JAPANTODAY’S PREMIER ENGLISH DIGITAL WEEKLY MAGAZINE
ISSUE 04 / VOLUME 01 / AUGUST 2012
More and more wine lovers are now turning to wine for investment purposes. Read the full report on INSIGHT: BUSINESS
TRAVEL
FAMILY & EDUCATION
ENTERTAINMENT
Top 10 cheap or free accomodation for the traveller on a budget
Kidzania: The children of today learn the skills for their tomorrow
BUSINESS
RESTAURANTS & DINING
“Go ahead: remake my day.” Ken Watanabe stars in Japanese remake of “Unforgiven.”
Savouring that precious drop of red. Why you might want to start investing in wine
Burgers and coffee in the trendy Daikanyama
INSIGHT
Editor in Chief Chris Betros Art Direction/Design Thong Van Contributors Lynn Allmon
Lauren Shannon Ricky Matthews
Account Managers Kieron Cashell Peter Lackner
Sales inquiries insight.sales@japantoday.com General inquiries insight@japantoday.com Publisher GPlusMedia Co., Ltd.
www.gplusmedia.com insight.japantoday.com
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TRAVEL
FREE (OR CHEAP ACCOMMODATIO Accommodation in Japan can be expensive, but that doesn’t mean that is has to be. Ranging from the predictable to the creative, here ten ways to find free, or at the very least extremely cheap, lodgings in Japan. 1. Internet Cafes/Comic Book
2. Hostels
Cafes/Manga Kissaten
Price: From free to about
Price: Around 800yen to 1,500yen per night (5 to 8 hours)
I stumbled upon this option one desperate night, having missed the last train back
to my destination. The only hotel in sight was a Hilton, and I sure as hell couldn’t afford that. So, I took to the streets. As luck would have it, there was a
comic book cafe/internet cafe, which
are known as “manga kissa” or “manga kissaten” in Japanese, right down the
street. I walked into the dark building
and was greeted by a large room filled
with computer cubicals, nerdy-looking
guys, and shelves upon shelves of comic books. The receptionist told me it would be 1500 yen for a five hour stay with a private cubical. This also included
unlimited access to the comic books, a shower, and all the soda I could drink. I was sold. I grabbed a Calpis, took a
quick look at some comic books, and then headed to my cubical to check my e-mail. The cubical had a very comfy chair, so I was able to fall asleep quite easily.
Some internet cafes have a “long stay”
option, where you can go in and out of the internet cafe freely if you pay a set amount per week or month. I’ve been
told that some internet cafes even have beds. I did not take advantage of the
shower, but I now feel like a much more worldly person for the experience of
sleeping in an internet cafe. Next time you find yourself without a place to
sleep, ask around for a manga kissa. 4
6,000yen per night
The traditional refuge of the traveling
poor (read: students), hostels are great places to stay in Tokyo. Personally, I
mostly use Hostel World to book, but
there are a ton of other sites, so be sure
to shop around. Unfortunately, I’ve heard that the hostel community in Japan just isn’t as vibrant and the travelers aren’t
so I believe that those on the American tourist visa, as well as other similar
visas issued by other countries, are in the clear to participate in this type of
arrangement. However, please contact the hostel ahead of time to make sure of their requirements and the details. 3. WWOOF Japan Price: 5,500 yen for a one year membership
as social as in many other parts of the
Less an accommodation, more an
to be clean, well-staffed, and quiet (if
Workers on Organic Farms,” and is a
world, but overall, I’ve found the hostels that’s what you prefer!) I’ve also had
the chance to meet some interesting
travelers through hostels. As with any
accommodation, it’s a good idea to check the reviews, hostel rules, and location,
since there are a few bad apples, a few rather early curfews, and a few hostels that are far away from tourist sites. That’s the “almost free” part. Now, on to the free part!
