Husband-and-wife vocal duo Humbert Humbert sing the theme song of the NHK serial morning drama “Bakebake” (“The Ghost Writer’s Wife”). The song’s title, “Warattari Korondari,” means “laughing and tumbling.” Yuho Sano, wife, and Ryosei Sato, husband — whose cheerful voices greet viewers every morning — spoke recently with The Yomiuri Shimbun about their everyday lives and what music means to them.

An exhibition showcasing the work of mangaka Yoshiharu Tsuge, beloved by passionate fans for his unique and surreal worldview, is now underway at the Chofu City Cultural Hall Tazukuri in Tokyo.

BERLIN — Director Yusuke Iwasaki’s debut feature film “AnyMart” won the FIPRESCI Prize, the international film critics’ award, in the Forum section at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday.

BERLIN — “Hanarokusho ga Akeru Hi ni” (“A New Dawn”), a new animated film that marks the feature-length directorial debut of Yoshitoshi Shinomiya, screened to thunderous applause at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on Wednesday.

“Rental Family,” a Japanese-U.S. film set in contemporary Tokyo with Osaka-born, internationally acclaimed director Hikari at the helm and Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser as the lead actor, has numerous interesting elements.The protagonist, Phillip, is a no-name actor who moved to Japan seven years prior after appearing in a Japanese toothpaste commercial. He has had no luck with good roles since until one day, he receives a strange job offer — playing stand-in roles, such as a family member or a friend, for clients, for a short period of time. According to Tada, played by Takehiro Hira, who runs a company specializing in this business, there is a certain demand for white males in this job. Although Phillip has moral qualms about doing this kind of work at Tada’s company, Rental Family, he starts taking on the stand-in assignments.A peculiar business that taps into a stranger’s life and the people in Japan who need it — OK, this is all very interesting. However, this is not a film telling the story of a foreigner wandering into a strange world.

With his emotional acting skills in dramas, movies and stage plays, Shun Oguri continues to show why he is one of the leading actors of his generation. Now, he is maturing as a performer, transitioning from a trendy actor to one with depth.The stage play “Inokorigumi” (The remaining group), in which Oguri plays a lead role for the first time in three years, opened in Tokyo on Jan. 30. Written and directed by playwright and director Koki Mitani, this stage play is attracting much attention. The Yomiuri Shimbun interviewed Oguri ahead of the opening.A teacher’s desk was set up in front of the blackboard and desks and chairs of different heights were placed here and there. The rehearsal hall looked like a school classroom, bringing back memories of my school days.Oguri has played various roles in TV dramas, such as the beautiful son of a distinguished family and a regent in the Kamakura shogunate. On stage, he has been a Roman emperor and a swordsman defeated by his rival in the Battle of Ganryujima. Many of his characters so far have been “characters that I never would have been able to perform based only on my own experience,” according to Oguri. In this latest performance, he acts as an elementary school teacher.The play depicts a so-called “monster-parent” mother coming to the classroom after school while the vice principal and teachers wait for her. Oguri plays a young teacher who is asked by the vice principal, played by Kazuyuki Aijima, to listen to the mother, played by Rinko Kikuchi. Her child is in a class that his fellow female teacher, played by Kami Hiraiwa, is in charge of. “He is a shrewd person who wants to avoid trouble. He has his reasons for wanting to leave early, but the circumstances do not allow him to,” Oguri said.

Learning makes life rich regardless of how old a person is. More and more universities are offering courses for middle-aged and senior citizens to learn and study again.

As it gets colder, accidental falls while removing snow from rooftops become more common in snowy regions. It is crucial for people who do this job to take safety measures, such as wearing a safety line and not working alone. Icicles hanging from eaves and snow sliding off roofs can also cause injury.

At the beginning of November, autumn foliage had just entered the peak of its season in the Okuhida area of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. Located at the foot of the Northern Japanese Alps, this is one of few places where autumn foliage and snowy winter scenes can be enjoyed at the same time, attracting many hikers and tourists.