Japanese Film Reviews #1: Miike Takashi's AUDITION

[SalzbergProductions]

Never "enjoyed" vs "joined".

[SalzbergProductions]

I've only watched a few Miike films. I must admit I neither joined Ichi the Killer or 13 Assasins. I'm a huge fan of Japanese film, but I guess I don't get enjoyment from gratuitous violence, especially toward women. Great reviews!

[turquoiseguy]

hmm, I really enjoyed the movie, but never heard of the book. The parts of the torture seen you note that differed from the movie I can't help but wish were included in the movie. The idea of him trying to escape but Asami getting to him in time and him kicking her down the stairs in the end after his foot is severed I think would have added a lot to that scene.

[VideothekBellissimo]

Schönes Video!

[bleachrules103]

I loved your review but I noticed the audio goes off by a few seconds halfway in.

[furburgerking23]

thats why when there eating together the film jumps haha just figured it out

[BearNutsFan]

Oh finally a review for movies that actually shows clips instead of just watching someone talk ^^

[dornravlin]

i wonder how miike keeps making movies cause as fair as i could tell very few of his films make money

[eroupopper]

you did a very good job on the review! GREAT JOB!

[newjackal1984]

Have you already seen Miike Takashi's　new film [13 assassins]？

it is masterpeace!

don't miss it! 

[Peppepoppldoppl]

ugly cunt.

[hinnomura]

Thanks for "dissecting" this film Constantine I bought it a few weeks ago ( as a fan of Japanese cinema) The ending really shocked me but now with your review it put it all into perspective. Thanks. Ja matta ne

[MrRedshadowX]

Why would I like to watch it now that I know what's going to happen? It's to bad. I would have like to watch it.

[sebastianhuang]

heyyy ur sooo fascinating anyway audition is good movie ^^

[MiTijuana]

Audition is the best horror movie ever!

[Nick47794]

its far from axcepted there are harsh punishment if they are found giulty of touching someone in the wrong way but i aggre that there are relly fuckt upp shit that happens there specially on the trian but you said that the people didnt care thats true but thats not only in japan thats all over the world i guy got stabbed andand beaten att a pub in my home town and there were a dosen of people there but no one did any thing and there are many incidents from america were girls got raped in public

[Demario300]

I cant find Lady Snowblood anywhere online. Lol i dont want to buy, but i REALLLLY wanna see it.

[GirlsLickMyBalls]

@Demario300 Its right here on yt for free..It sucks though just mo.

[Nick47794]

Really good rewiew i chexked you r blog and i think it is really cool that you lives in japan i also like japanese cultur and movies and would also like to move there one day im trying to learn Japanese right know and it is also awesome that you like me have the same nerdy interest when it comes to movies and video games and actors especially zombies hehe im looking forward to watch your next review and thank you for translating the chapter im a huge fan ot the movie i will love to read it

[GirlsLickMyBalls]

@Nick47794 The men in japan are perverts.They sell women used panties in vending machines.An women are commonly groped or men rub there crotches on women till ejaculation,this is fact you an look it up..

[Nick47794]

@GirlsLickMyBalls chill out dude i know abaut that but i dont think that Japan is the only country that have perverts just look att how many religius sects and psychos and crimes there are in the usa and and many other countrys in the world japan is pretty low on that list and you cant just se the bad things abaout the countrys no nation is perfect and i think that you can find a lot more sick perverts in other countrys to

[GirlsLickMyBalls]

@Nick47794 Yea theres pervs everywhere but at least its not excepted..I saw this guy go behind a schoolgirl an he basically dry humped the shit outta her an no one gace it a second glance..Its way different over there..Over there if ur a complete lazy fat fuck u get theee hottest bitches..I know cause my friends hes not that fat hes like 6 foot 260 an he got laid every fuckin day !!!

An also its nothing to be eatin dinner an the guy will be lookin at the waitress n wackin offf,its just norml

[GirlsLickMyBalls]

@Nick47794 An there fetish an i saw this..This guy wipped out his fat nutsack an just let it sag on this street girls head an they just put up withit an hope they ejaculate quick..The streets are practically wer with ejaculate..If u dropped an ovary babies would prolly spawn..

n its nothing for women to get bizzare propositons..This guy goes to this bartender ill give u 50 yen if u jiggle my balls while i jack off n let me cum in ur hands..that cultures mad kinky..

