Source: Toho Co., Ltd. Official Site: nanimono-movie.com (Japan)
A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
Can I become a ‘somebody’ if I join a good company? Who do I want to become? Toho has provided press notes and high-res images from their upcoming film, SOMEONE (??, Nanimono). The movie opens in Japan on October 15th. INTRODUCTION Someone (a.k.a. Nanimono), an original novel by Ryo Asai, won the 148th Naoki Prize, making Asai the first author born in the Heisei era to win the award. Asai is talented in creating a modern atmosphere, and has contemporary sensibilities, but is also capable of cutting deep into the universal theme of good and evil, depicted through his human dramas, solidifying his position as a new talent that represents the new generation. The story shows psychological descriptions that penetrate the duality of human nature, represented by the dual personalities of the characters in real life and online. The film’s director and screenplay writer is Daisuke Miura, known for his achievements with stage performances such as winning the 50th Kishida Prize for Drama with “Potudo-ru,” directing stage performances overseas, and receiving high praise for his work as director on the movie LOVE`S WHIRLPOOL (???, Ai no Uzu, 2014). Miura will take on the challenge of depicting drama paralleled by job hunting and Twitter, representing a sense of tension where reality and online worlds intertwine.
STORY University student Takuto Ninomiya (Takeru Satoh) has begun looking for a job at the start of the peak of job-hunting season. Takuto formerly had a best friend, Ginji Karasuma, whom he used to be a theatrical duo with. However, Ginji decided to pursue his dreams of being on stage, and dropped out of University to start the troupe known as “Poison and Biscuits,” creating distance between the two. Takuto carries out his job search in cooperation with his roommate Kotaro Kamiya (Masaki Suda), a member of a band club, Kotaro’s ex-girlfriend Mizuki Tanabe (Kasumi Arimura), whom Takuto secretly is in love with, Mizuki’s study abroad friend, Rika Kobayakawa (Fumi Nikaido), who coincidentally lives in the room above Takuto, and Rika’s artist-type boyfriend who refuses to participate, Takayoshi Miyamoto (Masaki Okada). The five gather at Rika’s apartment, calling it the “Job-Hunting Headquarters.” “Who do I want to be?” “Who am I now?” The five ask themselves these questions while job-hunting using their own unique methods, believing that if they can get a job, they can become a special “somebody”... During this process, each member of the group tweets their thoughts and struggles, but that is merely the side they choose to reveal. As the five spend time together, they start to become disgusted with the positions the way other members take on their job-hunting activities. As they struggle to successfully find a job, their relationships begin to suffer. Amidst all that, Mizuki gets hired at a major communications company. The five gather to celebrate. Mizuki preaches to Takayoshi, hammering home the importance of at least trying to move forward, but he laughs at job-hunting. Takuto sympathizes with Mizuki, and defends her, but Mizuki is still unable to forget about her ex Kotaro. Eventually, Kotaro gets hired at a medium-sized publishing company, but Takuto still has yet to find a job. The relationship between the five gradually changes as they see each other’s hidden sides. A shocking truth that involves even the audience is revealed...
CREDITS Japanese Release Date: Saturday, October 15, 2016 (Nationwide Roadshow) Cast Takuto Ninomiya: Takeru Satoh Mizuki Tanabe: Kasumi Arimura Rika Kobayakawa: Fumi Nikaido Kotaro Kamiya: Masaki Suda Takayoshi Miyamoto: Masaki Okada Sawa: Takayuki Yamada Staff Director: Daisuke Miura Original Story: Someone by Ryo Asai (Published by Shinchosha) Screenplay: Daisuke Miura Producers: Genki Kawamura, Yusuke Ishiguro Music: Yasutaka Nakata Theme Song: "NANIMONO (. Feat KENSHI YONEZU)" by Yasutaka Nakata (Warner Music Japan) Production: “SOMEONE” Film Partners (Toho, Amuse, Dentsu, East Japan Marketing & Communications, Asahi Shimbun, KDDI R & D, Nippon Shuppan Hanbai, Lawson HMV Entertainment, GYAO) Planning Cooperation: Shinchosha Distributor: Toho Co., Ltd. World Sales: Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016 “SOMEONE” Film Partners © 2012 Ryo Asai / Shinchosha
About Toho Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Tokyo, Toho Company, Ltd. is one of the leading entertainment conglomerates in Japan. Toho is best known worldwide as the producer of twenty-nine Godzilla motion pictures, based upon a character the company unleashed on the world back in 1954, and masterpiece films directed by Akira Kurosawa. Toho has been the number one distributor of motion pictures in Japan (both domestic and foreign) every year since 2003. The company is also, throughout Japan, the leading producer of theatrical works and one of the largest owners of office buildings and theaters.