If you are familiar with hostels, you
may know about the practice volunteer work exchange, where you do cleaning
or other tasks at the hostel for a small, set amount of time in exchange for a
free or reduced price bed. Quite a few hostels in Tokyo, such as Khaosan,
Asakusa Smile, and Yayoda Guesthouse, offer this type of exchange.
experience. WWOOF stands for “Willing volunteer work exchange program. You
work at a host family’s home, business,
or farm on average about 6 hours a day, 6 days a week (although this does really
vary with the host) in exchange for food and accommodation. The membership
costs 5500 yen for one year, and having
paid that fee, you get access to the online list of hosts looking for volunteers. Honestly, the two months I spent
WWOOFing in Japan were some of
the most amazing times of my life.
You do have to be a “willing worker,” of course, and as the organization’s
name suggests, many of the hosts are organic (or striving-to-be-organic)
farmers, and farm work isn’t always easy. However, the hosts often take
the volunteers to famous sightseeing spots, parties, or other interesting
Just to clear up any confusion about
events and cultural experiences, and it
of Foreign Affairs of Japan states that
to travel a bit off the beaten path.
tourist visas ahead of time, the Ministry a tourist visa covers unpaid activities,
is a great way to meet people who like
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P) ONS IN JAPAN AUTHOR: LYNN ALLMON PHOTO: BEATPLUSMELODY
There are a few other websites and
programs similar to WWOOF Japan, such as helpx.net and workaway.info, which aren’t quite as extensive as WWOOF, but still seem to have a lot to offer. 4. Camping Price: From free to about 8,000 yen per night
When you think of camping, this is
possibly what most people imagine: bringing a tent or camper to a
campground, renting an area to place
said tent or camper, and spending some fun times with your family/friends/
lover/dog. Indeed, there are places like that in Japan as well. The cost to rent a space seems to be, on average, about 3000 yen to 8000 yen per night.
Yet this wasn’t quite the camping I was going for. Notice how the
price I listed says, “from free…” Slightly less legitimate than your typical bonfire-and-s’mores affair, this is
a camping experience a WWOOFing
couple told me about. Armed with a
tent and some Japanese learned from
animated Miyazaki movies, the couple
would attempt to hitchhike to their next
WWOOFing location. Whenever they were unable to get to the next scheduled
location by nightfall, they would ask to
be dropped off in a semi-populated area and then would proceed to ask local
residents if they could pitch tent on their farmland. To my amazement, they said
that they got permission quite a few times and, in addition, met some interesting
people. If this bohemian way of traveling doesn’t intimidate you, it’s worth a try! Not at all recommended and probably not even legal, is something called
‘nojuku,’ which is basically just sleeping in a park or field. Equally cautioned
against is ‘ekine’ or ‘STB/station bivouac,’ which means to sleep at a station
overnight. Those who have been to
Japan before have without a doubt seen drunk businessmen or the homeless
sleeping at the station, and there are even entire websites devoted to the
endeavor. There are obvious dangers associated with this practice, one of
which is having your picture taken by someone amused by your plight. 5. Couchsurfing Price: Free Couchsurfing is staying at a friend, family, or acquaintance’s dwelling for free,
6. Overnight Buses Price: About 2,500 yen to 11,000 yen one way (one night)
The overnight bus, known as yako bus in Japanese, is probably going to be
the most expensive suggestion on this list. Still, I feel justified in adding it
because, in addition to having a place to sleep, you’ll wake up in a place far away, that could have easily cost you over 25,000 yen or more by bullet
train. There are several overnight bus
sites in English, like Willer Express, and since I’m someone who can sleep just about anywhere, the night buses suit
me just fine. The major cautions I have are to double check the departure and
arrive times and get to the pick-up area early, since sometimes it is difficult to find where the bus is parked. Japan-
guide.com has a wonderfully detailed article about night buses in Japan.
presumably sleeping on the couch, and
In the same vein, Japan-guide.com also
an art. You create a free profile, filling in
in Japan, too. While the sleeper train
Couchsurfing.com has turned this into details such as name and hobbies and
whether you are willing to host, and then you’re good to start sending messages to hosts requesting lodging. There are
ways to get “verified,” by providing proof
wrote a good article about sleeper trains network is not as extensive as the bus
system, I still recommend taking a look.