[GirlsLickMyBalls]

@Nick47794 The trains were it all happens..I saw this little chinamen he had his dat nutsac fully submerged in this chicks mouth..Another time this girl in a dress shes was so young this guy pulled up her dress pulled down her panties a little way an took a pen out an stook it right up her keister..Im sorry but i draw the line at pulic displays of sodomy rotflmfao !!

[KahlerHahn]

thx constantine... this review finally made me convince my girl to check this flick out - and she loved it

[evilsantaclause]

Weird I sarted reading the book a month ago! I put it down cause I obviously didn't get to the good part.

Your review was really well thought out and made me want to start reading the book again thanks! :)

[hilg2654]

What was(/were) the black and white (samurai?) movie(s) you have clips of in the opening?

[777Kiana]

I LOVE your name!! Constantine. ^ ^

Oh, nice vid btw xD

[STAVROSfilms]

nice review of one of my favs.

[tardigrade6]

Yes nerds, she is hot and likes Japanese culture but that does not mean her boyfriend is not the good looking jock asshole who made your life hell in high-school. In summary, don't go gaga for her but listen to her words because that is going to be the extent of your relationship. On that note, this was an awesome review and I am impressed with how much thought you put into your analysis. Keep up the great work!

[TheSiradambomb]

@Yrpffx21234 if you havent found it yet its called "The Final"

[TheSiradambomb]

@nonstop thank you! i am and i shall!

[TheSiradambomb]

good review! i really like this film. and i like Dir en Grey. saw them live this year in the uk and im actually in Japan at the moment!!

[NonStoptoTokyo]

@TheSiradambomb I saw them live...oh, back in 2006? Loooong time ago! Have a good time in Japan!!

[SpilledStarlight]

Why do female Youtube users insist on wearing low cut tops for attention during videos? That's like asking for someone not to listen to what you're saying and only stare at your chests. No wonder you belong in the kitchen making our sandwiches.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

@SpilledStarlight What a strange comment, considering I have no breasts and thus not much of a chest to look at. Fortunately, I don't pick my clothing out with the goal of tantalizing YouTube viewers and just film videos wearing whatever crap I got dressed in that morning.

[ToolManDan82]

It's an incredible film. Really like your review, thought you were really thorough and weren't just giving an opinion, which everyone can do; you actually explained what made it good for you. I'm going to watch more,...I review films all the time, but had never considered the idea of focusing on a type of film as you have; great idea

[NonStoptoTokyo]

@ToolManDan82 Thanks, I'm really glad you found it interesting!

[Yrpffx21234]

Is the song by Dir En Grey?

[NonStoptoTokyo]

@Yrpffx21234 Yes it is!

[Yrpffx21234]

@NonStoptoTokyo What's the name of the song?

[cranberrysnickers]

Subscribed. You are awesome! Audition is a masterpiece! I own Audition, Visitor Q, Ichi The Killer, and Gozu. What do you think of Happiness Of The Katukuris?

[BloodSinVIII]

Is the title music by D'espairsray? Im sure I know the song...

[monk0789]

whats with the music !!!

[CMRH1990]

great movie! first japanese horror film i watched

[leviterande]

wow could never imagine How sexy girls like you watch such gruesome stuff

[esparagus0879]

Good job! 

[BornToDie90]

audition was a masterpiece... much more than a horror film... more of a journey into obssesion and the darkness of man... thanks for the translation too ill definately read it

[NonStoptoTokyo]

@BornToDie90 The book has actually been translated since I made this review, so you can probably buy the entire thing and read it in English now!

[marleymike2]

Good review.

[TheEyesOfNye]

Deeper deeper deeper...

Yup, I'm pretty much afraid of Japanese women now..

[NonStoptoTokyo]

@TheEyesOfNye You and me both!

[NonStoptoTokyo]

@TheEyesOfNye You and me both!

[obi911]

Nice review! Thumbs up :D

[XxKikixKatxX]

after watching this i will see the flim

[NonStoptoTokyo]

@XxKikixKatxX Good! Let me know what you think once you watch it!

