In addition to its upcomingsamurai films, Japan's Shochiku has added four new dramas to its international sales slate,which it will be launching at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin.

Heading the slate is thelatest film from prolific cult director Takashi Miike, Big Bang Love, Juvenile A, which will receive its premierescreening at the EFM.

Starring Ryuhei Matsuda (Gohatto), Masanobu Ando (Battle Royale) and Ryo Ishibashi (The Grudge), the film revolves around ayoung man who, while working in a gay bar, is sexually assaulted by a customer,goes into a frenzy and kills the man. He then strikesup a close relationship with another man while in jail.

Meanwhile, Shochiku hasrecently started shooting two further dramatic features - Taiyo No Uta, the feature debut of short film director NorihiroKoizumi, and Tenshi No Tomago.

Taiyo No Uta tells the story of a high school girl who is diagnosed with a diseasethat prevents her from going outside during daylight. Takashi Tsukamoto andGoro Kishitani head the cast of the film which is scheduled for a late June2006 release.

Tenshi No Tomago, directed by Shin Togashi, is about a love triangle anchored by a youngart university student who falls in love with the older sister of hisgirlfriend.

In addition, Shochiku is inpre-production on romantic drama TokyoFriends about a young girl from the countryside coming to terms with lifein the metropolis. The feature debut of renowned TV director Kozo Nagayama, thefilm stars Ai Otsuka and is scheduled for release in summer/autumn 2006.

Shochiku's Berlin slate also includes Helen The Baby Fox, ninja actioner Shinobi, the third installment in YojiYamada's samurai trilgoy and Hirokazu Kore-eda's Hana.

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