→
of identify, and a section for reviews,
which make you look more trustworthy as a host and guest. I’ve known some
people who were lucky enough to find
hosts who’d let them stay at their place for weeks or let guests have run of
the house while the host was away on
vacation. It’s really a fascinating project! 5
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7. Homestays Price: Free to about 50,000 yen per month Home stays are a wonderful way to
experience the Japanese lifestyle shortterm and visit Japan without putting a
strain on your budget. There are quite a few websites devoted to matching
travelers with households looking to
host. Also, although homestays are often thought of as options only for students
to sleep, and it certainly could get
typically are outfitted with tatami mats
practice in Japan to ask someone to
shared, all the rooms are private and
and futons. Hotel rooms are generally smaller in Tokyo when compared to US hotel rooms, and economy hotel
rooms doubly so (although not as tight
a squeeze as capsule hotels, of course). At the one I stayed at, I could almost, but not quite, touch both walls while sitting in the middle of the room.
and the young, don’t let age be a factor in
Still, they are a great deal for the price.
as there are many hosts happy to have
futon, hangers, and sometimes a robe,
whether you look into doing a homestay,
you stay, regardless of age. Here are just some of the websites that help bring
The rooms often have TVs, a comfy and some will have free breakfast.
travelers and hosts in Japan together:
Again, since economy hotels, like many
8. Capsule Hotels
are aimed at traveling (or drunk) business
other cheap accommodations in Japan,
Price: 2,000 yen to 5,000 yen per night
men, they can be found clustered around
per hour for naps)
hotels with websites in English:
If you aren’t too claustrophobic (or too
10. Japan McDonald’s
as a pod hotel, might be right for you.
meal)
(also available around 300 yen to 600 yen
tall), then a capsule hotel, also known
In your capsule, you’ll most likely have
stations. Here are just a few economy
Price: Free to about 700yen (for one value
a TV, radio, alarm clock, reading light,
You may think I’m joking about
curtains or little doors that you can
Japan, but, sadly, I’m not.
and, of course, a bed. There are even
close for some privacy (just try not to
think about how you are actually only a few inches from the person next to
you, separated only by wall). Think of it as a “honey, I shrunk the room.”
sleeping at McDonald’s in
One day, soaking wet from the rain, running on two hours of sleep, and
miserable because my hotel reservation had been mixed up, I needed to sleep.
Since the hotel I had found didn’t allow
The only down-side is that, because
check-in until much later in the day, I
typically aren’t allowed at these
Luckily, I stumbled upon a five story
as there are a few exceptions.
higher floors and that’s when I saw it:
The capsule hotels are most often found
the McDonald’s upper floors. I couldn’t
of safety and privacy issues, women
wandered, dead-eyed, around the city.
hotels, so it is a good idea to check,
McDonald’s. I looked up absently at the
clustered around stations, since they are most popular among drunk business men who’ve lost the last train. If you
prefer to find one ahead of time, about. com has a nice list of capsule hotels
in Tokyo at their site, and here are a few more with websites in English: 9. Economy Hotels Price: 2,500yen to 6,000yen per night Often advertised in English as hostels, economy hotels, known as kanshuku (“simple accommodations”) in
Japanese, are actually slightly different accommodations from hostels. While
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the bathrooms and dining areas are
dozens of people asleep in their chairs in believe it. Needless to say, I rushed inside and ordered a shaka-shaka chicken, then
made a beeline for the third floor, where I had seen the most people asleep. It turns out that many of the people there were
students who had fallen asleep on their books. So, I got too it. After eating my
shaka-shaka chicken, I took out a book and promptly fell asleep. I got a good
three or so hours of sleep there. I’m not
proud of this fact, but I can honestly say
McDonald’s saved my life — or at least my sanity. Seriously, thank you, McDonald’s. Granted, fast food restaurants aren’t
exactly the most recommended place
you kicked out (actually, it is common leave a restaurant if they’ve been there for a long time and if there are people waiting, even at fast food places). So,
while I can’t say that I advocate sleeping there, I will say that it is at least a good place to have a shaka-shaka chicken. For one more extra suggestion, consider: Dormitories A popular option for students,
dormitories in Japan are very similar to
those on college campuses in the US, with individual rooms (although some have
the option for a roommate) and shared bathrooms and living areas. Dorms
typically house students, college faculty, or factory workers — mainly people who are going to be staying for a month or
longer. However, some dormitories are
available for non-students. Dormitories start at 30,000 yen per month for the
cheapest. Dormitories are one of the more expensive options, but can be a deal if
you plan to stay for a month or longer or stay in connection with studies or a job. I hope that this list has given you some idea of the cheap accommodations options in Japan. Happy travels!
