Sat, August 25, 2007 (11:54pm EDT)
Izuru Narushima's action thriller "Midnight Eagle," starring Takao Osawa and Yuko Takeuchi, will have its world premiere in Los Angeles, it was announced on Wednesday.
The screening takes place on October 2, and is part of a 100-million yen publicity campaign by Shochiku that also has backing from Universal Pictures. Aside from the cast and the media, a 200-member audience will be invited from Japan to attend the premiere. The event includes a reception and a press conference for the American media.
Shochiku is hoping the campaign will build momentum for sales at the American Film Market, which takes place in Santa Monica on October 31 to November 7.
"Midnight Eagle" is premiering in Japan at the Tokyo International Film Festival later in October. It has also been announced that the theatrical release has been advanced from a December date to November 23.
The screening takes place on October 2, and is part of a 100-million yen publicity campaign by Shochiku that also has backing from Universal Pictures. Aside from the cast and the media, a 200-member audience will be invited from Japan to attend the premiere. The event includes a reception and a press conference for the American media.
Shochiku is hoping the campaign will build momentum for sales at the American Film Market, which takes place in Santa Monica on October 31 to November 7.
"Midnight Eagle" is premiering in Japan at the Tokyo International Film Festival later in October. It has also been announced that the theatrical release has been advanced from a December date to November 23.
Sat, August 25, 2007 (11:04pm EDT)
Actor Ryuhei Matsuda will appear in his first TV documentary. On September 24, TBS will broadcast a program called "Kodai Bunmei Mystery: Maboroshi no Andes Ogon Teikoku - Inca ni Nemuru Nazo!" The show will explore the secrets of the Inca Empire.
Matsuda will leave Japan on September 1, visiting ruins in Peru and other South American countries for about two weeks.
When asked about his agreement to do the show, Matsuda explained that he sees the trip as an opportunity for growth as a person and as an actor.
Matsuda will leave Japan on September 1, visiting ruins in Peru and other South American countries for about two weeks.
When asked about his agreement to do the show, Matsuda explained that he sees the trip as an opportunity for growth as a person and as an actor.
Sat, August 25, 2007 (9:40pm EDT)
Magician Shinji Maggy and his wife, model Yuki Yoshida, both announced on their blogs that they are expecting a child. The news was posted on Saturday, their first wedding anniversary. Yoshida is currently five months pregnant.
Sat, August 25, 2007 (9:15pm EDT)
Two tribute albums have been announced in honor of singer Tamio Okuda. The albums are titled "Tamio Okuda Covers" and "Unicorn Tribute," with the latter featuring songs by his former band, Unicorn. Okuda debuted with that band in 1987, making this year the 20th anniversary of his career.
A total of 34 artists and groups are participating on the two albums, including Yosui Inoue, CHEMISTRY, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, MONGOL800, and Puffy AmiYumi (the only one to appear on both).
The two albums will be released simultaneously on October 24.
A total of 34 artists and groups are participating on the two albums, including Yosui Inoue, CHEMISTRY, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, MONGOL800, and Puffy AmiYumi (the only one to appear on both).
The two albums will be released simultaneously on October 24.
Sat, August 25, 2007 (8:57pm EDT)
"Shin Onna Tachiguishi Retsuden," Mamoru Oshii's omnibus follow-up to "Tachiguishi Retsuden" ("Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters") and "Onna Tachiguishi Retsuden," is scheduled to open on November 10. The work consists of six shorts, with one of them starring talento Yuko Ogura.
She appears in the segment titled "Kayo no Tenshi: Crepe no Mami," which is directed by Makoto Kamiya. Ogura plays an idol named Mami who shows up at a Harajuku crepe shop in the 1980s. The short lasts only 23 minutes, but it includes a 17-minute monologue in which Mami explains the history of Japan's Showa era (1926-1989). The difficult and lengthy passage required a combination of memorization and reading.
Of the other five segments, Oshii directed two of them, one starring Yuriko Hishimi and the other starring Hinako Saeki. The other leads are: Mabuki Ando in Kenji Kamiyama's movie, Miki Mizuno in Takanori Tsujimoto's, and Yoko Fujita in Hiroaki Yuasa's.
She appears in the segment titled "Kayo no Tenshi: Crepe no Mami," which is directed by Makoto Kamiya. Ogura plays an idol named Mami who shows up at a Harajuku crepe shop in the 1980s. The short lasts only 23 minutes, but it includes a 17-minute monologue in which Mami explains the history of Japan's Showa era (1926-1989). The difficult and lengthy passage required a combination of memorization and reading.
Of the other five segments, Oshii directed two of them, one starring Yuriko Hishimi and the other starring Hinako Saeki. The other leads are: Mabuki Ando in Kenji Kamiyama's movie, Miki Mizuno in Takanori Tsujimoto's, and Yoko Fujita in Hiroaki Yuasa's.
