Some Tokyograph news:
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Sakai, Nakama co-star in "Bushi no Kakeibo"
Tue, November 24, 2009 (3:41am EST)
Masato Sakai (36) and Yukie Nakama (30) will co-star in director Yoshimitsu Morita's adaptation of "Bushi no Kakeibo," a historical novel by Michifumi Isoda.
The story is set during the Meiji Restoration of the late Edo period. Sakai plays the "abacus samurai" Hachidaime Naoyuki, an accountant for the powerful Kaga Domain. However, with the decline of the feudal system and other economic troubles, Hachidaime and his wife (Nakama) must deal with the loss of status and wealth. Together, the two focus on keeping their household together with what little they have left.
Filming starts on December 3 in Kanazawa, where the story takes place. "Bushi no Kakeibo" will get a 2010 release, distributed jointly by Asmik Ace and Shochiku.
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"Tsubaki" beauties co-star in "Flowers"
Wed, January 13, 2010 (4:27am EST)
Toho has revealed a new film by director Norihiro Koizumi ("Taiyou no Uta," "Gachi Boy"). Titled "FLOWERS," the movie stars six women seen in Shiseido's popular TSUBAKI commercials: Yu Aoi (24), Yuko Takeuchi (29), Lena Tanaka (29), Yukie Nakama (30), Kyoka Suzuki (41), and Ryoko Hirosue (29).
"FLOWERS," which has been in the works since late 2008, was planned by creative director Takuya Onuki, whose works include the TSUBAKI commercials. The movie portrays six related stories, spanning three generations.
It begins in the 1930s with a woman named Rin Miyazawa (played by Yu Aoi), who is troubled by the marriage that her parents have arranged for her. Seeking freedom, she leaves the house on her wedding day, and later in life gives birth to three daughters. The oldest, Kaoru (Takeuchi), loses her husband in a car accident. The second, Midori (Tanaka), is a working woman who tries to decide between her job and a marriage proposal. The youngest, Sato (Nakama), is born with weak health and passes away after delivering her second child. Sato's daughters are played in the present day by Suzuki and Hirosue.
Filming started last April and continued for half a year. Theatrical release has been set for June 12, 2010. The male cast members are reportedly on a level comparable with the six beauties, though their identities will be revealed at a later date.
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Kusanagi stars in TBS miniseries "Japanese Americans"
Fri, February 12, 2010 (2:52am EST)
This autumn, TBS plans to broadcast a five-episode drama series titled "Japanese Americans." The drama, an original work by veteran screenwriter Sugako Hashida, focuses on a Japanese family who emigrated to the United States a century ago and lived through World War II.
SMAP's Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (35) will star, playing the second-generation immigrant Ichiro Hiramatsu, who serves as a U.S. soldier during the war. Kusanagi will also play the role of the father Nagayoshi during his younger days, though Kiichi Nakai (48) will take over that character for middle age and beyond.
Yukie Nakama (30) plays the heroine as Ichiro's love interest Shinobu. Other cast members include Pinko Izumi (62) as the mother, Kenichi Matsuyama (24) as the younger brother Jiro, Yo Oizumi (36), Kaoru Yachigusa (79), and Keiko Kishi (77).
Filming starts in the next few days and is expected to last five months, including two months of filming in the U.S. Broadcast dates have not yet been set, but it will air this fall as five two-hour episodes on consecutive nights, which is a first for the network. The drama is being labeled as a special project in honor of TBS's 60th anniversary.
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"Trick" gets another special episode
Mon, March 15, 2010 (2:25am EDT)
The highly popular drama franchise "Trick" is already getting a third movie on May 8 and a spinoff series starting on April 9, but it was revealed on Sunday that it is also getting a new 2-hour special episode, titled "Trick Shinsaku Special 2."
The first "Trick Shinsaku Special" aired in November 2005. Although the new episode has not been given a broadcast date yet, it is expected to air this spring. Starring the combo of Yukie Nakama (30) and Hiroshi Abe (45), the story this time is set in a village where an ancient custom still remains, and a mysterious lullaby seems to bring misfortune.
The episode's guest cast includes Yuko Asano, Kento Nagayama, Satomi Tezuka, Atom Shimojo, and Mari Hamada.[/b]
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