BUSINESS
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS: WINE AUTHOR: RICKY MATTHEWS
Many expats here in Tokyo enjoy the odd glass or bottle of wine for enjoyment. However, many are now turning to wine for investment purposes. Wine has often been the subject of literature and art, legend and myth. The best wines are an almost indefinable art, an essence, feeling or quality that many try to bottle, but few ever uncork.
Why Wine? Wine is very much a unique asset. Unlike most other luxury
items, such as Rolex watches or Ferrari cars, the limited supply of fine wine is fixed. If demand for a Rolex or Ferrari increases,
more can be made, but fine wines have a set limited production number - once the sun has gone down, the grapes have been picked, no more vines can be planted or bottles filled.
Fine wine (investment-grade), is considered by many to be
only the top 50 to 100 traded wines, although some analysts go further and specify that only those from chateaus in
the Bordeaux region qualify. Either way, wine production is controlled and cannot be increased by demand.
The usual investment unit is one case of 12 bottles and the more expensive wines - worth several thousands of dollars per case - usually have the greatest potential for growth.
Since 1855, Bordeaux wines have been classified into five ranks.
houses than those in New York and London combined.
600% plus profit! When the 2008 vintage of Château Lafite Rothschild (pictured
right) was first available on the en primeur market in May 2009, a case (12 bottles) of the wine cost about $3,399. Early last
year, three cases of the same wine sold to a Hong Kong collector for $24,395, a staggering 618% increase in just 20 months. Why? The boost in prices was largely due to the special
bottle that Château Lafite Rothschild designed for its 2008 vintage, which featured an embossed Chinese character for the “lucky” number eight. Once news of the bottle
design was released, Chinese buyers pushed the already lofty prices up further to get their hands on a case.
The crème de la crème are the first growths, closely followed by
What else determines the value of a wine?
growths. The better the wine, the longer it takes to mature: first
a history of calling top wines before his peers. He is the world’s
the super seconds; further down come the third, fourth and fifth
The short answer is Robert Parker Jnr. The U.S. commentator has
growths will take 15 to 20 years - sometimes more. However,
most powerful wine critic – basically what he says goes. Parker
in reality, the wine will start to be consumed from the moment it is bottled. And because only a finite number of bottles are
produced in each vintage, prices generally rise as supply falls.
will give wines a score out of 100. Anything bearing a Parker
score of 90+ is likely to be an investment “worth considering.” You can check his scores at his website: erobertparker.com
The Impact of Asia
Tips on Investing
While European and North American investors and
If you’re a keen investor, fine wine should be seen as an
wines, in the past five years, an Asian market has emerged.
tangible and different, a slice of diversity disconnected
oenophiles have always had a healthy appetite for fine
Interestingly, Hong Kong is now the fine wine capital of
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the world – in 2011, the city sold more fine wine at auction
addendum to your portfolio, an asset that provides something from mainstream investments. Diversification is key, so building the right investment portfolio takes time and
BUSINESS
consideration. Unlike gold, oil or shares where prices can change
dramatically unless a quick decision is made – with wine, the investment should be given full consideration.
