πŸ‘˜ [Japanese Week] 🎬 Movie Review: Saint Oniisan OVA (聖☆γŠγ«γ„γ•γ‚“)

Back in 2017, I published a series of Japan and Japanese related posts and called it Japanese Week: it went from how to get around Japan to reviews and suggestions about learning the language on the Internet.
Ever since then, I've actually lived in Japan (Yokohama) for a while so I've decided to do this themed series again, sharing my favorite sides of Japanese cultures and all the books and movies I've read and watch.

Today I'm starting with an anime-movie review...Hope you'll like it!
始めましょう! 
(romanji: hajimemashou - let's start!)


Where do you think Buddha and Jesus would go on a holiday? 
India? Rome? Maybe well known New York City? 
The answer is 'no' to all three options. This movie explores what would be like for the two famous representatives of Buddism and Christianity if they went to...Japan!

Buddha and Jesus are currently on a holiday and rented an apartment in Tachikawa city, in the west area of Tokyo. They seem to have a great time, enjoying all the amenities the country has to offer: from amusement parks, bathhouses (sento - ιŠ­ζΉ―), and onsens to hanami and temple's festival (matsuri), they're really experiencing everything to the fullest!

From spring up until New Year's Eve, it's interesting to see two ancient figures like them living in a dynamic place like Tokyo; plus, it's fascinating that nobody recognizes them...not even priests or monks!

Buddha is portrayed as a frugal/borderline stingy, but mindful person while Jesus sometimes can be pretty naive and he runs a blog!
Otaku Meme Γ‚» Anime and Cosplay Memes!  I still have to find out what this anime is. Weirdest thang I've come across..
Buddha is also the chosen 'victim' of a neighborhood young boy, who apparently made his mission in life to touch Buddha's urna, the circular dot on his forehead, leading to a series of comical sketches between the two of them...
My OpinionπŸ‘πŸ‘Ž
It's so weird to hear Buddha and Jesus speaking in Japanese, (Buddha should be speaking Nepali or Indian, while Jesus Hebrew) and referring to events that happened when they were alive; there's a hilarious scene where the owner of a bathhouse tries to allure the two friends in by saying that its water will 'revitalize' them and Jesus reply is GOLD: "If you mean revival, I've already experienced it!"
Î·ΓŽ²Γ€ Γ’€” dont ship buddha and jesus dont ship buddha and...
Japan is such a different country, culture-wise, so it's fun and interesting seeing the protagonists adjust to the new environment, but don't worry, they do just fine on their own!
The opening scene features Jesus and Buddha sporting the same shirt with katakana writings on them:  "をーパン" (amen) and "シッダルタ" (Siddhartha) respectively... besides the fact that it is a GENIUS THINKING, it shows a modern and fresh take of their persona.

This 2013 anime movie is based on a manga, which had two additional OADs and a 10-episode live-action series in 2018.


Rating: 4/5

Ph: asianwiki.com & otakumeme.com

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