eiga.com posted Japan's box office results for 2006, which showed three foreign films ("Harry Potter," "Pirates of the Caribbean," and "The Da Vinci Code") widely surpassing all of the domestic films. The top 10 domestic films for the year were:

• Tales from Earthsea (7.65b yen)
• Umizaru 2 (7.10b yen)
• The Uchoten Hotel (6.08b yen)
• Death Note: The Last Name (5.50b yen)
• Sinking of Japan (5.34b yen)
• YAMATO (5.09b yen)
• Pokemon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea: Manaphy (3.40b yen)
• Doraemon: Nobita no Kyoryu 2006 (3.28b yen)
• Nada Sousou (3.06b yen)
• Meitantei Conan: Tanteitachi no Requiem (3.03b yen)

It was previously rumored that Hayao Miyazaki's next project is an adaptation of the Chinese children's novella, "I Lost My Little Boy." This story has resurfaced with a report from film ick. The rumor has still not yet been officially confirmed, however.

Mystery writer Natsuhiko Kyogoku's popular Kyogokudo series will again see the big screen. The first book, "Ubume no Natsu" was adapted to film in 2005, directed by Akio Jissoji who died last year. The new film is based on the second book in the series, titled "Moryo no Hako." It will be directed by Masato Harada.

Actor Shinichi Tsutsumi will once again play the lead character. Masatoshi Nagase, who played the character of Sekiguchi in the first film, will be replaced by Kippei Shiina due to poor health. Hitomi Kuroki will also play a role.

The film is scheduled to be in theaters by the end of the year.

Singer Yu Hasebe of the girl group dream will play her first lead movie role this winter. The movie will be titled "Girl's BOX," the same name as a series of CDs and events produced by avex. Other artists associated with avex and Girl's BOX will also appear in the film: Nao Nagasawa, Nanase Hoshii, Aiko Kayo, Saaya, and Michi Saito.