Japanese majors and independent production companies are kicking off sales of their latest titles at Pusan's Asian Film Market, which launched today.

While many Japanese companies reserve full market screenings for the likes of Cannes and the Santa Monica AFM, they believe that Pusan's AFM is an important place to introduce new titles to Asia.

Producer-distributor Phantom Film unveils three market premieres, including the first footage from Koji Yakusho's directing debut Toad's Oil (Gama No Abura). As previously reported on Screendaily, Toad's Oil is a drama with fantastical sequences that tells the story of a family who takes in a reformed juvenile delinquent.

Phantom also brings the visually striking Gelatin Silver, Love, directed by famed photographer Kazumi Kurigami and starring Masatoshi Nagase and Rie Miyazawa. Phantom is also handling world sales of Shion Sono's self-financed cult drama Love Exposure.

Nikkatsu brings School Days With A Pig to market ahead of its world premiere in competition at this month's Tokyo International Film Festival (Oct 18-26). The film, based on a true story, stars Satoshi Tsumabuki as an elementary teacher who teaches his class the meaning of life by having them raise a pig for one year to eventually eat.

Toei Studios starts sales of the latest film from cult writer-director Kankuro Kudo (Maiko Haaaan!!!). Entitled The Shonen Merikensack, the comedy-drama follows a young record label worker, played by Aoi Miyazaki, who goes on tour with an aging punk band. The film's public world premiere is also at TIFF.

Avex Entertainment brings spring 2009 release ~KAFOO~ Waiting for Happiness and also handles non-English territory sales of 2004 Japan-Australia surfing road movie Bondi Tsunami, directed by Rachel Lucas.

Tokyo Broadcast System (TBS) is showing the first footage from big-budget disease disaster film Pandemic, starring Satoshi Tsumabuki and directed by Takahisa Zeze. Buyers can also get the first look at WWII drama I'd Rather Be A Shellfish starring SMAP singing and TV star Masahiro Nakai.

As previously reported, Gaga Communications begins international sales of Shunji Iwai-produced high school drama Halfway.

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