Bay of Witches

     This week Japanuary 2024 kicks off with a pair of films about bold, strong women who refuse to compromise to their oppressive societies and the idiots they love.

     Kinta is put in charge of his Yakuza gang's pig farm and dreams of the large paydays that were vaguely promised. Haruko, his girlfriend, works as a waitress and dreams of getting away from their port city that only lives on the whim of the nearby American Navy base. When Kinta's bosses push him to be the fall guy in a murder and Haruko' mother pushes her to be the paid mistress of an American business man. Shōhei Imamura's breakthrough work and a masterpiece of the Japanese New Wave, Pigs and Battleships.
     On Jeanne's wedding night, the local baron and his courtiers brutally violate her in a ritual deflowering. That night she begins to see visions of a phallic spirit that offers her power and her fortunes rise until they lead to ever increasing clashes between Jeanna and the ruling class. Mushi Production's final entry in their Animerama series of adult animations with gorgeous watercolors designed by Kuni Fukai, Belladonna of Sadness.
     All that and Dave sings a jaunty tune, Kevin closes the books on last year, and Tyler unfurls his hoard of Japanese erotic cinema. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 342- Bay of Witches