[dcarterfrom07]

this movie really really sucks unless your into really sick disgusting torture porn (with no tits in a 2 hr movie) the plot was retarded with stupid twists that were annoying as hell... i was pissed after i watched this movie 1/5 : (

[TzumB]

Yes! I just ordered the movie! never heard of it before but your review really made me wanna watch it! thanks ^^

[ConstantineInTokyo]

@TzumB Glad to hear it! Let me know what you think!

[TzumB]

@ConstantineInTokyo Yes! What an awesome movie! I really really like the slow pace. It adds so much to the suspense. And jeesh... Aoyama is such a sweet charachter with all the best intentions (though he made some poor judgement calls =P

[TzumB]

@ConstantineInTokyo .. The only thing that kind of bothered me was the dream sequence.. Tho i really loved that part (non-verbal weird alice in wonderland type imagery rocks!), Aoyama, in this 'dream', sees who's in the bag and what Yamazaki did to him but there's no way Aoyama could know this right..?

As for the café-dialog.. maybe aoyama just discards information because of his obsession. see no evil?

[nodare023]

I felt it to be a much darker version of the book Misery by Steven king

[toweronepower]

So there is an English version available if you say there is a U.K version out.

[filmranger]

The real give away is the scenes with the bag - every one of those scenes happens when Aoyama is sleeping, dreaming or imagining. The first time we see that room is when the radio ad for the 'tomorrow star' comes on - we see a young girl listening to the ad in her room (she represents hope, this is before Aoyama meets Asami,), then when he does meet her, the young girl is now suddenly Asami with the bag (represents her mystery), then the third time, we see the contents (represents his fear).

[filmranger]

A good analysis of the film, and you are correct in identifying the change in formal qualities (the de-saturation of colour, the jump cuts) but this isn't him digging deeper into Asami's personality, this represents his increasing anxieties over deceiving Asami and moving on from his first wife. The film, after the halfway point (the night he proposes) is an anxiety dream which we even see him wake up from. The violence doesn't belong to Asami/women, but is his fear of commitment and change.

[GaKuDEbrokeGaMER]

Loved your review, this is one of my favorite J-Horrors too (honestly the 1st out of the only 2 I've seen that wasn't terrible U^^) I just have one question about the burlap-sack guy - was he in the book at all? Furthermore, in the movies canon, it occured to me, that with Asami dead, no one would 'feed' or 'take care' of him anymore....

Such a death after that much torture frightens me more than any other part of the movie - Ayamo (if he too survived) better not have forgotten about him

[furburgerking23]

thank you,i understand more clearly now,btw if a girl introduced me to audition on the first date,that would be my wife by now =] thanks a lot

[furburgerking23]

also y did she keep the music producer in the bag?

[NonStoptoTokyo]

For Asami, love is about possession. She believes that for a man to really love her, that man must love her - and only her. She cuts off their feet so they can't leave and their tongue so they can't call out for help...she holds the power. She keeps the music producer in her room in a bag and feeds him her own vomit, like a mother bird feeding a baby bird. Asami wants to be the only person in his life and the only one he loves...quite literally.

[furburgerking23]

u seem to know this film really well,so can u please explain the ending to me cus i cant seem to understand it fully,haha so confusing,i just finished wathcing it for the second time and the ending dont make much sense to me,id apprietiate it,thank you

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Well...If you send me a message telling me which parts you don't understand, I'd be happy to tell you my interpretation of it. =)

[furburgerking23]

well did she leave him in the hotel room, or no,because when hes gettin tortured it seem like hes dreaming it,and when shes lying at the bottom of the stairs and she starts talking i dnt really understand y its bieng repeated?i guess im just dumb

[NonStoptoTokyo]

She did leave him in the hotel room. The dream sequence shows Aoyama piece together all the information about Asami, which reveals her past to the audience. It also shows what could have been - Aoyama's naive expectation that he and Asami could marry and be happy together. Them lying in bed together after having sex was what he wished had happened. It's basically about two people and their inability to communicate with each other, thus Asami's words at the end.

[criticnic]

Great review, I love your style! I still really need to see this movie, from what I've seen from Miike already, I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Thanks criticnic. I think this is one of Miike's best movies, you'll love it.

