SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi is starring in a period film titled "Ballad: Namonaki Koi no Uta." The movie revolves around a love story between a Sengoku-era general (Kusanagi) and a princess (Yui Aragaki), directed by Takashi Yamazaki of "Always: Sanchome no Yuhi" fame.

The story is actually based on the plot of the 2002 animated movie "Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen." That film won many awards, including the grand prize in the animation division of the Japan Media Arts Festival.

In "Ballad," Kusanagi plays a general of a small state. The princess, played by Aragaki, is offered a political marriage with a daimyo of a neighboring state, and war ensues when she turns down the offer. A key character in the plot is a young boy named Shinichi (originally Shin-chan), who comes from the future. 11-year-old Akashi Takei plays the role of Shinichi.

The film, which will heavily use CG for its battle scenes, is apparently budgeted at 2 billion yen. The supporting cast includes Michitaka Tsutsui, Yui Natsukawa, Atsuo Nakamura, and Takao Osawa. Filming started late last month and is expected to finish in January. The movie's tentative release date is in September 2009.