All articles by Mamiko Kawamoto – Page 3

  • News

    Japan's Gaga posts $10.8m pre-tax profit

    2001-12-03T23:22:00Z

    Gaga Communications, one of Japan's leading distributors, has recorded a pre-tax operating profit of $10.8m (Y1.34 billion) in the fiscal year 2001, ended Sept 30, up by 209% from the previous year. Gaga attributed this increase largely to the success of The Mexican which grossed $21m (Y2.6 billion), and summer ...

  • News

    Toei records bumper first half, predicts growth

    2001-11-29T18:24:00Z

    Toei, one of Japan's leading distributors and exhibitors, has recorded a net operating profit of $10.5m (Y1.3 billion) in the first half of fiscal 2001, ending in September.The increase is largely attributed to the success of Hotaru, a romantic drama starring Japanese screen legend Ken Takakura which grossed $18m (Y2.3 ...

  • News

    Tokyo festival loses stars to travel fears

    2001-10-23T20:05:00Z

    Cameron Diaz, Josh Hartnett and Julia Stiles of Save The Last Dance have cancelled their attendance at the 14th edition of the Tokyo International Film Festival, citing security concerns.The festival will present 140 films from 24 countries between October 27 and November 4 and is still hoping to welcome 51 ...

  • News

    Matsushita launches digital film business

    2001-09-30T21:51:00Z

    Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. will launch its first digital film production company, Progressive Pictures Co., on October 1. Company president Hidenori Ishii is a former vice president of Japan Victor Entertainment US, with extensive experience in the film industry. Capitalised at $1.68m (Y200m), the Tokyo-based company will produce films with ...

  • News

    Tokyo film fest selects 14th edition competitors

    2001-09-25T22:32:00Z

    The 14th edition of the Tokyo Film Festival, which screens 140 films between October 27 and November 4, has selected the 14 films which will compete for the $42,700 (Y5m) Grand Prix and the $11,300 (Y2m) Jury Prize.Among the films in competition are Michel Gondry's Human Nature, starring Tim Robbins ...

  • News

    Branson's Virgin Cinemas set to expand in Japan

    2001-08-06T19:16:00Z

    Virgin Cinemas is to launch two new multiplexes in Japan as part of an aggressive expansion plan for the territory that will see Richard Branson's exhibition interests reach 18 sites by 2004.The first site, a nine-screen cinema in suburban Tokyo is set for a December launch, while a 10-screener at ...

  • News

    Toho profits from digital version of Spirited Away

    2001-07-25T20:03:00Z

    Japanese exhibition giant, Toho, held its first digital screening of Hayao Miyazaki's blockbuster, Spirited Away on July 20 at the Umeda Sukara-za Cinema in Osaka. The company used an IMAX DIGIMAX projector for the event, which delivered a three-day opening gross of $228,629 (Y28m), the highest take of all 336 ...

  • News

    Toho moves into DVD rental

    2001-06-05T21:12:00Z

    Leading Japanese distributor and exhibitor Toho is to enter the DVD rental market with the release of Ridley Scott's Hannibal on November 9. The company will join rivals Toei and Shochiku, which are already competing in the rental DVD business.The Hannibal double set will contain both the 131-minute theatrical version ...

  • News

    T Joy opens second e-cinema complex in Japan

    2001-05-31T19:22:00Z

    T Joy, a member of the Toei Group, is to open its second all digital multiplex cinema next month in Niigata, northern Japan.The eight-screen complex with a 1,600 seat capacity has cost $6.7m (Y800m) and will open on July 13 in. The company opened its first multiplex of this type, ...