News

Japanese Box Office, December 28-29

Lupin III vs. Detective Conan The Movie stayed at #2 during its fourth weekend. In the film, the "Cherry Sapphire," an illusive secret treasure that holds the key to the entire world, will bring the two titular characters in a "head-to-head confrontation." Lupin is suspected of stealing the gem, and "when the truth is revealed, the curtain will open on the greatest battle in the world." The film earned 238,394,575 yen (US$2,289,303) on 330 screens for a new total of 2,775,130,487 yen (US$26,649,578)

The Hunter × Hunter -The Last Mission- film opened at #3. The story of the second film adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter X Hunter manga revolves around the dark history of the strongest Hunters that once existed in the Hunters Association that were split into "light" and "dark," with each walking down their respective paths. The "dark" side begins moving in order to massacre all Hunters, and both Killua and Kurapika are caught up in the violence and are injured. What is the dark secret behind Netero, the strongest Nen-user and the chairman of the Hunter Association? The film ranked at #4 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 157,970,861 yen (US$1,516,994) on 258 screens.

The live-action film adaptation of Kotomi Aoki's Kanojo wa Uso o Ai Shisugiteru manga rose from #6 to #5 in its third weekend. The story centers around Aki Ogasawara (played by Rurouni Kenshin's Takeru Satoh), a "sound creator" who composes for the popular band Crude Play and earns over 100 million yen (about US$1.3 million) a year. Despite this, he conceals all of this and calls himself a NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Seeking a life outside of music, he begins seeing a high school girl named Riko Koeda (played by newcomer Sakurako Ōhara). However, what Aki does not know is that Riko is actually a huge fan of Aki's music. Even with his girlfriend, Aki cannot escape the world of music. The film earned 117,303,003 yen (US$1,126,460) on 284 screens for a new total of 884,512,727 yen (US$8,493,975).

Kamen Rider x Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard Tenkawakeme no Sengoku Movie Daigassen, the Movie War crossover between Kamen Rider Gaim and Kamen Rider Wizard, fell from #5 to #7 in its third weekend. The film earned 72,827,125 yen (US$699,358) on 285 screens for a new total of 614,411,259 yen (US$5,900,191).

Kaguya-hime no Monogatari (The Tale of Princess Kaguya), the latest film from Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, stayed at #9 during its sixth weekend. The film is based on the famous Japanese folktale Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter), which centers on a princess named Kaguya who was discovered as a baby inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant. The film earned 66,566,319 yen (US$639,236) on 456 screens for a new total of 1,741,761,250 yen (US$16,726,133).

Gekijō-ban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magica [Shinpen]: Hangyaku no Monogatari (Madoka Magica The Movie -Rebellion-), the third film in the Puella Magi Madoka Magica franchise, fell from Box Office Mojo's chart in its 10th weekend. Additionally, the first Persona 3 film, Persona 3 the Movie #1 Spring of Birth, fell from Box Office Mojo's chart in its sixth weekend.

Sources: Kogyo Tsushinsha, Box Office Mojo