Viz Pictures Announces Rare North American Screenings of The Taste of Tea

VIZ PICTURES ANNOUNCES RARE NORTH AMERICAN SCREENINGS OF THE TASTE OF
TEA

Critically Acclaimed And Award Winning Film Is A Heartwarming Homage To
Japanese Family Life

San Francisco, CA, January 15, 2006 – Viz Pictures, an affiliate of
VIZ
Media LLC, the leading U.S. publisher of Japanese animation and comics
that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced a
series of special North American theatrical screenings of the
critically
acclaimed and award winning film, THE TASTE OF TEA, from
writer/director
Katsuhito Ishii, who also directed “Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip
Girl,”
“Party Seven,” and the lavish animated portion of “Kill Bill:
Vol. 1.”
THE TASTE OF TEA will be screening in New York, Chicago, Seattle and
Portland.

THE TASTE OF TEA has been called a surreal version of Ingmar Bergman's
”Fanny and Alexander,” and presents a heartwarming and visually
rich
homage to Japanese family life. The film had its international debut at
the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and won numerous awards at the 2004
Entrevues Film Festival, 2005 Montreal Fantasia Film Festival, 2005 New York Asian Film Festival, 2005 San Francisco Independent Film Festival
and the 2005 Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film.

THE TASTE OF TEA introduces audiences to the Haruno’s, a rather
unconventional but happy and loving family. They live in a small town
in
the mountains just outside of Tokyo where life is good and quiet –
but
that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own quirks and little
problems.
There is 8-year old Sachiko (Maya Banno), who is bothered at
inopportune
moments by a giant-sized double of herself, who hangs around sitting on
buildings staring at her, while her older brother Hajime (Takahiro
Sato)
privately wrestles with raging hormones and a love-struck heart after
the arrival of a pretty new classmate (played by Amerasian actress Anna
Tsuchiya, also seen in KAMIKAZE GIRLS). The mother works hard to come
out of retirement as an animator, and the father, who watches her
attempts with apprehension, is a professional hypnotist who
occasionally
plies his trade on his own family with often funny results. An uncle
(played by Tadanobu Asano of ICHI THE KILLER) comes to visit and stays
with the family, but he has a hidden agenda as he comes to terms with a
romance that ended years ago. Another uncle, who is a successful manga
artist, also stops in with his own dramas. It’s his birthday soon,
and
he wants to give himself something special. And lastly there’s
Grandpa,
the most eccentric and perhaps the most perceptive of all, who
continues
to search for a better way to live life to the fullest. All of these
dramas are presented with rich visual imagery and allegories as an
animated train emerges from someone's head, giant sunflowers bloom and
orange-clad dancers appear from nowhere.

“It’s a privilege to bring THE TASTE OF TEA to North America for a
series of special theatrical screenings,” says Seiji Horibuchi,
President and CEO for Viz Pictures. “Critics have praised this film
since its debut and we are pleased to add it to the growing repertoire
of Viz Pictures. THE TASTE OF TEA presents all the quirkiness and
beauty
of Japanese family life, richly presented with all its comedy, tears
and
drama, and I look forward to domestic audiences enjoying this unique
story.”

THE TASTE OF TEA will screen in the following cities:

New York
General opening: February 16-22, 2007
The ImaginAsian
239 East 59th St., New York 10022
http://www.theimaginasian.com

Chicago
General opening: March 2-8, 2007
FACETS CINEMATHEQUE
1517 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
http://www.facets.org/asticat

Seattle
March 16-22, 2007
GRAND ILLUSION CINEMA
1403 NE 50th St., Seattle, WA 98105
http://www.grandillusioncinema.org

Portland
April 6-12, 2007
The Hollywood Theatre
4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Portland, OR 97212
http://www.hollywoodtheatre.org


About Viz Pictures, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, CA, Viz Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese
live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii
(cute) and cool" pop culture. Viz Pictures approaches each film release
from a J-pop fan's point of view. THE TASTE OF TEA is the third VIZ
Pictures title following TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO and LINDA LINDA LINDA,
the company will continue to offer the most entertaining live action
motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all
ages in North America. Viz Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of Viz Media,
LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga
(comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the
popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.
© 2006 Viz Pictures, Inc

About Viz Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), is one
of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of
manga
publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content.
Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and
animation, Shueisha, Inc., Shogakukan, Inc., and Shogakukan Production
Co., Ltd. (Sho-Pro Japan), Viz Media is a leader in the publishing and
distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The
company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as
SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio
soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from
initial
production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise
licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.