The “Investment Story” for fine wine in a nutshell Of the wines considered to be of
investment quality, the average annual production is 450,000 cases (or 5.4
Just as your first stock market
million bottles). This production has
FTSE 100/ S&P500 companies, your first
there were 10 million “Millionaires.” So
This is the home of the finest red
wanted only a single bottle of the world’s
for bottling the most outstanding
not be nearly enough to go round.
investments are likely to have been
to satisfy global demand; at last count
wine investments should be Bordeaux.
you can see that even if each millionaire
wines on offer and has a track record
best wine each year, then there would
produce over the last two centuries.
So, we have finite and limited supply,
Of course, like shares, wines can
improving quality over time (with
can drink the negative equity.
new markets and reducing supply,
First time wine investors are best
happen to prices…they go up..!
fall in value too - but at least you
leaving the bottle selection to the
maturity), increasing demand from there is only one thing that can
experts. A wine investment specialist
will tailor a portfolio for you depending on how much you want to invest, for how long and your risk profile.
Alternatively, first time investors may
prefer to gain exposure to this market by investing in an investment trust
or unit trust that, instead of holding equities, holds fine wine. Ask your
adviser about The Wine Investment Fund or The Fine Wine Fund if this appeals.
Château Lafite Rothschild 2008 Vintage with embossed Chinese lucky character “8”
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FAMILY AND EDUCATION
The children of today learn the skills for their tomorrow. The concept of KidZania is simple: “To
provide a safe, unique and very realistic
educational environment that allows kids
between the ages of four to 12 to do what comes naturally to them: role-playing by mimicking traditionally adult activities.” You realize it truly is a realistic
environment when entering the KidZania
city at LaLaport Toyosu -- a bustling city in miniature (two-thirds of normal size). Multi-storied buildings bustling with
people and businesses, streets with traffic
on them and real life restaurants, bakeries and confectionery stands cooking and
preparing produce for sale just like a real
city, except everything is prepared for and by kids.
How the system works Children can sign up for work at any place of business. After putting their names on
a list, they are given a start time to report. Each job can last up to 30 minutes. After being trained by the adult staff, they are then given a chance to don a uniform
and try the job out for themselves. There are over 80 activities at Tokyo KidZania,
which vary in difficulty and suitability for each age group.
The real key to the success of the Mexican born franchise is its ability to empower
the kids; there is a real sense of purpose mixed with fun, which the kids really respond to. Firstly, whether it be a
firefighter, flight attendant or ice-cream parlor worker, they first and foremost are on their own, (mum and dad can
view from the outside viewing pavilion,
but are not allowed inside the employee only areas. And secondly, kids get paid in KidZania currency or “kidZos.” They
services. Kids can actually open a bank account at the KidZania bank (SMBC),
where they can deposit their KidZos, have a bank book and ATM card, which allows
them to withdraw their money from these real ATM machines available around the KidZania city.
The level of sponsorship from companies present at KidZania is very impressive,
recognizing their future customers and
Cost Admission into Kidzania varies depending on age of the child, weekday or weekend and morning or evening shift. But,
for example, a 6-year-old going on a
Saturday morning shift would pay 4,600
yen. Accompanying adults pay 1,900 yen at all times and days.
English/Japanese ability
even employees of tomorrow are right
Although all jobs are conducted in
popular from the 60 or so businesses
available. These must be pre-booked for
before their eyes. Among the most
are the ANA cabin attendant, pilot and
navigator jobs, firefighters (who get to
put out a fire with hoses), hospital staff (doctor, nurse, surgeon and ambulance
crew), music studio (recording musician and sound engineer), and the many restaurants and bakeries.
When to Go There are two shifts - morning and
evening, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Weekends and public holidays
can get a little busy, particularly when it’s
Japanese, English guided tours are
groups of up to 14 people. One drawback to the tour is the work positions the kids can try are set, so they can’t pick which jobs they would like to try.
