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Shinobu Yaguchi’s 2008 film ‘Happy Flight’ begins with a montage in which various flight attendants discuss different safety measures, from fastening seatbelts to the procedure of using oxygen masks during a flight. This montage resembles a commercial, particularly in an aviation-based film aimed at promoting safety measures, much like how other movies raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking. It is understandable, given that the Japanese airline company All Nippon Airways supports the film’s creation; perhaps this scene is meant to educate passengers about flight safety. However, in a broader context, Shinobu Yaguchi seeks to convey that, just as safety measures are demonstrated for passengers, he is also crafting an experience for the audience—specifically, for their entertainment. And rightly so, for 103 minutes, ‘Happy Flight’ takes viewers on an entertaining journey through a light-hearted comedy about the heroic efforts of several misfits.

Happy Flight is streaming on Jff...

22-year-old actress Erika Toda has been cast as the female lead in Go Shichitaka’s upcoming film Dog×Police.

The film revolves around a special division of the police force which uses trained dogs in cases of terrorism, violent crime, and rescue missions after large-scale natural disasters. Toda will play a police dog trainer named Natsuki Mizuno. Her character will be partnered with co-star Hayato Ichihara’s character, a fellow trainer named Yusaku Hayakawa.

According to Toda, it’s important to convey the strength and selflessness of these dogs, especially with some of the dogs from their film shoot now out working in disaster-affected areas. “Now that Tohoku earthquake has happened, five dogs have been risking their lives to rescue people,” she said. “I felt a sense of duty that the passion, daily effort, and struggles of handlers be conveyed.”

Ichihara, Saburo Tokito, and a few other cast members were...

The official website for Ryuichi Hiroki‘s Raiou has been updated with a second teaser trailer.

The film is based on a best-selling novel by Mari Ueza which itself was inspired by Shakespeare’s classic tale of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Masaki Okada plays a young man of high social standing named Narimichi who was born into the family of the shogunate. Yu Aoi plays a girl named Rai who has grown up deep in the mountains after being kidnapped as a young child. The two meet and fall in love, but their drastically different upbringings and the expectations of their respective families threaten to doom their relationship.

Several new cast members were announced earlier this week. Keisuke Koide (Rookies) will play Rai’s older brother Sukejiro, Akira Emoto will play Narimichi’s official aid, and Saburo Tokito will play the mysterious village headman who carried Rai off as a child.

An official website for Ryuichi Hiroki‘s Raiou was recently launched and includes a new 32-second teaser trailer.

The film is based on a best-selling novel by Mari Ueza which itself was inspired by Shakespeare’s classic tale of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Masaki Okada plays a young man of high social standing named Narimichi who was born into the family of the shogunate. Yu Aoi plays a girl named Rai who has grown up deep in the mountains after being kidnapped as a young child. The two meet and fall in love, but their drastically different upbringings and the expectations of their respective families threaten to doom their relationship.

Several new cast members were announced earlier this week. Keisuke Koide (Rookies) will play Rai’s older brother Sukejiro, Akira Emoto will play Narimichi’s official aid, and Saburo Tokito will play the mysterious village headman who carried Rai off as a child.