Posts Categorized: Japanese Movies

Feb 15 2017

Yuina Kuroshima and Nozomu Kotaki cast in live-action film “Principal”

Yuina Kuroshima and Nozomu Kotaki (‘Johnny’s West’) are cast in new live-action film “Principal.” The movie is based on manga series “Purinshiparu” by Ryo Ikuemi and directed by Tetsuo Shinohara. In the film, Yuina Kuroshima plays high school student Shima Sumitomo. She decides to live with her father and moves to Hokkaido. There, she meets the two most popular guys at her school (one of whom played by Nozomu Kotaki), but the school has a rule about the two guys that Shima Sumitomo is unaware of.

“Principal” will be released sometime next year in Japan.

Feb 14 2017

Masaki Suda and Kenta Kiritani cast in movie “Hibana: Spark”

Masaki Suda and Kenta Kiritani are cast in movie “Hibana: Spark.” Fumino Kimura,  Shuji Kawatani (comedy duo ‘Nicho Kenju’) and Masaki Miura are also cast in supporting roles. Movie “Hibana: Spark” is based on 2015 novel “Hibana” by Naoki Matayoshi. Online streaming company Netflix produced and distributed drama series version “Hibana: Spark” starring Kento Hayashi & Kazuki Namioka last year, which will re-air on NHK beginning February 26, 2016. In the upcoming movie version, Masaki Suda will play aspiring comedian Tokunaga and Kenta Kiritani will play veteran comedian Kamiya. Movie will be directed by Itsuji Itao.

Movie version “Hibana: Spark” will be released November, 2017 in Japan.

 

Feb 13 2017

Teaser trailer for movie “Yurigokoro”

Teaser trailer added for upcoming movie “Yurigokoro” starring Yuriko Yoshitaka. Movie is based on 2011 novel “Yurigokoro” by Mahokaru Numata and directed by Naoto Kumazawa (“Rainbow Song“). Author Mahokaru Numata writes novels in the crime-suspense-horror genre and more specifically the “iyamisu” (eww mystery) subgenre which has become quite popular in Japan in the last 4 or 5 years. Upcoming movie “Kanojo ga Sono Mei wo Shiranai Toritachi,” starring Yu Aoi and Sadao Abe, is also based on another novel by Mahokaru Numata. Premise for movie “Yurigokoro” follows a woman who finds a diary belonging to her father that implicates him as murderer.

Movie “Yurigokoro” will be released sometime this September in Japan.

Feb 13 2017

Trailer for live-action film “Peach Girl”

Trailer added for upcoming live-action film “Peach Girl” starring Mizuki Yamamoto & Kei Inoo. Movie is based on manga “Peach Girl” by Miwa Ueda. Story for the film follows high school student Momo Adachi (Mizuki Yamamoto). She always gets mistaken for a “bad girl” due to her appearance. A rumor spreads she kissed the most popular boy at school (Kei Inoo), which riles up the other girls, but she actually likes a boy (Mackenyu) on the baseball team that she is unable to express her feelings for.

“Peach Girl” will be released May 20, 2017 in Japan.

Feb 10 2017

Yui Aragaki and Eita cast in table tennis themed film “Mix”

Yui Aragaki and Eita are cast in new table tennis themed film “Mix.” Movie also features an impressive list of supporting cast members including Ryoko Hirosue, Kenichi Endo, Koji Seto, Mei Nagano, Yu Aoi & Yoko Maki. “Mix” will be directed by Junichi Ishikawa and scripted by Ryota Kosawa. The duo previously collaborated in 2015 film “April Fools.” Premise for “Mix” has Yui Aragaki as Tamako Tomita partnering up with Eita as Hisashi Hagiwara in a mixed doubles table tennis tournament. She does this to partly get back at her ex-boyfriend who dumped for another girl and also to revive her late mother’s table tennis club.

“Mix” will be released autumn, 2017 in Japan.

Feb 8 2017

Ryunosuke Kamiki and Nana Komatsu visuals for live-action film “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure”

Here’s visuals (posters) of Ryunosuke Kamiki and Nana Komatsu for upcoming live-action film “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” starring Kento Yamazaki. Movie is based on manga series “Jojo no Kimyona Boken Part 4 Daiyamondo wa Kudakenai” by Hirohiko Araki and directed by Takashi Miike. In the upcoming live-action film, Ryunosuke Kamiki plays Koichi Hirose. He is a classmate of Josuke Higashikata (Kento Yamazaki) and he loves peace. Meanwhile, Nana Komatsu plays Yukako Yamagishi. She goes to the same high school as Koichi Hirose and Josuke Higashikata. She likes Koichi Hirose.

“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” will be released August 4, 2017 in Japan.

Feb 8 2017

Trailer for movie “Vampire Night”

Trailer added for upcoming movie “Vampire Night” starring Yurina Yanagi, Yuuka Ueno & Yuhi. Movie will have its world premiere at the 2017 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (March 2-6, 2017) in the “Yubari Choice” section. Story for “Vampire Night” follows two sisters, played by Yurina Yanagi & Yuuka Ueno, who visit a ryokan located deep in the mountains. They soon learn the ryokan is also home to vampires.

“Vampire Night” will be released May 6, 2017 in Japan.

Feb 7 2017

Shotaro Mamiya cast in live-action NTV drama series “You Don’t Know Gunma Yet”

Shotaro Mamiya is cast in live-action NTV drama series “You Don’t Know Gunma Yet.” The drama series is based on the webcomic “Omae wa Mada Gunma wo Shiranai” by Hiroto Ida. In the drama series, Shotaro Mamiya will play main character Nori Kamitsuki. He transfers to a high school in Gunma Prefecture. He is in for a shock due to the regions cultural differences. He also becomes involved in a fight with the area’s rivals.

“You Don’t Know Gunma Yet” first airs March 6, 2017 in Japan.

Feb 7 2017

Kiichi Nakai and Kuranosuke Sasaki cast in movie “Full of Lies”

Kiichi Nakai and Kuranosuke Sasaki are cast in new movie “Full of Lies” (literal title of “Usohappyaku”). Movie is directed by Masaharu Take (“100 Yen Love“). Filming for the movie will take place February, 2017 in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan and the story will be set there. In the movie, Kiichi Nakai plays antique deal Norio and Kuranosuke Sasaki plays potter Sasuke. The two men come across legendary tea master Sen no Rikyu’s chaki (tea utensil).

“Full of Lies” will be released next year in Japan.

Feb 3 2017

Trailer for movie “The Blue Hearts”

Trailer added for upcoming omnibus film “The Blue Hearts.” The movie features 6 segments directed by Sang-il Lee, Ken Iizuka & Ten Shimoyama among others. What binds the 6 segments together is the music of Japanese rock band “The Blue Hearts” (their song “Linda Linda Linda” featured prominently in Nobuhiro Yamashita‘s 2005 film “Linda Linda Linda“). The directors picked their favorite songs by the band and made a short film based around the song.

“The Blue Hearts” opens April 8, 2017 in Japan.