Access Information Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, North Port
3rd floor 2-4-9 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Tel: 0570-06-4012 http://www.kidzania.jp/tokyo/en/
hot outside.
can then spend the money they have
earned in the KidZania city’s goods and 11
RESTAURANTS & DINING
LITTLE SHOPSBIG FLAVORS IN DAIKANYAMA TRUE TASTE TOKYO VOL.3
BY LAUREN SHANNON
The small shopping and café district of Daikanyama (Between Ebisu and Nakameguro) had its first heyday in the IPO bubble of the early 2000’s. Now with the interest of Tsutaya group and the extremely popular shopping and dining area of T-Space, Daikanyama is back in the spotlight. One nice thing about this neighborhood is that it is trendy
Two small recent additions to the neighborhood are
without being a duplicate of the overly brand centric areas like
Hollywood Burger and The Coffee Shop. Real estate in this
area are not big corporate chains but smaller boutiques or a part
these shops have reduced their overhead by opening in very
Ginza and now Omotesando. Most shops and restaurants in the of micro retail groups. It makes for a very nice change of pace.
There are lots of sights to see and a weekend stroll around the area is a pleasure for café fans, foodies and shoppers alike.
part of town is pricey even by Tokyo standards but both of
tiny places, making the most of their small size by packing in big full and focused flavors.
Hollywood Burger makes, you guessed it, Burgers! Small
counter seating and an even smaller group of outside tables plus a teeny tiny second floor keep the rent low and that
means good prices for the guests too. This shop focuses on
a small eat in crowd and a lot of Take Out. All the things you
would expect to find are on the menu and cute atmospherics make this a fun stop for all ages. The design features lots
of 1950’s Elvis posters, American flags, and vintage burger paraphernalia.
I recommend the Hollywood Burger- a good basic burger
with a secret house made sauce that has hints of BBQ and
something distinctly Asian as well. All burgers are served with fries. And of course you can wash it down with a coke, beer, or other beverage favorite.
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RESTAURANTS & DINING
On the other side of the street just down
milk-in-my-coffee gal but in this case
Daikanyama has dozens of other tiny
the hidden caffeine haven, The Coffee
coffee was surprisingly smooth and had
you so take a wander and enjoy, I will
a ways toward Meiji dori you can find
Shop. This tiny take out spot features all single origin coffees brewed one cup a
time with your choice of three methods, the classic French press, the modern
and amazing Aero press and hand drip.
no milk or cream were needed. This
such lovely flavor that it needs to be
enjoyed just as is. There were a dozen or more other single origin coffees on be heading back to try them all.
The knowledgeable staff can recommend
passionate folks are remaking the coffee
and are happy to discuss the flavors
experience here in Japan. The Coffee
Shop is all sleek but still charming design and includes some great tech features
including a camera-iPad set up so you
can take a shot of yourself while enjoying a fresh brewed coffee and share that
photo to their Facebook and webpages
instantly. It’s a terrific example of DIY PR for the social media world we live in. At the recommendation of the shop
director and his barista staff I tried an
aero-pressed Ethiopian coffee – I am a
certainly being going back for more big flavors in this small neighborhood.
hand to choose from and I will certainly
Coffee places like this are all the rage in
California and New York and a few small
food shops and experiences waiting for
the best brew for hot or iced coffees and brewing techniques featured in
the shop. If you can’t speak Japanese they can point you to some English
explanations of what they do but no fear
the menus are all in English and ordering is easy. There are great gift boxes to
be purchased and you can pick up your own specialty aero press, French press or gorgeous coffee mug to enjoy the
experience again at home or give the coffee buzz to a friend. The designs
HOLLWOOD BURGER 15-10 Daikanyama Cho Shibuya Ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3496-1231
Hours: 11:30-21:00 every day
THE COFFEE SHOP 2-3 Daikanyama Cho Shibuya Ku, Tokyo
www.thecoffeeshop.jp
Hours: 12:00-19:00 pm
(sadly does not open early!)
Access to Daikanyama via Daikanyama Station on the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line.
are all cool and cute at the same time.
