Poster for 'Fly With The Gold'

On the 27th, the poster for 'Fly With The Gold' was revealed to the public. The nationwide roadshow begins November 2012.

The original work, published in 1990, was a debut novel by Takamura Kaoru which won the top prize in Japan's suspense genre. Set in Osaka, the story follows 6 men as they plan for a 6-tonne gold heist from the bank's basement.

The movie is led by actor Tsumabuki Satoshi who plays Kouta. Kouta and Kitagawa (Asano Tadanobu) have known each other from their university days. Kiritani Kenta, Mizobata Junpei, Changmin (from Tohoshinki) and Nishida Toshiyuki make up the team of 6. With distinct personalities, their elaborate plot begins.

Mizobata Junpei Nervous in his First Stage Performance

The stage play 'NECK' began on the 12th at Tokyo's Aoyama Amphitheatre, led by actor Mizobata Junpei (20).

He comments on being cast in an important role, "It's my first time in a stage play. There's a different kind of nervousness compared to the beginning of filming for a movie or drama. Since yesterday, I was tense. Today, from the time I entered the dressing room till I left it, I felt uneasy. My usual upbeat self was just gone." His co-star revealed, "Today during practice for the curtain raiser, he was so nervous he forgot about the props."

The suspense type of stage play will be followed up by a movie of the same title opening in August, also starring Mizobata. The movie will have the same motif as the stage play. The cast for NECK the movie includes Aibu Saki, Kuriyama Chiaki and Hiraoka Yuuta.

The stage play NECK ends 24 February.

Mizobata Junpei and Aibu Saki to star in NECK

Aibu Saki and Mizobata Junpei will play the lead roles in 'NECK' which opens in summer 2010. Kuriyama Chiaki and Hiraoka Yuuta are also part of the cast. The original work by Maijou Outarou is of a new 'kyun' horror genre. Playing the part of an eccentric girl is Aibu Saki, "My hairstyle has gone for an image change. I'm not a fan of horror, but let's have fun together!"

The movie version differs from the stage version which starts in February 12 2010 in Tokyo's Aoyama amphitheatre. Mizobata's character in the movie version is unlike his stage one. While the movie and stage play share the same motif, their storylines are not the same.

Aibu Saki and Mizobata Junpei star in 'kyun horror' movie!

Aibu Saki and Mizobata Junpei will star in horror movie 'NECK' that will open next summer. It is based on novelist Maijou Outarou's original work. Maijou has written two works, one for the movie and another for a stage play, both with the same motif but completely different stories.

In the movie, university student Shuto (Mizobata) is called by the classmate he has a crush on Suginara (Aibu) to her laboratory. For some reason, there is a big wooden box there that if you climb into, will cause only the head to reappear. The story begins there. Others in the story include Suginara's childhood friend, popular novelist writer Matarou (Hiraoka Yuuta) and Matarou's editor played by Kuriyama Chiaki.

This is the first time that both Aibu and Mizobata will appear in a horror movie. Aibu who plays the eccentric girl involved in the research of making ghosts said,"I have a feeling that this is going to be an eerie movie but there will be 'kyun' moments too so it won't just be straight-up horror. There are many components to it. I hope to make a Suginara that the audience will laugh with and be afraid together with." Mizobata describes his character as 'a love-sick puppy being led around by Suginara'. "It's not just a simple horror movie, as the audience laughs and feels refreshed by this movie, I also want them to shiver in fear," Mizobata said.

Filming started on 3rd November and will end later this month. The stage play will start its run on 12th February at Aoyama Theatre. Mizobata will appear in the theater production as well but with a different role. Others in the cast are Itao Itsuji, and TEAM NACS's Suzuki Kousuke and Morisaki Hiroyuki.

DAIGO Blog The End of Today's Filming!

Filming for today has ended!

It has been a long day, but it was fun!

For today

Playing the lead role in

'Kimi ga Odoru, Natsu'

A photo with Mizobata Junpei-kun

We're 11 years apart [laugh]

But we chat like friends do while on location ♪

We were together last year on Sanma Goten

From early on, we got along well!

There's a bit of filming left for me

I'll do my best o(^-^)o

DAIGO

Mizobata Junpei Makes Kinami Haruka Want to be a Guy

On the 22nd, actor Mizobata Junpei (20) who plays the lead role in 'Kimi ga Odoru, Natsu' attended the movie announcement event in Tokyo.

It's a moving film about a young man involved in Kouchi's yosakoi dance festival. "Dreams, friendship, love, life. Various themes are packed into this movie," Mizobata said. Kinami Haruka (24), who plays the role of Mizobata's girlfriend, commented "Having conversations (with Mizobata), I'd think about how great it'd be if I were a guy. Then we would be able to take baths together," she laughed. She added, "Mizobata is like an adorable dog."

'Kimi ga Odoru, Natsu' opens in autumn 2010.

Commencement of filming for 'Kimi ga Odoru, Natsu'

On the 28th, actor Mizobata Junpei began filming 'Kimi ga Odoru, Natsu' (The Summer You Danced) at a bridge in Ochichou. Filming will take about 1 month in Kouchi city, including its shopping district. Tentative release of the movie is autumn of 2010.

The main character is a young man who aims of being a photographer in Tokyo. He joins the Yosakoi Festival to fulfill the dream of a young girl (Ayane Omori) with an incurable disease. Together with her older sister (Kinami Haruka), they revive the Yosakoi Team, breathing life into the festival. Through the Yosakoi Festival, themes surrounding dreams and reality, and life and death are explored.

There were about 70 people, including staff members on the first day of filming. When the rain stopped, a camera in the river filmed a scene of Mizobata cycling on a bridge. He stops in the middle, takes a seat and gives a worried look.


Mizobata said "I've been looking forward to the start of filming. To continue chasing your dream, while upholding local traditions, I want to convey the importance of them both."

The Kochi Film Commission is taking applications for 1000 extras for filming on the 16th and 17th October. Details can be found here.

Mizobata Junpei in Yosakoi dance! Movie to be filmed in Kouchi, where the dance originated from

Japan's biggest summer festival, the Yosakoi Festival which originated from the Kouchi Prefecture, is the stage for an emotionally charged movie. Current popular young actor, Mizobata Junpei will play the lead in "Kimi ga Odoru, Natsu" (The Summer You Danced).

Mizobata-san's character, Shinpei, moves from Kouchi to Tokyo to be a professional photographer. 5 years later, fatigued by life in Tokyo, he returns to his hometown. He meets his ex-girlfriend, Kaori. They had once made a promise to move to Tokyo together. For the sake of her sister (Sakura), Kaori wants to grant her a dying wish. That wish was for Shinpei and Kaori to be in the legendary team of Yosakoi dance once again, "Ichimujin". Shinpei understands Kaori's feelings, and decides to participate in the Yosakoi dance, but...

Playing the role of the heroine Kaori is Kinami Haruka, an upcoming actress who was also in 20th Century Boys. Her character struggles to fulfill the wish of Sakura (Ayane Omori) who suffers from an incurable disease.

For 3 days from the 8th to 10th August, filming had begun during the real Yosakoi Festival. Mizobata-san who was there to observe the festival, "Everyone's enthusiasm is overwhelming, it's more than what I had imagined. It's a good feeling, protecting tradition... What surprised me the most was that even under the blazing sun, everyone was dancing with a smile. I will work hard to deliver a good movie which will display Kouchi's tradition."

Filming will be from end of September till November. Tentative release is autumn of 2010. 3/4 of filming is planned to be in Kouchi, filming in the city area is slated to be in October. A repeat of the Yosakoi Festival has been arranged.