| 2000-02 Back to Japan and Back to Action! |
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2002
<Movie> Vengeance
for Sale (Japan, “Sukedachiya Sukeroku”)
Director: Kihachi
Okamoto
His role: Sukeroku
(main role, young vagabond who likes to help others’ revenge)
Light-hearted sword action movie, set in Edo era (18th century). It is Hiro’s “full action”
movie, which mixes humor, pathos and love in a fast-paced rhythmic
story-telling, with music by jazz piano mogul Yosuke Yamashita.
http://www.unijapan.org/english/list/2003/2003_33.html
Interactive Review
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No English Subtitles
Region 2 |
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2001
<Movie>
Onmyoji (Japan, a/k/a “Yin Yang
Master”)
Director: Yojiro
Takita
His role: Doson
(supporting role, emperor’s sorcerer and big villain)
Fantasy story of a legendary sorcerer Abe-no-Seimei in Heian
era (9th century). Kyogen
(Japanese classic comedy drama) superstar Mansai Nomura plays Seimei, and Hiro’s
Doson is his enemy. The high point of
this movie is the duel between them, contrasting Mansai’s elegant dance-like
lightness and Hiro’s muscular sword action.
The movie was a big hit in Japan, fueled by Seimei’s popularity as a historic
figure, as well as the presense of Mansai and Hiro, and recently the sequel
was released.
http://www.onmyoji-movie.com/onmyoji1/main/index.html
http://www.onmyoji-movie.com/onmyoji1/cast/sanada.html
http://www.tohokingdom.com/web_pages/reviews/onmyoji.htm
Interactive Review
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YES! English Subtitles
Region 1 |
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2001
<Movie> Round
About Midnight (Japan, “Mayonaka made”)
Director: Makoto
Wada
His role: Koji
Moriyama (main role, jazz trumpeter)
Punctuated by standard jazz and bright reflections of neon
lights, Hiro and Michelle Lee (Hong Kong) run through the rainy Tokyo streets
until midnight. Not exactly an action
movie, but there are some breathtaking action scenes. Hiro’s music performance scenes look so real that you may believe
he is really performing.
Interactive Review
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YES! English Subtitles
Region 2
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2001
<TV series>
Unmarried Family (Japan, “Hikon Kazoku”)
Broadcaster: Fuji TV
His role: Yosuke
Matoba (main role, ordinary salary-man who faces the job loss and the second
divorce)
Super-serious home drama, about the definition of family and
the role of marriage in a changing social environment. Hiro plays this poor guy with a hint of
humor and heavy heart, and proves that he is gorgeous even when he washes a car
or takes out the garbage. Don’t miss
his stunning “fantasy tango” scene and the well-made title back.
Interactive Review
Misty's Review |
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No English Subtitles
Region 2 |
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2000
<Movie> First
Love (Japan, “Hatsukoi”)
Director: Tetsuo
Shinohara
His role: Shinichiro
Fujiki (supporting role, Satoka’s mother’s first love)
This cute little movie is romantic and touching, with light
humor and heavy story, and shows the process of a young girl Satoka finding out
about love and about growing up. Hiro’s
Fujiki is funny and realistic, and full of his “other” charms that are usually
not shown in samurai movies.
http://www.engine-group.com/hatsukoi/
http://www.engine-group.com/hatsukoi/cast/cast3.htm (click small number tubs 1-5 for more pictures)
http://www.tohokingdom.com/web_pages/reviews/first_love.htm
Interactive Review
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YES! English Subtitles
Region 2 |
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2000
<Musical> The
Orchestra Pit (Japan, “Okepi!”)
Director: Koki
Mitani
His role: The
conductor (main role)
Light-hearted musical/drama about musicians in an
orchestra in a musical theater.
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