Teaser Trailer for Maiko Haaaan!, Written by Kankuro Kudo.

Kooky is one thing, intentionally kooky is another, contrived is something else. I hate all these things, I often feel, but I absolutely loved Kankuro Kudo's Directorial debut 'Yaji and Kita : Midnight Pilgrims' which Media Blasters put out in America last year (but which got little attention online - great film, cracking DVD presentation) as it was Kudo ramped upto eleven. Yes, not content with being one of the most popular scripters of TV, the man has done some of the key fun films from Japan in recent years, including 'Zebraman; and 'Ping Pong' of course, and has a distinct style that's deep and funny too, and the latest addition to his slate is this film, 'Maiko Haaaan!'

I have a place in my heart for similar dramas too, 'Kamikaze Girls', 'Survive Style 5+', and can't wait for more of this ilk whomever is behind it, because although they're kooky, odd, eccentric, they're certainly convincing, great fun, candy-colored entertainment and they're invariably full of memorable moments.

For now, since it will probably be a while before Kudo steps behind the camera again, I can pray that someone puts out more of his stuff on DVD (soon we get an R1 USA DVD of 'Kisarazu Cats Eyes' from Media Blasters too - the first of those two movies which accompany a TV series, also written by Kudo) and that we also see a film like 'Miko Haaaan!' picked up or subtitled somewhere. This is due in the Cinemas of Japan this coming June, 2007.

Maiko Haaaan Website.
Ryunganji has a Detailed English Synopsis Here.

'Maiko Haaan!' Teaser Trailer (2.7mb WMV Download).