
Akiko Ohku
Directing
Biography
Akiko Ōku (大九 明子, Ōku Akiko, born October 8, 1968), also romanised as Akiko Ohku, is a Japanese film director. Ōku was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa. In high school, she joined a rakugo group. While studying Politics and Economics at Meiji University, she was part of a student theatre troupe. After graduating, Ōku briefly had an office job at a subsidiary of the Ministry of Labour. She then entered a comedy acting school for one year and performed as stand-up comedian, and afterwards, at age 27, she entered Eigabi School, a film school where director Kiyoshi Kurosawa taught, among others. While still at film school, Ōku won a screenwriting contest with a script that would become her theatrical feature film debut as director, 意外と死なない (Igaito shinanai, literally "don't die unexpectedly"). Description above from the Wikipedia article Akiko Ōku, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For

Shūichirō Kiriyama works at the Limitation Task Force, the place where the cases which have reached the statute of limitations are destroyed. Getting bored of his job, he decides to find a hobby, because it seems important to him to have a hobby. So he decides to puzzle out the unsolved cases on his free time, helped by his coworker Mikazuki, who seems to have a crush on him.
Time Limit Investigator

Comedian Yamasato Ryota (Nakano Taiga) enters a cafe in order to prepare a story. Trivial incidents unfold there with the staff, TV people, the manager, and a handsome office worker. Little things bother them, and Yamasato's annoyance reaches its limit. He pulls up his glasses, opens his notebook and begins to write a story featuring a real-life actress in his notebook. For Yamasato, escaping reality is a "dream time" where he can forget the bad things. This is the start of Ryota Yamazato's fantasy story with the latest actresses and idols as the heroines!
I Had a Dream of That Girl

The chief editor of a woman’s magazine talks to Yumi Adachi about a new idea for the magazine. Their plan revolves around a person who disposes of stuff and lives more comfortably. According to their plan, Yumi Adachi decides to throw away various items one by one. On that night, Yumi Adachi falls asleep as usual, but she has an unusual dream.
Throw It Away, Adachi

Watanuki Shinobu is a manga artist for the past 20 years. Despite being married and having a son, Shinobu lives her life unsatisfactorily. When Shinobu was about to give up her dreams and work, her past works became popular on ebooks and she decides to create a new work and recruit an assistant. A 22 year old young man named Tachibana Chiaki applied to be an assistant and Shinobu gradually finds her life moving forward again after a long time.
Shijuukara

"Help me." A housewife, Teruko, receives a phone call from her best friend, the chanson singer Lui. "Help me."... Those words were also Teruko's own voice. Having reached her limit with her abusive husband who continues to treat her like a servant, Teruko is kicked out of the apartment she has lived in for many years, and with the at-a-glance Lui in the passenger seat, they begin their escape from Tokyo! In fact, both of them are hiding a "secret" in their hearts. ~~ Adapted from the novel "Teruko & Lui" (照子と瑠衣) by Inoue Areno (井上荒野)
Teruko & Lui

A love omnibus drama which shows how lovers are connected through mind and body.
One Hour Left Until the First Affair

Follow the daily lives of the Kishimoto family.
I Didn't Love You Because I Was a Family, But I Loved You as a Family

Sometime, the only thing that helps people get over a breakup is the taste of their favorite dish... Set in real restaurants in Tokyo, the taste of the food gently embraces the women’s souls and kindly heals their broken hearts. The main character, Miki (Alice Hirose), is a manga artist. She publishes her work, Heartbreak on a Plate, in a free magazine. Each episode presents the stories of the broken hearts who come to the restaurant, and through the food, we are introduced to their “heartbreak on a plate” experiences. Sometimes comical, sometimes human, the series portrays people who are trying to move forward even after heartbreak. Throughout a total of 10 episodes, the relationship between Miki and a man from the flower shop (Kai Inowaki) gradually evolves into something more.
Heartbreak on a Plate

A woman has an ugly face. She has been called 'monster' since childhood. A case occurs in her town that leads to her being ejected and a relocation to Tokyo. She obtains plastic surgery and begins working as a prostitute. She makes some dough and extends the plastic surgery to her entire body. She changes her name and begins a new life. The perfect body leads her to think about men and her hometown.
Monster

In 1980, Ayuko is a new transfer student in Okayama from Tokyo. She doesn't have any friends and relies on her boyfriend Hideo who is a college student. Ayuko likes to draw a romance manga of herself and her boyfriend. Ayuko's classmate, Takemi, becomes a huge fan of Ayuko's manga and they become close friends. Due to an incident though, they drift apart. 30 years later, Ayuko is now a manga artist and comes back to Okayama to give a lecture at her former high school. There, Ayuko meets Takemi who is now a teacher.
Fantastic Girls

Yoshika has had a crush on Ichimiya, whom she calls "the One" since she was in middle school. Now, a 24-year-old salarywoman, her all-consuming fixation has prevented her from even considering another candidate for boyfriend until an office colleague asks her out.
Tremble All You Want

Yasuko Matsuyuki heads the cast of this drama about a 40-something woman who is happy with her single life but nevertheless starts dating a man who is 24 years her junior.
My Sweet Grappa Remedies

What's the biggest event for a couple? A wedding! The goofy but earnest Akito Ishikawa and the always cheerful Haruka Nitta are about to tie the knot. Thanks to the help of their wedding planner Nakagoshi, they've finally made it to the day of the wedding.
Wedding High

Yui, a college student, moves in to her first own apartment, where she begins her new independent life in a big city. Soon after, the upstairs neighbor Takashi sparks her interest.
Tokyo Serendipity

Mitsuko Kuroda is 31 years old and single. She enjoys her life as a single woman. A big reason why she enjoys her single life is that she has counsellor "A" in her mind, which is her other self. Whenever she does not know what to do, "A" gives her the right answers. She believes her happy and peaceful single life with "A" will continue, but she falls in love with Tada-kun. He is a salesperson and younger than her.
Hold Me Back

12-part omnibus made under the rules: "the main character is a detective" "at least one gag per minute" "the length must not exceed 10 minutes"
Deka Matsuri

In a near future where allergies have become an epidemic, music producer Haru half-heartedly dates post office clerk and mail thief Michi. He searches for violent ways to reactivate his life, she dreams of escaping abroad; both volunteer to test a new drug which may provide a cure.
Barren Illusion

The romance between a lonely college student and who seems to be the girl of his dreams is burdened by the sudden arrival of cruel fate.
She Taught Me Serendipity

Takako (Mei Kurokawa) is a beautiful woman in her 30's and she works as a designer. Takako has only had relationships with married men. She decides to change herself with the help of her manga artist friend Keiko (Asami Usuda). Takako signs up at a matchmaking site. Soon. Takako meets two men and she takes an interest in the two men. Meanwhile, Takako has an argument with her friend Keiko. (Asianwiki)
Marriage Hunting Beauty

University student Nozomi tries to get a job. Back in her hometown, she was lazy, but now Nozomi is used to the quicker pace of Tokyo. Nozomi is also experiencing problems with her boyfriend Kameyama, who seems to be travelling at a different speed in life and work. Meanwhile, Saeko works very hard in the advertising field and she is faithful to her boyfriend Tomoya. Yet, on their first year anniversary, Saeko hear's woman's voice on Tomoya's cellphone. Based on the anthology manga of the same name.