News

Japanese Box Office, March 1-2

Takashi Miike's live-action film adaptation of Noboru Takahashi's Mogura no Uta manga series, Mogura no Uta: Senyū Sōsakan Reiji (The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji), fell from #1 to #2 in its third weekend. In the story of the original manga, Reiji Kikukawa is known as a troublesome member of the police force due to his tendency to enforce justice through his own morals. He goes undercover to infiltrate a gangster syndicate. The film also ranked #2 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 222,024,096 yen (US$2,149,415) on 293 screens for a new total of 1,262,941,248 yen (US$12,226,534).

The live-action film of Eiko Kadono's fantasy novel series Kiki's Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyūbin) opened this weekend at #3. The film stars Fūka Koshiba as Kiki, Ryōhei Hirota as Tombo, and Minako Kotobuki as Jiji in the coming of age story that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli also adapted into an animated film. The film also ranked #3 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 127,597,553 yen (US$1,235,272) on 281 screens.

The film follow-up to the live-action television series adaptation of Tohru Fujisawa's Kamen Teacher manga, Gekijōban Kamen Teacher fell from #3 to #6 in its second weekend. The story stars Kis-My-Ft2 idol group member Taisuke Fujigaya as Gōta Araki, a teacher who becomes a masked hero to puts down delinquents. In the show Araki transfers to a new high school and is handed the second year's Class C, which has problem students led by a powerful student nicknamed "M4." Araki wants to reach out to the students without resorting to using the power of the mask, but he reluctantly puts it on to bring the students in line and rehabilitate them. The film also ranked #6 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 59,365,936 yen (US$574,721) on 141 screens for a new total of 206,573,868 yen (US$1,999,842).

Tiger & Bunny The Movie -The Rising- stayed at #8 in its fourth weekend. The film reunites the core cast of the Tiger & Bunny television series, as well as Yūichi Nakamura as Golden Ryan, Barnaby Brooks Jr.'s new partner in the film. The story revolves around a mystery that happens on the day of the "Justice Day" festival that celebrates Sternbild's legendary goddess. Viz Media announced that it will screen in the United States starting March 14. The film also ranked #8 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 50,199,177 yen (US$485,978) on 94 screens for a new total of 491,165,158 yen (US$4,754,969).

THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE: Kagayaki no Mukōgawa e! moved back onto the top 10 list from #12 to #10 in its sixth weekend . In the film, the producer works his very hardest to help the 765 Production idols prepare themselves at a training camp for their first arena concert. He also reveals that there are new girls joining the team as back-up dancers for the arena concert. These girls are all idols featured in GREE's The IDOLM@STER: Million Live mobile game that started service last year. The idol Haruka is also named the leader of the group, and she is held in high esteem by the new girls, whose futures will be decided after the concert. The film also ranked #10 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 43,220,958 yen (US$418,422) on 41 screens for a new total of 552,813,753 yen (US$5,351,790).

Sources: Kogyo Tsushinsha, Box Office Mojo