Tsumabuki Satoshi stars in bank heist movie “Ogon wo Daite Tobe”

It was revealed yesterday that actor Tsumabuki Satoshi (31) is starring in a new movie from director Izutsu Kazuyuki (“Pacchigi!”), titled “Ogon wo Daite Tobe.” The movie is based on a novel by Takamura Kaoru, who won the Naoki Prize in 1993 with “Marks no Yama.”

“Ogon wo Daite Tobe” is a bank heist story set in Osaka. Tsumabuki plays Koda, who works as a supplier for criminals and extremists. His friend from university, Kitagawa (played by Asano Tadanobu), has a plan to steal 1.5 billion yen worth of gold bars from a bank’s underground vault.

Their team also includes a bank security system engineer named Noda (Kiritani Kenta), Kitagawa’s younger brother (Mizobata Junpei), a former elevator technician (Nishida Toshiyuki), and a spy named Momo who is posing an engineering student from abroad (CHANGMIN from Tohoshinki).

Filming started on January 7, mainly in Osaka and Hyogo. Izutsu plans to finish shooting in early March and have the film ready for release in November of this year.

Sources: Sports Hochi + Eiga.com via Tokyograph

Tsumabuki Satoshi becomes Doraemon’s Nobita in Toyota CM

Tsumabuki Satoshi becomes Doraemon’s Nobita in Toyota CM
Toyota Motor Corporation is rolling out a new series of commercials based on the popular manga and anime “Doraemon.” The commercials will be partly live-action, and the first one, which begins airing this Friday, features actor Tsumabuki Satoshi (30) as Nobita and mixed martial artist Ogawa Naoya (43) as Gian.

The story for the commercials is set 20 years after the anime series. The first commercial, titled “Nobita, 30-sai,” starts with an animated scene where Nobita and Gian talk about their dreams for the future. It then switches to a live-action scene showing Nobita and Gian grown up, with narration provided by actor Ishizaka Koji. GReeeeN’s “Kiseki” is being used as the commercial’s music.

Toyota plans to continue the series of commercials in the future, though it has not yet been revealed who will play the other characters, such as Doraemon, Shizuka, and Suneo.
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news & photos source: Mantan Web via Tokyograph


Tsumabuki Satoshi, Takei Emi co-star in “Ai to Makoto 201X”

Kajiwara Ikki’s romance manga “Ai to Makoto” is being turned into a new live-action movie, titled “Ai to Makoto 201X.” Miike Takashi will direct the film, while Tsumabuki Satoshi (30) and Takei Emi (17) take on the starring roles.

“Ai to Makoto” was originally published between 1973 and 1976 in Weekly Shonen Magazine. It was highly successful, going on to sell 8 million copies. In 1974, it was adapted as a television drama, followed by three movies in 1974, 1975, and 1976.

The story tells of the love between a pure high school girl named Saotome Ai (Takei) and a high school delinquent named Taiga Makoto (Tsumabuki).

“Ai to Makoto 201X” is set for a 2012 release.

News & image source: Sankei Sports via Tokyograph

"34th Japan Academy Prize winners announced"

The winners of the 34th Japan Academy Prize were announced on Friday. Sang-il Lee's "Akunin" received the most awards, with a total of 15 awards in 13 categories. One of the most notable winners is 6-year-old actress Mana Ashida, the youngest ever to win one of the newcomer awards.

Most of the categories have five "Excellent" recipients, and one in each category will be chosen for the "Best" awards, to be revealed at the presentation ceremony on February 18.


Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:
  • Tsurube Shofukutei (Otouto)
  • Shinichi Tsutsumi (Kokou no Mesu)
  • Satoshi Tsumabuki (Akunin)
  • Etsushi Toyokawa (Hisshiken Torisashi)
  • Koji Yakusho (13 Assassins)


( Other categories & winners. )
Image source: The Web Da Capo
Source: Japan Academy Prize
Translation: Tokyograph

"Akunin" tops competition in 23rd Nikkan Sports Film Awards

The results of the 23rd Nikkan Sports Film Awards (and the corresponding Yujiro Ishihara Awards) have been announced. Sang-il Lee's "Akunin" continued its recent trophy-winning streak by picking up three awards here for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress. This is Lee's second film to win Best Picture, after "Hula Girls" in 2006.

The winners are:

  • Best Picture: "Akunin" (Sang-il Lee)
  • Best Director: Takashi Miike ("13 Assassins")
  • Best Actor: Satoshi Tsumabuki ("Akunin")
  • Best Actress: Eri Fukatsu ("Akunin")
  • Best Supporting Actor: Goro Inagaki ("13 Assassins")
  • Best Supporting Actress: Yu Aoi ("Otouto")
  • Best Newcomer: Riisa Naka ("Zebraman 2," "Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo")
  • Best Foreign Film: "The Hurt Locker"
  • Yujiro Ishihara Award: "THE LAST MESSAGE: Umizaru"
  • Yujiro Ishihara Best Newcomer Award: Kengo Kora ("Oniichan no Hanabi," "Solanin," etc.)

The awards will be presented at a ceremony on December 28 in Tokyo.

Source: Tokyograph