The main cast members have been announced for the live-action manga adaptation “20th Century Boys”, on which filming started yesterday. Yesterday also saw the first look at the movie’s original poster art (left). Urasawa Naoki’s popular science fiction mystery story, which first appeared in the weekly magazine “Big Comic Spirits” in 1999, is being made into a trilogy of movies directed by Tsutsumi Yukihiko (52). The first two chapters are being shot simultaneously over the next six months, and the first chapter is scheduled to open in theaters on August 30. It’s expected to be the biggest adaptation movie of the year. And with locations in seven countries and a budget estimated at ¥6 billion, some big name actors were expected. Karasawa Toshiaki (44) will play the lead role of Kenji, a man who must search his childhood memories for the secrets of a mysterious cult leader known only as “Friend.” The key roles of Kenji’s childhood friends will be played by Toyokawa Etsushi (48) as Otcho and Tokiwa Takako (35) as Yukiji. The obvious title theme for the movies is T. Rex’s 1973 hit “20th Century Boy”, which Urasawa lists as an inspiration for the story. As children, Kenji and his friends write a “book of revelations” that tells of a hero who stands up to an evil organization bent on destroying the world. 30 years later and those events start to play out in real life, but with Kenji – now a convenience store manager but with hero and rock-star dreams – cast not as the hero but as one of the villains. 20 million copies of the manga have been sold in Japan.
• Musician Kato Raimon (29) has been arrested for possession of marijuana. According to police reports, several grams of the drug were found in a rucksack in his car outside his Meguro Ward, Tokyo home. It is believed that his family turned him in. Kato is best known as the second son of folk duo Hide and Rosanna, made up of the late Demon Hide (1942-90, real name Kato Hideo) and his Italian wife, who were very popular in the 1970s. He is a member of the band Smorgas.
• Management for Iida Kaori (26) announced yesterday that the former Morning Musume leader became a mother last month. She had a baby girl on January 22. Iida married former 7House member Kenji (29) in July of last year. She plans to continue her musical career.
• Fans of Kawamura Ryuichi (37) got a rare treat yesterday at the Nippon Budokan, when the Luna Sea vocalist performed a “marathon live” show that included all 71 songs recorded during his ten years as a solo artist. When Kawamura got to song No.65, “Sunset”, the 12,000 fans went wild when he was joined on stage by Luna Sea guitarist Inoran (37).