“SPACE BATTLESHIP Yamato” bombarded by 100,000 applications for private screening

A private screening of upcoming movie “SPACE BATTLESHIP Yamato” was held at the Tokyo International Forum on November 1st, and it’s reportedly received a staggering amount of requests for seats.

According to distribution agency Toho, the film reserved 3,800 seats for the private screening, but the agency received approximately 100,000 applications!

Based off an animation which was broadcasted back in 1974, “SPACE BATTLESHIP Yamato” was revived for a live-action movie which stars SMAP member Kimura Takuya and actress Kuroki Meisa. Due to the high expectations that both retro fans and casual movie-buffs had of the film, the two main leads expressed their anxiety about viewer reactions at the post-screening press conference.

Kimura Takuya said, “I felt a little anxious about seeing your facial expressions after you watched the movie, but now that I see them, I feel full of exaltation.”

Meisa piped in, “I felt pressure and tension in the beginning, because it’s a movie which has been loved by many people, but I tried my best. ” She also admitted with a big smile that this was the first time that she co-starred with Kimura, but she really enjoyed working with him.

“SPACE BATTLESHIP Yamato” will be released in theaters on December 1st.









source: tokyohive

Wasao, the movie star dog, set to make music debut

Wasao, the famous “busa-kawaii” (ugly-cute) Akita from Aomori, will be hitting the silver screen when his film ‘Wasao’ premiers on March 5th (directed by Nishiki Yoshinari). But it is now confirmed that Wasao will also be making waves in the musical world.

Singer and actress Yakushimaru Hiroko (46) sings the movie’s theme, “Bokura no takaramono“, marking 22 years since her last theme song effort. However, Wasao will “sing” his own version of the song: with the help of advanced computer techniques, a recording of his bark will be put to the tune’s melody.

For the entire shoot, which started last September and lasted about a month, the staff stuck closely to Wasao at all times. During a break in the 55-hour filming, they coaxed owner Kikutani Setsuko (67) into taking Wasao on a walk, during which time they managed to capture a single howl on tape. It was the only howl they had heard up to that point, and it would be the last. Because the sound was never included in the film, this single bark – which has now been transformed into “song” – should be considered precious.

A Chaku Uta version of Wasao’s song will go on sale on February 28th, and part of the proceeds will go to UNESCO Japan, which currently employs Wasao as a “doggy ambassador”.

Additionally, check out the trailer for the “Wasao” movie below:




source: tokyohive