at 12pm. The winners will be contacted by email soon after that date.
Your details will not be kept for any purposes other than to contact you if you win and then for the PR company handling the competition to post your prize.