[Comatose08]

Wow you are an amazing reviewer! Loved the movie, and I didn't know a lot about this movie that you mentioned. You are wonderful! Definitely subbed.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Thanks Comatose08! This is one my favorite movies, so I've probably seen it more times than is healthy...

[sbertke]

Excellent review, probably the best review of this movie that's currently on Youtube.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I've watched this movie a lot...and each time I watch it I seem to notice new or different things. Thanks for the comment, sbertke!

[SNKTHX2000]

I think it's essentially a film about female empowerment. Japan is a very chauvinistic society and the male characters in the film are sexist. Asami punishes them for treating women like objects.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

A lot of people do try to apply a feminist interpretation to this movie. While there are sexist elements to the film, Asami isn't really a feminist figure. Her actions aren't motivated by an ideological agenda and she isn't seeking vengeance for women as a whole. Her actions are selfishly and personally motivated. Furthermore, while Aoyama did lie to her, she also lied to him from the very beginning of their relationship. Both Aoyama and Asami are equally at fault in the film.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Even Asami's unfortunate past, being abused (physically and perhaps sexually) by her stepfather isn't an example of men abusing or taking advantage of women. Asami's mother also failed to protect and care for her child as well. The fact that Asami will kill other women (the bar hostess) when she sees them as competition also undermines any feminist intent. Personally, I think that the film is about loneliness and two people's inability to overcome hurt and honestly communicate with one another.

[MrCommentKid]

NICE!!!! Great review!!!!=D i love these movies=D

[Chrismi26]

Evil Dead Trap is much better.

This director tries to hard to be stylish. The female as the torturer is kinda cool but the shit is too hard to follow. Ichi the killer sucks too.

[Chrismi26]

It can't be a classic when it came out in 1999.

I want more gore!!!!

This director kinda sucks

[lodownballer]

this movie is that good. i bought it right after i saw it

[CrashBandikoot7]

no tits no care

[otakukun82]

I truly love your expert description of audition. I love this movie, Can you do a description on the movie 2LDK, which is one great japanese movie that people need to watch.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

That's a good recommendation, I'll definitely review it.

[TimSinnott86]

Nice review of a great film, what Dir En Gray song was that at the start btw?

[TheHeroicRage]

The final. I figured the song out very fast, i must be a dir en grey superfan lol.

[LittlePinky82]

I'm a criminal justice major and studying a sociology class on violent offenders and she's a classic case of a female serial killer. I really liked how you compared/contrasted the movie and book. Love the movie.

[richiefirefly]

Constantine I hope you dont treat your boyfriends like Asami Yamazaki!!

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Hahaha, I've got a harem of boys in burlap sacks in my bedroom. =P

[1471phillip]

Where can I watch "East of Eden" with japanese audio?

[barrentree]

i agree this was a very good review

i remember seeing this movie on sbs in australia like five years ago or more, pretty distressing but undoubtedly masterfully done. from what you say about the novel i think i like that version better though

[stephenleet]

awesome review i never knew there was a book to this movie. i just got done watching the audition and im still in suspence and confusion. i hate that lady she's fucking horrible.

[Kingshitv4]

I love how gentile and careful she was.

[ezesaw]

this film was amazing... the movie almost dance between genres, it´s awesome how takashi starts the film as a drama and end up in a tortured world that is imposible to escape or stop watch it... to me was the tale of a desperated lonely man finding love... and how this love dragged him to hell

[FilmFoo]

I loved this film. It's really messed up! Miike at his best! Great review, 5*!

[Alastairjack123]

i think u tell to much in your review iv not seen it but it seems like uv mentioned all the main scenes

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Unfortunately, I do critical reviews - which means a critical analysis of the film, its scenes, and the themes. They are directed towards people who have already seen the movies and not simple 'I liked this movie, watch it '/ 'I didn't like this movie, don't watch it.' Thankfully, Audition is a complex movie that has many different interpretations, mine is just one (and not even the best one) of many.

[kingofbizzare]

I love how your review covered a lot of aspects of the film that most reviewers seem to ignore, like how the change in style was carried by the cinematography. Great job!

[ravenfaust6669]

the ending of this movie was GREAT!!!!

[sadakokid45]

this film is so wrong at the end!

[vmontpetit]

That was an awesome commentary on the film. I plan on viewing all your other commentaries. Well done.

