Ayase Haruka shows her swordfighting skills in ‘Ichi’
Nov 12, 2008 Artist, Ayase Haruka, Movie
Actress Ayase Haruka, 23, is having a busy month. She will soon appear in the airline drama “Happy Flight” and a second film, “Ichi,” has just opened nationwide.
“Ichi” is the latest film version of a famous story about a blind masseur and swordmaster created by novelist Shimozawa Kan. Set in the Edo era, the story has already been filmed a few times, but the new film is a female version with Ayase in the title role.
At the Japan premiere, Ayase said, “I found this film more interesting when I watched it the second time. I think people can enjoy it many times.”
JapanToday
Tags: Movie : Ichi
Drama looks at media excesses in crime coverage
Nov 12, 2008 Artist, Info, Movie
Actor Sato Koichi, 47, will star as a detective who finds himself at odds with the media and caught up in an Internet hate campaign against the family of a criminal.
The film, “Nobody to Watch Over Me,” is about a detective (Sato) who tries to shield the family of a man arrested for murder. Shida Mirai plays the sister of the arrested man whom Sato’s character tries to protect from a media blitz.
Asked about what he thinks about the way journalists do their job, Sato said, “In my case, since I’m a bad guy in my private life, media coverage of me now works as a sort of moral hazard. Thanks to them, I have to watch what I do and say.”
The film will be released on January 24, 2009.
JapanToday
Video from Live-Action Film of Tezuka’s MW Streamed
Nov 6, 2008 Artist, Movie, Tamaki Hiroshi, Yamada Takayuki
Special video from dark suspense story marks Tezuka Osamu’s 80th birthday
To mark the 80th anniversary of the birth of manga pioneer Tezuka Osamu, the official Japanese website for the live-action adaptation of Tezuka’s MW manga began streaming a new special video on Tuesday. The Oricon market survey firm also posted the same video at a different resolution.
In this dark suspense story, Yūki Michio (live-action Nodame Cantabile’s Tamaki Hiroshi) survived a deadly nerve gas tragedy as a child, but this “MW” incident left his damaged brain without a conscience. Yūki grows up to become a handsome bank executive by day, and a mass murderer by night. On top of that, Yūki aims to acquire the MW nerve gas, which leaves his longtime confidante Garai (Densha Otoko film’s Yamada Takayuki) struggling with the right decision.
Director Iwamoto Hitoshi is adapting the MW manga for release in Japan next year. Vertical is publishing the manga in North America.
ANN via asianfanatics
Nakata Hideo to direct English-language thriller
Nov 6, 2008 Movie
J-horror director Nakata Hideo is now working on his first original English-language movie, titled “Chatroom.”
Described as a “psychological thriller about teenagers who encourage each other’s destructive behavior,” the film is written by playwright Enda Walsh (”Disco Pigs,” “Hunger”). A new company called WestEnd Films is selling the picture at the currently running American Film Market.
Filming is scheduled to start in the spring.
Tokyograph via asianfanatics
Fuji TV, Fox turn “Sideways”
Nov 6, 2008 Movie
Fuji TV and 20th Century Fox are collaborating to produce a Japanese remake of the award-winning 2004 film “Sideways,” which starred Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. The film is being shot in the U.S., though the four main characters will be played by Japanese stars.
Kohinata Fumiyo is getting top billing as he takes over Giamatti’s role, and he will be accompanied by Namase Katsuhisa, Kikuchi Rinko, and Suzuki Kyoka. They are reportedly the only Japanese cast members.
New director Cellin Gluck will be in charge. Theatrical release has been tentatively set for fall 2009.
Tokyograph via asianfanatics
Tatsuya Fujiwara will star in “Ultimate Survivor Kaiji” live-action film
Nov 4, 2008 Artist, Fujiwara Tatsuya, Movie
It has been officially announced that Fukumoto Nobuyuki’s manga series “Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji” is getting a live-action movie adaptation, simply titled “Kaiji.” The film, which will star “Death Note” actor Fujiwara Tatsuya as the gambling protagonist, is the first for director Sato Toya, better known for his work on television dramas such as “Gokusen” and “My Boss My Hero.”
The original comic ran for three series between 1996 and this year, and its 39 tankoubon volumes have sold over 11 million copies. It won a Kodansha Manga Award in 1998, and this past fall and winter it was turned into an anime series.
Kagawa Teruyuki and Amami Yuki have been revealed as additional cast members. The film’s budget is said to be several hundred million yen, and there is a possibility of the movie being expanded into a series. “Kaiji” will be released sometime in 2009.
“Ultimate Survivor Kaiji” was created by Fukumoto Nobuyuki in 1996 and has run as a weekly manga and anime series ever since. It follows the story of Kaiji Itou, a gambler and petty thief who is persuaded to board a gambling cruise in order to pay down a huge debt. Once aboard he has to contend with some pretty shady characters and loads of action.
Tokyograph, J-Film Pow-Wow
Japanese Weekend Box Office, November 1st to November 2nd
Nov 4, 2008 Movie
1. Suspect X* (Toho)
2. Eagle Eye (Kadokawa Entertainment)
3. Homeless Chugakusei* (Toho)
4. Free And Easy 19* (Shochiku)
5. P.S. I Love You (Movie-Eye/ Toho Towa)
6. Ichi* (Warner)
7. Journey to the Center of the Earth (GAGA)
8. Masked Rider Den-o: The Movie Final Countdown* (Toei)
9. Okuribito (Departures)* (Shochiku)
10. Paco And The Magical Book* (Toho)
* Japanese film
J-Film Pow-Wow
Tsukamoto Takashi in Yesterdays
Nov 3, 2008 Artist, Movie, Tsukamoto Takashi
Tsukamoto Takashi stars in a movie “Yesterday”.
It opened on Saturday, and the movie cast had its official press conference yesterday in Tokyo.
myfirstgossipblog
Keiko & Yusuke Handsome Suits Stage Greet
Nov 3, 2008 Artist, Movie, Yamamoto Yusuke
Kitagawa Keiko and Yusuke attending the stage greetings for the movie Handsome Suits at Shibuya’s Cine Quinto on the 1st of November.
unleashthegeek
‘Handsome Suits’ stars kiss and tell
Nov 2, 2008 Artist, Kitagawa Keiko, Movie, Sada Mayumi, Sasaki Nozomi, Tanihara Shosuke, Tsukaji Takemasa
Actors Tanihara Shosuke, 36, and comedian Tsukaji Takemasa, 36, got a nice surprise at a promotional event for their new film “Handsome Suits,” when they received a kiss from actresses in the film.
The story is about an ugly man (Tsukaji) who becomes a handsome man (Tanihara) by wearing a special suit. Tanihara said, “It is my first time to appear in a film with Mr Tsukaji. I think this film will be my signature work.” Tsukaji added, “Although the film is full of references to how ugly my character is, it can make you feel happy.”
At the end of the event, actresses Kitagawa Keiko, Sada Mayumi and Sasaki Nozomi planted kisses on Tanihara, Tsukaji and director Tsutomu Hanabusa as presents.
JapanToday
