I've been a fan of japanese dramas and movies for a very long time, and i'm such a fan that no matter if it's a stupid show or not i will still watch it. But recently i've watched the BEST japanese movie ever (though i believe there will be more in the future). But seriously speaking I LOVE THIS SHOW! It's called 252 Signal of Life. There's no cool characters or what so ever, but i would say that the plot kept me engaged in the entire movie. Though the movie is a little long, but i couldn't feel it. :) What is the story about? Well, i don't wanna spoil the show for you, so i'll just give u a short summary of it...


(credits http://encorefilms.com/252/)

The Plot
A few weeks after a gigantic earthquake struck Tokyo. Metropolitan Tokyo is slowly beginning to function again. But the temperature of the Pacific Ocean suddenly increases after the earthquake, causing a tremendous typhoon. The largest typhoon ever in Japan heads towards Tokyo with devastating force. The tidal wave generated by the typhoon covers the coastal city area with water. The Tokyo Fire Department dispatches its elite rescue unit, Hyper Rescue, and their sonar picks up a signal from underwater. Beneath the ground, in one devastated subway station, there is someone sending out a code which is known to rescuers only…

“252… 252…” – “We have survivors!”

"252" is the rescue code that means "There are survivors." Somebody who knows the rescue protocol is trapped underground! The rescuers, the survivors and their families all pray for their loved ones' safe return. In the extreme situation, a rescue party tries to save the survivors at the risk of their own lives. In the face of death, a daring rescue operation is to be carried out, intersecting with many dramas of family, love, pride, and human life…

The movie depicts the endeavors of humans in the extreme conditions in the aftermath of a disaster. Another focus of the movie is the Hyper Rescue, the fire department's special rescue unit. This is the first movie ever to depict the specialists in action. For authenticity, the Tokyo Fire Department 8th Division Hyper Rescue Unit helped in the principal photography. With their cooperation, the movie features realistic and detailed rescue operations. For the Tokyo flood sequence, exterior sets of a train terminal and subway station were constructed. Tremendous amounts of water were poured onto the sets to create a flash flood, achieving the horror of a flood that can't be depicted with the CG. CG was used in the scenes of tidal waves swallowing up the Tokyo bay area to actualize the awesome force of nature.

The movie started with a verse, if my memory didn't fail me it should be this...
"And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." - Genesis 9:12-17

And just a few weeks ago i actually posted this on my blog too... Isn't it coincidental?

After the show, i was very much reminded of what a missionary in Japan told me, Japanese gets disheartened easily. Therefore they lost their confidence in God, they lose hope. I remember the year when the Tsunami hit, many lives were lost and many of us were questioning God WHY?!? Many lost hope... Even the recent Sichuan Earthquake, many natural disaster that hit different places throughout the years. It left many questions hanging... But then again, i still wanna let you guys know, God cares and He does love you. There are many questions that i don't know myself too, but that's what faith is anyways rite? :D

This movie set my mind thinking, not in the bad way, but in the good way... In the movie u see so many stories going on, your relationship with your family, brotherhood, kinship, love and choices. I've never felt so "intense" before while watching the movie... Till this day i'm still thinking and digesting the movie. maybe i'll share more on my after thoughts when i put my thinkings together.

Anyway here's the trailer hope u'll enjoy it... and seriously, this movie is a MUST WATCH!!!!! I highly recommend you to watch it... :)



and here's the link to the official website, in english and japanese. :) Have a blessed week ahead!!!

This is a song written by JJ Lin called Cries in a distance... i still remembered on the 2nd day that JJ released his sixology album, i was hospitalized bcos of the side effects of my clinical trial. It was a time that i spent in the hospital alone in pain and all, apart from God's word and worship songs, JJ's new album kept me company in the hospital. I was listening to this song again n again and it kinda spoke to me quite deeply. The song reminded me of the holocaust, for those of u who don't know what a holocaust is u can find the info here even though i myself don't know much about the holocaust, i did hear about it from different ones, esp in the show freedom writers.

anyway back to topic, so the lyrics reminded me of the holocaust, and one of the victim who faced holocaust was ann frank. she was a child that had to escape and hide inorder to survive. cries in a distance reminded me of her, it might be a sad song, but i think JJ was trying to deliver a message that is farther than just wars that are going around in this world and how children are affected and stuff...


here's his song, he doesn't have a mv for this song, but a friend of mine who is very talented edited this video... enjoy!

Cries In A Distance
music and lyrics：JJ Lin Jun Jie


Cries in a distance
Can't stop the tremble
I'm just awaiting my turn
Hiding will never
Save me forever
The guns gonna get me for sure

Dear God I pray why won't you be my friend
Come to me and take my hand
Like mama would say
Everything will be okay

All I hear is 3 2 1
The scream from the guns
And then 1 by 1
No one gets to run
Someone's dad or mom
Sister, brother and son
No... no...

All I feel is 1 2 3
My tears start to bleed
Smell of roses on my feet

I feel sore...
I fall...
I call...
I crawl...

I was doing my quiet time one night and i suddenly felt prompted to write some lyrics. And i ask the Lord, what should i write about? And i don't know y, God reminded me of this song that JJ wrote. So immediately i took out my handphone n jot down whatever lyrics that came to mind. And suprisingly, i wrote the lyrics in less then 5 mins... Here you go, hope it blesses you. :)

Trust in Me
music: JJ Lin lyrics: Dorothy

Though there's cries in a distance
You can't stop the tremble
You're not alone on this road
Hiding will never save you forever
But prayer will bring you hope

Dear child i say why won't you trust in me
Come to me and hold my hands
Like your mama will say everything will be okay

Cos my love for you is 321
That's more than enough
And than one by one
No one will get passed
Not your dad or mom, sister brother and friends
No... No...

On the day that I died 123
I rose from the dead
No more tears that will be shed

You're set free
You're happy
Trust in Me
I'm yours!

I actually passed a copy of this lyrics to JJ, hope he read it and will continue to write music like this to reach out to different ones. :) 加油！