[youhurtmyeyes]

I love this film too for its climatic and orgasmic ending.

[eee1666]

whoa, the torture scene is "interesting"??? such a intellectual approach. and then what a discipline to translate a whole chapter, i didn't even had the discipline to read half. i just translated a short german clip and even got to lazy to do that right...intimidating those "good students"

[thebiglebowski1993]

Brilliant, at least they is people across the world who like these films, I've had to live with people who havn't even heard of Pulp Fiction nevermind these great films, It just shows how many different things people can like, people know me as a normal nice person and yet in my spare time I like watching these gruesome films etc, you seem to be the same, so do most people on here.

[DonniDynamite]

haha yeh i hate it when ppl think im a creep or im going to become a murderer or sumthing just because i watch gruesome films

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I made the mistake of watching this movie while on a first date with a boy. He was very excited when I invited him over to my place to watch a movie...but needless to say there was no second date. =P

[shert91]

i heard that people have killed themselves after watching this movie, im really interested in watching it but not if thats the case haha.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I haven't heard of people killing themselves because of this movie. But I have had male friends say that they will never ever watch it again and develop an extreme dislike of my Audition movie poster.

[SculptingFragments]

nice review! wish my dvd had the commentary on it :(

tempting to read that last chapter, although i don't want to spoil it incase it ever gets fully translated.

anyway, 5/5

[jayzee360]

I think your reviews really emphasizes the movie, it's better than Roger Swan's reviews. I still love you both though.

[trumasamune]

Oh wow I clicked on the playlist expecting a bunch of stuff I've never heard of before, but I love Miike films!

I think this movie was semi-ruined for me because I was told that it was very slow and had a crazy ending before watching it. I found it boring first time I tried watching it and gave up halfway though, but then tried again and I'm glad I did.

I love how Miike says he doesn't do social commentary. Yeah right!

I think I would do that too if was some famous artist though, haha.

[trumasamune]

I also didn't know it was an adaptation of a Murakami work. That's interesting. I'll be sure to check out that translated chapter. My 2 semesters of college nihongo classes leave a lot to be desired in my J-proficiency. =(

I've never actually read any of his works but I've heard nothing but good things about his Wind Up Bird Chronicle and have it on audiobook ready to listen to eventually...

Thanks for the review!

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Actually it's an adaptation of Murakami Ryuu book, not Murakami Haruki. Murakami Ryuu, though he addresses a similar theme in many of his novels, does so in a much darker way. He's definitely a good author and I recommend you check out Coin Locker Babies!

[ODProfessorRhino]

ive got 32 (!) Takashi Miike films in my DVDcollection, I want to marry you, we can have sex and watch Miike films for a whole MONTH!!!

[NonStoptoTokyo]

This comment just made me think of Visitor Q...why does my mind work in such disturbing ways?

[HotKukuro]

I seen this movie like 6 years ago XD It was freaky. I like how you used Dir en Grey on your intro XP Oh and your Sexy...XDD

[BrianMont1]

if you think the last 30 minutes are rough, check out a french movie called Martyrs from last year

[A7XHellBlaze]

Holy crap, I just saw this movie, it's freakin amazing. Great review by the way, I liked it very much :)

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I'm glad you liked both the movie (which is fantastic) and my review! =^_^=

[HeroesfanAl]

This is a great film, and definitely one of my top japanese films along with Battle Royale. I say these are my top japanese films because my favorite films are " 28 Days Later" and "A Scanner Darkly." Excellent review and thanks for translating the last chapter of "Audition."

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I'm glad someone read it! Thanks!

[martyrofevil]

The only scary movie ever made period. In my top 10 films.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Definitely in my top ten as well!

[AequitasVeritas92]

Audition is awesome! Miike is a genious! Great review!

[lentotoshihiro]

good review. :D

I actually love this movie.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I love this movie too, it's one of my all-time favorites! =)

[rodgerswan]

ahh brilliant another japanese film reviewer! And going into JET as well no less! I'll have to check out more of your vids, but if this one is any indication, sounds like you have some good stuff on your channel.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Perhaps a little dense for YouTube...personally I think your reviews are awesome. It's nice to see another person who loves horror.

[rodgerswan]

oh not dense at all, but rather informative. Glad to see somebody on here who knows where these films come from (i'd assume most do not know the original audition novel or murakami ryu sadly).

