News

Japanese Box Office, February 22-23

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), remained at #1 for its second 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 #1 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 236,163,130 yen (US$2,319,830) on 296 screens (+3 from last week) for a new total of 807,744,076 yen (US$7,934,470).

The film follow-up to the live-action television series adaptation of Tohru Fujisawa's Kamen Teacher manga, Gekijōban Kamen Teacher debuted this weekend at #3. 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 #3 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 109,360,765 yen (US$1,074,250) on 296 screens.

Tiger & Bunny The Movie -The Rising- fell from #6 to #8 in its third 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 ranked #7 on Box Office Mojo's chart and earned 59,117,953 yen (US$580,716) on 93 screens for a new total of 398,086,482 yen (US$3,910,404).

THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE: Kagayaki no Mukōgawa e! ranked #12 on Box Office Mojo's chart in its fifth weekend and earned 30,603,147 yen (US$300,615) on 40 screens for a new total of 497,495,458 yen (US$4,886,897). 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.

Sources: Kogyo Tsushinsha, Box Office Mojo