Masaki Okada, Yu Aoi co-star in "Raiou"Actor Masaki Okada (20) and actress Yu Aoi (24) will co-star in the movie "Raiou," an adaptation of a popular novel by Mari Ueza. This will be their first time acting together, as well as their first roles in a jidaigeki work.The story, set during the Edo period, tells of the tragic love between a solitary young man born to the shogunate's family (Okada) and a woman raised in the wild, deep in the mountains (Aoi).The movie reunites director Ryuichi Hiroki and producer Takashi Hirano, who previously worked together on "Yomei Ikkagetsu no Hanayome." Filming will last for a month, starting next March. Theatrical release is targeted for fall 2010.
Masaki Okada And Yu Aoi are Japan’s “Romeo & Juliet”Masaki Okada and Yu Aoi are to star in Ryuichi Hiroki’s upcoming movie Raiou (雷桜) which is adapted from the novel Mari Ueza (宇江佐真理). Mari Ueza is regarded as Japan’s “Romeo and Juliet.”Raiou is set during the Edo Period, where a young man from a noble family meets a young woman under a special tree called “Raiou” (the tree was struck by lightning at one time with the broken part eventually sprouting out cherry blossoms). The young woman lived freely in the mountains after she was abducted as a young child. The couple soon fall in love under the Raiou tree, but are acutely aware of their different social positions & the ramifications it has on their relationship. Under normal circumstances, these two would never cross paths, but a chance encounter in front of a strange tree called “Raiou” sparks an unlikely romance.The two seem to get along well on stage and Yu Aoi even complimented Masaki Okada by calling him “Very man and frank.”Filming will begin in March in the Kyushu region and will last about a month, with a nation-wide release planned for Fall 2010.
“Sunshine girl” Aoi Yuu in new Anessa CMA new commercial for Shiseido's Anessa will start airing on the 23rd and star actress Aoi Yuu (24).Anessa is currently the best selling sunscreen in Japan and with the new commercial called "Light & Shadow" they want to give out the message that they've improved their formula even more. Of course it's going to focus on her face and skin, but it's also going to highlight her other distinctive features like her beautiful hair and earlobe, the perfect "Sunshine Girl" as they call her.It's Aoi's first time working as their image character. She's already used to appeal with her hair for Shiseido, but now she had to appeal with her skin. The filming happened in Bangkok and it was difficult to repeat the scene over and over again under the burning sun. However, people said that she never lost her smile throughout the filming.The result is a nice commercial that plays with the light and the shadow, backed by "Sunshine Girl" sung by moumoon.
Yosuke Eguchi, Yu Aoi make cakes in "Coin de Rue"Yosuke Eguchi (42) and Yu Aoi (24) will co-star in a new movie by director Yoshihiro Fukagawa ("60-sai no Love Letter," "Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora"). Both of them will play pastry chefs in the film, which is titled "Yogashiten Coin de Rue."Eguchi plays Tomura, a man who was once known as the "legendary patissier" before he suddenly stopped making his famous cakes and became a lecturer and critic. Aoi, on the other hand, plays a young woman named Natsume who moves from Kagoshima to Tokyo to chase after her boyfriend. Natsume begins working at a shop called "Coin de Rue," where Tomura is a regular, and their encounter leads them both to personal growth.It is said that Aoi's lines are entirely in Kagoshima-ben, which she has been earnestly practicing. She and Eguchi also had to train a lot for their baking scenes.Supporting cast members include Noriko Eguchi, Hiroyuki Onoue, Sumie Sasaki, and Keiko Toda. Filming already took place last fall, and the movie is scheduled for theatrical release in early 2011.
Aoi Yuu in 3D and pop-ups Aoi Yuu's unique exhibition "Aoi Yuu Uso." (— Lie.) is about to start this Thursday at the Shibuya Parco Factory in Tokyo and visitors will also be able to buy her not less unique book "Uso." before it actually goes on sale.Now what's so unique about all this? The exhibition actually requires 3D glasses in order to be fully able to enjoy the pictures on display. The book goes along with the theme, but in a more classic way with pop-up pictures. Today the exhibition was open for reporters and Aoi also promoted the book. "It was made with the idea of feeling more loose rather than stoic. I like everything analog and it's exactly that analog feeling we were aiming for." She described the works.The book is just as easy-going as the pictures in display. Throughout the 16 pages (6 pop-up images) you will be able to see her blowing soap bubbles or just lazing around with animals. All the pictures and the pop-up element are supposed to make the viewers react like "Uso deshou?" (No way!?). "I don't really like to lie and usually start to laugh within 10 minutes. However, I have no problem to use lies when it's part of the work like this time." Aoi bashfully talked about the theme of the exhibition and the book.Her 3D images will be on display in Tokyo until June 14. After that it will travel to Nagoya and Fukuoka. The general fee (including the glasses) is ¥500, university students only have to pay ¥400. Elementary school students and younger can go in for free. The book will become available nationwide later in June, but at the exhibition you can already buy it for ¥3990.