Sequel movie “Death Note – The Last Name” had the best opening weekend of any domestic movie this year. In the three days since it opened in theaters on November 3, it pulled in ¥1.2 billion at the box office and was seen by almost a million people. As it was a three-day holiday weekend, the figures are not an exact comparison, but Studio Ghibli’s latest anime release “Gedo Senki” (Tales From Earthsea) made about ¥950 million in its first three days in July. Death Note stars Fujiwara Tatsuya (photo right, 24) and Matsuyama Kenichi (photo left, 21) were in Tokyo’s Shibuya CinePalace yesterday to greet fans who helped raise the total audience above the one million barrier. Distributors Warner Entertainment Japan say they expect the two movies to make them a total of over ¥10 billion. Revenue will also get a boost from a Death Note tribute album, due to be released on December 20 and featuring artists such as Orange Range who are fans of the original manga series. Read our Death Note feature article.
• Actress Sudo Risa (30) is the latest to announce a “shotgun wedding”. Her management agency faxed the media yesterday saying that she registered her marriage on November 5, an auspicious “tai-an” day in the traditional Japanese calendar. She is expecting a baby next February. There was no info about her new husband except to say that the couple met about six years ago. A friend of the actress say they started dating in 2004. A stage and TV veteran of 20 years, Sudo recently appeared in the theatrical production “Jailbreakers”, staring Tokio’s Matsuoka Masahiro (29). She has appeared in popular TV drama series including “Yamato Nadeshiko” and “Densha Otoko”.