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ENTERTAINMENT
GO AHEAD: REMAKE MY DAY Clint Eastwood western ‘Unforgiven’ to be remade in Japan with Ken Watanabe in main role. For the first time in Japanese cinema
The story is set in Hokkaido around
being remade and released in Japan
following the collapse of the Edo
history, an American-made film is
with award-winning director Lee Sangil’s Japanese-language motion picture “Yurusarezarumono,” inspired by the
Oscar-winning U.S. western “Unforgiven,” directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.
shogunate, at a time when the
Japanese government is attempting to open the land (then named Ezo) populated by the indigenous Ainu people.
Released in the U.S. in 1992, “Unforgiven”
In the shogunate’s waning days,
in 1993 and won four, including Best
swordsman
was nominated for nine Academy Awards Picture. The announcement was made
Monday by Richard Fox, Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros Entertainment, and William J Ireton,
President & Representative Director, Warner Entertainment Japan Inc.
Inspired by Eastwood’s film, writer/
Jubei Kamata (Watanabe), a former of
the
shogunate,
slaughters countless rebels under orders, earning a fearsome reputation in Kyoto. Following the government’s collapse, he takes part in a succession
of bloody battles culminating in the decisive battle
at Goryokaku, then vanishes without a trace, eluding the determined efforts of the new government to capture him.
director Lee Sang-il (the Japan Academy
More than a decade later, Jubei lives on in desolate
shifts the setting to Japan in retelling
his wife and their children. His wife — who alone
Prize-winning film “Villain,” “Hula Girls”) the epic, adapting the “Unforgiven” screenplay by David Webb Peoples.
The film stars an ensemble including
some of Japan’s most acclaimed actors, led by Ken Watanabe (“Letters from
Iwo Jima,”“The Last Samurai”) as Jubei
Kamata, reinterpreting the role played by
Eastwood in the original, with Akira Emoto (“Villain,” “Dr Akagi”) taking on the part played by Morgan Freeman, and Koichi
Sato (“Crest of Betrayal,” “What the Snow Brings”) reprising Gene Hackman’s part. Filming is set to commence in
mid-September on location in
Hokkaido. “Yurusarezarumono”
is targeted for nationwide release in Japan in the fall of 2013.
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1880, the start of the Meiji period
isolation as a frugal rancher with an Ainu woman as transformed a man whose only reason for existence
was to kill — dies, leaving him to guard over her grave with their children in sparse austerity.
However, the man who vowed never to take sword again finds himself driven by poverty to once again join battle as
a bounty hunter. Together with a former comrade, he faces those convinced in their own justice. Another cycle of violence starts anew in another new era.
Men tossed in the wake of turbulent history stage their final battle in the immense natural environments of Hokkaido with exhilarating horseback action. The film’s scale will emulate the immensity of American westerns.
Eastwood commented, “It’s an honor to know that Lee Sangil and my good friend Ken Watanabe, with whom I worked
closely on ‘Letters from Iwo Jima,’ will be teaming on a Japanese rendition of ‘Unforgiven.’”
ENTERTAINMENT
Sang-il said, “It has been 20 years since the
release of ‘Unforgiven.’ People wander between
‘good’ and ‘evil,’ no matter who you are — this is
the theme, which lies within this film and it speaks deeply to us even today, still unable to end the
vicious cycle of violence. It is my belief to create
films that people can relate to — people who carry
doubts and redemption, striving to be right, rather than people who insist they are right without any doubts.
“The original film is acclaimed to be the
masterpiece of western films. I am thrilled, happy, and overwhelmed with pleasure to be given
this opportunity, as director Clint Eastwood,
whom I highly respect, is a filmmaker with an
unprecedented talent. Ken Watanabe, a man with definite presence, that makes one think there is no one but him. Akira Enomoto, a man I’d like
to call an old ally. Koichi Sato, a man who I had always wanted to work with for a long time. I
strongly wish to create a film that will always be
remembered, together with the help of the passion of above members and other wonderful cast and filmmakers.”
Watanabe stated, “Clint Eastwood is like my father in the film industry and it will be challenging for
me to remake one of his best known films. We’d like to build our ‘Unforgiven’ in our own way in this vast land of Hokkaido.”
Photos curtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment, IMAGE.NET
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