[DavePerry2012]

Your room's almost as messy as mine.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

So you think! But little do you know that I picked that spot precisely because it was the CLEANEST part of my room...

Sad, but true. I am a walking natural disaster.

[DavePerry2012]

I couldn't even find a clean spot in mine.

[Radrey]

hmmm. I really liked this review of audition. I am a huge miike fan as well. I used to watch his movies movies religiously until I came to Japan. When I have been too busy to watch movies. but, i'll get back in the habit soon enough.

Have you heard about the coin locker babies movie?

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I love Miike. The only good part of the steaming pile of crap that was HOSTEL were the 60 seconds Miike did a cameo. Which was lost on the audience completely.

I have heard of the movie adaptation of Coin Locker Babies, but it seems that Miike will not being doing it. And IMDB was Val Kilmer listed as part of the cast...I have no clue who he will play, but HOPEFULLY it will be D.

[Radrey]

yeah.. Seriously. I'm just glad I didnt pay to see Hostel. But it was totally worth seeing it, just for his cameo.

hmmm.. I'm having a hard time picturing Val Kilmer as D. But, I had a hard time picturing heath ledger as the joker for a long time too. Until the movie came out.

Do you have a top five favorite miike movies?

[NonStoptoTokyo]

Ok, that is a difficult question to answer, I don't really 'rank' things. But I can say the Sukiyaki Western Dango is absolutely NOT on the list.

Audition is definitely my number 1 by far. Second, maybe Ichi the Killer, but only because Tadanobu Asano rocked. I love his yakuza movies (I have a soft spot for yakuza films). Dead or Alive: Final is awesome. I liked both Izo and Graveyard of Honour, Happiness of the Katakuris was hilarious and off beat. And OF COURSE City of Lost Souls.

[Radrey]

oh you didn't like Sukiyaki Western Django? I only saw half of it. I've been meaning to catch the rest of it.

so lets see. my top 5... 1.koroshiya ichi 2. Oodishon 3. Bijita Q 4. Dead or Alive (the first one) 5. Shinjuku Triad Society

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I have many problems with it...which I CAN rank -

1. Quentin Tarantino

2. It's a poor remake of Yojimbo

3. The whole speaking English-thing was a big stylist mistake.

4. If you're going to homage Westerns, you better be damn sure you do it right.

[Radrey]

haha.. QT ruined it for you? Didn't you see his masters of horror film, Imprint? I thought the english speaking thing would annoy me at first. But Miike is a strange filmmaker. After seeing MPD psycho (the brains being censored) and Full Metal Yakuza (that ending had me saying WTF?). He taught me how to appreciate his sense of humor in filmmaking. Something I later saw in other movies like Funny games. To where they're not made for your enjoyment.

[NonStoptoTokyo]

It just didn't work for me in SWD. I do like Imprint, as well as Box.

Funny Games (the original 1997 German film or the American remake?) is interesting. I thought it was more of a commentary on the morbid self-gratification people expect to receive when they see horror films. Bad things happen, but in the end the bad guy gets his due. However, Funny Games doesn't give that to you. There is no satisfaction/gratification and you're left wondering why you watch horror films in the first place.

[Radrey]

Personally, I liked the American version better. I think I liked the actors better. That's what is funny about it, it is exactly the same movie shot by shot except its in America with different actors. I think the german actors who played the visitors reminded me too much of laurel and hardy. But, with the fast forward and rewind scenes it made me think of Miike. Putting things in the film that deviates from the standards of horror films, action films, mystery films, とか。

[AzureEyesD]

I am impressed. I can see why you got short listed from this video.

Where did they place you?

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I have no idea yet! They said mid-to-lat May is when we will find out, which probably means that I will find out on the very last day of May or something...I'm really curious to see where I will end up.

Did you apply for JET this year?

[AzureEyesD]

Haha I wish! I don't finish my undergrad till next May so I'll be sending in my application this year and hopefully getting an interview and eventually short ilsted etc.

Did you request anywhere special on your app?

[NonStoptoTokyo]

I just specified the regions, but was no more specific. I asked for 1) Hokkaido/Tohoku (hopefully Tohoku), 2) Kinki, and 3) Shikoku